106 Ë 4 Superconducting magnetic levitation
- High-temperature superconductors were protected by dry nitrogen gas in per-
manently sealed container with internal pressure slightly higher than 1 atm. - The total levitation force and guidance force of the whole vehicle at the net
levitation gap of 20 mm were 6350 and 1980 N (reference value), respectively. - The levitation force of single on-board HTS Maglev equipment assembly over the
PMG was 1202 and 1724 N at the levitation gap of 15 and 8 mm, respectively. The
total levitation force of eight on-board Maglev equipment assemblies was 10,431 N
at a levitation gap of 10 mm. - In order to simulate the operation state of the entire vehicle running system, the
levitation forces between two on-board HTS Maglev equipment assemblies and
two corresponding PMGs were measured. - During the 10-month period from July 2001 to May 2002, the levitation forces only
decreased by about 5.0% at a levitation gap of 20 mm. - By September 2009, more than 40,000 passengers had taken a ride on the Maglev
vehicle, and the total recorded mileage was about 400 km. - Experiment results verify that the manned running performances of the single
bulk YBCO samples above the PMG barely changed after about 9 years.
International interest in the research of manned HTS Maglev vehicle was aroused after
“Century” [13] was born. Manned HTS Maglev vehicles were developed in 2004 in
Germany [67] and Russia [68]. A full-size HTS Maglev train as a substitute for a light
track system for city use is under development in Brazil [69, 70]. Moreover, Japan [72],
Italy [73], and other countries had also developed HTS Maglev car models.
Trapped magnetic fields in HTS bulk have achieved 17.24 T at 29 K [93] and 17.6 T
at 26 K [94]. This implies that not only do HTS Maglev vehicles have bright prospects,
but their practical application process is beyond expectations.
The Brazil group presented a study on comparing the construction costs of a
HTS Maglev line of 1.0 km inside the campus of the Federal University of Rio de
Janeiro (UFRJ) with those of an LRV. [95]. Preliminary calculations have already
shown that this particular Maglev line can be cheaper than a LRV. HTS Maglev cars
are lighter than LVR cars for the same number of passengers, the global efforts are
approximately 75% lower. The supporting structure weight of a HTS Maglev is 50% of
that for the LVR. Figure 4.11 shows a real-scale HTS Maglev vehicle prototype in Brazil
[96, 97]. Figure 4.12 shows the on-board assembled HTS Maglev cryostat [98–100].
which was made in ATZ, Germany. Table 4.2 lists specifications of the HTS Maglev
cryostat.
The German IFW group has developed the large-scale HTS Maglev vehicle Supra-
Trans II [101] (Fig. 4.13). On July 1, 2009, the HTS Maglev vehicle project SupraTrans II
was approved by the German government after the HTS Maglev vehicle SupraTrans
I [67] in IFW, Germany in 2002–2004. The specifications of HTS Maglev vehicle
SupraTrans II are as follows: oval guideway length, 80.84 m; ndFeB magnets, 4.85 t;
superconductor, YBCO bulk; levitation force, 8.9 kN at 8–10 mm; vehicle mass, about