Running Stability of a Prototype Vehicle in a Side-Suspended HTS Maglev Circular Test Track System

To improve the running speed of the high-Tcsuperconductor (HTS) maglev system, a circular test track system with the maglev vehicle suspending beside the permanent magnetic guideway (PMG) is studied. A test to determine the change in guidance force when a YBa2Cu3O7(YBCO) bulk gets close to and off the center of the PMG is carried out and the curve of relation between levitation gap and vertical eccentric displacement of the YBCO bulk under constant guidance force is obtained. The results show that eccentric motion in the vertical direction may occur during free side-suspended operation of the maglev vehicle in the circular track, which leads to a reduction in levitation gap and an increase in vertical eccentric displacement, decaying and enhancing the guidance force, respectively. Eccentric motion can be effectively restrained by reducing the field cooling height and the weight of the maglev vehicle to improve the running stability of the maglev vehicle. Finally, a circular test track 6.5 m in diameter and 20.4 m in length and a prototype vehicle are designed and constructed on the basis of the side-suspended HTS maglev system.