Design and evaluation of a High Temperature Superconducting Maglev system

A High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) magnetic levitation system has bee n evaluated. The proposed system is a linear motor that generates the propu lsion force, the suspension force and stabilization force from a single exc itation source. Finite element methods (FEM) were employed to model the beh aviour of the machine made from HTS material. This paper presents the resul ts from the simulations showing that the maximum thrust and levitation forc es generated by such a machine is a function of the critical current densit y, the applied magnetic field magnitude and the separation distance between the HTS pellets. The relation between these parameters, which results in t he most efficient secondary configuration, has been deduced from simulation s as well as the practical implementation of the linear motor.