Improved Maglev Performance of Bulk High-Temperature Superconductors with a Re-magnetization Process After Zero-Field Cooling

Abstract

Zero-field cooling (ZFC) and field cooling (FC) are the two most popular activation ways of the bulk high-temperature superconductors (HTSCs). The former can bring a big levitation force but a poor stability, while the latter can bring a good stability but a reduced levitation force due to the trapped flux. Under this rule, it is very difficult to improve the levitation force (load capability) and guidance force (stability) at the same time with the given bulk HTSCs and applied field in practice. In the paper, based on the re-magnetization ability of bulk HTSCs, the maglev performance of bulk HTSCs with a re-magnetization process after ZFC was experimentally investigated above a permanent magnetic guideway (PMG). The bulk HTSCs were firstly cooled down at a far distance above the PMG, but before moving to the working height, an additional process was introduced to descend the bulks to a lower height to magnetize again by the PMG field. Experimental results show that, at certain re-magnetization height above PMG, the levitation force and guidance force could be improved simultaneously compared with the results of normal FC cases, which is different from the present performance improvement with the sacrifice of one important force. This result presents a possible working way for the levitation applications of bulk HTSCs by employing a re-magnetization process after ZFC, and is also useful to optimize the performance of high-temperature superconducting Maglev vehicle systems.