Manufacture and Preliminary Prototype Test of a HTS Suspension Electromagnet for Maglevs

A high-temperature superconducting coil (HTS) has been developed for a suspension electromagnet system of a maglev train. A preliminary prototype HTS coil module has been designed to replace one-six of the normal suspension electromagnet system used to verify the HTS performance. The HTS module consists of a warm yoke, an iron core, and two HTS coils. The HTS coil was connected by two symmetric winding pancakes, each of which consisted of six double-pancake coils wound with YBCO tapes. The prototype was produced and tested under vehicle suspension conditions. The results showed that the HTS suspension electromagnet module could produce 2 kN suspension force that can counteract self-gravity under 30 kA, and work steadily under maglev vibration conditions at 42 kA. The results indicate that the HTS suspension electromagnet module can reach the level of a practical project.