I am working on a building a VAWT wind generator. I've got the wing design down and I've been looking into building my own Axial Flux alternator. While learning about Axial Flux Alternators it occurred to me that you might be able to build magnetic levitation bearings with the rear earth magnets that they use for Axial Flux alternators. What I'm thinking of doing is taking two cones and lining the inside of one cone with 2x1x1/2 N42 magnets and lining the outside of the other cone with the same magnets but with the poles reversed. The cones will serve a dual purpose. They give me the area to use more magnets so that I can support the weight of the VAWT. It will also give me stability because the cones will force the whole assembly to stay centered. I'm not sure how heavy my wings and alternator will but I'm hoping for around 50 pounds or so. I've never worked with these magnets so I don't know if they can support that much weight so any suggestions would help. I was also thinking you might need an other set of magnets to stabilize, counter act might be a better word, the force of the wind.
I was wondering what you all think of the ideas.
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