Maglev Trains

Chethan R
2nd Sem, Mechanical
Engineering, GECH

Contents
Introduction
Fast

facts
How it works
Maglev Technology
Advantages
Disadvantages

Introduction
Magnetic

levitation is a method by which an

object is suspended with no support other than
magnetic fields.

Magnetic

force is used to counteract the effects

of the gravity.

Introduction

In

1922, a German engineer Hermann Kemper

came with an idea of maglev trains.

Maglev

trains move more smoothly and more

quietly than wheeled mass transit systems.

Fast Facts
A Japanese

maglev train has broken its own

world speed record, hitting 603km/h in a test
run near mount Fuji on April 21st 2015.

Shanghais

maglev train is currently the only

commercial maglev train in operation in the
world.

It

cost $ 1.2 billion to build.

How it works
A maglev

train floats about 10mm above the

guide way on a magnetic field.
It is propelled by the guide way itself rather than
an onboard engine by changing magnetic fields.
Once the train is pulled into the section the
magnetism switches so that the train is pulled
on again.
The electro-magnets run the length of the guide
way.

Maglev technology
There

are two primary types of maglev

technology:
Electromagnetic suspension(EMS)
Electrodynamic suspension(EDS)

Electromagnetic suspension
In

current EMS systems, the train levitates

above a steel rail while electromagnets,
attached to the train are oriented toward the
rail from below.
The electromagnets use feedback control to
maintain a train at a constant distance from the
track.

Electrodynamic suspension
In

electrodynamic suspension, both the rail and

the train exert a magnetic field, and the train is
levitated by the repulsive force between these
magnetic fields.
The magnetic field in the train is produced by
either electromagnets or by an array of permanent
magnets.
The repulsive force in the track is created by an
induced magnetic field in wires or other
conducting strips in the track.

Electrodynamic suspension
At

slow speeds, the current induced in these

coils and the resultant magnetic flux is not
large enough to support the weight of the train.
For this reason the train must have wheels to
support the train until it reaches speed that can
sustain levitation.
The propulsion coils that exert a force on the
train are effectively a linear motor.

Advantages
A

maglev is way faster than usual bullet train.

Due to its lack of wheels, maglevs are quieter
than normal trains.
Maglevs use 30% less energy than normal
trains.
In theory, a maglev and its track would require
very little maintenance since the train never
touches the track, there is virtually no wear and
tear.

Disadvantages
The

maglevs track is much more expensive than

railroad tracks.
Larger trains cars are tougher to levitate and
require quite a bit more energy, making them less
efficient.
While the maglev can be safer overall, any
infrequent accidents that do occur are likely to be
more catastrophic due to the elevated guide ways
and incredible speeds.

THANK YOU