Experimental Platform Design and Transient Guidance Force Analysis for Null-Flux Coil Type Electrodynamic Suspension System

The electrodynamic suspension (EDS) system with cross-connected null-flux coil (NFC) configurations shows great potential for high-speed Maglev trains and electromagnetic launch systems. However, existing test platforms cannot experimentally simulate cross-connected NFC tracks. In this article, we propose a novel experimental approach to investigate the influence of crossconnection cables on dynamic performance in a laboratory environment. Firstly, a new rotating double-disk experimental EDS device equipped with cross-connected NFCs is introduced, with its structure, functions, and experimental procedures described in detail. Secondly, an efficient numerical model of the NFC-type EDS system, capable of accommodating general magnet arrays and arbitrary magnetization angles, is developed to support the electrical parameter design of the NFCs. Thirdly, comparisons of transient electromagnetic forces between numerical simulations (for both linear and rotary motion) and rotational experimental measurements demonstrate a high degree of consistency, validating the effectiveness of the proposed test platform. Finally, the transient performance of the EDS system with and without cross-connection cables is experimentally evaluated and compared. The results indicate that the cross-connected NFC configuration enhances the guidance force by 250% without compromising suspension performance. This experimental method, presented here for the first time, enables laboratory simulation of the dynamic behavior of cross-connected EDS systems and demonstrates considerable scalability. Moreover, the platform significantly enhances the capabilities of EDS testing by allowing flexible simulation of various coil and magnet configurations. As such, it provides an important reference framework for the design and experimental investigation of advanced EDS systems.