Tsinghua University Tests EMS-based HTS Maglev Vehicle

Author: admin / 2005-10-29

Researchers at the Applied Superconductivity Research Center at Tsinghua University, China, have constructed and demonstrated a laboratory-scale EMS-based HTS maglev vehicle. The fully integrated system consists of a vehicle chassis, four dependent magnetic circuits, four distance sensors, and control and power amplification circuits. The four distance sensors, and control and power amplification circuits. The system operates over a 1.5 meters (5 foot) guideway.

The key component of the system consists of a U-shape iron core for each magnetic circuit, with one HTS coil forming each pole. The device uses a total of eight HTS coils made of Bi-2223 multifilamentary tape. Tsinghua University’s Chen Gu said the most important consideration in developing HTS coils for maglev applications is optimizing the anisotropic critical current of the Bi-2223/Ag tape, which depends strongly on the magnetic field. Without touching on the economic aspects of HTS, Chen believes the project demonstrates the technical feasibility and stability of HTS materials in a typical maglev system, and similar control applications.

Tsinghua University defined a general optimization process for finding the best position in the U-shape iron core to hold the HTS coils. To identify how the magnetic circuit alters the field distribution in the coil winding, and therefore also the critical current, the field distribution along the magnetic circuit and coil winding were simulated using off the shelf ANSYS finite element of the HTS tape and the force-current characteristic of the magnetic circuit were considered synthetically.

China currently operates the world’s only commercial maglev train, in Shanghai, based on non-superconducting magnets (see Superconductor Week, Vol.18, No 08). The ＄1.2 billion line was built by Transrapid, Germany, and linking a 19km stretch between Pudong International Airport and Longyang Lu Metro Station. It takes about eight minutes to make the trip, and the train reaches a top speed of 430km/h (267mph). There are unconfirmed reports of a possible 195km(121 mph) expansion of the maglev line to Hangzhou, in Zhejiang Province, using undetermined technology.

In separate news, Germany’s Federal Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing, the Transrapid industry consortium, consisting of Siemens, ThyssenKrupp, and Transrapid International, have agreed to continue development of maglev technology. The agreement is hoped to bring new momentum to the stalled proposal to build Germany’s first maglev train, which would run from Munich’s central station to the airport. If built, the non-superconducting train would carry passengers on the 37km (23 mile ) route in just 10minutes, compared to 45 minutes taken by the existing S-Bahn commuter train line. 

Note: All Bi-2223 multifilamentary tape used in this project were provided by InnoST



From: Superconductor Week, Vol.19, No.16