Inductrack

Inductrack is an experimental magnetic levitation system. To create the floating effect, wire loops are used without additional power supply in the track system and the vehicle arranged in Halbach arrays room - temperature permanent magnets.

So far, there are three variants. While I was Inductrack optimized for high speeds, Inductrack II is more efficient at lower speeds. Inductrack III is more optimized for heavy-duty transport.

Short Description

In May 1998, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley presented (California ) under the direction of Richard F. Post as a by-product of a priority -driven flywheel energy storage project a completely new maglev system Inductrack ago. It is characterized by passive arranged in Halbach arrays room - temperature permanent magnets made from neodymium-iron- boron ( NdFeB) and therefore fail- safe, cost -effective, energy-efficient and therefore more economical than the other magnetic levitation systems. Also there is no need shielding the passenger compartment to magnetic fields such as the large superconducting magnets or even active magnetic coils is necessary for other floating systems, since the magnetic fields Inductrack act exclusively below the permanent magnets and above are virtually non-existent. Since Inductrack unlike other magnetic levitation have to spend any extra energy to produce the completely passive floating effect, it is also suitable for heavy load transportation and is thus also suitable as a freight transport system. Does the train, he induced by its motion a repulsive magnetic field and floats above the track body, are embedded in the wire loops without additional power supply. As the electrodynamic levitation system (EDS ) JR - Maglev is Inductrack be equipped with auxiliary wheels and example driven by a propeller or jet engine or in the more developed Inductrack II with dual Halbach array by electromagnetic pulse.

General Atomics in San Diego developed Inductrack as " Urban Transport System". American Maglev Technology develops commercial Inductrack systems.

Test and demonstration farm

In 2004 was taken at the test site by General Atomics in San Diego, a 120 -meter test track for Inductrack in operation. In October 2004, made ​​the first tests with 8000 kg vehicle chassis to check the data acquisition and control electronics. Due to the shortness of the route the test speeds of up to 10 m / s limited. Was shown already at this early stage that the levitation and propulsion principle works and the test vehicle from a speed of 10 m / s floats. A National Geographic video report ( Youtube Video: UlhiEQWtxQA ) shows driving tests with the Inductrack test vehicle. In 2008 was the construction of a 7.4 km-long demonstration track on the grounds of the California University of Pennsylvania ( CUP) in California, Pennsylvania, 60 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, planned.

Inductrack as a rocket launcher

Inductrack is not only more economical magnetic levitation, but also cost-saving rocket launchers allow as electromagnetic catapults for example. Studies by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), that saved by accelerating a large rocket with the help of an advanced Inductrack to Mach 0.8 about 30-40 % rocket fuel and correspondingly increases the payload or the rocket could be reduced.