Maglev is an anti-gravity suspension system that defies gravity? Yes!

Maglev bearings allow vertical wind turbines to turn on electromagnetic suspension. Such magnetic levitation allows zero-friction. To get an idea of the power that can be generated with this technology; take a look at the video below.

Generating all that power, 'Giga watts!' in only 100 acre area is really amazing; definitely a win-win solution to our growing energy needs. Maglev technology may or may not use a cryogenic superconductor system in a particular application, but one application may surprise you. In fact it's likely you've used it without being aware of it. A well known medical diagnostic tool that makes use of superconducting magnets is the magnetic resonance imaging.

Interestingly, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is familiar to most people although they may not realize it. The machines notoriety has spread as millions have experienced the machines volume imaging procedure. Ironically, the system is based on the same principles of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Nuclear magnetic resonance was first used by scientists to obtain microscopic information about the organization of physical and chemical materials on a molecular level. The reason for renaming the NMR to MRI was because of negative connotations brought about by Chernobyl in 86. As a result the term nuclear developed a bad reputation, hence the name change.

The maglev systems close relationship to the MRI lifts stuff like, lifts; i.e., elevators, but there are also other more interesting uses for the technology.

Maglev primary application has always been high speed passenger transport between major population centers. But, using magnets for such things as elevators and wind turbines and other applications like spacecraft launch systems, hand held coil/Gauss guns, and a high energy rail guns. DARPA developed the MJ system, an advanced kinetic energy device for satellite defense.

Unfortunately fixed magnets loose strength two ways; one is as the distance increases, the magnetic strength decreases and visa versa. Basically, magnetic flux is the product of its average field times the perpendicular area that it penetrates. The second way is that fixed magnets loose strength over time. Fortunately, they can be rejuvenated because of their magnetic permeability. That is the ability of the magnetic material to become magnetized.

The optimum distance is made by readjusting the magnets position, as we have seen is as the distance increases, the magnetic strength decreases and visa versa. .This is considered unstable. Stability is achieved when the objects position and speed are continuously measured. In this example, any positional error is immediately sensed, amplified and fed back to the electromagnets to correct the error. This is basically your ordinary servomechanism.

In the real world, where the suspension of huge weights must be maintained within an air gap of mere mm's, precision control is required. Such a system is then considered stable.

The last magnetic technology involves diamagnetism. This is basically a magnetic field that is in opposition to an externally applied magnetic field that caused it. All materials have diamagnetism properties. For example, water, a rock, a hunk of wood, etc. In any event, the external magnetic field alters the orbital velocity of electrons around their nuclei, thus changing the magnetic dipole moment in the direction opposing the external field.

This field is generally on the weak side, except for the strong effects exhibited by super conductors. The materials magnetic flux lines curve away from the material. Superconductors generally exclude the lines completely.

Diamagnetic levitation of light materials above moderately strong permanent magnets can be achieved. Water droplets can be levitated, as can frogs and grasshoppers, although I chose a strawberry. However the magnetic fields required for this type of levitation are very high.

Various levitation configurations can be stabilized by using strong permanent magnets and diamagnets. Super conducting magnets can even be stabilized by small drops of water on a human finger.

Maglev is an exciting technology; so get yourself a couple of Neodymium magnets and play around with maglev; see what you can come up with. But be careful, Neodymium magnets are powerful. I believe ones imagination is ones only limit.

Maglev depends on magnetic energy, take a look.

Thank you for visiting maglev, facinating isn't it...

Custom Search