Maglev Trains

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Maglev Trains

• Trains that fly on air.

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Presentation Outline

• How Transrapid works.
• Application information about Transrapid magnetic
  lift trains.
• Transrapid magnetic lift projects.
• How Chuo Shinkansen works.
• Application information about Chuo Shinkansen
  works.
• Summary

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How Transrapid Works

• Support System
• The electromagnets on the underside of the train
  pull it up to the ferromagnetic stators on the
  track and levitate the train.
• The magnets on the side keep the train from
  moving from side to side.
• A computer changes the amount of current to keep
  the train 1 cm from the track.

This means there is no friction between the train
and the track!
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Levitation Systems Power Supply

• Batteries on the train power the system, and
  therefore it still functions without propulsion.
• The batteries can levitate the train for 30
  minutes without any additional energy.
• Linear generators in the magnets on board the
  train use the motion of the train to recharge the
  batteries.
• Levitation system uses less power than the trains
  air conditioning.

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Propulsion System

• The system consists of aluminum three-phase cable
  windings in the stator packs that are on the
  guideway
• When a current is supplied to the windings, it
  creates a traveling alternating current that
  propels the train forward by pushing and pulling.

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• When the alternating current is reversed, the
  train brakes.
• Different speeds are achieved by varying the
  intensity of the current.
• Only the section of track where the train is
  traveling is electrified.
• .

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Application Information

• Safety
• The trains are virtually impossible to derail
  because the train is wrapped around the track.
• Collisions between trains are unlikely because
  computers are controlling the trains movements.
• Maintenance
• There is very little maintenance because there
  is no contact between the parts.

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• Comfort
• The ride is smooth while not accelerating..
• Economic Efficency
• The initial investment is similar to other high
  speed rail roads. (Maglift is 20-40 million per
  mile and I-279 in Pittsburg cost 37 million per
  mile 17 years ago.)
• Operating expenses are half of that of other
  railroads.
• A train is composed of sections that each contain
  100 seats, and a train can have between 2 and 10
  sections.

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• The linear generators produce electricity for the
  cabin of the train.
• Speed
• The train can travel at about 300 mph. (Acela can
  only go 150 mph)
• For trips of distances up to 500 miles its total
  travel time is equal to a planes (including check
  in time and travel to airport.)
• It can accelerate to 200 mph in 3 miles, so it is
  ideal for short jumps. (ICE needs 20 miles to
  reach 200 mph.)

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• Environment
• It uses less energy than existing transportation
  systems. For every seat on a 300 km trip with 3
  stops, the gasoline used per 100 miles varies
  with the speed. At 200 km/h it is 1 liter, at
  300 km/h it is 1.5 liters and at 400 km/h it is 2
  liters. This is 1/3 the energy used by cars and
  1/5 the energy used by jets per mile.
• The tracks have less impact on the environment
  because the elevated models (50ft in the air)
  allows all animals to pass, low models ( 5-10 ft)
  allow small animals to pass, they use less land
  than conventional trains, and they can follow the
  landscape better than regular trains since it can
  climb 10 gradients (while other trains can only
  climb 4 gradients) and can handle tighter turns.

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• Noise Pollution
• The train makes little noise because it does not
  touch the track and it has no motor. Therefore,
  all noise comes from moving air. This sound is
  equivalent to the noise produced by city traffic.

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• Magnetic Field
• The magnetic field created is low, therefore
  there are no adverse effects.

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Transrapid Projects

• China is building a 20 mile system between
  Shanghai Pudong and Pudong International Airport.
  It will open in January of 2004, and it will
  reach speeds of over 250 mph. If the project is
  successful, then China will build a system from
  Beijing to Shanghai, a journey of over 800 miles.

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• The United States Congress is planning to spend
  1 billion for a test project that either
  connects Pittsburghs suburbs with its airport or
  Baltimore to the Washington International
  Airport.
• Germany was going to build a magnetic lift system
  between Berlin and Hamburg (200 miles) in 1996,
  but never did because a new political party came
  in and decided that the improvements over ICE was
  not worth 7 billion dollars.

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How Chuo Shinkansen Works

• Type of Magnet Uses
• This train uses superconducting electric magnets
  in the vehicle to levitate and propel the train.
  These magnets are cooled by liquid helium or
  liquid nitrogen. This means that once
  electrified these magnets do not require
  additional energy.

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• Propulsion
• An alternating current is ran through
  electromagnet coils on the guide walls of the
  guide way. This creates a magnetic field that
  attracts and repels the superconducting magnets
  on the train and propels the train forward.
• Braking is accomplished by sending an alternating
  current in the reverse direction so that it is
  slowed by attractive and repulsive forces.

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• Levitation
• The passing of the superconducting magnets by
  figure eight levitation coils on the side of the
  tract induces a current in the coils and creates
  a magnetic field. This pushes the train upward
  so that it can levitate 10 cm above the track.
• The train does not levitate until it reaches 50
  mph, so it is equipped with retractable wheels.

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• Lateral Guidance
• When one side of the train nears the side of the
  guideway, the super conducting magnet on the
  train induces a repulsive force from the
  levitation coils on the side closer to the train
  and an attractive force from the coils on the
  farther side. This keeps the train in the
  center.

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Application Information

• This system is not ready for use now, but it
  should be ready in a few years.
• Its top speed with people aboard is 350 mph.
• The super conducting magnets create a strong
  magnetic field that could be a problem for some
  passengers.

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• The train is earthquake proof because the greater
  space (10 cm) between the track and the train
  leaves more room for track deformation
• Linear generators will produce all the
  electricity needed in the trains interior.
• Only the part of the track that is used will be
  electrified so no energy is wasted.

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Summery

• Maglev trains use magnets to levitate and propel
  the trains forward.
• Since there is no friction these trains can reach
  high speeds.
• It is a safe and efficient way to travel.
• Governments have mixed feelings about the
  technology. Some countries, like China, have
  embraced it and others like Germany have balked
  at the expense.