Analysis of an electrodynamic Maglev system

Electrodynamic systems (EDSs) for Maglev have an advantage over electromagnetic systems (EMSs) in that the stability is built into the system. EDSs induce the currents used for levitation and guidance, while EMSs impose those currents with controlled feedback. The movement of a magnet over properly designed EDS coils results in forces to keep the system fixed in the lowest energy or null flux spot. In the past such systems have been examined through two-dimensional boundary element techniques. An approximation to the full three-dimensional time harmonic problem is obtained through Laplace transform theory after using boundary element methods to predict the mutual coupling of the magnets with the track coils. The analytic solution offers helpful design and operation guidelines.