A High-Temperature Superconducting Maglev Turnout Based on a Permanent Magnet Device

Turnouts are an important part of the engineering application of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) maglev. Compared with railway turnout, the strong magnetic force between segments of the permanent magnet guideway (PMG) used in the HTS maglev system makes it inconvenient to switch. By replacing part of the permanent magnets (PMs) at the turnout area, the switching magnetic poles with excitation can change the magnetic field distribution above the PMGs and guide the levitating HTS bulks to complete switching. This paper presents a novel turnout design that consists of switching magnetic poles and the attached permanent magnet device (PMD). In particular, the PMD can reduce the turnout volume and avoid coil heating. Based on the system, the simulation data indicates that the switching magnetic poles could replace PMs to create a similar magnetic field distribution, meanwhile feasible for design and manufacture. This work provides references for future design in non-mechanical PMGs turnouts.