29-05-2012, 04:37 PM
Modelling and control of a magnetic levitation system.
[attachment=23397]
Theoretical Descriptions:
Maglev setup:
Magnetic levitation, maglev, or magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended with no
support other than magnetic fields. Magnetic pressure is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational and
any other accelerations. It is becoming widely applicable in magnetic bearings, high speed ground
transportation, vibration isolation etc. In addition magnetic suspension generates levitation action in rectilinear
motion devices in case of high speed ground transportation system. All practical magnetic levitation systems are
inherently open loop unstable and rely on feedback control to produce the desired levitation action.
The magnetic levitation system consists of a magnet whose power can be controlled, a steel ball and an
infrared based sensor which can detect the position of the ball in one dimension. The setup is depicted more
clearly in the figure below:
Experimental Descriptions:
The setup is completely encased in a rectangular enclosure divided into three distinct vertical chambers. The
upper chamber houses an electromagnet such that one pole of the electromagnet is exposed to the middle
chamber and faces a black post erect in the middle chamber. The post is designed such that with a 2.54 cm steel
ball at rest on its surface, the top of the ball surface is 14 mm from the face of the electromagnet. The middle
chamber is illuminated using two light bulbs .The ball elevation from the top face of the post is measured using
a sensor embedded in the post. The bottom chamber houses sensor and signal conditioning circuitry.
[attachment=23397]
Theoretical Descriptions:
Maglev setup:
Magnetic levitation, maglev, or magnetic suspension is a method by which an object is suspended with no
support other than magnetic fields. Magnetic pressure is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational and
any other accelerations. It is becoming widely applicable in magnetic bearings, high speed ground
transportation, vibration isolation etc. In addition magnetic suspension generates levitation action in rectilinear
motion devices in case of high speed ground transportation system. All practical magnetic levitation systems are
inherently open loop unstable and rely on feedback control to produce the desired levitation action.
The magnetic levitation system consists of a magnet whose power can be controlled, a steel ball and an
infrared based sensor which can detect the position of the ball in one dimension. The setup is depicted more
clearly in the figure below:
Experimental Descriptions:
The setup is completely encased in a rectangular enclosure divided into three distinct vertical chambers. The
upper chamber houses an electromagnet such that one pole of the electromagnet is exposed to the middle
chamber and faces a black post erect in the middle chamber. The post is designed such that with a 2.54 cm steel
ball at rest on its surface, the top of the ball surface is 14 mm from the face of the electromagnet. The middle
chamber is illuminated using two light bulbs .The ball elevation from the top face of the post is measured using
a sensor embedded in the post. The bottom chamber houses sensor and signal conditioning circuitry.