Characteristics of electromagnetic force of EMS-type maglev vehicle using bulk superconductors

Because of the many special characteristics of bulk superconductors, they could be used as a flux source instead of electromagnets or permanent magnets in maglev systems. In this paper, we discuss the application of bulk superconductors to the EMS-type maglev vehicle. The configuration of the magnets consists of separated bulk superconductors and electromagnets. An attractive force between the superconducting bulk magnet and an iron rail is generated by the magnetic flux pinned in the bulk superconductors. The electromagnets are controlled to stabilize the required levitation force. Numerical analysis shows that the attractive force in this configuration is large enough to support the weight of the vehicles and that the influence of magnetic hysteresis of the superconductors on the electromagnetic force characteristics is small