Performance evaluation of continuous levitation in an active‐maglev system using YBCO bulk and multiple electromagnets

Abstract

AbstractWe have designed and constructed a new type of active‐maglev system using YBCO bulk and two electromagnets and have demonstrated that levitation height was remarkably improved by continuous levitation. In the active‐maglev system, however, the upper and lower coils differed in the coil size and an iron plate beneath the lower coil was used to enhance the magnetic field around the bulk. Considering the real application to maglev transporter in the axial direction, we must realize continuous leviation using a larger number of electromagnets without such iron plate and enable the levitation height to be controlled freely. In this paper, we demonstrate continuous levitation while controlling the leviation height using three‐ and five‐electromagnet systems and investigate electromagnetic behavior within the bulk using an FEM computer program. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 141(2): 25–33, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.10055