International Journal on Electrical Engineering and Informatics ‐ Volume 4, Number 2, July 2012 ANSYS Simulation Based Comparative Study between Different Actuators and Guide-ways used in DC Electromagnetic Suspension Systems P. K. Biswas 1 , S. Banerjee 2 1 Senior Lecturer, Department of Electrical Engineering, Asansol Engg. College, Asansol 713305, West Bengal, India. 2 Associate professor, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Durgapur 713209, WB, India. pabitra.biswas2009@gmail.com, bansub2004@rediffmail.com Abstract: Magnetic levitation is a popular topic of research over the years throughout the world due to its wide range of industrial applications. In any DC attraction type suspension system, actuator and guide-way (rail) plays most important role. In this manuscript FEM based analysis of different structures of actuator and rail (guide-way) has been carried out utilizing ANSYS software. Input power to lift power ratio and lift power magnet weight ratio are two major factors for designing actuator and rail in electromagnetic levitation system (EMLS) [1]. These factors are dependent on the magnet dimensions, required gap flux and hence the required current density in the winding. The magnet configurations chosen on the basis of required pole-face area and necessary window area to house the excitation coils. There are various magnet and rail geometries; i.e. magnet with I, U and E profiles and various winding arrangements with flat and U-profile rail. A FEM analysis utilizing ANSYS software has done to find out the flux pattern, working flux density, field intensity, force etc. for different single actuator based levitation system at different operating conditions. Different aspects of rail and actuator have been described based on the ANSYS simulation results. The main objective is to propose a suitable configuration of actuator and guide-rail for a specific DC electromagnetic levitation system. Keywords: Electromagnetic levitation, FEM analysis, eddy current effect, ANSYS software, flux pattern. 1. Introduction The suspension of objects with no visible means of support due to magnetic force is termed as magnetic levitation or ‘Maglev’. Magnetic Levitation has many fascinating applications; important among them are friction-less bearings, magnetically levitated (Maglev) trains, levitation of models in a wind tunnel, vibration isolation of sensitive machinery, levitation of molten metal in induction furnaces, levitation of metal slabs during manufacture etc. Levitation using magnetic force is based on two different principles: attraction (or electromagnetic attraction) and repulsion (or electro-dynamic repulsion). The electromagnetic levitation system (EMLS), uses the high-power solid-state controls to regulate the current in an ordinary direct-current electromagnet, and achieves stability through active feedback. Such systems are common in most of the maglev trains where the magnets used for levitation ride below a fixed iron rail and use the attraction force for suspension of trains. The second approach, the electro-dynamic levitation system (EDLS), generally uses high speed super-conducting magnets that are mounted on the bottom of the moving vehicle and produces the repulsive force due to eddy currents produced in the aluminum guide ways. One of the main constraints of the superconducting repulsion principle is that it cannot provide suspension force below some critical speed [1, 3]. The electrodynamics levitation system is inherently stable, but at high speed it possess stability problem due to negative damping [2]. So Received: August 12 th , 2011. Accepted: May 24 th , 2012 217