Implementation and suspension force evaluation of a permanent magnet hybrid type magnetically levitated carrier system

Abstract

In the airport, the conveyor sorter carries and sorts passenger’s baggage. As the speed of this sorter increases, many problems such as energy loss, noise, vibration, and wear occur. In this research, we apply magnetic levitation (maglev) technology to this sorter to solve these problems. First, we designed a magnetic support device using a finite element method of magnetic field analysis and manufactured this maglev unit. We could apply this unit to the existing cart of sorter without significantly changing its structure. Next, we manufactured a maglev suspension force measuring device and measured this force. Although the suspension force was lower than the analysis value, we clarified that this unit could support the sorter and baggage. We mounted the maglev unit on an actual cart and carried out the maglev control. To clarify the dynamic characteristics of sorter, we measured the time response when we changed the levitation position and when a load was applied. According to this experiment, we clarified that the maglev unit could support the weight of general baggage.