MAGNETIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS (MTS) HAS DEVELOPED A GAME-CHANGING BREAKTHROUGH RAILROAD TECHNOLOGY-continued.
Phase III - Studer Linear Motor
What is it?
A low cost means of magnetically moving railroad cars on railroad tracks or maglev systems without the need for wayside power operating off any onboard electric power source.
The Studer Linear motor is an adaptation of a rotary form of motor originally invented by Philip Studer, a former NASA scientist.
What makes the motor design unique is the ability to have a fixed armature and field; something that had not been previously done in a linear motor. The specific configuration allows the operation of the motor without the costly copper wire windings in both the field and/or the armature that typically run the length of the guideway in a conventional long stator maglev system.
How it Works
The linear motor propulsion system consists of a pair of permanent magnets reacting between a set of steel rails in a sawtooth configuration and a control coil connected to a commutator system. The sawtooth pairs of steel rails are fixed to the crossties of tracks in the same manner as the MagRail propulsion system while the permanent magnets and control coil are fixed to the vehicle. The two halves of each sawtooth rail are separated by a nonconductive material causing the magnetic flux to follow the desired path of travel first through the top sawtooth section then commutated to travel through the bottom sawtooth section causing the vehicle to move forward or backward without the need for wayside electric power.
Articulating track switches allow Studer Linear Motor track changes.
Particularly suited for;
- Dense urban environments where air and noise pollution are important considerations
- All other uses under which conventional railroads operate coexistently.
Combining Studer Linear Motor and MagLevRail Technologies
Combining the Studer Linear Motor and MagLEVrail technologies allows for an even lower cost conversion to full maglev operation, all on existing railroad rights-of-way.
- No need for wayside power. Operates from any onboard electric power source.
- Eliminates need for costly copper wire windings in both field and/or armature that typically run the length of guideway in a conventional long stator maglev system.
- $8M per mile compared to $50M to up $200M per mile for other maglev systems.
Financial Benefits
- Energy cost is less than one half of the energy cost of conventional diesel rail systems
- Eliminates the cost of wheel repairs and replacements as there are no wheels
- Eliminates wear on the tracks as there is no physical contact between the magnetic bearings and track
- Substantial reduction in maintenance cost as there are no moving motor parts to wear out
- Substantial savings in fuel cost as there is no rolling resistance or friction between the vehicle and the track requiring less energy
- Capital cost similar to conventional railroad systems but with the added benefits created by the use of the non-contact technologies
Social Benefits:
- Zero emissions
- Quiet
- Collisions between trains are impossible
Operational Benefits:
- Able to traverse 10% grades
- Can maintain train headways by as little as 5 seconds
- Faster acceleration and braking
- Capable of very high speeds
- Operates without wayside power