Optimization of magnet configuration for the magneplane model

Three techniques have been applied to the analysis of the field geometry of the Magneplane magnet. It is shown that the characteristics of the lift and drag forces can be clearly visualized when the field and the eddy currents in the guideway are decomposed into harmonics. The drag force is proportional to the in-phase portion of the eddy current while the lift force is proportional to the quadrature current. Contours of magnetic field strength and relative lift factor as functions of magnet geometry are given. A numerical analysis of the field in and around the magnets and their iron return path in which saturation is taken into account is reported. It is shown that the ratio of lift force to magnet weight is maximized when the iron is just thick enough to avoid saturation.