Research on Influence of Eddy Current Effects Between Rails and Electromagnets in Maglev Vehicles Under Nonuniform Magnetic Fields

To address the attenuation of levitation force between the electromagnets and rails in maglev vehicles caused by high-speed operation, this study first analyzes the generation mechanism of eddy current effects (ECE) based on electromagnetic field theory. A high-precision surrogate model for air-gap magnetic field calculation is established, incorporating the actual topological structure of the levitation electromagnets. Building on this foundation, an analytical electromagnetic force model accounting for ECE in both rails and electromagnets is developed. This model enables efficient parametric analysis of eddy current influences and is directly applicable to inverse problems in electromagnet topology optimization. To address the challenges posed by ECE on the engineering application of speed increase in medium and low speed maglev vehicles, this paper analyzes the limitations of existing end-mounted levitation electromagnet structures. Based on the current balance optimization principle between front and rear suspension points, a non-dominated solution set for structural optimization parameters is derived, aiming to mitigate uneven load distribution and compensate for ECE. Dynamic simulation results demonstrate that the optimized electromagnet structure effectively compensates for ECE while simultaneously enhancing track compatibility at levitation points. Experimental results indicate that at 140 km/h, the currents at both front and rear levitation points of the end-mounted electromagnets reach a balanced state, remaining below the rated value of 35A. The outcomes of this study provide theoretical guidance for optimizing levitation systems in medium and low speed maglev vehicles at higher speed levels.