Characterization Method of the V-shaped High-Temperature Superconducting Maglev Module for Transport System Applications

It is now recognized that high-temperature superconducting (HTS) technology has a significant potential for future magnetic levitation (Maglev) transit system applications due to the advantages of self-stable levitation, being free of electric power and magnetic drag to the vehicle motion, and system simplicity. This article provides a characterization method of the experimental transport system Maglev levitation module developed at the University of L’Aquila (Italy). More specifically, the lifting and guiding behavior of a single V-shaped Maglev module, which is unique for this type of application, is analyzed and tested. Its working principle is based on the interaction between HTS “skate” onboard of the vehicle and the magnetic field generated by the permanent magnets distributed on the guideway (PMG). A single scaled levitation module was built and tested under quasi-static conditions using dedicated measuring equipment by varying system parameters such as vertical gap, lateral offset, and field cooling height. The latter determines the amount of interacting magnetic field that is trapped in the HTS core during its transition from the resistive to the superconducting state and which, in turn, interacts with the field generated by the PMG to create the suspension phenomenon. The Maglev module’s dual behavior due to the double phenomenon of repulsion and attraction has been verified and tested in terms of vertical and lateral forces by varying system parameters. The dual “push and pull” force allows the phenomenon of vehicle driving to be enhanced.