Finite Element Analysis and Experimental Implementation of the Cylindrical Permanent Magnet Electrodynamic Suspension System

In this article, the performances of two electrodynamic suspension systems with flat and cylindrical structures are investigated and compared. The first system consists of a permanent magnet block levitated over a moving flat conducting plate. The second system consists of a permanent magnet block levitated over a rotating cylindrical conducting shell. The influences of systems specifications on their performances are studied using the 2-D finite element method. The minimum radius in which the performances of both systems are close enough is determined and used for experimental implementation. Finally, the results of the finite element method are compared with results obtained by experiment. It shows the accuracy of the finite element method in the estimation of the lift and drag forces of an electrodynamic suspension system. This study helps to find a proper cylindrical electrodynamic suspension system instead of a flat one, which is more complicated for implementation.