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Understanding Maglev Trains: Principles & Benefits

Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to lift and propel trains along tracks at high speeds without touching the tracks. They levitate using electromagnets and maintain balance and speed through computer controls. Maglev trains have advantages over conventional trains in that they have no friction so can move faster, require less maintenance, and are unaffected by weather. However, their infrastructure is incompatible with existing rail and the initial costs are very high.

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Neeraj Singh
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243 views11 pages

Understanding Maglev Trains: Principles & Benefits

Maglev trains use magnetic levitation to lift and propel trains along tracks at high speeds without touching the tracks. They levitate using electromagnets and maintain balance and speed through computer controls. Maglev trains have advantages over conventional trains in that they have no friction so can move faster, require less maintenance, and are unaffected by weather. However, their infrastructure is incompatible with existing rail and the initial costs are very high.

Uploaded by

Neeraj Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Maglev Trains

What is meant by maglev ?

Maglev = Magnetic + Levitation

Any thing which may levitate(raise or float) by means of a


magnetic power is simply called as magnetic levitation
Basic principle of Maglev Trains
 Maglev train have to perform following steps to operate
1 Levitation
To lift or rise or levitate the train in the air.

2 Propulsion
To run the train on the tracks.

3 Lateral Guidance
Allow not to derail the train.
Levitation
• The electromagnets on the underside of the train pull it up to the ferromagnetic
stators on the track and levitate the train.
• It levitate the train by 10 cm. The computer system changes the amount of
current to keep the train 10 cm above from the track.
• This means that there is no friction between the train and track and no frictional
losses.
Propulsion
• The basic principle that electromagnetic propulsion follows is that “opposite
poles attract each other and like poles repel each other”.
• The propulsion system is used for both propulsion and breaking.
• The system is like a synchronous motor in linear form.
Working of propulsion system
Lateral Guidance
• The guidance magnets are present vertically on train as well as on tracks.
• These magnets allow no contact between the train and tracks.
Advantages of Maglev Trains
 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.
• No contact between the train and track so have very less power loss.

 Maintenance
• There is very little maintenance because there is no contact between the
parts.
Comparison With Conventional Trains
Maglev Train Conventional Train
 Allow higher top speed since they  Speed is limited by the use of
don’t rely on wheels for wheels for propulsion.
propulsion.
 Unaffected by snow, high wind or
 May encounter problems due to
any other extreme weather
degradation of weather conditions.
condition.
 Efficiency is affected by rolling
 No rolling resistance due to lack of
resistance due to the contact with
contact between track & vehicle.
the track.
This improves power efficiency.
Existing Maglev Trains
 Testing Tracks
• Tranrapid , a German Maglev company has test track at Emsland of length
31.5 Km.
• JR-Maglev, Japan has a test track that can reach a speed of 581 Km/hr.

 Operational Maglev Trains


• Changsha Maglev, China - started on 6th May 2016
• Linimo, Japan – commercially automated urban maglev system commenced on
March 2005
• Shanghai Maglev Train , China – EMS high speed system started operation on
April 2004
• HML 03 – The first maglev opened to public at Daejeon South Korea In 1993.
Summary
 They consume less energy.
 Require no engine.
 Move faster than normal trains because they are not
affected by ground friction.
 Incompatible with existing rail lines, unlike traditional
high speed rail.
 Initial cost is very high.

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