TKM COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING

SEMINAR

NAVEEN V

EDDY CURRENT BRAKING SYSTEM

ROLL NO:- 48

TKM18ME100
 ABSTRACT

In the operation of any machines braking plays a major role .

Braking is a process of converting KE Energy to Heat Energy.
Where heat is generated due to friction between two Metalic
plates or disc. This operation lead to major wear and tear in
the plate and the disc .Which may cause danger to the person
and endanger his/her life .Where as in Eddy current braking
there is no direct contact between the plate and the stopper . In
Eddy current braking it make use of Eddy current which is
generated due to change in magnetic flux to stope a machine.
The working is simple and reliable compared to Hydraulic
and disc braking
 CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION
2. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION
3. CONSTRUCTION
4. WORKING
5. BRAKING POWER CALCULATIONS
6. EDDY CURRENT BRAKE REQUIREMENTS
7. MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION
8. ADVANTAGES
9. DISADVANTAGES
10. APPLICATIONS
11. CONCLUSION
12. REFERENCES
 INTRODUCTION

Many of the ordinary brakes, which are being used now days
stop the vehicle by means of mechanical blocking. This
causes skidding and wear and tear of the vehicle. And if the
speed of the vehicle is very high, the brake cannot provide
that much high braking force and it will cause problems.
These drawbacks of ordinary brakes can be overcome by a
simple and effective mechanism of braking system ‘The eddy
current brake’. It is an abrasion-free method for braking of
vehicles including trains. It makes use of the opposing
tendency of eddy current Eddy current is the swirling current
produced in a conductor, which is subjected to a change in
magnetic field. Because of the tendency of eddy currents to
oppose, eddy currents cause energy to be lost. More
accurately, eddy currents transform more useful forms of
energy such as kinetic energy into heat, which is much less
useful. In many applications, the loss of useful energy is not
particularly desirable. But there are some practical
applications. Such an application is the eddy current brake.
 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATIONS

Eddy current brake works according to Faraday’s law of

electromagnetic induction. According to this law, whenever a
conductor cuts magnetic lines of forces, an emf is induced in
the conductor, the magnitude of which is proportional to the
strength of magnetic field and the speed of the conductor. If
the conductor is a disc, there will be circulatory currents i.e.
eddy currents in the disc. According to Lenz’s law, the
direction of the current is in such a way as to oppose the
cause, i.e. movement of the disc. Essentially the eddy current
brake consists of two parts, a stationary magnetic field system
and a solid rotating part, which include a metal disc. During
braking, the metal disc is exposed to a magnetic field from an
electromagnet, generating eddy currents in the disc. The
magnetic interaction between the applied field and the eddy
currents slow down the rotating disc. Thus the wheels of the
vehicle also slow down since the wheels are directly coupled
to the disc of the eddy current brake, thus producing smooth
stopping motion.
 CONSTRUCTION

Essentially an eddy current brake consists of two members, a

stationary magnetic field system and a solid rotary member,
generally of mild steel, which is sometimes referred to as the
secondary because the eddy currents are induced in it. Two
members are separated by a short air gap, they’re being no
contact between the two for the purpose of torque
transmission. Consequently there is no wear as in friction
brake. Stator consists of pole core, pole shoe, and field
winding. The field winding is wounded on the pole core. Pole
core and pole shoes are made of east steel laminations and
fixed to the state of frames by means of screw or bolts.
Copper and aluminium is used for winding material .
This system consists of two parts. 1. Stator , 2. Rotor
Stator:- It is supported frame members of the vehicle chassis.
It has introduced magnetic poles energized by windings.
Current is supplied to the winding from the battery.
Rotor:- It is a rotating disc, which is fitted on the line of
crankshaft with small air gap to stator. When disc rotates a
flux change occur in the section of the disc passing the poles
of stator.
 Due to the flux change there is a circulatory or eddy current
in the disc around the magnetic lines of force. The effect of
this eddy current induces ‘N’ and ‘S’ poles at the surface of
the disc. Then there will be a ‘drag’ or braking effect in
between eddy current induced poles and magnetic poles in the
stator. . In this breaking system kinetic energy of the vehicle
is converted to heat and this heat is dissipated through the
rotating disc.
Total resistance of field winding R = LS/A
where, L = total length of field winding in meter.
S= Resistivity of the wire in ohm meter
A = the area of cross section of field winding in
Total no: of terms = total length /mean length of one term
 WORKING

When the vehicle is moving, the rotor disc of eddy current

brake which is coupled to the wheels of the vehicle rotates, in
close proximity to stationary magnetic poles. When we want
to brake the vehicle, a control switch is put on which is placed
on the steering column in a position for easy operation. When
the control switch is operated, current flows from a battery to
the field winding, thus energizing the magnet. Then the
rotating disc will cut the magnetic field. When the disc cuts
the magnetic field, flux changes occur in the disc which is
proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. The current
will flow back to the zero field areas of the metal plate and
thus create a closed current loop like a whirl or eddy. A flow
of current always means there is a magnetic field as well. Due
to Lenz’s law, the magnetic field produced by the eddy
currents works against the movement direction. Thus instead
of mechanical friction, a magnetic friction is created. In
consequence, the disc will experience a “drag” or the braking
effect, and thus the disc stops rotation. The wheels of the
vehicle, which is directly coupled to the disc, also stop
rotation. Faster the wheels are spinning, stronger the effect,
meaning that as the vehicle slows, the braking force is
reduced producing a smooth stopping action.

TYPES OF EDDY CURRENT BRAKES

There are two types of eddy current brakes according to the
method of excitation.
1.Electrically excited eddy current brake
2.Permanent magnet eddy current brake

1.ELECTRICALLY EXCITED EDDY CURRENT BRAKE

Electrically excited eddy current brakes are abruption-free
method for braking. In high-speed trains they offer a good
alternative to the mechanical rail brakes which are being used
now a days. During braking, the brake comes in contact with
the rail, and the magnetic poles of brakes are energized by a
winding supplied. Magnetic poles of brakes are energized by a
winding supplied with current from the battery. Then the
magnetic flux is distributed over the rail. The eddy currents
are generated in the rail, producing an electromagnetic
braking force. This types of braking need an additional safety
power supply when there are breakdowns in the electrical
power supply

2. PERMANENT MAGNET EDDY CURRENT BRAKE

Recently, permanent magnet eddy current brakes have been
developed for subways, trams and local trains. These brakes
need a mechanical actuator to turn the magnets jn an on and
off position. The main advantage of this type of brake is
safety. i.e. it does not need electrical power supply to energize
the magnet
 BRAKING POWER CALCULATIONS

Calculation methods for the determination of braking forces

of eddy current brakes are important for the design of the
brakes. For a simple eddy current brake employing a thin non-
magnetic disc as copper the drag or braking force on the disc
where
H = Magnetic field strength in Webers.
A = Pole force area in cm2.
V = Velocity in cm/sec of mean radius of disc under the poles.
T = disc thickness in cm.
S= specific resistance of disc material at its operating
temperature in micro ohms/cm3.
Torque = F * R Nm
Where R = mean pole radius in meter.
Power P = 2 pie NT/60 watts.

EDDY CURRENT BRAKE REQUIREMENTS

An eddy current brake is an energy converter functions is to

convert the kinetic energy of a vehicle into heat and dissipate
it such a rate to maintain the temperature of unit with in
reasonable limits under maximum and prolonged braking
conditions. The energy absorbed by the brake is transformed
into heat by the currents induced in the motor, and this is heat
manly dissipated in surrounding air through the medium of
suitable designed fins the rotating member. In mountains area,
continues braking force is needed for a long time (say about
half an hour), at this condition, eddy current braking is more
suitable to function without over heating. The use of these
retarders is by no means limited to mountain on country. They
can be advantageously employed on public service vehicles
on city routes without frequent stops. But in this braking
system there with out be any braking force in the vehicle is
rest. So the eddy current brake is used as an auxiliary heavy-
duty retarder. By using auxiliary retarder very smooth
retardation is assumed and likely hood of skidding on slippery
roads surfaces is minimized. Smooth braking action cuts
down tier were and since brake is used as an auxiliary heavy-
duty retarder. By using auxiliary retarder very smooth
retardation is assumed and likely hood of skidding on slippery
roads surfaces is minimized. Smooth braking action cuts
down tier were and since the conventional brakes are relieved
of heavy duty being required only to bring vehicles to rest.

MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION

A typical mounting of an eddy current brake consists of two

discs in which pole salient type, supported between the frame
numbers of a vehicle chassis. Rotor is coupled to road wheels
being often mounted on a shaft that is interposed between the
gearbox and propeller shaft and stator is mounted on the
frame of the vehicle. The driver who can select one or four
excitation settings according to the breaking effect required
mounts a control switch on a steering column in a position for
easy operation. In the operative positions of this switch 1, 2,
3, 4 contractors are energized to supply current to the
excitation windings of the retarder. Warning lamp is also
provided on the instrument panel to indicate when the retarder
is energized. This provides a safe guard for the driver against
leaving the unit energized when the vehicle is stationary.

ADVANTAGES
 Less maintenance
 Wide range of braking force available within the
temperature limit
 Prolonged braking is possible
 Long life
 Less strain to the operation
 Smooth retardation, which cuts down, the tire wears
 Works in the toughest atmosphere
 Readly available
 Safe
 DISADVANTAGES

 No breaking force at rest

 Need of electric power
The main disadvantage of the edyy current brake is that it
needs electric power to work. Researches are going on to
overcome this disadvantage by making the brake regenerative
i.e. by converting the kinetic energy of the vehicle into
electric energy and storing it back into the battery
 APPLICATIONS

 For additional safety on long decants in mountain area

 For high speed passenger and goods vehicle
 Roller Coaster

Eddy current brakes are best substitutes for ordinary brakes,

which are being used nowadays in road vehicles even in
trains, because of their jerk-free operation. In mountain areas
where continuous braking force is needed, for a long time, the
eddy current braking is very much useful for working without
overheating. Eddy current brakes are very much useful for
high-speed passengers and good vehicles. It can also be used
to slow down the trolleys of faster roller coasters.

CONCLUSION

Eddy current brakes are the best choice when demands for
reliability and safety are the highest. They work even in the
toughest environmental conditions. Even the strike of
lightning will not result in the loss of the braking force. Eddy
current braking system is not popular now a days. But we
hope that the eddy current braking system which is simpler
and more effective will take the place of the ordinary braking
system and we can do expect it to be the norm one in few
years of time.

REFERENCE

1. Trans Stellar , Vol 0 issue Aug 2019

2. How eddy current works By Brett Smith issued on
2019
 3. Mini Review on Eddy Crrent By MRA Putra –2020
4. CES Transaction on Electrical Machine And System ,
vol 3 ,no 1 March 2019
www.reelectromagneticbrakes.com 6.
www.lineareddycurrentbrakes.com