Magnetic Levitation Based on: Magnetic Potential Well (MPW) Effect

There are two well known basic concepts for achieving magnetic levitation of vehicles: one is based on electromagnetic attraction (EMA); and the second method is based on electrodynamic repulsion (EDR). In turn, each of these concepts have at least two variations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)¹ This paper presents a description of a lesser known third form of magnetic levitation which in the USSR is called the dc circuit Magnetic Potential Well (MPW) effect, developed by Kozoriz (6); and known in the West as Laithwaite's Magnetic River (13) which, however, is illustrated for an ac circuit. Furthermore, it identifies the boundary conditions which are needed to achieve the dc circuit MPW effect, and illustrates the final forms of the mathematical relationships derived to reduce the MPW concept to practice, in the design of practical high speed Maglev vehicles, for automotive and/or mass transit applications. This method is further described generally and design application examples are given in a companion paper (7). However, the scopes of this and our companion paper (7) are necessarily limited by length to an introductory summary of results. Supplementary lectures may be arranged to present the step by step derivations of the equations presented here only in summary form.