Surfing on Nano-Magnets

Overview

Objectives/Goals Determine if surfing trains on nano-magnetic Ferrofluid would permit higher transportation efficiency, relative to magnetic levitation - Maglev, by either reducing transportation costs by one third, or increasing speeds by three times today#s fastest trains to outperforming air travel. Methods/Materials Set up a Maglev track of 609.6 mm length, 40.54 mm width and 19.05mm height, on a leveled glass base board. Levitated a pinewood block on the track representing the Maglev Train, measuring 38.10 mm wide, 127 mm long and 19.05 mm high, with repelling magnetic strips on the under side. Used a plunger to push the train along the track, for 6 loads from 0.18 to 0.92 Kgs. Took 5 readings each for the distance traversed by the train to one one-hundredth mm accuracy, using laser beams and digital calipers. The experiment was repeated with Ferrofluid between the magnetic track and the train. Resultant distances traversed for the two experiments were compared for equivalent loads applied. Results The train surfing over Ferrofluid moved between 3.18 to 3.77 times further than the magnetic levitation train, for the same loads applied to move it. As the plunger loads were increased, the distance moved by the train followed Newton's second law of motion - parabollic curve. All readings showed very high level of consistency and repeatability. Conclusions/Discussion In the scaled experiments, Ferrofluid based transportation is at least 300% more efficient than Maglev transportation, per the hypothesis. For about 50 readings, graphs consistently validate Newton#s second law of motion. For land transportation, this provides tremendous opportunity for reliable travel at a speed of up to 1503 Kmph or Mach 1.23. Alternatively, it creates opportunity for low transportation cost of 1.46 cents per ton Kilometer, at today#s peak speed of 501 Kmph, down from 4.38 cents/ton Km. Further research must be done to overcome challenges: a. Ferrofluid is expensive at 40 cents/cc, with opportunity to reduce costs. b. Ferrofluid is messy to handle and jumps in strong magnetic fields, requiring containment. c. Dimensional tolerances for the train and track need to be down to the millimeter, with ability to build accurately over long distances. d. Ferrofluid tracks will be 100 times costlier that conventional tracks, at $20M per Km, with opportunity to reduce costs.

Awards (1)

• Honorable Mention

Competition history

• CSEF 2014 Electronics & Electromagnetics · Entry J0916

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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