The advisability of magnetic bearings application in vertical-axis wind turbines

The article presents a study of the advantages and disadvantages of rotor magnetic levitation in wind turbines. Globally, a lot of research is done into the use of windwheels magnetic levitation. However, the “magnetic bearing” in wind turbines has both positive and negative effects. This prompts a question whether this technical solution should be used. The authors identified the basis for increased attention to the magnetic levitation of the windwheel and analyzed the main approaches to the design. The work includes the calculation of the magnetic support and an estimate of the cost for a vertical-axial wind power plant with a rotor magnetic bearing. The results of the study showed that the economic efficiency of this approach is extremely low and it is not justified to be used in commercial products.