Performance Evaluation of Superconducting Electrodynamic Suspension for Hyperloop Using Static Experiments

Abstract

<italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">The</i> Hyperloop is expected to surpass the speed limits of conventional ground transportation by minimizing air drag and friction resistance inside a vacuum tube, necessitating a stable magnetic levitation system. Among the various levitation methods being considered, electrodynamic suspension (EDS) combined with superconducting magnets (SCMs) capable of achieving a large airgap appears promising, as it can reduce infrastructure costs and enhance the Hyperloop's competitiveness. Although many studies have explored the use of SC-EDS in the Hyperloop, validating its performance at ultra-high speeds is challenging due to the need for a long test-bed, which consumes significant time and resources. This research aims to indirectly evaluate the highspeed performance of SC-EDS through static experiments. Magnetic flux density and levitation force of SCMs were measured using static experiments, and the performance of SC-EDS was assessed indirectly by calculating the induced current based on the experimental results. Additionally, each result was validated by comparing it with the numerical analysis result.