A Partial Element Equivalent Circuit Model of a Permanent Magnet Electrodynamic Suspension

Permanent magnet electrodynamic suspensions rely on induced currents for the magnetic levitation of transportation systems. To predict these currents and the forces they generate, a partial element equivalent circuit model is presented in this paper. By discretizing the conductive track into a network of interconnected elements, the model is able to compute complex patterns of eddy currents and consider the skin effect. Suspensions with both bulk and perforated conductors are modeled with an error below 3% compared to precise references and with a significantly reduced computational cost compared to time-dependent finite element simulations. Experimental measurements further validate the predictions of the model. Additionally, the model is also adapted to study the vertical dynamics of the suspension, without using additional finite element identifications, and confirmed its unstable behavior.