MAGLEV

Maglev systems are becoming a popular application around the globe. Maglev trains are popular
in transportation stations in big countries like Germany, China, Japan and the United States of
America due to the demand for high-speed transportation, as the general public transportation
services become more congested with increase of population. Maglev trains are magnetically
levitated trains that traverse in a very high speed, with only electricity being its main source of
energy. The train propels forward without any friction from moving mechanical parts. It has many
advantages with minor drawbacks.

The basis of maglev trains mechanisms are magnetic levitation. This is achieved with the
principal of repulsion and attraction between two magnetic poles. When two magnets have the
same poles, it will repel with each other and when it has different poles, the result would be
otherwise.

We will be covering the basic principals of Electrodynamic Suspension Systems (EDS),

Electromagnetic Suspension Systems (EMS). EDS and EMS both use only the interaction of
magnets and superconductors. The maglev propulsion systems uses the interaction of stators,
superconductors and magnets between the railway and the train. It has controls for speed and
direction, which are based on electricity.

How is magnetic levitation achieved?

Magnetic levitation can be further understood by
considering a current carrying coil. When current
flows through the coil, it induces magnetic field. The
change in magnetic field in the coil due to the change
in current induces Eddy current in the metal ring,
which induces magnetic field, as to oppose the field
generating it. There repulsive force of the south-south
pole (here) lifts the ring.

There are two types of magnetic levitation.

• Electromagnetic levitation (the ring example)

• Electrodynamic levitation.
The two figures as given further explain both type of magnetic levitations. Basically both employ
same phenomenon, for levitation. In figure a, we have coil wrapped around the iron core, placed
over a metal plate. Now when current flows through the coil, iron core is induced with the
magnetic field.

This magnetic field as a result induces the magnetic field in the metal, but in opposite direction.
Hence both fields repel each other and iron core is lifted upward. In figure b, we have a
permanent magnet instead of iron core. When magnetic flux is changed by moving the magnet, it
induces the magnetic field in the metal plate.

Thus both methods can be used to achieve levitation.

Maglev Suspension Systems
Electromagnetic Suspensions
The electromagnetic suspension EMS uses attractive force
system to levitate. The train’s levitation magnet will be
attracted to the conductors on the underside of the
guideway. The attractive force between them will overcome
the gravitational force. This will in turn levitates the train on
the track.

The guidance magnets on the other hand guides the train so

that the side of the track will not have contact with the train,
creating friction and damages the train. The guidance
magnets will also guide the train so that it will follow the direction of the guideway track.

From the figure above, we can see that the train is wrapped around the track. Because of this,
the EMS train is a safer train and comfortable. The regulated levitation of the train makes the
train levitates even when traveling at low speed. The magnetic field intensity inside the
passenger compartment is also small so it is safe for passengers with pacemakers or
passengers carrying magnetic storage such as credit card or hard disk. Its intensity is
comparable to the earth's magnetic field and far below the field intensity of a hair dryer, an
electric drill or a sewing machine.

In the event of a power failure, the EMS maglev train is equipped with an emergency battery
power supply so that the maglev train will not crash onto the guideway.

The most successful EMS maglev train so far is called the Transrapid system and it is currently
being used by the MagLev in Shanghai, China. It is also being used in Germany.
Electrodynamic Suspension
The electrodynamic suspension (EDS) train has been
developed by Japanese engineers. It uses magnets that
has same polarity (refer to figure above) to create
repulsive force between levitation magnet and guideway
magnet. This repulsive force then will be high enough to
overcome gravitational force and allows it to levitate.

The main difference between EDS maglev train and EMS

maglev train is that EDS maglev train use super-cooled,
superconducting electromagnets. This superconducting
electromagnet can conduct electricity even after the power supply has been shut off for example
in the event of a blackout. In the EMS system, which uses standard electromagnets, the coils
only conduct electricity when a power supply is present. By chilling the coil at frigid temperatures,
Japan’s EDS system saves energy. However, the cryogenic system uses to cool the coils can be
expensive.

One potential drawback in using the EDS system is that maglev trains must roll on rubber tires
until they reach a liftoff speed of about 62 miles/h (100 km/h). Past the liftoff speed, the train will
levitate and the rubber tires will no longer in contact with the guideway. However, Japanese
engineer say that the wheels are an advantage if a power failure caused a shutdown of the
system. The EDS train is impressively capable to levitate nearly 4 inches (10cm) above the
guideway.

Since EDS train will induce a high intensity magnetic field, the passenger section of the train will
have to be shielded from the magnetic field or else it will be dangerous for passengers with
pacemakers and damages magnetic data storage such as credit cards and hard drives.

Magnetic Levitation (Acceleration and Decceleration)

An EMS system can provide both levitation and propulsion using an on board linear motor. The
polarity of the stators (Figure 1) at the track will quickly change its polarity continuously to move
the Maglev train. Stators at the sides are excited sequentially. The electromagnets on board
'chase' the current forward along the track. The continuous magnetic field moving forward. Speed
controlled by frequency of alternating current.

EDS systems can only levitate the train using the magnets on board, not propel it forward. As
such, vehicles need some other technology for propulsion. A linear motor (propulsion coils)
mounted in the track is one solution. Over long distances where the cost of propulsion coils could
be prohibitive, a propeller or jet engine could be used.

The process of propulsion for EDS is same as EMS except that the stators will stop for a moment
after polarity change. Referred as "pull- then neutral- then push” system. Coils or aluminum
sheet at the sides. The direction of current of the particular segment is reversed. Polarity of that
segment changes which causes repulsion.

Propulsion coils on the guideway are used to exert a force on the magnets in the train and make
the train move forward. The propulsion coils that exert a force on the train are effectively a linear
motor. The linear motor in the guideway functions just like a conventional electric motor with its
stator cut open and stretched out over the length of the guideway. Instead of a magnetic rotary
field, the current in the windings generates a magnetic field of travelling waves, which pulls the
vehicle without contact. By changing the intensity and frequency of the driving current, speed and
thrust can be continuously adjusted. When the motor is operated as a generator, the direction of
the energy flow is reverted and used for contactless braking.

An alternating current flowing through the coils generates a continuously varying magnetic field
that moves forward along the track. The frequency of the alternating current is synchronized to
match the speed of the train. The offset between the field exerted by magnets on the train and
the applied field create a force moving the train forward.

A linear motor or linear induction motor is essentially a multi-phase alternating current (AC)
electric motor that has had its stator "unrolled" so that instead of producing a torque (rotation) it
produces a linear force along its length. The most common mode of operation is as a Lorentz-
type actuator, in which the applied force is linearly proportional to the current and the magnetic
field (F = qv × B).
Many designs have been put forward for linear motors, falling into two major categories, low-
acceleration and high-acceleration linear motors. Low-acceleration linear motors are suitable for
maglev trains and other ground-based transportation applications.

The force is produced by a moving linear magnetic field acting on

conductors in the field. Any conductor, be it a loop, a coil or simply a
piece of plate metal, that is placed in this field will have eddy currents
induced in it thus creating an opposing magnetic field. The two
opposing fields will repel each other, thus forcing the conductor away
from the stator and carrying it along in the direction of the moving
magnetic field.

Free body diagram of a U-channel linear motor. The view is

perpendicular to the channel axis. The two coils at center are
mechanically connected, and are energized in ‘quadrature’ (with a
phase difference of 90° (π/2 radians)). If the bottom coil (as shown) leads in phase, then the
motor will move downward (in the drawing), and vice versa.

Magnetic Levitation or Maglev Track

The magnetized coil running along the track, called a guideway, repels the large magnets on the
train's undercarriage, allowing the train to levitate between 0.39 and 3.93 inches (1 to 10 cm)
above the guideway. Once the train is levitated, power is supplied to the coils within the
guideway walls to create a unique system of magnetic fields that pull and push the train along the
guideway. The electric current supplied to the coils in the guideway walls is constantly alternating
to change the polarity of the magnetized coils. This change in polarity causes the magnetic field
in front of the train to pull the vehicle forward, while the magnetic field behind the train adds more
forward thrust.

Maglev trains float on a cushion of air,

eliminating friction. This lack of friction and
the trains' aerodynamic designs allow these
trains to reach unprecedented ground
transportation speeds of more than 310 mph
(500 kph), or twice as fast as Amtrak's
fastest commuter train. In comparison, a
Boeing-777 commercial airplane used for long-range flights can reach a top speed of about 562
mph (905 kph). Developers say that maglev trains will eventually link cities that are up to 1,000
miles (1,609 km) apart. At 310 mph, you could travel from Paris to Rome in just over two hours.

Germany and Japan are both developing maglev train technology, and both are currently testing
prototypes of their trains. (The German company "Transrapid International" also has a train in
commercial use -- more about that in the next section.) Although based on similar concepts, the
German and Japanese trains have distinct differences. In Germany, engineers have developed
an electromagnetic suspension (EMS) system, called Transrapid. In this system, the bottom of
the train wraps around a steel guideway. Electromagnets attached to the train's undercarriage
are directed up toward the guideway, which levitates the train about 1/3 of an inch (1 cm) above
the guideway and keeps the train levitated even when it's not moving. Other guidance magnets
embedded in the train's body keep it stable during travel. Germany has demonstrated that the
Transrapid maglev train can reach 300 mph with people on board.

The propulsion system of the superspeed maglev system is installed in the guideway in the form
of a linear motor. This "guideway motor" has two big advantages: firstly, the vehicle is much
lighter, and secondly, the driving power is flexible. This means that in up-grade or acceleration
sections more power is installed in the guideway than in sections where the route runs at grade.

Additionally, a lot of energy is saved because only that section of the linear motor on which the
vehicle moves is powered. Moreover, this prevents two vehicles from being in the same section
at the same time and absolutely leaves no chance of trains meeting on the same track.

The double-track guideway consists of beams made of concrete or steel and is installed at grade
or elevated, so the guideway can be adapted to any terrain.