Magnetic Levitation

Prof. Rashmi S. Bhumbare

Electrical(Electronics & Power)
VPSCET
Lonavala, Maharashtra
rashmisbhumbare@gmail.com

Abstract: Magnetic levitation is the process of levitating an object with the help of magnetic fields without any type
of support. It can be controlled by using Gravitational force. The magnetic force of repulsion and attraction are used for the
magnetic levitation. We can levited any objects with magnetic fields by using permanent magnets and current induced in
solenoids. In this method Earnshaw’s theorem can be removed by using a feedback control system for the solenoids to
equalize the magnetic forces and keep the object sustained in equilibrium.
In this method, Hall Effect sensor senses magnetic field, strength, polarity and provides equilibrium axis to leveting object. It
is also capable of detecting the magnetic flux orientation and it is placed on centre axis of electromagnet.

1. Introduction earth are due to this field.

Magnetic levitation is the process of levitating an object by

exploiting magnetic fields. In other words, it is overcoming 2. Basic of Magnetic Levitation
the gravitational force on an object by applying a
2.1 Magnetic Fields
counteracting magnetic field. Either the magnetic force of
The creation of magnetic forces is the basis of all magnetic
repulsion or attraction can be used. In the case of magnetic
levitation. There are two basic principles in dealing with the
attraction, the experiment is known as magnetic suspension.
concept of magnetic levitation: The Faraday’s first Law
Using magnetic repulsion, it becomes magnetic levitation.
states that the amount of current passed through an electrode
Some forces in this world are almost invisible to the naked
is directly proportional to the amount of material liberated
eye and most people throughout the world do not even know
from it. if there is a change in the magnetic field on a coil of
they exist. On one side you could say that some of these
wire, there is seen a change in voltage.
forces are abstract feelings inside of a human being that have
From Figure 1 below it is illustrated that the change in the
been given names from man. These forces could be things
magnetic field produces a current.
like emotion, guilt, and even ecstasy. On the other side you
have solid concrete principles of how the world works.
These too have been given names by man, but these
principles are not abstract and have solid ground in science.
These different principles are things like gravity, electricity,
and magnetism. Magnetism has been a part of the earth
since the beginning whether people realize it or not. It is due
to the magnetism of the earth that the world spins and thus
Figure 1: Induced Current from Change in Magnetic Field
creates things like gravity. The magnetism is created by the
processes within the core of the earth. The earth’s iron-ore
For the purpose of magnetic levitation is the ability to change
core has a natural spinning motion to it inside which creates
the strength of a magnetic field by just changing the current.
a natural magnetic force that is held constant over the earth.
Whenever we required more force then we need to flow
This creates magnetic forces that turn the earth into a large
more current through the coil. Lenz Law states that
bar magnet. The creation of North and South poles on the
“whenever current flowing through the circuit then emf get
induced in it”. And it always acts in such a direction; it
opposes the change in the magnetic flux which produces the
emf.”.
Figure 2: Perpendicular Force from Induce Current
From Figure 2, it is illustrated that there is a coiled wire
around the cylinder. Inside that coiled wire is a current that is
traveling from left to right. The resulting magnetic force
from that current is shown perpendicular to the current and is
traveling from bottom to top
. be depending on the amount of current that is passed through
3. Types of Magnet used for Magnetic
Levitation
There are different types of magnet are used in magnetic
levitation and they are as follows.
3.1 Permanent Magnet
Permanent magnet is the first implementation for the
Levitation process. This is made by solid material having
North and South poles. It is shown in figure no. 3. A
permanent magnet is a ferromagnetic material that constantly
produces a uniform magnetic field.
Figure 3 Permanent: Magnet
There are two types of properties that are repulsion and
attraction. They have required low maintenance. Permanent
magnets have many types of applications they are used in
compasses, DC motor drives, clocks, hearing aids,
microphones, speedometers, and many more.
3.2 Electromagnetic Magnet
When wire is coiled around a magnetic material, a current is
passed through this wire, then the electric current will
magnetize the metallic core. This can be seen in Fig.
Figure 4:
The principle of Electromagnet works like permanent
magnet only for temporary scale. This mean that when a
current flowing in magnet then magnetic field induce in it . It
also gives a person control over how strong the magnet will
the wire.
4. Electromagnetic Magnetic Suspension
The simplest way to levitate an object electromagnetically is
via Magnetic Suspension. The Levitating object is Levitated
in between Electromagnet and ground support and object
stable between them because of the Strength of Magnetic
Field produced by Electromagnet is controlled to exactly
cancel out the downward force on the object caused by its
weight. This system is work on force of attraction between
the Electromagnet and the object. If the levitating object is so
far from the Electromagnet then the current flowing through
the Electromagnet must be high and the current flowing
through Electromagnet is must be less when the levitating
object is closed to Electromagnet.
The Position Sensor or Hall effect Sensor are placed on
center axis of Electromagnet and its linear output device
which sense the Polarity of nearby Magnetic field and its
sensitivity is dependent on the supply voltage.

Figure 5: Physical model of magnetic suspension system
There are different ways to find out the position of the
levitating object.
5. Circuit Diagram
Figure 6: Magnetic levitation.
Figure no. 6 shows the basic circuit diagram of magnetic
levitation. In this circuit we give 12 volt DC supply for the
required operation and LED will be glows. Resistor 2 (330
Ohm) is connected in series with LED because of protection
against excessive current. And diode is connected parallel
across LED and resistor 2. The function of resistor is to
reduce the magnitude of current flowing through the circuit.
The function of diode VD2 (HER207) is where added to
provide current surge protection, the diode only blocks
current in the reverse direction.
The transistor (Power MOSFET N-Channel) which have
three terminals that is gate, drain and source. This transistor
used to switch ON or OFF the supply given to the Hall Effect
sensor. And the current flows through the solenoid coil it
acts as a electromagnet and generate a controlled magnetic
field. The field outside the solenoid is radially uniform or
constant. And Hall Effect sensor placed in solenoid coil.
5.1 Components
The above circuit consists of:
1. 1K Ohm resister & 330 Ohm resister.
2. A3144 Hall effect sensor.
3. IRF Z44n-VT1 Transistor.
4. VD2-HER 207 Diode.
5. VD1-LED.
6. Solenoid coil.
1) 1K Ohm & 330 Ohm Resistor:
A resistor is a passive two terminal electrical component that
implements electrical resistance as a circuit element. In this
circuit resistors are used to reduce the flow of current.330
ohm R2 resistor is connected in series with the LED. The
function of resistor is to reduce the magnitude of the
oscillations, however as the value of resistance is increased.
The amount of current in the electromagnet is reduced.
2) A 3144 Hall Effect Sensor
A Hall Effect sensor placed in solenoid coil senses magnetic
field, strength, polarity and provides equilibrium axis to
leveting object. It is also capable for detecting the magnetic
flux orientation and it is placed on centre of solenoid.
The sensor itself comes in a small three pin IC package. Its
supply voltage is 4.5V to 6V and the supply current required
is approximately 9mA to 14mA. Its outputs quiescent
voltage of 2.4V to 3V depending on the supply voltage, but it
is generally in the range of 1.4nV/G.
3) IRFZ44n Transistor
The transistor which is Power MOSFET N-Channel (IRF
Z44N) having three terminal that is gate, drain and source
used to switch ON or OFF the supply provides to the hall
effect sensor. When VGS is Positive then circuit is ON and
when VGS is zero then circuit is OFF condition it is voltage
controlled device. Voltage applied to the gate terminal and
generate electrical field to control the current flow through
the channel between drain and source and there no current
flow through the gate in the MOSFET. Its maximum gate
voltage is 10V. Drain and source resistance is very high,
which is almost like a open circuit then resistance is
decreases. It runs at 5V.
4) VD2-HER 207 Diode.
Diode is a device which only allows unidirectional flow of
current if operated within a rated specified voltage level. The
function of diode VD2 (HER207) is where added to provide
current surge protection, the diode only blocks current in the
reverse direction.
5) VD1-Light Emitting Diode (LED)
LED is a two lead semiconductor light source. It is a PN-
junction diode. In figure no.7 LED is connected series with
R2 resistor and parallel to diode VD2 across the Power
Supply. The purpose of LED in the circuit is to indicate the
circuit is ON or OFF.
6) Solenoid coil
Solenoid is a coil wound into a tightly packed helix. Coil
whose length is substantially greater than its diameter, often
wrapped around the metallic core, which produces uniform
magnetic field in the volume of space when a electric current
pass the through it..a solenoid is a type of electromagnet
when a purpose is to generate a controlled the magnetic
field. Field outside the solenoid is radially uniform or
constant. We use ferromagnetic core such as iron, because it
increase the magnitude of the magnetic flux density in the
solenoid and raises the effective permeability of magnetic
path. And the purpose of solenoid in this project is to attract
the levitating object.
Figure 7: Solenoid coil
It will attract small pieces of iron only when a current flow
through it. The lines of force inside the coil are very nearly
straight. Hence the magnetic field is uniform over the
considerable space at the centre of solenoid. Strength of the
field can be increase the by increase in the number of term
per meter of the solenoid and by increasing the current
through it.
Conclusion
In this paper with the help of solenoid as a electromagnet,
Hall Effect sensor and gravitational force we can levitated
the object. By using solenoid we attract object in upper side
and according to gravitational phenomenon same levitating
object attract at downward side and in this way we can
levitated this object with providing stable stability of that
particular object.
References
[1] Electromagnetic Levitation thesis paper 2005 compiled
by: Lance Williams.
[2] A Procedure for analyzing A Magnetic Levitation Toy
Wesley C. Caruso, Kelsey M. Cintorino, Benjamin D.
Mepheron School of Engineering, Computing &
Construction Management Roger Williams University
[3] M.D. Simon, L.O. Heflinger and S.L. Ridgway, Spin
Stabilized magnetic Levitation, Am. J. Phys. 65,286-
292 (1997)
[4] Dalenberg, J.R.(2011). Design and Analysis of a
Magentic Levitation System for Control system courses
(Thesis).
[5] Mayer, D., Magnetic Levitation and its applications, in
Czech, ELEKTRO 1/2003, pp.4-12
[6] Sinha. P.K., Electromagnetic suspension – Dynamics
and control, Peter Peregrinus, London, 1987.
[7] Jayawant, B.V., Electromagnetic Levitation and
suspension techniques, Edward Arnold, London, 1981.I