A

Seminar Report on

Eddy Current Brakes

Department of Electrical Engineering

College of Technology and Engineering
Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur

BATCH 2016-2020

Guided By: Submitted By:

Prof. R.R. Joshi Tanmay Arya
Head of Department B.Tech Final Year
 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I take this opportunity to express my profound gratitude and deep regards to all Those who helped me to

complete this report on “A Sensor-less Power Reserve Control Strategy for Two Stage Grid Connected

PV Systems”. With respect I would like to thank my Prof. Dr. R.R. Joshi, Head of Department of Electrical

Engineering for their exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant Encouragement throughout the course of

this project. I also wish to express my gratitude to Dr. Vinod Kumar Yadav, Dr. Jai Kumar

Maherchandani , Dr. Naveen Jain and Dr. Vikramaditya Dave, Assistant Professor, Department of

Electrical Engineering, C.T.A.E, for his supervision And guidance. A special thanks goes to Mrs. Lokpriya

Kumawat for her cordial support, Valuable information and guidance, which helped me in completing this

report through various stages.

Tanmay Arya

DATE: B.Tech Final Year

Department of E.E.
 ABSTRACT

This is an electric braking system which works on the principle that eddy current produced in it opposes

the driving torque. This opposing torque is used to brake the automobiles. Mainly this system is purely based

on Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction and Lenz’s law.

For operating this control switch is provided on the steering column in a position for easy manual.

The skidding and complexity of mechanical braking system can be minimized by this system. Also the wear

and tear of the vehicles can be reduced.

Since researches are going on to eliminate some of the disadvantages of this system, we can accept

it to be the norm one in a few years of time.

 CONTENTS

1. INTRODUCTION

2. PRINCIPLE OF OPERATION

3. CONSTRUCTION

4. WORKING

5. EDDY CURRENT BRAKE IN TRAINS

6. BRAKING POWER CALCULATIONS

7. EDDY CURRENT BRAKE REQUIREMENTS

8. MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION

9. ADVANTAGES

10. DISADVANTAGES

11. APPLICATIONS

12. CONCLUSION

13. REFERENCES
 CHAPTER-1

INTRODUCTION

Many of the ordinary brakes, which are being used now days stop the vehicle by means of mechanical

blocking. This causes skidding and wear and tear of the vehicle. And if the speed of the vehicle is very high,

the brake cannot provide that much high braking force and it will cause problems. These drawbacks of

ordinary brakes can be overcome by a simple and effective mechanism of braking system ‘The eddy current

brake’. It is an abrasion-free method for braking of vehicles including trains. It makes use of the opposing

tendency of eddy current

Eddy current is the swirling current produced in a conductor, which is subjected to a change in

magnetic field. Because of the tendency of eddy currents to oppose, eddy currents cause energy to be lost.

More accurately, eddy currents transform more useful forms of energy such as kinetic energy into heat,

which is much less useful. In many applications, the loss of useful energy is not particularly desirable. But

there are some practical applications. Such an application is the eddy current brake.

Eddy currents (also called Foucault's currents) are loops of electrical current induced within conductors by a

changing magnetic field in the conductor according to Faraday's law of induction. Eddy currents flow in

closed loops within conductors, in planes perpendicular to the magnetic field. They can be induced within

nearby stationary conductors by a time-varying magnetic field created by an

AC electromagnet or transformer, for example, or by relative motion between a magnet and a nearby

conductor. The magnitude of the current in a given loop is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field,

the area of the loop, and the rate of change of flux, and inversely proportional to the resistivity of the

material. When graphed, these circular currents within a piece of metal look vaguely like eddies or

whirlpools in a liquid.

By Lenz's law, an eddy current creates a magnetic field that opposes the change in the magnetic field that

created it, and thus eddy currents react back on the source of the magnetic field. For example, a nearby

conductive surface will exert a drag force on a moving magnet that opposes its motion, due to eddy currents

induced in the surface by the moving magnetic field. This effect is employed in eddy current brakes which
are used to stop rotating power tools quickly when they are turned off. The current flowing through the

resistance of the conductor also dissipates energy as heat in the material. Thus eddy currents are a cause of

energy loss in alternating current (AC) inductors, transformers, electric motors and generators, and other AC

machinery, requiring special construction such as laminated magnetic cores or ferrite cores to minimize

them. Eddy currents are also used to heat objects in induction heating furnaces and equipment, and to detect

cracks and flaws in metal parts using eddy-current testing instruments.

An eddy current brake, also known as an induction brake, electric brake or electric retarder, is a device

used to slow or stop a moving object by dissipating its kinetic energy as heat. However, unlike friction

brakes, in which the drag force that stops the moving object is provided by friction between two surfaces

pressed together, the drag force in an eddy current brake is an electromagnetic force between a magnet and a

nearby conductive object in relative motion, due to eddy currents induced in the conductor

through electromagnetic induction.

A conductive surface moving past a stationary magnet develops circular electric currents called eddy

currents induced in it by the magnetic field, as described by Faraday's law of induction. By Lenz's law, the

circulating currents create their own magnetic field that opposes the field of the magnet. Thus the moving

conductor experiences a drag force from the magnet that opposes its motion, proportional to its velocity.

The kinetic energy of the moving object is dissipated as heat generated by the current flowing through

the electrical resistance of the conductor.

In an eddy current brake the magnetic field may be created by a permanent magnet or an electromagnet, so

the braking force can be turned on and off or varied by varying the electric current in the electromagnet

windings. Another advantage is that since the brake does not work by friction, there are no brake

shoe surfaces to wear out, necessitating replacement, as with friction brakes. A disadvantage is that since the

braking force is proportional to the relative velocity of the brake, the brake has no holding force when the

moving object is stationary, as is provided by static friction in a friction brake, so in vehicles it must be

supplemented by a friction brake.

Eddy current brakes are used to slow high-speed trains and roller coasters, as a complement for friction

brakes in semi-trailer trucks to help prevent brake wear and overheating, to stop powered tools quickly when

power is turned off, and in electric meters used by electric utilities.

 CHAPTER-2

2.1 PRINCIPLE OF OPERATIONS

Eddy current brake works according to Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. According to this law,

whenever a conductor cuts magnetic lines of forces, an emf is induced in the conductor, the magnitude of

which is proportional to the strength of magnetic field and the speed of the conductor. If the conductor is a

disc, there will be circulatory currents i.e. eddy currents in the disc. According to Lenz’s law, the direction

of the current is in such a way as to oppose the cause, i.e. movement of the disc.

Essentially the eddy current brake consists of two parts, a stationary magnetic field system and a

solid rotating part, which include a metal disc. During braking, the metal disc is exposed to a magnetic field

from an electromagnet, generating eddy currents in the disc. The magnetic interaction between the applied

field and the eddy currents slow down the rotating disc. Thus the wheels of the vehicle also slow down since

the wheels are directly coupled to the disc of the eddy current brake, thus producing smooth stopping

motion.

EDDY CURRENT INDUCED IN A CONDUCTOR

2.2 CONSTRUCTION

Essentially an eddy current brake consists of two members, a stationary magnetic field system and a

solid rotary member, generally of mild steel, which is sometimes referred to as the secondary because the

eddy currents are induced in it. Two members are separated by a short air gap; they’re being no contact

between the two for the purpose of torque transmission. Consequently there is no wear as in friction brake.

Stator consists of pole core, pole shoe, and field winding. The field winding is wounded on the pole

core. Pole core and pole shoes are made of east steel laminations and fixed to the state of frames by means

of screw or bolts. Copper and aluminum is used for winding material the arrangement is shown in fig. 1.

This system consists of two parts.

1. Stator

2. Rotor

Stator:-

It is supported frame members of the vehicle chassis. It has introduced magnetic poles energized by

windings. Current is supplied to the winding from the battery.

Rotor:-

It is a rotating disc, which is fitted on the line of crankshaft with small air gap to stator. When disc rotates

a flux change occur in the section of the disc passing the poles of stator. Due to the flux change there is a

circulatory or eddy current in the disc around the magnetic lines of force. The effect of this eddy current

induces ‘N’ and ‘S’ poles at the surface of the disc. Then there will be a ‘drag’ or braking effect in between

eddy current induced poles and magnetic poles in the stator. By changing current from the battery we can

change the braking force. In this breaking system kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted to heat and this

heat is dissipated through the rotating disc.

Total resistance of field winding

R = L/A

Where, L = total length of field winding in meter.

  = Resistivity of the wire in ohm meter

A = the area of cross section of field winding in m2

Total no: of terms = total length /mean length of one term

The rotor is a rotating disc on shaft, which is placed very near to the stator with small air gap (1 mm

to 2 mm). Rotating disc may be one or both side of stator.

The two units have common ring member, poles cores on which winding are provided being fixed to

ring number. If a malleable casting is employed, then the pole core could be cast integrally with the right.

After fitting the windings on the cores, poles shoes are fitted to provide pole faces of appropriate shape and

area. The rotor disc should be provided with properly designed fins for faster heat removal. The magnetic

circuits of the two units are substantially the same, non-undue and thrust would be imposed on the motor

bearings. Slight axial displacement of rotor could however, cause quite appreciable discrepancy, the air gap

of two units. The effect would be to increase the magnetic pull in one air gap and diminish it on other which

could give to rise to excessive and thrust on rotor bearing to overcome the inherent defect, the air gaps of

both units could be put in series by making the central number non magnetic and providing a continues pole

core for each pair axially opposite poles. This modification could possibly reduce the length of the

combined pole course or permits a larger winding length.

The maximum diameter of the eddy current brake is decided by

1. The spacing of vehicle chassis frame.

2. Vehicle floor clearance

2.3 WORKING

When the vehicle is moving, the rotor disc of eddy current brake which is coupled to the wheels of

the vehicle rotates, in close proximity to stationary magnetic poles. When we want to brake the vehicle, a

control switch is put on which is placed on the steering column in a position for easy operation.

When the control switch is operated, current flows from a battery to the field winding, thus energizing

the magnet. Then the rotating disc will cut the magnetic field. When the disc cuts the magnetic field, flux
changes occur in the disc which is proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. The current will flow

back to the zero field areas of the metal plate and thus create a closed current loop like a whirl or eddy. A

flow of current always means there is a magnetic field as well. Due to Lenz’s law, the magnetic field

produced by the eddy currents works against the movement direction. Thus instead of mechanical friction, a

magnetic friction is created. In consequence, the disc will experience a “drag” or the braking effect, and thus

the disc stops rotation. The wheels of the vehicle, which is directly coupled to the disc, also stop rotation.

Faster the wheels are spinning, stronger the effect, meaning that as the vehicle slows, the braking force is

reduced producing a smooth stopping action.

The control switch can be set at different positions for controlling the excitation current to several set

values in order to regulate the magnetic flux and consequently the magnitude of braking force. i.e. if the

speed of the vehicle is lpw, a low braking force is required to stop the vehicle. So the control switch is set at

the lowest position so that a low current will be supplied to the field winding. Then the magnetic field

produced will be of low strength, so that a required low braking force is produced.

When the control switch is operated during the standby position of the vehicle, the magnet will be

energized and magnetic field is created. But since the wheels are not moving, magnetic lines of force are not

cut by it, and the brake will not work. However, a warning lamp is provided on the instrument panel to

indicate whether the brake is energized. This provides a safe guard for the driver against leaving the unit

energized.

When control switch is put in any one of the operating positions, the corresponding conductor in the

contractor box is energized and current flows from the battery to the field winding to the contractor box.

This current magnetizes the poles in stator, which placed very near to the rotor. When rotor rotates it will

cut magnetic lines and eddy current will set up in the rotor. The magnetic field of this eddy current produces

a breaking force or torque in the opposite direction of rotation disc. This kinetic energy of rotor is converted

as heat energy and dissipated from rotating disc to surrounding atmosphere. Current in the field can

change by changing the position of the controls switch. Thus we can change the strength of the braking

force.
An eddy current brake consists of a conductive piece of metal, either a straight bar or a disk, which moves

through the magnetic field of a magnet, either a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. When it moves past

the stationary magnet, the magnet exerts a drag force on the metal which opposes its motion, due to

circular electric currents called eddy currents induced in the metal by the magnetic field. Note that the

conductive sheet is not made of ferromagnetic metal such as iron or steel; usually copper or aluminum are

used, which are not attracted to a magnet. The brake does not work by the simple attraction of a

ferromagnetic metal to the magnet.

It shows a metal sheet (C) moving to the right under a magnet. The magnetic field (B, green arrows) of the

magnet's North Pole N passes down through the sheet. Since the metal is moving, the magnetic flux through

sheet is changing. At the part of the sheet under the leading edge of the magnet (left side) the magnetic field

through the sheet is increasing as it gets nearer the magnet. From Faraday's law of induction, this field

induces a counterclockwise flow of electric current (I, red), in the sheet. This is the eddy current. In contrast,

at the trailing edge of the magnet (right side) the magnetic field through the sheet is decreasing, inducing a

clockwise eddy current in the sheet.

Another way to understand the action is to see that the free charge carriers (electrons) in the metal sheet are

moving to the right, so the magnetic field exerts a sideways force on them due to the Lorentz force. Since

the velocity v of the charges is to the right and the magnetic field B is directed down, from the right hand

rule the Lorentz force on positive charges qv×B is toward the rear in the diagram (to the left when facing in

the direction of motion of the sheet) This causes a current I toward the rear under the magnet, which circles

around through parts of the sheet outside the magnetic field in two currents, clockwise to the right and

counterclockwise to the left, to the front of the magnet again. The mobile charge carriers in the metal,

the electrons, actually have a negative charge, so their motion is opposite in direction to the conventional

current shown.

Due to Ampere's circuital law, each of these circular currents creates a counter magnetic field (blue arrows),

which due to Lenz's law opposes the change in magnetic field, causing a drag force on the sheet which is the

braking force exerted by the brake. At the leading edge of the magnet (left side) by the right hand rule the

counterclockwise current creates a magnetic field pointed up, opposing the magnet's field, causing a
repulsive force between the sheet and the leading edge of the magnet. In contrast, at the trailing edge (right

side), the clockwise current causes a magnetic field pointed down, in the same direction as the magnet's

field, creating an attractive force between the sheet and the trailing edge of the magnet. Both of these forces

oppose the motion of the sheet. The kinetic energy which is consumed overcoming this drag force is

dissipated as heat by the currents flowing through the resistance of the metal, so the metal gets warm under

the magnet.

The braking force of an eddy current brake is exactly proportional to the velocity V, so it acts similar

to viscous friction in a liquid. The braking force decreases as the velocity decreases. When the conductive

sheet is stationary, the magnetic field through each part of it is constant, not changing with time, so no eddy

currents are induced, and there is no force between the magnet and the conductor. Thus an eddy current

brake has no holding force.

PROPOSED METHODOLODGY

A. CONCEPT DESIGN

Eddy current brake works according to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction. According to

this law, whenever a conductor cuts magnetic lines of forces, an e.m.f is induced in the conductor,

the magnitude of which is proportional to the strength of magnetic field and the speed of the

conductor. If the conductor is a disc, there will be circulatory currents i.e. eddy currents in the disc.

According to Lenz's law, the direction of the current is in such a way as to oppose the cause, i.e.

movement of the disc. Essentially the eddy current brake consists of two parts, a stationary magnetic

field system and a solid rotating part, which include a metal disc. During braking, the metal disc is

exposed to a magnetic field from an electromagnet, generating eddy currents in the disc. The
 magnetic interaction between the applied field and the eddy currents slow down the rotating disc.

Thus the wheels of the vehicle also slow down since the wheels are directly coupled to the disc of the

eddy current brake, thus producing smooth stopping motion.

B. MARKET SURVEY

According to our concept of the project, we study many types of eddy current braking system and

compare the design of our braking system. On the basis of the survey, we have selected of data

which is further discussed in material selection.

C. MATERIAL SELECTION

1) Rotor Disc: The rotor is usually made of cast iron, but may in some cases be made of composites

such as reinforced carbon– carbon or ceramic matrix composites. This is connected to the wheel

and/or the axle. To retard the wheel, friction material in the form of brake pads, mounted on the

brake caliper, is forced mechanically, hydraulically, pneumatically, or electromagnetically against

both sides of the rotor. Friction causes the rotor and attached wheel to slow or stop.

2) Shaft: A shaft is a rotating machine element, usually circular in cross section, which is used to

transmit power from one part to another, or from a machine which produces power to a machine

which absorbs power. The various members such as pulleys and gears are mounted on it. The

material used for ordinary shafts is mild steel. When high strength is required, an alloy steel such

as nickel, nickel-chromium or chromium-vanadium steel is used. Shafts are generally formed by

hot rolling and finished to size by cold drawing or turning and grinding. C45 is a medium carbon

steel is used when greater strength and hardness is desired than in the "as rolled" condition.

Extreme size accuracy, straightness, and concentricity combine to minimize wear in high speed

applications. Turned ground and polished.

3) Permanent Magnet: In an eddy current brake the magnetic field may be created by a permanent

magnet or an electromagnet so the braking force can be turned on and off or varied by varying

the electric current in the electromagnet's windings. Another advantage is that since the brake

does not work by friction, there are no brake shoe surfaces to wear out, necessitating

replacement, as with friction brakes. A disadvantage is that since the braking force is
 proportional to velocity the brake has no holding force when the moving object is stationary, as

is provided by static friction in a friction brake, so in vehicles, it must be supplemented by a

friction brake.

D. EXISTING METHOD

1) Ordinary Brakes: Moving things have kinetic energy and, if you want to stop them, you have to

get rid of that energy somehow. If you're on a bicycle going fairly slowly, you can simply put

your feet down so they drag on the ground. The soles of your feet act as brakes. Friction

(rubbing) between the rough ground and the grip on your soles slows you down, converting your

kinetic energy into heat energy (do it long enough and your shoes will get hot). Brakes on

vehicles work pretty much the same way, with "shoes" that press rubber pads (brake blocks)

against discs mounted to the wheels.

2) Eddy Current Brakes: If the conductor we are moving through the magnetic field isn't a wire that

allows the electricity to flow neatly away. We still get electric currents, but instead of flowing

off somewhere, they swirl about inside the material. These are what we call eddy currents.

They're electric currents generated inside a conductor by a magnetic field that can't flow away so

they swirl around instead, dissipating their energy as heat. One of the interesting things about

eddy currents is that they're not completely random: they flow in a particular way to try to stop

whatever it is that causes them. This is an example of another bit of electromagnetism called

Lenz's law (it follows on from another law called the conservation of energy, and it's built into

the four equations summarizing electromagnetism that were set out by James Clerk Maxwell).

Here's an example. Suppose you drop a coin-shaped magnet down the inside of a plastic pipe. It

might take a half second to get to the bottom. Now repeat the same experiment with a copper

pipe and you'll find your magnet takes much longer (maybe three or four seconds) to make

exactly the same journey. Eddy currents are the reason. When the magnet falls through the pipe,

you have a magnetic field moving through a stationary conductor (which is exactly the same as a

conductor moving through a stationary magnetic field). That creates electric currents in the
 conductor—eddy currents, in fact. Now we know from the laws of electromagnetism that when a

current flows in a conductor, it produces a magnetic field. So the eddy currents generate their

own magnetic field. Lenz's law tells us that this magnetic field will try to oppose its cause, which

is the falling magnet. So the eddy currents and the second magnetic field produce an upward

force on the magnet that tries to stop it from falling. That's why it falls more slowly. In other

words, the eddy currents produce a braking effect on the falling magnet. It's because eddy

currents always oppose whatever causes them that we can use them as brakes in vehicles,

engines, and another machine.

EDDY CURRENT BRAKE IN TRAINS

In the case of trains, the part in which the eddy current is induced is rail. The brake shoe is enclosed

in a coil, forming an electromagnet. When the magnet is energized, eddy currents are induced in the rail by

means of electromagnetic induction, thereby producing braking action.

EDDY CURRENT BRAKE IN TRAIN

DISTRIBUTION OF MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY
 CHAPTER-3

TYPES OF EDDY CURRENT BRAKES

3.1 There are two types of eddy current brakes according to the method of excitation.

3.1.1. Electrically excited eddy current brake

3.1.2. Permanent magnet eddy current brake

3.1.1 ELECTRICALLY EXCITED EDDY CURRENT BRAKE

Electrically excited eddy current brakes are abruption-free method for braking. In high-speed

trains they offer a good alternative to the mechanical rail brakes which are being used nowadays. During

braking, the brake comes in contact with the rail, and the magnetic poles of brakes are energized by a

winding supplied. Magnetic poles of brakes are energized by a winding supplied with current from the

battery. Then the magnetic flux is distributed over the rail. The eddy currents are generated in the rail,

producing an electromagnetic braking force. This types of braking need an additional safety power supply

when there are breakdowns in the electrical power supply.

ELECTRICALLY EXCITED EDDY CURRENT BRAKE

 3.1.2. PERMANENT MAGNET EDDY CURRENT BRAKE

Recently, permanent magnet eddy current brakes have been developed for subways, trams and local trains.

These brakes need a mechanical actuator to turn the magnets jn an on and off position. The main advantage

of this type of brake is safety i.e. it does not need electrical power supply to energize the magnet.

3.2 Eddy current brakes come in two geometries:

• In a linear eddy current brake, the conductive piece is a straight rail or track that the magnet moves

along.

• In a circular, disk or rotary eddy current brake, the conductor is a flat disk rotor that turns between

the poles of the magnet.

The physical working principle is the same for both.

3.2.1 Disk eddy current brakes

Disk eddy current brake on 700 Series Shinkansen, a Japanese bullet train

Permanent magnet eddy current brake used in a 1970s electricity meter

Disk electromagnetic brakes are used on vehicles such as trains, and power tools such as circular saws, to

stop the blade quickly when the power is turned off. A disk eddy current brake consists of a conductive non-

ferromagnetic metal disc (rotor) attached to the axle of the vehicle's wheel, with an electromagnet located

with its poles on each side of the disk, so the magnetic field passes through the disk. The electromagnet

allows the braking force to be varied. When no current is passed through the electromagnet's winding, there

is no braking force. When the driver steps on the brake pedal, current is passed through the electromagnet

windings, creating a magnetic field, The larger the current in the winding, the larger the eddy currents and

the stronger the braking force. Power tool brakes use permanent magnets, which are moved adjacent to the
disk by a linkage when the power is turned off. The kinetic energy of the vehicle's motion is dissipated

in Joule heating by the eddy currents passing through the disk's resistance, so like conventional friction disk

brakes, the disk becomes hot. Unlike in the linear brake below, the metal of the disk passes repeatedly

through the magnetic field, so disk eddy current brakes get hotter than linear eddy current brakes.

Japanese Shinkansen trains had employed circular eddy current brake system on trailer cars since 100 Series

Shinkansen. However, N700 Series Shinkansen abandoned eddy current brakes in favour of regenerative

brakes, since 14 of the 16 cars in the trainset used electric motors. In regenerative brakes, the motor that

drives the wheel is used as a generator to produce electric current, which can be used to charge a battery, so

the energy can be used again.

3.2.2 Dynamometer eddy current absorbers

Most chassis dynamometers and many engine dynamos use an eddy-current brake as a means of providing

an electrically adjustable load on the engine. They are often referred to as an "absorber" in such applications.

Inexpensive air-cooled versions are typically used on chassis dynamometers, where their inherently high-

inertia steel rotors are an asset rather than a liability. Conversely, performance engine dynamometers tend to

utilize low-inertia, high RPM, liquid-cooled configurations. Downsides of eddy-current absorbers in such

applications, compared to expensive AC-motor based dynamometers, is their inability to provide stall-speed

(zero RPM) loading or to motor the engine - for starting or motoring (downhill simulation).

Also, since they do not actually absorb energy, provisions to transfer their radiated heat out of the test cell

area must typically be provided. Either a high-volume air-ventilation or water-to-air heat exchanger adds

additional cost and complexity. In contrast, the high-end AC-motor dynamometers cleanly return the

engine's power to the grid.

 3.2.3 Linear eddy current brakes

Linear eddy current brakes are used on some vehicles that ride on rails, such as trains. They are used

on roller coasters, to stop the cars smoothly at the end of the ride.

The linear eddy current brake consists of a magnetic yoke with electrical coils positioned along the rail,

which are being magnetized alternating as south and north magnetic poles. This magnet does not touch the

rail, but is held at a constant small distance from the rail of approximately 7 mm (the eddy current brake

should not be confused with another device, the magnetic brake, in wide use in railways, which exerts its

braking force by friction of a brake shoe with the rail). It works the same as a disk eddy current brake, by

inducing closed loops of eddy current in the conductive rail, which generate counter magnetic fields which

oppose the motion of the train.

The kinetic energy of the moving vehicle is converted to heat by the eddy current flowing through

the electrical resistance of the rail, which leads to a warming of the rail. An advantage of the linear brake is

that since each section of rail passes only once through the magnetic field of the brake, in contrast to the disk

brake in which each section of the disk passes repeatedly through the brake, the rail doesn't get as hot as a

disk, so the linear brake can dissipate more energy and have a higher power rating than disk brakes.

The eddy current brake does not have any mechanical contact with the rail, and thus no wear, and creates no

noise or odor. The eddy current brake is unusable at low speeds, but can be used at high speeds both for

emergency braking and for regular braking.

 CHAPTER-4

4.1 BRAKING POWER CALCULATIONS

Sophisticated calculation methods for the determination of braking forces of eddy current brakes are

important for the design of the brakes.

For a simple eddy current brake employing a thin non-magnetic disc as copper the drag or braking force on

the disc

Where

H = Magnetic field strength in Weber.

A =Pole force area in cm2.

V = Velocity in cm/sec of mean radius of disc under the poles.

T = disc thickness in cm.

 = specific resistance of disc material at its operating temperature in micro ohms/cm3.

Torque = F * R Nm

Where R = mean pole radius in meter.

Power P = 2  NT/60 watts.

4.2 EDDY CURRENT BRAKE REQUIREMENTS

An eddy current brake is an energy converter functions is to convert the kinetic energy of a vehicle

into heat and dissipate it such a rate to maintain the temperature of unit within reasonable limits under

maximum and prolonged braking conditions. The energy absorbed by the brake is transformed into heat by

the currents induced in the motor, and this is heat manly dissipated in surrounding air through the medium of

suitable designed fins the rotating member.

 In mountains area, continues braking force is needed for a long time (say about half an hour), at this

condition, eddy current braking is more suitable to function without overheating. The use of these retarders

is by no means limited to mountain on couwewentry. They can be advantageously employed on public

service vehicles on city routes without frequent stops. But in this braking system there without be any

braking force in the vehicle is rest. So the eddy current brake is used as an auxiliary heavy-duty retarder. By

using auxiliary retarder very smooth retardation is assumed and likely hood of skidding on slippery roads

surfaces is minimized. Smooth braking action cuts down tier were and since brake is used as an auxiliary

heavy-duty retarder. By using auxiliary retarder very smooth retardation is assumed and likely hood of

skidding on slippery roads surfaces is minimized. Smooth braking action cuts down tier were and since the

conventional brakes are relieved of heavy duty being required only to bring vehicles to rest.

4.3 MOUNTING AND INSTALLATION

A typical mounting of an eddy current brake consists of two discs in which pole salient type,

supported between the frame numbers of a vehicle chassis. Rotor is coupled to road wheels being often

mounted on a shaft that is interposed between the gearbox and propeller shaft and stator is mounted on the

frame of the vehicle.

The driver who can select one or four excitation settings according to the breaking effect required

mounts a control switch on a steering column in a position for easy operation. In the operative positions of

this switch 1, 2, 3, 4 contractors are energized to supply current to the excitation windings of the retarder.

Warning lamp is also provided on the instrument panel to indicate when the retarder is energized. This

provides a safe guard for the driver against leaving the unit energized when the vehicle is stationary.
 CHAPTER-5

5.1 ADVANTAGES

❖ Less maintenance

❖ Wide range of braking force available within the temperature limit

❖ Prolonged braking is possible

❖ Long life

❖ Less strain to the operation

❖ Smooth retardation, which cuts down, the tire wears

Eddy current brakes offer smooth retardation of vehicles without skidding. It is totally free of wear

and tear. So it has long life compared to ordinary brakes. These need less maintenance.

In mountain areas continuous braking is needed for a long time. At this condition, eddy current

braking is more suitable to function without overheating.

By changing the excitation current to the field winding, i.e. by adjusting the position of the control

switch, we can vary the braking force to required range. The operation of eddy current brake is very simple

i.e. the control switch is a soft switch which can be operated without any strain.

Eddy current brakes works even under the toughest environmental conditions. For example, in larger

water slides and water coasters where the humidity would immediately result in reduction of friction and

thus impair the effectiveness of ordinary brakes. It works even in highly corrosive environments and heavily

contaminated areas.

5.2 DISADVANTAGES

❖ No breaking force at rest

❖ Need of electric power

 The main disadvantage of the eddy current brake is that it needs electric power to work. Researches

are going on to overcome this disadvantage by making the brake regenerative i.e. by converting the kinetic

energy of the vehicle into electric energy and storing it back into the battery.

5.3 APPLICATIONS

❖ For additional safety on long decants in mountain area

❖ For high speed passenger and goods vehicle

Eddy current brakes are best substitutes for ordinary brakes, which are being used nowadays in road

vehicles even in trains, because of their jerk-free operation. In mountain areas where continuous braking

force is needed, for a long time, the eddy current braking is very much useful for working without

overheating. Eddy current brakes are very much useful for high-speed passengers and good vehicles. It can

also be used to slow down the trolleys of faster roller coasters.

CONCLUSION

Eddy current brakes are the best choice when demands for reliability and safety are the highest. They

work even in the toughest environmental conditions. Even the strike of lightning will not result in the loss of

the braking force.

Eddy current braking system is not popular nowadays. But we hope that the eddy current braking

system which is simpler and more effective will take the place of the ordinary braking system and we can do

expect it to be the norm one in few years of time.

REFERENCES

1. Manual 1 Gonzalez, Volume 25,Issue 4,July 2004

2. IEEE Transactions on magnetics, Volume 34, Issue 4, July 1998

3. Analysis of eddy current brake for high-speed railway by Wang.P.J. & Chiuch.S.J.

4. Automobile electrical equipments by Young &Griffith.

5. Automatic engineering by Kripal Sing.

6. Clutches and brakes by William.C.Orthwin.

7. www.reelectromagneticbrakes.com

8. www.lineareddycurrentbrakes.com