MagLev Trains and the Nb-Ti Alloy

This video discusses the Maglev propulsion system and the materials used to make it work. Currently, most trains are powered by internal combustion engines but the use of magnetic propulsion represents the future of high-speed train travel. Maglev, short for Magnetic Levitation, allows the train to float over a guideway by means of electromagnetics instead of the typical fossil-fuel powered engine. The electromagnetics applied in the MagLev system replaces the conventional steel wheel and train track system, which has become both outdated and inefficient in terms of durability and high-speed capability. This eliminates all friction except for air drag, allowing MagLev trains to travel at much higher speeds than regular trains. Superconducting coils are fitted along the guideways of the rail and electric currents are delivered in alternating patterns create an alternating magnetic field. The changing polarity causes the front of the train to be pulled forward, while the magnetic field behind the train adds thrust. The key material used in the superconducting coils is a niobium-titanium (NbTi) alloy, which has unique superconductive abilities when cooled to extremely low temperatures and, when acted upon by an electrical current, creates a stable, extremely strong magnetic field with low diamagnetism. In the context of Maglev, the niobium-titanium alloy is cooled to a temperature of -452 degrees Fahrenheit using liquid He. This video further pursues why the Nb-Ti alloy is the material of choice for superconducting coils and how the wire is designed to maintain the superconducting state and high magnetic fields necessary for magnetic levitation. Jake Butler, Kyle Peter, Shivani Saboo, Victoria Stagnaro http://northeastmaglev.com/the-train http://www.supraconductivite.fr/en/index.php?p=applications-trains-maglev-more http://www.supraconductivite.fr/en/index.php?p=applications-trains-maglev-more#applications-bobines http://www.maglev2000.com/works/how-07-b.html http://www.americanmagnetics.com/charactr.php http://maglevmn.weebly.com/pros-and-cons.html http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/21/asia/japan-maglev-train-world-record/ https://www.britannica.com/technology/maglev-train http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/accelconf/p95/articles/tpe/tpe01.pdf http://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/hydrogen-sulphide-superconductor-2015/ http://accelconf.web.cern.ch/accelconf/p95/articles/tpe/tpe01.pdf http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/Solids/scmag.html#c2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niobium-titanium http://steel.kisti.re.kr/data/nbti_w.gif http://steel.kisti.re.kr/data/nbti_w.gif http://fs.magnet.fsu.edu/~lee/image/nbti/gallery/FluxoidMontage_Nb-47Ti.jpg http://www.americanmagnetics.com/charactr.php http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S092145340800381X http://www.nssmc.com/en/tech/report/nsc/pdf/8522.pdf