SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN MAGNETIC

LEVITATION
Presented by,

RAJARAJAN K (212219017)
M.Tech-1st Year
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
MME DEPARTMENT
 MAGNETIC LEVITATION

OVERVIEW
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

MAGLEV TRAINS

SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN
MAGLEV TRAINS

FUTURE SCOPE

CONCLUSION
MAGNETIC LEVITATION---HISTORY

 In 1750,the magnetic repulsion of like poles noticed by

John Mitchell(an English philosopher) was considered
as the first traces of magnetic levitation.

 In 1972,first SCMaglev train was developed by Central

Japan railway Company.

 In 1979,the first maglev train-TANSRAPID 05 was started

running in Germany working under EMS method.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
 It is property of material with absolutely
zero resistivity.

 Electrical resistivity of metals reduced

with decrease in temperature.

 It was found in some materials, as

temperature approaches to absolute
zero, resistivity drops abruptly to
virtually zero at a particular
temperature(critical temperature). Fig.1:Variation of resistivity with
temperature.
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

 In 1911, Kamerlingh Onnes, a Dutch physicist found superconductivity in

mercury at very low temperature(4.19K).

 In 1933, Walther Meissner and Robert Ochsenfel discovered Meissner effect.

 In 1957, BCS Thoery was propsed by John Bardeen, Leon N. Cooper,

and Robert Schrieffer.
Meissner Effect
 SUPERCONDUCTIVITY
 About 30 metals discovered showing super conductivity below 10K.

 In 1986,first high temperature superconductor material(Yttrium barium copper

oxide)was found which is having Tc =92K.

 Type II superconductors are used in maglev trains

 Common superconducting material used in maglev is NIOBIUM-TITANIUM ALLOYS.

 Our dream is to find a superconducting material at room temperature.

 MAGLEV TRAINS
 The maglev trains are working based on two primary
technologies,

 EMS(Electro Magnetic Suspension) method.

 EDS(Electro Dynamic Suspension) method. German Transrapid

 Maglev trains with EMS method is implemented in

German’s Transrapid trains and EDS system is
implemented in Japanese maglev trains.

Japan’s SCMaglev
 MAGLEV TRAINS
 The three major factors governing the
operation of Maglev trains are,
 Magnetic Levitation.
 Lateral guidance.
 Propulsion.
 Magnetic levitation and lateral
guidance are different in EMS and EDS
methods
Fig.7:Interation between Propulsion
 Propulsion technology is same in both coils and onboard coils
EMS and EDS method. Propulsion by
Linear Synchronous Motor(LSM) or by
Linear Induction Motor(LIM)
EMS (ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSPENSION)
 This system uses the attractive force between the
onboard magnet and track magnet to levitate
the vehicle.
 Major components in this system are
 Long stator(armature) coil
 Support electromagnets
 Lateral guidance electromagnets
 LSM generator coil
 External power and control systems aided by EMS unit of Transrapid Maglev
computers
 The entire levitation process is controlled by highly
advanced computers using a large number of
sensors and electromagnets.
EMS(ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSPENSION)
 Magnetic levitation is by the magnetic force
of attraction between opposing poles of the
electromagnets on the train and track.
 Lateral guidance is done using like pole
electromagnets at the sides of train and rail.
 Propulsion of train by the interaction
between LSM windings on the rail which is
supplied by an alternating electric current
and onboard electromagnet.
 Speed of the train is decided by the
frequency of AC inputted. Section of Transrapid in Germany
 EMS(ELECTROMAGNETIC SUSPENSION)

 Maximum gap that can be produced is 10mm

 Because of this small gap, very precise control over gap is required while running at
very high speed which is a drawback of this system

 As this technology is using high power electromagnets and high current, there is large
amount of energy loss due to heat.
ELECTRODYNAMIC SUSPENSION(EDS)
 EDS method uses the high repulsive forces
between magnets to levitate the vehicle.
 Major components of this system are,
 Onboard superconducting magnets.
 Ground coils including levitation coils and
propulsion coils.
 Refrigeration system for SC magnet.
 Onboard Rubber wheels.
 Advanced control systems.
 Superconducting coils installed in a close loop,
once initiates a current it flows indefinitely for a
long time. Section of Japanese SCMaglev
ELECTRODYNAMIC SUSPENSION(EDS)
 Magnetic levitation is achieved by the repulsive magnetic interaction between
onboard superconducting magnets and “8” shaped ground coils installed on the
sidewalls of rail.
 Lateral guidance is also taken care by these “8” shaped lateral ground coils.

Interaction between LG coils and Onboard LG coils and propulsion coils in maglev track
magnets
 Propulsion coils installed on the two sidewalls of the rail will propel the train with
simultaneous attractive and repulsive forces between onboard magnet and
ground coils
ELECTRODYNAMIC SUSPENSION(EDS)
 External power supply to the ground levitation coils
is not required.

 Current in these coils induced by onboard magnets.

 Train will roll on rubber wheels during slow speed.

 At high speed sufficient magnetic field will induce in Superconducting armature and
the ground coils the levitate the train up to 10cm. stator ground coil
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN MAGLEV
 Superconductivity is well implemented
in Maglev trains in Japan running with
EDS technology.
 The conventional electromagnet is
replaced by high power
superconducting magnet.
 Refrigeration unit consist of Liquid
Nitrogen and Liquid helium in
implemented along with onboard SC
magnet.
Onboard superconducting magnets
 The magnetic field produced by SC with accessories
magnet is so strong.
 Proper shielding is provided in the train
from the exposure of these strong
magnetic field
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY IN MAGLEV
 Very heavy conventional electromagnets are required for producing very strong
magnetic field.

 Superconducting magnets produces very strong magnetic field and they are
relatively lighter than conventional.

 Continuous supply of power source is eliminated by SC magnets, thereby large

amount of energy saving possible.

 Because of very strong field, train can levitate up to 10cm.

FUTURE SCOPE OF SCMAGLEV
 Shanghai transrapid is the first maglev train began operational in 2004

 The average speed of the train is 431km/hr where as current commuters are having
highest speed of 150km/hrs.

 Wide range of research is now going on in maglev trains.

 Japan’s L0 series SCMaglev achieved a new record speed of 603km/hr in 2015.

FUTURE SCOPE OF SCMAGLEV
 The Indian Ministry is currently in the process of reviewing a
proposal to start a Maglev train system between Pune and
Mumbai.

 The advanced concept of Maglev-

HYPERLOOP is also having huge scope in future.

Hyperloop
CONCLUSION
 Invention of Superconductors in room temperature will be a breakthrough in the field
of science and engineering.

 Use of superconducting magnets in maglev helps to produce very high strength

magnetic field, replacing conventional electromagnets.

 SCMaglev is superior over transrapid of Germany.

 SCMaglev is going to rule the future rapid transit system.

 Researches are going on SCMaglev applicability in space technology.