Analysis of an electrodynamic maglev system

Electrodynamic systems (EDS's) for maglev have an advantage over electromag netic systems (EMS's) in that the stability is built into the system. EDS's induce the currents used for levitation and guidance, while EMS's impose t hose currents with controlled feedback, The movement of a magnet over prope rly designed EDS coils results in forces to keep the system fixed in the lo west energy or null flux spot. In the past such systems have been examined through two-dimensional boundary element techniques [1], [2], An approximat ion to the full three-dimensional time harmonic problem is obtained through Laplace transform theory after using boundary element methods to predict t he mutual coupling of the magnets with the track coils. The analytic soluti on offers helpful design and operation guidelines.