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Alan Marcus Maglev Trains As almost any child knows, magnets have the ability to attract and repel other magnets. This knowledge is now being utilized in separate projects in Germany and Japan to propel and levitate a new and innovative type of train, the magnetic lift train. A German company called Transrapid is now able to build a train takes advantage of a magnets ability to attract magnetic materials. Upon observing the system from a distance, it looks to be composed of only T-shaped track and a train that wraps around the ledges of the track. However, the wrap-around part of the train hides the mechanisms that cause the train to levitate and to fly through the air. Ferromagnets on the underside of both of both the track’s ledges attract electromagnets on the wrap-around-the-track part of the train that is adjacent to the ferromagnets. A computer controls the amount of current flowing through the electromagnets in order to keep the train at a constant 1 cm from the track (#5). These electromagnets are powered by onboard batteries that are charged by linear generators that convert motion into electricity. In addition, the train needs more than its levitation system to maintain its proper lateral position on the track. The Transrapid system accomplishes this feat by creating an attractive field between magnets on both the track’s ledge’s sides and on the interior sides of both the warparound-the-track parts of the train. The two attractive forces cancel each other out and cause the train to remain in the same lateral distance from the track.(Most of the information is form #4.) In addition to levitating the vehicles with magnetic forces, the Transrapid train’s propulsion system also uses magnetism. The forces used to propel and break the vehicle are both created with the aluminum three-phase cable winding in the ferromagnets on the track and the electromagnets on the train. The train moves forward when an alternating current, supplied by an outside source, is sent through the windings on the track. This creates an alternating magnetic field that both pushes and pulls the train along the track. In order to slow the train down the alternating current is reversed. This causes the train to be pushed and pulled in the direction opposite of its motion. Also, this system is energy efficient because instead of electrifying the entire track, the only electrified part is length where the train is traveling. (This paragraph is brought to you by #4) The Transrapid technology has many excellent qualities that would make it an attractive transportation option for customers. The trains are extremely safe to ride because the train’s wrap-around-the-track design makes it virtually impossible to derail. Also, the German design is safe for all passengers because it produces an electric field close to Earth’s own electric field. Therefore, people with pace makers could use these trains. Passenger would also enjoy the smooth ride that Transrapid provides when it is not accelerating. In addition, the passengers would appreciate the high speeds that these vehicles can achieve because of the lack of friction between the track and the train. The Transrapid design can accelerate to 200 mph in 3 miles, and can whisk passengers at speeds up to 300 mph. The high acceleration will delight passengers with minute travels times for short hops, and the high overall speed allows the train to cover distances of up to 500 miles in the same time it takes an airplane when travel time to the airport and check in time are considered. (This paragraph is also form #4.) Besides passengers, businesses and governments would also find Transrapid appetizing. Initially, a company will not have to spend any more to install this magnetic lift system than any other type of train system. A magnetic train would cost around $20 to $40 million per mile to construct, but 17 years ago the building of the I-279 in Pittsburg consumed $37 million for every mile of track laid down(#2). Once the system is constructed, the maintenance costs will be trivial because the train’s parts will not touch each other and therefore there will be no wear or tear(#4). Its lack of maintenance and its efficient system of electrifying only the part of the track in use translates into an operational expenses that are half that of other trains(#4). In addition, these trains could carry a large quantity of people because each train section holds about 100 seats and each train is composed of two to ten segments(#4). For people who want to preserve the environment, Transrapid systems would be an appealing option. First, Transrapid uses one third of the energy that cars use per person per mile and one fifth of the energy that jets use per person per mile. Therefore, depending on the fuel source, using less energy would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the air. Also, the Transrapid tracks would have less environmental impact. The elevated models, which are 50 feet in the air, would allow animals of all sizes to pass beneath them safely, and the low models, which are five to ten feet in the air, would allow small animals to pass under them safely. In addition, since the magnetic lift trains can mold to the landscape better their tracks would not alter the environment as much as the tracks of regular trains. The need for tunnels would be reduced because Transrapid trains can climb 10%gradients, whereas normal trains can only climb 4% gradients. In addition, these new German trains would not pollute the surrounding area with a high level of noise despite their high velocities because the propulsion system parts do not touch one another. The amount of noise produced by a passing maglev train would be analogous to the amount of sound made by city traffic.(#4) Transrapid’s success is like a tide, it crests and then it eddies. China has hired Transrapid to build a 20 mile test route between Shanghai Pudong and Pudong International Airport. The system will be operating in January of 2004, and if it is successful then China will connect Beijing and Shanghai, a journey of over 800 miles, with a maglev train(#4). In addition, the United States Congress said it is planning to spend $1 billion dollars on a Transrapid project between either Pittsburgh’s suburbs and its airport or between Washington International Airport and Baltimore. However, the money has not been appropriated yet(#2). Transrapid met with complete failure in its own home nation when the government cancelled a project between Berlin and Hamburg. The authorities decided that the improvement of the transportation between the two cities over the existing ICE trains is not enough to warrant spending $7 billion dollars.(#2) Besides the German Transrapid, the Japanese are building a maglev system called Chuo Shinkansen. Though the German and the Japanese system are similar there are some key differences between the two technologies. The basic set up of the Japanese system is different because it uses a U-shaped track and the onboard magnets are superconducting magnets that are cooled by liquid helium or liquid nitrogen(#1). The advantage to using superconducting magnets is that once electrified, they stay electrified if they are maintained at a low enough temperature. The Japanese levitation system also differs from the Transrapid one. A current is conducted in figure eight levitation coils on the side of the track as the superconducting magnets pass by them. This induced current creates a magnetic field that repels the superconducting magnets on the train and thereby levitate it 10 cm above the track. This system has drawbacks because in order to induce a current in the coils the train needs to pass by the coils at a speed of 50 mph. To fix this problem, the Chuo Shinkansen has retractable wheels that support it until it can become airborne. In addition, the Japanese version has a lateral guidance system that is similar to the Transrapid one. As the train’s lateral position shifts the superconducting magnets induces a current in the figure eight coils on the side of the track. The lateral position is adjusted because the magnetic field on the side closer to the train repels the car, and the magnetic field on the farther side attracts the car. (This paragraph came form #3) The Transrapid and Chuo Shinkansen propulsion systems are quite similar. It is propelled by sending an alternating current through electromagnets that are placed in the interior sides of the U-shaped track. The alternating current creates a magnetic field that pushes and pulls the train forward. In order to break, the current is simply reversed, and this slows the train down by pushing and pulling it in the opposite direction. (This paragraph is from #3) The Japanese technology, even though it will not be ready to use for a couple of years, has many advantages associated with it that supports its implementation when the technology is ready. One bonus is the high velocities, up to 350 mph when people are aboard, that can be achieved because the friction between the car and the track is lowered to zero(#3). Another advantage, which is important to a land that is situated on a fault, is that the large amount of space, 10 centimeters, between the track and the train makes the system earthquake proof. It is earthquake proof because the large amount separation leaves more room for deformations to occur (#4). However, despite the advantages of the Chuo Shinkansen, the Japanese public is not solidly behind implementing the technology. One drawback is that the construction of a maglev train system will carry a hefty price tag (#2). The other negative aspect is the high magnetic field that the superconducting magnets produces. This field would cause problems for passengers with pace makers and for passengers who want to talk on cell phones(#4). Hence, both Maglev technologies are safe, efficient and speedy modes of transportation that may be implemented in many areas in the near future. However, these new trains face the major obstacle of convincing governments that they are worth the money when trains already run similar routes. Bibliography #1: http://www.howstuffworks.com/maglev-train.htm This is a howstuffworks.com page that describes how magnetic lift trains work. #2: http://www.post-gazette.com/regionstate/20010128maglevtechsidereg9.asp This site from post-gazette.com that discusses how interest in maglev trains has been up and down. #3: http://www.rtri.or.jp/rd/maglev/html/english/maglev_frame_E.html This site discusses how the Japanese maglev train works. #4: http://www.transrapid.de/en/index.html This is the Transrapid international website. #5:http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/12/1219_wiremagtrains.htmlernationa l site. This is a National Geographic article that deals with how maglev trains work and how they are being accepted.