Equivalent model of the side wall electrodynamic suspension system

Abstract

The side wall electrodynamic suspension (EDS) system has the advantage of not requiring gap control, and the magnetic drag is smaller than for the repulsion arrangement. This levitation system is applied in the JR magnetically levitated (Maglev) transportation system. The experimental results in the Miyazaki test line seem to indicate that this system has large damping. However, calculations show that this system has little damping and the reason for large damping in the test line is not clear. Thus, running characteristics and improved design can be investigated using numerical analysis to improve riding comfort and reduce loss of the superconducting magnet. Since this is a non-linear system, complicated analysis is needed. Usually the running characteristics of this EDS system are given by a numerical analysis that combines electromagnetic phenomena with mechanical equations of motion. However, this method requires very large calculation times. Thus, a simpler suspension model for this EDS system is needed. This paper presents levitation and guidance characteristics of the system and develops an equivalent suspension system model from the electric circuit characteristics. The approximation is developed by a simple function of the velocity and position of the bogie. The dynamic movement of the bogie was calculated easily using this model, and the results correspond to the results given by the electric circuit model. © 1998 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 124(2): 63–73, 1998