Design and Analysis of a Small-Scale HTS Magnet Used in a Linear Synchronous Motor for Future High-Speed Superconducting Maglev Applications

High speed transportations gradually become promising and important in economic development of a country. Maglev, as one of the novel high speed transportations, has been operated commercially like Shanghai Maglev Trains. To enable even faster speed, superconducting Maglev is proposed with the slider in its linear synchronous motor (LSM) is made of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets. The HTS magnets can provide rather strong magnetic field intensity to not only ensure large thrust during operation but also reduce copper consumed in the LSM stator. This paper presents a conceptual design of a HTS magnet used as the slider in a small-scale LSM which is tested for future high-speed superconducting Maglev application. Purpose of the design is to find optimal dimensions of the magnet to reduce HTS tape consuming while meeting the spatial constraints and generating a required magnetic field intensity. Results of the design parameters are plausible. Furthermore, the weakest points corresponding to the lowest critical current in the winding pack are also investigated according the designed parameters, for the sake of operation safety of the HTS magnet.