Arnold Magnetic Technologies (USA; website; 5251R9N7) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are working together to develop a high-tech passive magnetic bearing system.

The first design target is bearings for a system of flywheels, for bulk energy storage.

Flywheel storage systems are flywheels which are brought up to speed by an energy source, then allowed to slowly decrease in speed over a long period of time, driving an electrical generator as needed.

Arnold said the majority of these systems to date are used as backup energy sources for large computer data storage arrays, as well as working as buffers to smooth fluctuations in the national power grid. Flywheel energy storage systems are also being used as on-board power for satellites and the energy storage and regeneration systems in electric vehicles.

Magnetic bearings are the next key technology development, allowing the flywheels to operate essentially friction-free for long-term storage.

A passive system is important where energy conservation is involved. Most magnetic bearings are active, in that they have microcontrollers and sensor arrays to keep them stabilized, maintain consistent loading and balance inputs and outputs. However the fact that active systems consume electricity runs counter to the overall energy-efficient design criteria for most applications.

Arnold is tasked with building a passive system, with no sensors or advanced electronic components to reduce the energy efficiency.

Passive magnetic bearings have a wide variety of applications, from maglev trains to medical devices, and other mechanical systems where friction is the enemy and efficiency is paramount.

John De Leon, Arnold's Business Development Engineer, said: "The main purpose of this collaboration is to combine the efforts of an industry leader in the field of magnetics and a nationally recognized laboratory in order to improve the passive magnetic bearing technology available today. This could lead to highly efficient solutions for alternative energy systems such as wind turbines and electric vehicles."

LLNL's Business Development Executive, Annemarie Meike, said: "... these passive magnetic bearings have the potential to render a broad range of technologies commercially viable through mechanical and energy efficiency."

Arnold manufactures extremely powerful magnets and systems. LLNL is the leading national security laboratory, tasked not only with national security but also marrying the latest developments in science and technology to issues currently challenging commercial and military engineering, research and development.

Arnold and LLNL said they expect to have prototype bearings running by the end of 2010.