Abstract of Thesis presented at COPPE/UFRJ as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)

Optimization of a Magnetic Rail of a Superconducting Maglev Vehicle

Eduardo Souza Motta

November/2011

Advisors:

Richard Magdalena Stephan José Herskovits Norman

Department:

Eletrical Engineering

      This work studies the optimization of a levitation system constituted by a magnetic rail and a vehicle containing high temperature superconductors (HTS). It intents to determine a geometry that minimizes the necessary investment, respecting the design restrictions.The variables used in the optimization process are the dimensions of the permanent magnetic blocks and the iron of the magnetic circuit. The design restrictions are the levitation force and assemblage facilities. The optimization process is performed by extensive search, genetic algorithm and a feasible direction interior point algorithm. The design restrictions are determined by the Finite Element Method together with Null Permeability and Total Flux Freezing models. The results are verified by simulation with Bean Model and also checked experimentally.