A hybrid shaft bearing, a wind generator comprising the hybrid shaft bearing, a use of the hybrid shaft bearing and a method of operating the hybrid shaft bearing is provided. The hybrid shaft bearing comprises a hydrodynamic friction bearing and a rolling bearing. Both the hydrodynamic friction and rolling bearings cooperate with a support structure and rotatably support a shaft. The hydrodynamic friction bearing is a passive hydrodynamic bearing.

A hybrid shaft bearing, a wind generator comprising the hybrid shaft bearing, a use of the hybrid shaft bearing and a method of operating the hybrid shaft bearing is provided. The hybrid shaft bearing comprises a hydrodynamic friction bearing and a rolling bearing. Both the hydrodynamic friction and rolling bearings cooperate with a support structure and rotatably support a shaft. The hydrodynamic friction bearing is a passive hydrodynamic bearing.

A hybrid airfoil thrust bearing is provided for a shaft including a thrust disc that rotates with the shaft. The hybrid airfoil thrust bearing includes airfoil bearing components and passive magnetic bearing components. The hybrid airfoil bearing components include a first top foil immediately adjacent to a first side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft, first additional components, a second top foil immediately adjacent to a second side of the thrust disc and surrounding the shaft and second additional components. The passive magnetic bearing components are integrated into the thrust disc and into the first and second additional components to remove a static load of the thrust disc on the first top foil and on the second top foil.

A compressor assembly is provided and includes a fluid pathway, a compressor disposed and configured to compress fluid flowing along the fluid pathway and a motor configured to drive operations of the compressor. The motor includes one or more hybrid airfoil bearings to support the shaft within a housing. Each of the one or more hybrid airfoil bearings includes airfoil bearing components including a top foil immediately surrounding the shaft and additional components and passive magnetic bearing components integrated into the shaft and the additional components of the airfoil bearing components to remove a static load of the shaft on the top foil.

A hybrid airfoil bearing for a shaft is provided and includes airfoil bearing components and passive magnetic bearing components. The airfoil bearing components include a top foil immediately surrounding the shaft and additional components. The passive magnetic bearing components are integrated into the shaft and the additional components of the airfoil bearing components to remove a static load of the shaft on the top foil.