Analysis of Tube Thicknesses on Electromagnetic Drag and Guidance Forces for Hyperloop with HTS Magnets

초록

This paper follows the previous research on electromagnetic drag and guidance forces between HTS magnets and tube infrastructure for Hyperloop, and it was found that large attractive forces in the guidance direction (x-axis) decreasing horizontal stiffness, kx, which reduce the dynamic stability of pods, are generated between HTS magnets and AISI 1010 steel tubes under the pod velocity, v of 300 km/h. To mitigate this issue, Hi-Mn tubes generating repulsive guidance forces are used when v is below 300 km/h while AISI 1010 tubes are adopted when v is over 300 km/h to minimize the construction cost of vacuum tubes and guarantee the increase in kx. However, electromagnetic drag forces between HTS magnet and HiMn steel tubes under v of 100 km/h are nearly twice of that of AISI steel tubes. This problem may cause a significant reduction in its propulsion efficiency, especially when pods are running at constant v under 100 km/h, e.g., low-speed branch line. As a solution for this problem, the effect of AISI 1010 and Hi-Mn tube thicknesses on electromagnetic drag and guidance forces between HTS magnets and tubes are comprehensively analyzed in this paper.