A PROJECT REPORT

ON

STUDY OF OPTIMISATION ON EDDY

CURRENT BREAKS

SUBMITTED TO

MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT
By
Project Guide
Shubham singh
S.K.Singhal
Shailendra pratap singh
Asst.Professor
Sudama prasad
H.B.T.I KANPUR
Final B.Tech.M.E

Dr.

CERTIFICATE
It
is
certified
that
SHUBHAM
SINGH,
SHAILENDRA
PRATAP
SINGH,
SUDAMA
PRASAD student of Final B.Tech Mechanical
Engineering H.B.T.I. Kanpur has worked on the
Project on STUDY OF OPTIMISATION ON
EDDY CURRENT BREAKS under my guidance
and supervision. He has shown sincere efforts
and keen interest during preparation of this
project report. My best wishes are with him, his
efforts and his future endeavours.

Dr. S.K. SINGHAL

Asstt. Professor
H.B.T.I. Kanpur
(Project Guide)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I express my respectful gratitude to Dr. S.K.
SINGHAL,
Asst.
Professor
Mechanical
Engineering Department, H.B.T.I. Kanpur, for his
valuable guidance and keen interest, which
enabled me to present this proect on such a
useful topic STUDY OF OPTIMISATION ON
EDDY CURRENT BREAKS.

SHUBHAM SINGH
SHAILENDRA PRATAP SINGH
SUDAMA PRASAD
FINAL B.Tech M. E.

CONTENTS
I.CERTIFICATE
II. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
1.INTRODUCTION
2.HISTORY
3.ADVANTAGE
4.WORKING PRINCIPLE
5.PARAMETERS
6.PROJECT AIM
7.WORKING PERIOD

Study of Optimisation Parameters of Eddy

Current Brakes
Guided By:- Dr. S.K.Singhal
Asst. Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
H.B.T.I Kanpur
Introduction
An eddy current brake, like a conventional friction brake, is
responsible for slowing an object, such as a train or a roller
coaster. However, unlike electro-mechanical brakes, which
apply mechanical pressure on two separate objects, eddy
current brakes slow an object by creating eddy currents
through electromagnetic induction which create resistance, and
in turn either heat or electricity.

Circular Eddy Current Brakes

Electromagnetic brakes are similar to electrical motors; nonferromagnetic metal discs (rotors) are connected to a rotating
coil, and a magnetic field between the rotor and the coil creates
a resistance used to generate electricity or heat.
When electromagnets are used, control of the braking action is
made possible by varying the strength of the magnetic field. A
braking force is possible when electric current is passed
through the electromagnets. The movement of the metal
through the magnetic field of the electromagnets creates eddy
currents in the discs. These eddy currents generate an
opposing magnetic field (Lenz's law), which then resists the

rotation of the discs, providing braking force. The net result is

to convert the motion of the rotors to heat in the rotors .

History
The eddy-current brake has its origins in France, where it is
sometimes known as the Frein linaire courants de Foucault.
This commemorates Frenchman Jean Bernard Lon Foucault
who discovered the underlying scientific principle in the 19th
century. Foucault observed that a higher force was needed to
make a vertical copper disc rotate between two magnetic poles,
and at the same time the copper disc warmed up. In simple
physics, the movement of a metal plate in a magnetic field
induces a voltage, which in turn creates eddy currents. Thus a
second magnetic field is generated in opposition to the first,
and the metal plate decelerates, transforming its kinetic energy
into heat. The better the conductivity and permeability of the
plate, the stronger the braking force.
Whereas some inventions are rapidly adopted, others take
longer to become generally accepted, and this was the case
with the eddy-current brake. It was nearly a quarter-century
after Foucault's death before the first patent was issued in
1892. Today the concept is applied in many different fields,
such as rowing machines, motor test stands, roller coasters or
free-fall tower rides in amusement parks. These are generally
fitted with permanent magnets, which are used as a service
brake and can generate a force of up to 1 000 kN.

Advantages
It uses electromagnetic force and not mechanical friction
Non-mechanical (no moving parts, no friction)
Can be activated at will via electrical signal
Low maintenance
Operates at any rotational speed
Light weight

An environmental friendly braking system is an essential need

today parallel to the advanced in automotive technology and
towards green technology. When we do braking in conventional
braking system using brake pad, we are actually polluting our
environment. Brake pad is producing wear debris during
braking which is obviously contained potential hazard to
environment. These hazardous elements may interact with DNA
of living organisms and cause carcinogenesis. It also been
founded that copper from brake pad wear find its way into
storm water and tributaries feeding into San Francisco Bay,
which killed invertebrates and algae and harming fish.

Working Principle
Electromagnetic braking using eddy current is a contactless
braking that could lead to overcome this problem. As vehicle
speed increases, a more powerful brake system is required to
ensure vehicle safety and its reliability. An eddy current is
induced around the pole area when magnetic flux goes through
a rotating conductive disc. It produced a retarding braking force
which come from the interaction occurred between the eddy
current and magnetic flux. Fig. 1 shows the diagram of the
material moving through a magnetic field and induced eddy
currents.

Fig 1: Eddy Current Principle

An eddy current is induced around the pole area when

magnetic flux goes through a rotating conductive disc. It will
produce a retarding braking force which comes from the
interaction between the eddy current and magnetic flux. The
motion has slow down by the magnetic drag force that has
been produced while a conducting material is moving through a
stationery magnet, otherwise. The changing magnetic field will
induce eddy current in the conductor. These currents will
dissipate energy in the conductor and generate drag force .

Parameters
The important parameters in dealing with electromagnetic
braking using eddy currents are current induced, air-gap, disc
thickness and number of electromagnet turns. Every mentioned
parameters give significant effect to the behaviour of this
braking system. Increasing the current induced and use of
higher number of electromagnet turns will increase the
magnetic flux density and braking torque generated. Using a
smaller air-gap which is the distance between two poles of
electromagnet will also increase the magnetic field strength,
yet increasing the braking power. Types and thickness of disc
used as the brake disc in the system is also important
parameters. Different types of material have different level of
electrical conductivity which is important in dealing with eddy
current circulation generated on the disc for the braking
purposes.

Project Aim
The aim of our project is to study the effect of various
parameters on the eddy current brakes. The project will
comprise of following elements

Disc

Electromagnets

Motor

D.C power supply

Disc

Material of disc is copper or aluminium ,thickness of

which is 2-3 mm,diameter take about 15-20cm.

Electromagnets

Strength of electromagnet depend on

power required to stop the rotating disc which depends on
thickness of the binding wire and power supply.
Material of the core is forged steel which can easily bend
according to requirement of core shape.

Motor

Speed of motor take approximate 1400 rpm.

D.C Power supply

Working period

6 to 12 volt.

After allotment of project on optimisation

characteristic of eddy current break system,