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MAGNETIC LEVITATION

The Transport System of the Future

Danilo Rairan
'drairan@hotmail.com
drairan@coll.telecom.com.co

This article presents an account of the main advantages and disadvantages of traditional transport systems based
on power and shows how systems using magnetic levitation are the future of transport in the next century. In addition, it
presents the physical principle of operation of the two main systems developed at present and

invites readers to submit more research ideas and developments in the area.

This paper summarizes the main advantages Both and Disadvantages of traditional transportation systems Which
are Mobilized by electrical energy, and shows how magnetic levitation
systems are the future of transportation in the next century. Additionally, This paper shows the physical Principles of the
function of the two main systems, Which Have Been whos developed. The
reader is Develop and invited to further investigate These sytems.

Throughout time man has used tools to facilitate the development of its kind. After these and its activities became
more complex machines that replaced or extended human possibilities, for functions such as lifting weights, cut
and transport were needed. Transportation is part of human activities since long has improved throughout history;
Thus, it has evolved from the use of animals until the invention of space shuttles, which may at some point lead us
out of this planet.

With regard to land transport, at times close to our (past and present centuries) can be seen a rapid development
supported by the industrial revolution and the advent of new thinking and face technology; seen how they have
explored and developed possibilities as the implementation of machines based on high energy such as coal (for the
train), the use of fossil fuel (oil) Mineral recently is popularizing the use of gas and, of course, electricity.

• has become interesting and important since the middle of this century the option of implementing transport systems
based on electricity for two reasons: firstly because
the crisis in oil prices presented in the 70s and, secondly, massive or cultural and environmental awareness that
•
surfaces in today's generations, making so
effortful are looking for alternatives to petroleum. Besides the two reasons given is the undeniable threat that
• sometime in the next century

•
Electrical Engineer National University of Colombia, Faculty of Technology Faculty of the University District since 1996. Researcher Magnetic Levitation.

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look out world oil reserves.

Perhaps the most important advantages of using electricity for

transportation systems of any kind are:

• Pollution from the transfor-mation of energy is not produced at

the site of use in a centralized but as a hydro, thermal or
nuclear power plant site. For this reason it easier to
implement-ing environmental management plans, prevent-ing
and disaster control, minimization and monitoring of
contaminant levels in air, water and soil.

• Related to the above advantage, no Exis-ten toxic emissions or

Figure l. Solar Vehicle "Calpoly Pomona Solar Car" Weight 200 kg
polluting gases at the site of use of energy, creating or
facilitating have purer environments for development, not only of
human life but from the rest of nature one .

• Noise levels are lower than any other land transport system,
thus being more comfortable system.

Obviously not all circumstances are favorable. The use of

electrical energy transport has some drawbacks and limita-nes
that have prevented widespread implementation popularization
or transport with this base; some of them are:

• The speeds achieved so far other fuels are not near transport
options that reach

Figure two. Using Batteries "General Motors Impact"

• Cargo capacity in most cases is very small compared with other Speed 180 M / h, Autonomy 250 miles
forms of transport

• Runtime, ie the time when the vehicle runs without recharging one. Vehicle design work based on
batteries or new energy supply is quite short compared to other Solar energy converted to electricity. An example of this
possibilities. development is the "CalPoly Pomona Solar Car
•
(California
Polytecnid shown in Figure 1, which presents drawbacks
energy storage, velocity and load. •
Trying to overcome these obstacles today's technology distinguishes
four forms or uses electrical energy for transport, as follows:
two. Battery development and centers where they are •
they can recharge. In this regard you can be found as
significant developments such as CM Impact EV1 3 in Figure 2.
•

3. U vehicle so having a system Hi-

hybrid energy supply, ie, that

one. "Enviromental Briefing, Electric Transport and the Urban Enviromental" www.electricity.org.uk/uk_inds/environ/env_24.html
•
two. "Alternative Fuel Vehicles ... they'rein your future". www.energy.ca.gov/education/Evs/EV-html/Evs.html
3. Ibid.

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combining (for example) the potential of gas or petroleum with

ven-tages in the use of electrical energy. This alter-native is
becoming increasingly common.
Since the early
Four. Using the MagLev System. The author con- sixties
dera that because of the importance and comparative
advantages with other transport systems, this is what can be he They come by developments
called "the system of mass transit for the next century".
today support the conclusion that the
MagLev system
he It constitutes in the system of

transport more economic,

The MagLev System
efficient, environmentally friendly and fast of the
It is known as MagLev any transport system using the operating
present.
principle of "magnetic levitation". Since the early sixties developments
are being made today support the conclusion that this constitutes the
transport system more economical, efficient, environmentally friendly
and fast today.
via. In turn they are composed of three subsystems, namely:
propulsion subsystem, subsystem and subsystem levitation
estabilizació n. All parts use magné properties - ticas having some
A study conducted in Germany 4 It shows how comparatively cheaper materials in order to generate force for development work Nece-sary
transport is based on electricity transport plane or normal vehicles. It in turn to generate a movement.
is efficient because it reduces almost

zero the mechanical losses leaving them

practically in the value of losses due to friction with the winds;
ecological because emissions and other contaminants are
Reduci-two to a minimum; fast because they are achieving speeds Propulsion
close to 600 km / h. The two most significant developments are
Japan and Ale-mania; A simple way to understand the propulsion system is to imagine a pair
of magnets, with which I am sure many of us have played; perhaps
images and
even one sheet placed one under the other on it. For a given polarity,
characteristics of these trains are given in Figures 3 and
the magnet on top follows the path that is making the bottom magnet
Four.
without any physical contact between the two. This is the principle
used in many electrical má-quinas to generate movement, particularly
With the hope that readers get involved in the issue from different
in engines. The motor is con-I tituido a rotor (rotating part) and a
perspectives giving academic training, the operating principle for
stator (fixed part), in this case the stator is equivalent to the magnet in
systems will be presented below
the bottom of the blade and the rotor magnet of the top of it. In the
stator magnetic field which rotates about itself is created; making the
• MagLev. The world and particularly our country should pay attention rotor is to try to follow him.
to the immense possibilities it has for transport, which is

•
important physical support or at least
descriptive of what happens.
•
The complete system is composed of two parts
• main ones are: the car or train and the track or

Four. "The Magnetic Levitation Train and MVP" HLLP: //www.mvp.de/english.html

5. Switzerland proposes to make a subway train including vacuum pumps to further reduce losses

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Now, if this same principle is used but no longer for rotational

movements but for linear movements, an important part of MagLev
system will: propulsion. To imagine-it somehow is like stretching the
stator and put it in the form of rail. In this case it becomes the stator
and rotor track is the train, because it tries to follow a magnetic field
generated at the track.

The German case used for propulsion the same principle of operation
of a synchronous machine, that is, the combination of three
alternating fields at the track forming one only moves in one direction
or another depending on the sequence of steps as shown in Figure 5.
in the train there is a continuous field that follow the movement of the
Figure 3. Maglev German
Rate 450 K / h, Route 31.5 Km, wave generated on the track; thus propulsion is obtained.
350 Tons weight, length 150 m.

In the Japanese system movement using electronic circuits that act

as driving circuits and reverse polarity of electromagnets located on
the walls occurs. The activation sequence, investment and
deactivation is such that the train or cause vehicle to move in one
direction or another 6

(See Figure 6).

Levitation

As in propulsion, we will imagine a pair of magnets, but this time

located so that the same polarities face, what happens? Clearly try to
Figure 4. Japanese maglev speed 600 K / h, repel, ie, it appears between the two a force that causes the magnets
length 77 m. Route 43 Km. try to separate. This is the basic principle; what is done then is to build

electromagnets (Ima-nes controlled

electrically) on the track and the train, with polarities to further develop
the exposed first, as shown in Figure 7.

•
Another way is using different polarities in the electromagnets, ie a
force of attraction rather than repulsion as in the case of those who •
have the same polarity, but placed strategically, is generated so that
the force of attraction make the vehicle lift and try to join the track. In •
this case it is important to control the

•
Figure 5. German system. Three-phase winding forming a bipolar magnetic field that travels along

the track, on the

a constant field which vehicle or train is mounted. •

6. Principle 01 Maglev www.rtri.or.jp/rd/maglev/hlml/english/maglev_principle_E.hIml

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electromagnets in the German case. For the first (Japanese) at the

time the train try to divert to a wall will to stay away from a group of
electromagnets and approaching those on the other wall. At this point
the train will experience a force greater repulsion on the side that is
closer, precisely because of the proximity, and a force of less
repulsion with respect to the other wall so that it tends to find a
balance again, just the track center, see figures 9 and 10.

Figure 6. Japanese system. Reverse polarity in the wall electromagnets

interacting with magnets
create superconductors vehicle movement.
German first bears some relation to the Japanese case, but the
stabilization work is done independently of the magnets propulsion,
force with these magnets ever lle-Guen to join; only a prudent ie, they are different electromagnets propulsion and levitation those
distance that most cases are few centimeters or even fractions who produce this effect in the vehicle, see Figures 11 and 12.
approach centímetr0 7 , as shown in Figure 8.

In addition, MagLev has secu-rity systems that allow in the event that
The names given to the two systems described are precisely diverts-tion exceeds the possibilities of stabilizing magnets managers,
levitation repulsion or EDS can roll on guidelines established for this purpose.
(Electrodinamic Suspension) and levitation> or attraction or EMS
(Electromagnetic Suspension). The first method has been widely
developed by
Japanese by using superconducting materials; these allow the
generation of large fields. The
second it is developed Final thoughts
mainly in Germany with the use, in this case, electromagnets of large
proportions. • In Colombia it is possible to take the American example as to
how young people are encouraged to develop ideas and
proposals in the area, in order that ha-yan future

Stabilization implementations. They can take-it works

independent in The different
Levitation is a process too unstable. Recalling the example with universities and colleges according to the ni-vel and specialty,
'magnets, you can imagine how trying to bring two magnets so that with-curse for the best project, with incentives co-mo are
with the same polarity what happens is that a force trying to paying money or the fact imple-ment the idea into what would
avoid it appears; this force is magnetic and acts in a way that the MagLev in the region.
will
• Developments of this type require not only experts or doctors in
a magnet deviates from its original direction to generate a certain physics, electrical engineering and mechanics, but require the
• extent the effect of "tripping" the magnet. participation of all branches of knowledge, combined with the
common purpose of establishing the feasibility and how they
• For this reason it is necessary to further implement another would apply this system , so we can say with confidence that
subsystem which does not allow "there is work for all".
• the train try to deviate from its path, this is achieved by means of
these electromagnets
propulsion in the Japanese case, and another set
•
•
7. Float Haw Maglev Vehicles www.epri.com/EPRI_Journal/jan_feb97/21html
8. Magnetic Levitation Vehicles. www.kyrene .k12.az.us / itech / amsitech / activites / maglev.html

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Figure 7. Japanese system. Levitoción by repulsion.

Figure 11. German system. The three subsystems are presented,
This system allows up to 15 cm distance between the track and the train.
ie propulsion, levitation and stabilization.

to)

b)

c)
Figure 8. German system. Levitation attraction. This system allows

1 cm distance between the vehicle and the track is Farma creating two German Figure 12. Stabilizing System a) When the vehicle is near the lower left wall of the

opposite polarities. electromagnet current at that position and the other increases to stabilize. b) If the vehicle is in the
center stabilization acts in a balanced manner. c) If the vehicle is on the right raises the level of current
in the electromagnet on the left to increase the strength of attraction and thus stabilize

•
• At the national level they have begun preliminary deve-Llos on
the use of magnetism for initial prototypes ban-das transport, as
a model. They have been shown timidly, perhaps for lack of
resources and sponsorship in some cases, the advantages of

Figure 9. Japanese system. Stabilization and

the system and nues-tra potential to develop and implement the
propulsion subsystem system. They are scoring projects done by the University of La
Salle work degree in Electrical Engineering aimed at generating
development alternatives for the system and the Faculty of
Technology of the University District with a research project to
develop for two years from February 1999; it aims eventually to
design and build a prototype conveyor belt for industrial
application

•
..

Figure 10. Japanese stabilization system. a) If the vehicle approaches ollado izquiedo much experience

a repulsive force that will push the left side and the right approach. b) In this case the force is minimal
•
or nonexistent. c) When the vehicle moves too far to the right will experience a very small force on the

left and large side on the right side so you try to be back in the equilibrium position. use as the operating principle
•
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magnetic levitation •

9. "Construction of a prototype conveyor belt with magnetic drive for industrial application" http://www.cidc.udistrital.edu.co/ projects / technological / drairan / prototype / index.htm
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BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

Alternative Fuel Vehicles ... They'reIn Your Future. www.energy.ca.gov/education/Evs/EVhtml/Evs.html.

• History of Electric Vehicles. www.energy.ca.gov/atvs/ev/evhistory.html. Enviromental Briefing, Electric Transport and

the Urban Environmental. www.electricity.org.ukl uk_inds / environ / env_24.html.

Magnetic Levitation Train and The MVP. www.mvp.de/english.html. Forschung und Entwicklung von Schwerpunkte
bei Thyssen Stahl. www.maglev.com/ Engl ish / techn i klUech. htm.

How Maglev Vehicles Float. www.epri .com / EPRUournal / jan_feb97 / 21html. Principle of Maglev. .And
"ww.rtri.or.jp/rd/maglev/html/english/maglev_ principle_ E.html. Magnetic Levitation Vehicles.
Www.kyrene.k12.us/itech/amsitech/activites/maglev.html. Kazuo Sawada, Development of Magentically Levittated
High Speed ​Transport System in Japan Transactions on Magnetics IEEE, Vol 32. No. 4, July 1996, page 2230-2234
Braun, John, Under the Alps by magnetism New Scientist ISSN:... 0262-4079 Vol: 142 May 14, 1994, Pg. 12-13

Building a prototype conveyor with magnetic drive for application

industrial http://www.cidc.udistrital.edu.co/proyectos/tecnologica/drairan/
prototype / index.htm.

Danilo Rairan. Magnetic levitation, German System, World Electric Colombiano W 34 February 1999. Pg 91-93.

Timothy J. Maloney, Modern Electronic lridustriar. Prentice Hall, 1997 Third Edition.

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