High Tech Applications
Recently there have been many areas where permanent magnets have been used in high tech applications. Some of them include the following:
All of these are applications where it is important for the designed permanent magnet to be of high strength, resistive to corrosion, and resistive to demagnetization due to excessive heat. We have experience in designing and manufacturing of permanent magnets to meet the needs for these industries and would like to assist you with your permanent magnet and magnetic assembly needs.
Traveling wave tubes are used in many space and military applications where communication over a large distance is needed. These tubes basically take the generated signal and amplify it so that it can be properly received. Some of the space applications include satellites which are launched into orbit and then required to send information back to earth as it travels the universe. Some of the military applications include radar communication with missiles and aircraft. All of these applications require permanent magnets that must be held to tight tolerances and field strengths in order to properly maintain the generated signals to be amplified. It is also important to choose the proper magnetic material in order for it to withstand the possible harsh environments of space. Also, assembling the permanent magnets is crucial to ensure the traveling wave tubes operate as required and do not require servicing.
The recent explosion of the wind turbine market across the globe has forced manufacturers into reducing manufacturing costs, improving efficiencies, and creating robust designs that do not require constant service. Using a properly designed permanent magnet within the wind turbine generator will improve efficiencies in the conversion of wind power to electrical power immensely over induction, or wire wound, generators. Also, selecting the correct magnetic material and manufacturing it to the proper specifications will ensure that it can be resistant to demagnetization due to high temperatures.
The next generation of wind turbines are currently being researched which use permanent magnet generators and axial flux couplings, which use permanent magnets as a coupling. The overall purpose of this design is to increase efficiency by reducing friction. Magnetic couplings are currently used in many applications, but this is a new on that is being explored and has great possibilities.
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The hybrid and electric vehicle continues to grow as governments pass laws to improve vehicle mileage and reduce emissions. At the heart of all electric vehicles, whether they are hybrid or pure, is an electric motor. The majority of the electric vehicles today have induction, or wire wound, motors. However, many electric vehicle manufacturers are moving to permanent magnet motors because they are more efficient and do not wear out, or release shavings, like induction motors are capable of doing. Using a properly designed and manufactured magnet in the electric motors will allow them to be highly efficient.
Still in its infancy, the water turbine market is starting to grow as a renewable energy possibility. Manufacturers are prototyping and developing ways to use water turbines to capture the current or waves and transform the motion through a generator into electricity. Since most of these are located in, on, or near water, one of the most difficult challenges is to find a generator that will work in this environment. The majority of them are moving to permanent magnet generators that can be located under water and used to transfer the electricity efficiently. Due to the harsh environments, it is extremely important to use a properly designed and manufactured permanent magnet the does not need servicing. It is also important to use the proper techniques when assembling the permanent magnets to the rotor so that it can hold up in the harsh environments.
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The thin film coating industry is extremely large and inclusive of many different industries. One process for coating substrates, such as plastics and glass, is called Physical Vapor Deposition and one sub category of this is sputtering. A main component of sputtering equipment is the magnetron which can contain permanent magnets. These permanent magnets are arranged in a way so as to keep the sputtering process focused on the substrate. These magnetrons come in all shapes and sizes, but many of them have water running through them which may come in contact with the magnets. In this environment it is essential that the proper magnet is designed and manufactured to meet the required strength requirements and withstand the corrosiveness of water and even the possibility of extreme heat.
Flywheel storage systems are basically large spinning wheels that are sped up and then allowed to slowly decrease in speed over a long period of time allowing a generator to transfer the rotational energy into electricity. There has been a lot of recent activity in this market due to increased pressure form governments to reduce their dependance on oil and gas. The majority of these systems are being used as backup energy for large data storage systems as well as reducing the fluctuations in the electrical energy supplied by national grids. Some smaller applications for flywheel storage systems include on-board power for satellites and electric vehicles. As these systems develop, it is important to use a properly designed and manufactured permanent magnet in the generator and even the rotational bearings to reduce friction and improve efficiencies.