Eddy Currents and

Induction Braking
By: John Norris
Date: Oct. 22, 2012

What is Induction?
Faradays Law:

The induced electromotive force in any closed circuit

is equal to the negative of the time rate of change of
the magnetic flux through the circuit.

Lenzs Law
Why circuits obey Newtons third law along with the
conservation of energy
An induced electromotive force (emf) always gives
rise to a current whose magnetic field opposes the
original change in magnetic flux

Induction Currents = Eddy Currents

Called Eddy since they are analogous to fluid

eddies in formation and behavior

Responsible for the opposing magnetic fields that
produce drag and heating effects
The drag effects give rise to induction braking

Absent external potentials will result in the system

coming to a halt

Heating effects are exploited by devices such as

induction cookers

If left unchecked, then it could result in serious damage

to mechanical/circuit components

Check on Heat Effects

High voltage circuits are constructed as a

series of laminations to reduce eddy

currents
Solid conductors would suffer increased
resistivity and large energy losses (heat)

Drag Effects: Magnetic Braking

Not to be confused with stellar magnetic braking
The primary reason for slow stellar rotations
Utilized in many practical applications:

Trains (Maglev and conventional) as a braking system

Some roller coasters
Braking Industrial equipment and power tools
Some exercise equipment
Rowing or Spin machines to increase resistance
Determining structural defects in conductive materials
Metal Detectors

Circular

vs.

Metal disc, on the end

of a rotor assembly,
placed between two
electromagnets

Linear
Static bank of

magnets/conductors
located on the tracks
with conductors/magnets
on the car

Advantages
Quiet
Almost no wear
Wear only if coolant
system failure
Essentially zero
maintenance
Produce no chemical

pollution

Dust
Smell
Physical waste
No toxic chemicals

Disadvantages
Need conventional

brakes to hold a vehicle

stationary
In reality certain
sections of railroad
tracks have lots of
brake activity

Excess heat would

cause structural issues
Reduce brake
effectiveness

Increased cost

Regenerative Braking
Still not widely used
Basic idea has been around since the

industrial revolution

Flywheels (mechanical capacitor)

Flywheels still used, but eddy currents can be

exploited for this end as well

Capture the energy from the induced currents
instead of it just being allowed to dissipate as
heat
Avoids problem of having to carry around big
flywheels

Demonstration
Copper pipe & Neodymium

magnets
Pipe Dimensions:

and diameter (outer)

pipes both 1/32 thick

Magnets: (NdFeB)

diameter
N42 Axially magnetized
Pull Force: 3.1 lbs
Surface Field: 1601 Gauss
(0.1601 T)

Magnets have been weakened

due to an living an abused life

For increase braking effect:

More powerful magnet

Thicker contiguous pipe
Use more strongly conductive
diamagnetic material
Lower temperature (pipe not
magnet)

Great Videos:
Liquid N2 and copper tube magnetic levitation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=AzOSYJmYLTg&feature=watch_response
Induction heater levitation molten aluminum

http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=Q6Zrnv4OtbU&feature=related

Worlds Strongest Magnet

Shot in the MagLab
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=QGytW_C6hR8&feature=watch-vrec

References
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

"Diamagnetism." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2012.

Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism>.
"Eddy Current Brake." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 Nov.
2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current_brake>.
"Eddy Current Brakes." How Do Eddy-current Brakes Work? A Simple
Introduction. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.explainthatstuff.com/eddy-current-brakes.html>.
"Eddy Current." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2012. Web.19 Oct.
2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddy_current>.
"Faraday's Law of Induction." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 17
Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Oct. 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday's_law_of_induction>.
"Lenz's Law." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Oct. 2012. Web. 19 Oct.
2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenz's_law>.
Neodymium Disk Magnets" K&J Magnetics. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Oct.
2012. <https://www.kjmagnetics.com/proddetail.asp?prod=D81>.
"Regenerative Brakes." How Do Regenerative Brakes Work? N.p.,
n.d. Web. 19 Oct. 2012. <http://www.explainthatstuff.com/howregenerative-brakes-work.html>.

Diamagnetism (wiKi)

Believed to be caused by the alteration of the electron orbital velocities

Caused by quantum mech (Landau Levels)

Copper Diamagnetic
Diamagnetism primarily responsible for the Lenz Law interaction
Superconductors completely repel external magnetic fields

Alters magnetic dipole moment

Field will oppose the the magnetic field changes due to the external field

All conductors exhibit an effective diamagnetism when they experience a

changing magnetic field. The Lorentz force on electrons causes them to circulate
around forming eddy currents. The eddy currents then produce an induced
magnetic field which opposes the applied field, resisting the conductor's motion.

Joke: Of course if I could have had some gold piping the effect could have been
much stronger but I probably wouldnt have brought it to class
Magnetic permeability < or = 1
All conductors exhibit an effective diamagnetism when they experience a
changing magnetic field. The Lorentz force on electrons causes them to circulate
around forming eddy currents. The eddy currents then produce an induced
magnetic field which opposes the applied field, resisting the conductor's motion.

Super Conductors
Pic: Neodynium iron boron mags
What does 42 MGOe mean?

Mega Gauss Oersted magnetic energy

product