Application of typical magnetic suspension system in maglev flight wind tunnel

The operation principle of the maglev flight wind tunnel is to drive the model to move at high speed in a closed straight pipe through magnetic suspension. The maglev system is particularly important for accurate control of the acceleration/uniform/deceleration process of the model. This study made a comprehensive analysis of the four maglev systems, including normal conductive electromagnetic suspension (EMS), permanent magnet electrodynamic suspension (PM–EDS), high/low temperature superconducting electrodynamics suspension (HTS/LTS–EDS), and high temperature superconducting pinning levitation (HTS–PL). These several maglev systems were comprehensively analyzed from five aspects. EMS system could not meet the specification requirement of the maximum operating speed Ma = 1.0, which could not be used as an alternative maglev system for the maglev flight wind tunnel. Based on the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and grey relational analysis (GRA), a comprehensive decision-making model of the maglev system was established for the application scenario of the maglev flight wind tunnel. Results show that the HTS–EDS and HTS–PL system have better application potential in the maglev flight wind tunnel.