MAGLEV TRAINS

SUBMITTED BY:Lokesh ChoudharyNeetu Choudhary

Driving without wheels, Flying without wings

JECRC UNIVERSITY

CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONBASIC PRINCIPLE OF MAGLEV TRAINSTECHNOLOGY AND TYPESMERITS AND DEMERITS STABILITYEVACUATED TUBESPOWER AND ENERGYCOMPARISON WITH AIRCRAFT AND CONVENTIONAL TRAINSECONOMICSEXISTING MAGLEV SYSTEMSSUMMARYREFERENCE

INTRODUCTIONWhat is meant by MAGLEV?

MAGLEV = MAGNETIC + LEVITATION

Any thing which may levitate(raise or float) by means of a magnetic power is simply called as magnetic levitation.

LEVITATION :

Meaning :• A Latin word meaning lightness.• Process by which an object is suspended by a physical force against gravity, in a stable position without any solid physical contact.

Principle :• First a force is required vertically upwards and equal to the gravitational force.• Second for any small displacement of the levitating object a returning force should appear to stabilize it.

Major Types :• Electromagnetic levitation• Buoyant levitation• Aerodynamic levitation

Magnetic Levitation :Definition:• Magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended with no support other than magnetic field.

Principle:• Magnetic pressure is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational and any other activities.

Magnetic Field:• A magnetic field is a field of force produced by a magnetic object or particle, or by a changing electrical field.• It is detected by the force it exerts on other magnetic materials and moving electric charges.

Magnetic pressure:• Any magnetic field has an associated pressure that is contained by the boundary conditions on the field.

Maglev is the system of transportation that uses magnetic levitation to suspend ,guide and propel the vehicles using magnets.

First described by Robert Goddard, American Rocket Scientist, 1909 Scientific American.

Later in 1937 & 1941 a series of German patents for maglev trains propelled by linear motors awarded to Hermann Kemper .

In the 1960s in Britain Eric Laithwaite developed a functional maglev train.

HISTORY

Maglev trains have to perform the following functions to operate in high speeds1.Levitation 2.Propulsion 3.Lateral Guidance

Basic principle of Maglev Trains

Levitation

•The passing of the superconducting magnets through levitation coils on the side of the track induces a current in the coils and creates a magnetic field. This pushes the train upward so that it can levitate 10 cm above the track.

•The train does not levitate until it reaches 50 mph, so it is equipped with retractable wheels.

Propulsion•An alternating current is ran through electromagnet coils on the guide walls of the guide way. This creates a magnetic field that attracts and repels the superconducting magnets on the train and propels the train forward.

•Braking is accomplished by sending an alternating current in the reverse direction so that it is slowed by attractive and repulsive forces.

Lateral Guidance•When one side of the train nears the side of the guideway, the super conducting magnet on the train induces a repulsive force from the levitation coils on the side closer to the train and an attractive force from the coils on the farther side. This keeps the train in the center.

TECHNOLOGYUses monorail track with linear motor

Uses magnets to reach a really high velocity

Floats about 1-10cm above the guideway on a magnetic field.

Propelled by the guideway

Once the train is pulled into the next section the magnetism switches so that the train is pulled on again.

There are 2 notable types of maglev technology:-

•Electromagnetic suspension(EMS)

•Electrodynamic suspension(EDS)

TYPES OF MAGLEV TECHNOLOGY

ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSPENSION

Electromagnets attached to the train

Has ferromagnetic stators on the track and levitate the train.

Has guidance magnets on the sides

A computer changes the amount of current to keep the train 1 cm from the track.

Max speed -438km/hr

Has on-board battery power supply.

ELECTRODYNAMIC SUSPENSION

Super cooled superconducting magnets under the train. Levitate about 10 cm.

The field in the train due to superconducting magnets(JR-Maglev) or an array of permanent magnets(Inductrack).

The force in the track is created by induced magnetic field in wires or conducting strips in the track.Naturally stable. Requires no feedback control.

Requires retractable wheels at low speed , max speed – 522km/hr

HOW MAGLEV TRAIN WORKS

MERITS & DEMERITS OF DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES

TECHNOLOGY

MERITS DEMERITS

EMS •Magnetic fields inside & outside the vehicle are less than EDS.•No wheels or secondary propulsion required•Can attain very high speed.(500km/hr).

•Constant monitoring correction of separation between vehicle & guideway using computer systems essential.•Due to inherent instability and corrections ,vibration issues may occur.

EDS •Onboard magnets and large separation enable highest recorded speeds(581km/hr) and heavy load capacity.•Naturally stable and hence no feedback control required.

•Strong magnetic field makes the train inaccessible to passengers with pacemakers or storage media like hard drives and credit cards.•Vehicle must be wheeled for low speed travel.

TECHNOLOGY MERITS DEMERITS

INDUCTRACK

SYSTEM (PERMANENT

MAGNET EDS)

•Failsafe suspension-No power required to activate magnets.•Can generate enough force at low speeds to levitate the train.•The train can slow down on its own in case of power failures.•The array of permanent magnets are cost effective than electromagnets.

•Requires wheels when the vehicle is stopped•New technology , still under development , no commercial version or full scale system prototype

STABILITYEMS system rely on active electronic stabilisation..

All EDS systems are moving systems.

Since these vehicles fly,stabilisation of pitch , roll and sway is required

In addition to rotation , surge , sway and or heave can be problematic.

EVACUATED TUBES (ET3)Some systems use the use of vac trains-maglev train technology used in evacuated tubes , which removes the air drag.

This increases the speed and efficiency greatly .It is a proposed design for super high-speed transportation about 4000-5000 mph.

But the passengers may suffer from the risk of cabin depressurization in the event of a train malfunction.

Hence require tunnel monitoring system for repressurization

POWER AND ENERGY USAGE

Energy is used to make the Maglev train levitate and to stabilise the movement.

Main part of the energy used to overcome the air drag.

For very short distances the energy for accelerating is considerable.

But the power used to overcome the air drag increases with square of velocity and hence dominates at high speed.

COMPARISON WITH CONVENTIONAL TRAINS

FEATURE MAGLEV TRAIN CONVENTIONAL TRAIN

Speed Allow higher top speeds since they don’t rely on wheels for propulsion.

Speed is limited by the use of wheels for propulsion.

Maintenance Require insignificant guideway maintenance.Their electronic vehicle maintenance is minimal Hence more reliable

Rail is subjected to wear & tear due to friction ,increases exponentially with speed.This increases running cost.

All weather operation

Unaffected by snow , severe cold , rain or high winds.Can accelerate & decelate regardless of slickness of guideway

May encounter problems due to degradation of guideway caused by weather conditions.

Efficiency No rolling resistance due to lack of contact between track & vehicle.This improves power efficiency.

Efficiency is affected by rolling resistance due to the contact with the track.

COMPARISON WITH AIRCRAFTMany maglev have lift-to-drag ratio that exceed that of aircraft.

But jet transport aircraft take advantage of low air density at high altitudes to reduce drag during cruise.

Airlines cannot come close to the reliability or performance of maglev trains in all weather conditions.

Has significant safety margin as they are designed not to crash into other.

ECONOMICS

The initial investment is similar to other high speed rail roads. (Maglift is $20-$40 million per mile and I-279 in Pittsburg cost $37 million per mile 17 years ago.)

Operating expenses are half of that of other railroads.

A train is composed of sections that each contain 100 seats, and a train can have between 2 and 10 sections.

The linear generators produce electricity for the cabin of the train.

EXISTING MAGLEV SYSTEMS

TESTING TRACKS

120 m test track of General Atomics at San Diego , USA.

Tranrapid , a German maglev company has test track at Emsland , Germany of length 31.5km.

JR-Maglev , Japan has a test track that can reach a speed of 581km/hr.

IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS

Linimo , Japan – commercially automated urban maglev system commenced on March 2005.

Shangai maglev train , China – EMS high speed system started operation on April 2004.

HML 03 – The first EMS maglev opened to public at Daejeon South Korea in 1993.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

AMT Test Track – Powder Springs, Georgia

Applied levitation test track – California.

Beiging S1 line.

PROPOSED PLANS

Penang-Kuala Lampur-Singapore line -Malaysia

Melbourne Maglev Proposal

Mumbai – Delhi

Kochi metro

SUMMARYThey consume less energy.

Require no engine.

Move faster than normal trains because they are not affected by ground friction; their rights-of-way, meanwhile, cost about the same to build.

Incompatible with existing rail lines, unlike traditional high-speed rail.

Initial cost is very high.

REFERENCEWikipedia –”Maglev Trains”

Science reporter magazine October 2014.

Heller, Arnie (June 1998). "A New Approach for Magnetically Levitating Trains—and Rockets". Science & Technology Review.

Hood, Christopher P. (2006). Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan. Routledge.

Science journal.’Maglev train’ April 19, 2010, http://science.howstuffworks.com/maglev-train.htm

Thank you

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