Maglev, a Growing Technology
Víctor Manuel Rosario Meléndez
When you hear the word levitate you should probably think on magician or a science fiction movie. Levitation does exist and is being put at test. Engineers have developed a technique called Magnetic Levitation which is based on the combination of magnetic fields and electricity. This new advance is changing the world of transportation because it is more effective than other methods and it is also more cost-efficient. Around the year 1966 two engineers, Dr. James Powel and Dr. Gordon Danby designed the first magnetic levitated train. With this experiment, these two scientists proved four strong benefits of this technology. Among the benefits are: its cost-effectiveness, its safety features, it is not-contaminant and it does not required maintenance frequently. Since then, scientists have put to practice magnetic levitation on trains among the entire world. Still, the main goal of the scientists is not only terrestrial transportation, but also reaching outer space easily. What it is more impressive is the components that gather up to form the magnetic levitated vehicles. Consisting of high temperature superconductors, a permanent magnetic guideway and a bulk of high temperature superconducting, this new technology is becoming the most demanded on the industry of innovation.
There are three main basics that make up a Magnetic Levitation Vehicle. The first is High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) which is a type of conductors that can maintain the vehicle more stable. Construction cost of a 1.0 km full scale HTS Maglev line is cheaper than construct light rail vehicle because of the low infrastructure cost, but engineers cannot commercialize it because they do not have sufficient financial support for a full-scale test, and they have to prove the system before they commercialize it. The second consist of the Bulk High Temperature Superconducting (HTSC) that is the combination of the race track and the vehicle’s magnets, by adjusting the magnetic fields as balanced as possible. The third but not least is the Permanent Magnetic Guideway (PMG) which is a type of via for the train made of permanent magnets that are materials that should produce high magnetic field with a low mass. This should stabilize the force against the influences that would demagnetize it. The tracks work basically with the force of magnetic fields. The guideway repels the magnets force on the train’s undercarriage. This process allows the train to levitate above the guideway. The application of electrical current in the coil combined with the magnetic field changes the polarity, producing a forward thrust that pushes the train. This advance technique combined with the aerodynamic design of the train allow it to reach incredible speeds of more than 310 mph or twice. The companies developing Maglev trains said that trains will link the largest cities without caring about distance.
There are also some new projects involving the environment directly. The maglev windmills have proved to be a great idea to produce energy without using a little bit of fossil fuels, also 1000x more efficient than actual ones. There are companies around the world trying to use and improve the system so they could hit the market gaining control in the economy, but at the same time helping the environment. These windmills would move an entire city, with maglev trains, fabrics, etc. A maglev windmill would be a huge step in the fight against pollution and the bad distribution of the energy used in the countries.
The new technology of magnetic levitation has appeared and seems to be staying for a while. Today’s motor engines that function with any type of fossil fuel have damaged our environment because of their high percent of pollution. This new Maglev advance does not pollute, plus it does not need regular maintenance like current motors. It also is cheaper plus more effective. Scientists around the entire world are working on developing this technique to implied them to regular life style, making it easier to live.
There are three main basics that make up a Magnetic Levitation Vehicle. The first is High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) which is a type of conductors that can maintain the vehicle more stable. Construction cost of a 1.0 km full scale HTS Maglev line is cheaper than construct light rail vehicle because of the low infrastructure cost, but engineers cannot commercialize it because they do not have sufficient financial support for a full-scale test, and they have to prove the system before they commercialize it. The second consist of the Bulk High Temperature Superconducting (HTSC) that is the combination of the race track and the vehicle’s magnets, by adjusting the magnetic fields as balanced as possible. The third but not least is the Permanent Magnetic Guideway (PMG) which is a type of via for the train made of permanent magnets that are materials that should produce high magnetic field with a low mass. This should stabilize the force against the influences that would demagnetize it. The tracks work basically with the force of magnetic fields. The guideway repels the magnets force on the train’s undercarriage. This process allows the train to levitate above the guideway. The application of electrical current in the coil combined with the magnetic field changes the polarity, producing a forward thrust that pushes the train. This advance technique combined with the aerodynamic design of the train allow it to reach incredible speeds of more than 310 mph or twice. The companies developing Maglev trains said that trains will link the largest cities without caring about distance.
There are also some new projects involving the environment directly. The maglev windmills have proved to be a great idea to produce energy without using a little bit of fossil fuels, also 1000x more efficient than actual ones. There are companies around the world trying to use and improve the system so they could hit the market gaining control in the economy, but at the same time helping the environment. These windmills would move an entire city, with maglev trains, fabrics, etc. A maglev windmill would be a huge step in the fight against pollution and the bad distribution of the energy used in the countries.
The new technology of magnetic levitation has appeared and seems to be staying for a while. Today’s motor engines that function with any type of fossil fuel have damaged our environment because of their high percent of pollution. This new Maglev advance does not pollute, plus it does not need regular maintenance like current motors. It also is cheaper plus more effective. Scientists around the entire world are working on developing this technique to implied them to regular life style, making it easier to live.
References:
Powell, James, and Gordon Danby. “Maglev: Transport Mode For the 21st Century”. Maglev.
September 21st, 2007. 44-55. EIR Science and Technology. Web.
Wang, Jiasu, Suyu Wang, and Jun Zheng. “Recent Development of High Temperature
Superconducting Maglev System in China”. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity 19.3 (June 2009): 2142-2147. IEEE. Web.
Malone, June. “Levitated Locomotion to Space”. NASA. September 25, 1998. Web. 1
“Advanced Space Transportation Technology: Magnetic Levitation”. NASA. November 12th,
1999. Web. 1
Bonsor, Kevin. “How Maglev Trains Work”. How Maglev Trains Work. 2007. A Discovery
Company. Web. 1-4
Powell, James, and Gordon Danby. “Maglev: Transport Mode For the 21st Century”. Maglev.
September 21st, 2007. 44-55. EIR Science and Technology. Web.
Wang, Jiasu, Suyu Wang, and Jun Zheng. “Recent Development of High Temperature
Superconducting Maglev System in China”. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity 19.3 (June 2009): 2142-2147. IEEE. Web.
Malone, June. “Levitated Locomotion to Space”. NASA. September 25, 1998. Web. 1
“Advanced Space Transportation Technology: Magnetic Levitation”. NASA. November 12th,
1999. Web. 1
Bonsor, Kevin. “How Maglev Trains Work”. How Maglev Trains Work. 2007. A Discovery
Company. Web. 1-4
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