Trains that fly on air.

Magnetically Levitated Trains (Maglev) Technology & Working of Maglev Advantages & Disadvantages of Maglev Economic efficiency Application information Summary

maglev is a form of transportation that suspends guides and propels vehicles via electromagnetic force
This method can be faster than wheeled mass transit systems, potentially reaching velocities comparable to jet aircraft (500 to 581 km/h).

Support System
The electromagnets on the underside of the train pull it up to the ferromagnetic stators on the track and levitate the train. The magnets on the side keep the train from moving from side to side. A computer changes the amount of current to keep the train 1 cm from the track.

This means there is no friction between the train and the track!

Batteries on the train power the system, and therefore it still functions without propulsion. The batteries can levitate the train for 30 minutes without any additional energy. Linear generators in the magnets on board the train use the motion of the train to recharge the batteries. Levitation system uses less power than the trains air conditioning.

Type of Magnet Uses This train uses superconducting electric magnets in the vehicle to levitate and propel the train. These magnets are cooled by liquid helium or liquid nitrogen. This means that once electrified these magnets do not require additional energy.

Levitation The passing of the superconducting magnets by figure eight levitation coils on the side of the tract induces a current in the coils and creates a magnetic field. This pushes the train upward so that it can levitate 10 cm above the track. The train does not levitate until it reaches 50 mph, so it is equipped with retractable wheels.

Propulsion System
The system consists of aluminum three-phase cable windings in the stator packs that are on the guideway

When a current is supplied to the windings, it creates a traveling alternating current that propels the train forward by pushing and pulling.

Propulsion
An alternating current is ran through electromagnet coils on the guide walls of the guide way. This creates a magnetic field that attracts and repels the superconducting magnets on the train and propels the train forward. Braking is accomplished by sending an alternating current in the reverse direction so that it is slowed by attractive and repulsive forces.

When the alternating current is reversed, the train brakes. Different speeds are achieved by varying the intensity of the current. Only the section of track where the train is traveling is electrified.

Lateral Guidance
When one side of the train nears the side of the guideway, the super conducting magnet on the train induces a repulsive force from the levitation coils on the side closer to the train and an attractive force from the coils on the farther side. This keeps the train in the center.

The primary advantage is maintenance.

Because the train floats along there is no contact with the ground and therefore no need for any moving parts. As a result there are no components that would wear out. Because maglev trains float, there is no friction. there will still be air resistance.

less noise, because there are no wheels running along there is no wheel noise. However noise due to air disturbance still occurs. The Major advantage is speed, maglev trains can travel extremely fast, i.e. 500km/h or 300mph. Although this is possible with conventional rail it is not economically viable.

Maglev guide paths are bound to be more costly than conventional steel railways. The other main disadvantage is lack with existing infrastructure.

Economic Efficiency

The initial investment is similar to other high speed rail roads. (Maglift is $20-$40 million per mile and normal railway cost $37 million per mile 17 years ago.)
Operating expenses are half of that of other railroads. A train is composed of sections that each contain 100 seats, and a train can have between 2 and 10 sections.

Application Information
Safety The trains are virtually impossible to derail because the train is wrapped around the track. Collisions between trains are unlikely because computers are controlling the trains movements. Environment It uses less energy than existing transportation systems. For same distance, the enegy used by maglev is 1/3 the energy used by cars and 1/5 the energy used by jets per mile.

Noise Pollution
The train makes little noise because it does not touch the track and it has no motor. Therefore, all noise comes from moving air. This sound is equivalent to the noise produced by city traffic.

Magnetic Field: The magnetic field created is low, therefore there are no adverse effects.

China builded a 20 mile system between Shanghai Pudong and Pudong International Airport. It opened in January of 2004, and it reached speeds of over 250 mph. If the project is successful, then China will build a system from Beijing to Shanghai, a journey of over 800 miles.

The United States Congress is planning to spend $1 billion for a test project that either connects Pittsburghs suburbs with its airport or Baltimore to the Washington International Airport.
Germany was going to build a magnetic lift system between Berlin and Hamburg (200 miles) in 1996, but never did because a new political party came in and decided that the improvements over ICE was not worth $7 billion dollars.

This system is not ready for use now, but it should be ready in a few years. Its top speed with people aboard is 350 mph. The super conducting magnets create a strong magnetic field that could be a problem for some passengers.

The train is earthquake proof because the greater space (10 cm) between the track and the train leaves more room for track deformation

Linear generators will produce all the electricity needed in the trains interior.
Only the part of the track that is used will be electrified so no energy is wasted.

Maglev trains use magnets to levitate and propel the trains forward. Since there is no friction these trains can reach high speeds. It is a safe and efficient way to travel. Governments have mixed feelings about the technology. Some countries, like China, have embraced it and others like Germany have balked at the expense.

www.ieee.com www.chron.com www.dbamanufacturing.com www.singnet.com.sg news.bbc.co.uk The Official Tran rapid Site- lots of information about Maglev en.wikipedia.org