Study on Magnetic Coupler With Clutch Function Based on Magnetization and Demagnetization Properties of Superconducting Bulks

Magnetic coupler has the advantages of overload protection, high efficiency, low maintenance, and adjustable torque without power electronics. However, it is difficult and dangerous to adjust torque by regulating the gap between the active disk and the driven disk under high-speed operation. Thus, it is necessary to explore a method to adjust the torque rather than adjusting the air gap. It can be achieved by using magnetized superconducting bulks to replace permanent magnets to make the magnetic coupler. Owing to superconducting bulk have better demagnetization characteristics compared with permanent magnets, the magnetic field coupling between the active disk and the driven disk can be regulated or even decoupling. In this paper, an experimental study has been done for the magnetic field trapping characteristics and demagnetization characteristics of superconducting bulks. A simulation model of the superconducting magnetic coupler is established based on the magnetization and demagnetization study. Torque transfer in coupled and decoupled states is calculated. The results of simulation can verify the feasibility of developing a superconducting magnetic coupler with the clutch function.