Magnetic bearing using pining force of a permanent magnet and a high-temperature superconductor has been developed. Additional permanent magnet is introduced to increase the levitation force of the magnetic bearing. In this hybrid magnetic bearing system, levitation force is mainly given by the repulsive force of the permanent magnets, and stability for the lateral direction is given by pining force of the superconductor.
The experimental device is developed. A ring type superconductor and a bulk one are examined. Levitation characteristics of the hybrid magnetic bearing are measured. A bulk superconductor shows better characteristics both levitation and lateral stability than ring one. Levitation force of the hybrid system becomes about twice as large as that of the no-hybrid one. Although repulsive force of the permanent magnet decreases lateral stability of the system, its influence becomes small by choosing adequate position of the permanent magnets and the superconductor.