Thrust-stabilised magnetic levitation ultracentrifuge

Abstract

A thrust-stabilised magnetic levitation ultracentrifuge comprises a magnetic levitation homopolar motor formed by a lower cylindrical magnet (1) that carries two parallel bismuth or graphite cylinders (2) with a rotor (3) located in a vacuum therebetween and comprising a lower electrically insulating disk (4) and two parallel cylindrical magnets (5 and 6) made of NbFeB (neodymium, iron and boron) or AlNiCo (aluminium, nickel and cobalt) interconnected by a hollow steel cylinder (7), the inside of which is in communication with the outside through a central vertical channel (8) located inside the upper magnet, and through which the sample to be centrifuged is injected and withdrawn, rotation being caused by the influence of the magnetic field on the electric current (9) that flows through the mercury or gallium (10) that fills the inside of the upper metal recipient (11) up to the positive pole (12) attached to the metal frame (13). The present invention is applicable in the fields of centrifuges and ultracentrifuges for industrial or domestic use.