Abstract
As the demand for ultrahigh-speed bearings grows, hybrid gas-magnetic bearings (HGMBs) have emerged as a research focus due to the ability to integrate the merits of active magnetic bearings (AMBs) and gas bearings (GBs). However, HGMBs face challenges related to complex structure and manufacturing. This study emphasizes the critical role of radial clearance in HGMB design, as excessive clearance reduces GB load capacity and stability, while insufficient clearance can lead to thermal issues. This work investigates the comprehensive performance of HGMBs with varying clearances, revealing that radial clearance significantly impacts load capacity, power consumption, stability, and startup performance. Reduced clearance enhances load capacity and decreases power losses, while higher clearances lead to instability and increased vibration. Notably, HGMBs exhibit superior stability during startup. The conclusions provide valuable insights for HGMB design, promoting advancements in this technology and the engineering applications.
