Electromagnetic Propulsion What is it? -Electromagnetic propulsion is a technique of creating movement in objects by utilizing electromagnetic fields induced in electric circuits, as opposed to having another external force act externally on the body of the object. Recently, there have been different applications of this technology in transportation and military uses, but it still has yet to be adopted as a mainstream method of propulsion. Some systems rely on permanent magnets while others are dependent upon electromagnets.
How it works: -There are different methods of applying the concept of Electromagnetic Propulsion, but would involve the alignment of the ions in ferrous materials that are attracting to corresponding magnetic poles of the neighboring or contact rails in the system. Depending on whether or not the system requires constant contact between the conductor rails or to only be in proximity to them, the means of discharging each circuit will vary. Each type of propulsion method will have its benefits and disadvantages, which will come to how the system will be designed. Instead of creating a gaseous mixture for controlled explosions in cylinders or closed chambers, the electromagnetic fields convert the movement of electrons in a circuit to induce a motion in a designated object. The way that this method differs from other external forces is that the EMP relies on the natural ion alignment of ferrous particles in the projectile towards specific positive and negative poles in the circuit. With this attraction, the projectile will either be attracted towards or repelled from that position and move in the direction of the electron flow. Without the ferrous particles in the projectile, there would be little to no influence in the system and therefore wouldn't achieve movement. Depending on the system, some may require that the propulsion object needs to be in constant contact with the conductor. Often they are considered to be rail designs. Though these systems are arguably more powerful than other types, there is an element of physical friction introduced into the system that will create excess heat and resistance to movement. This is because the object that is to be propelled becomes the connection to pass current from one side of the rail to another and completing the circuit. Without a means to connect the circuit, there would be no current flow and hence, no movement. The flow of electrons through the conductive rail or wire create a magnetic field that rotates in a clockwise rotation, perpendicular to the flow of electrons. With this movement of electrons, the ferrous particles align with the positive and negative poles and follow the movement of the electrons down the rails. Direction of the movement can be changed by simply changing the charge of the conductors.
(image taken from quora.com)
Other systems rely on less friction inducing method and have other benefits associated with this design. This coil design is much more efficient for some movement systems because of the contactless nature between the electromagnets and the projectile. In many designs, the projectile is inside a tube of some sort, surrounded by a wire wrapping in separate segments. As the movement is initiated, the first coil is completed in the electrical circuit and the flow of electrons travel through the wrapped wire on the tube. This movement attracts the projectile through the tube and enters into the next segment, where that wire wrap is completed. The electrons flow through that segment of wire and sends the projectile onward, and so on. Though this is only one type of EMP, this design can vary greatly so as to achieve movement with the benefits of a (nearly) frictionless system.
(image taken from wiki: Coilgun)
This type of wire wrap design is also very common in electric motor designs, as where the motion of the projectile is converted into a circular movement. There are varying types of electric motors, but for the most part they have a center section called a stator that passes through the electromagnetic fields. The wire wrappings turn on and off at specific times during the cycle and depending on the motor, they are able to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.
(image taken from www.efxkits.co.uk)
Applications: Electric motors: Electric motors work in the same sense as does the coil method of EMP. There are varying types of electric motors but in a general sense, each type of motor has a center section that is influenced by the electromagnetic field of the wire wrapping around the outer section. The main difference is that electric motors tend to move in a circular direction while the other coil wrapping designs are linear.
(image taken from blogspot.com)
Transportation: There already exists several different applications of the EMP technology in our daily transportation. Several countries such as Germany, Japan, France, China and several others have already implemented a version of mass transport called Maglev trains. The basis of the trains is that they replace the traditional mechanical rolling elements with electromagnets that provide suspension, propulsion and braking for the trains. These types of trains benefit greatly due to that they can run at high speeds without needing to worry about wheels falling apart or brakes not being sufficient to slow that amount of inertia of a train at full speed. (image taken from wiki: Electromagnetic suspension)(image taken from dailytech.com)
Rollercoasters:
Tempesto is a steel roller coaster that runs on electro-magnetic propulsion. And can be found at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park located in James City County, Virginia United States. Tempesto launches out of the station up into a partial twist. The train then falls back through the station, where it is accelerated backwards into another twist. Once again, the train falls back into the station and riders are accelerated to a top speed of 62 miles per hour. It then travels up to a height of 150 feet where it completes a non-inverting half-loop, a heartline role before exiting in a second non-inverting half-loop. It then enters a full non-inverting loop before returning to the station
Weapons: A recent development with the railgun technology has taken a large step forward in making this more available. Recently the BAE Systems company has developed a railgun for naval applications that may soon be in use by the U.S. armed forces as well.
"On December 10, 2010, the U.S. Navy made history at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division with our Laboratory Railgun. A 33-Megajoule shot was fired, the energy equivalent of 110 nmi range. In 2012, during Phase 1 of the INP program, engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center successfully fired our EM Railgun prototype at tactical energy levels" (BAE,2010).
Though there is much discussion as to which ship will receive this new armament, the testing has proved to be successful and warrants further development into multi-fire versions.
Due to the simplistic nature of this type of EMP, this technology can be found in a wide variety of armaments. However, the technology hasn't become mainstream to the extent that these types of guns could be bought from a certified gun shop. This still doesn't keep gun enthusiasts from creating homemade variants of this technology. Because the propulsion method doesn’t rely on explosive gases inside a sealed chamber to project the bullet, these guns are a bit more user friendly to build and modify. Extreme caution should be taken when involving electrical voltage and currents in any design. Improper designs can be harmful, if not fatal if done incorrectly.
Simplified diagram of a multistage coilgun with three coils, a barrel and a ferromagnetic projectile. Retrieved 9-29-16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun.
What is it?
-Electromagnetic propulsion is a technique of creating movement in objects by utilizing electromagnetic fields induced in electric circuits, as opposed to having another external force act externally on the body of the object. Recently, there have been different applications of this technology in transportation and military uses, but it still has yet to be adopted as a mainstream method of propulsion. Some systems rely on permanent magnets while others are dependent upon electromagnets.
How it works:
-There are different methods of applying the concept of Electromagnetic Propulsion, but would involve the alignment of the ions in ferrous materials that are attracting to corresponding magnetic poles of the neighboring or contact rails in the system. Depending on whether or not the system requires constant contact between the conductor rails or to only be in proximity to them, the means of discharging each circuit will vary. Each type of propulsion method will have its benefits and disadvantages, which will come to how the system will be designed.
Instead of creating a gaseous mixture for controlled explosions in cylinders or closed chambers, the electromagnetic fields convert the movement of electrons in a circuit to induce a motion in a designated object. The way that this method differs from other external forces is that the EMP relies on the natural ion alignment of ferrous particles in the projectile towards specific positive and negative poles in the circuit. With this attraction, the projectile will either be attracted towards or repelled from that position and move in the direction of the electron flow. Without the ferrous particles in the projectile, there would be little to no influence in the system and therefore wouldn't achieve movement.
Depending on the system, some may require that the propulsion object needs to be in constant contact with the conductor. Often they are considered to be rail designs. Though these systems are arguably more powerful than other types, there is an element of physical friction introduced into the system that will create excess heat and resistance to movement. This is because the object that is to be propelled becomes the connection to pass current from one side of the rail to another and completing the circuit. Without a means to connect the circuit, there would be no current flow and hence, no movement. The flow of electrons through the conductive rail or wire create a magnetic field that rotates in a clockwise rotation, perpendicular to the flow of electrons. With this movement of electrons, the ferrous particles align with the positive and negative poles and follow the movement of the electrons down the rails. Direction of the movement can be changed by simply changing the charge of the conductors.
(image taken from quora.com)
Other systems rely on less friction inducing method and have other benefits associated with this design. This coil design is much more efficient for some movement systems because of the contactless nature between the electromagnets and the projectile. In many designs, the projectile is inside a tube of some sort, surrounded by a wire wrapping in separate segments. As the movement is initiated, the first coil is completed in the electrical circuit and the flow of electrons travel through the wrapped wire on the tube. This movement attracts the projectile through the tube and enters into the next segment, where that wire wrap is completed. The electrons flow through that segment of wire and sends the projectile onward, and so on. Though this is only one type of EMP, this design can vary greatly so as to achieve movement with the benefits of a (nearly) frictionless system.
(image taken from wiki: Coilgun)
This type of wire wrap design is also very common in electric motor designs, as where the motion of the projectile is converted into a circular movement. There are varying types of electric motors, but for the most part they have a center section called a stator that passes through the electromagnetic fields. The wire wrappings turn on and off at specific times during the cycle and depending on the motor, they are able to rotate in a clockwise or counterclockwise rotation.
(image taken from www.efxkits.co.uk)
Applications:
Electric motors:
Electric motors work in the same sense as does the coil method of EMP. There are varying types of electric motors but in a general sense, each type of motor has a center section that is influenced by the electromagnetic field of the wire wrapping around the outer section. The main difference is that electric motors tend to move in a circular direction while the other coil wrapping designs are linear.
(image taken from blogspot.com)
Transportation:
There already exists several different applications of the EMP technology in our daily transportation. Several countries such as Germany, Japan, France, China and several others have already implemented a version of mass transport called Maglev trains. The basis of the trains is that they replace the traditional mechanical rolling elements with electromagnets that provide suspension, propulsion and braking for the trains. These types of trains benefit greatly due to that they can run at high speeds without needing to worry about wheels falling apart or brakes not being sufficient to slow that amount of inertia of a train at full speed.
(image taken from wiki: Electromagnetic suspension) (image taken from dailytech.com)
Rollercoasters:
Tempesto is a steel roller coaster that runs on electro-magnetic propulsion. And can be found at the Busch Gardens Williamsburg amusement park located in James City County, Virginia United States.Tempesto launches out of the station up into a partial twist. The train then falls back through the station, where it is accelerated backwards into another twist. Once again, the train falls back into the station and riders are accelerated to a top speed of 62 miles per hour. It then travels up to a height of 150 feet where it completes a non-inverting half-loop, a heartline role before exiting in a second non-inverting half-loop. It then enters a full non-inverting loop before returning to the station
Weapons:
A recent development with the railgun technology has taken a large step forward in making this more available. Recently the BAE Systems company has developed a railgun for naval applications that may soon be in use by the U.S. armed forces as well.
"On December 10, 2010, the U.S. Navy made history at the Naval Surface Warfare Center-Dahlgren Division with our Laboratory Railgun. A 33-Megajoule shot was fired, the energy equivalent of 110 nmi range. In 2012, during Phase 1 of the INP program, engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center successfully fired our EM Railgun prototype at tactical energy levels" (BAE,2010).
Though there is much discussion as to which ship will receive this new armament, the testing has proved to be successful and warrants further development into multi-fire versions.
Due to the simplistic nature of this type of EMP, this technology can be found in a wide variety of armaments. However, the technology hasn't become mainstream to the extent that these types of guns could be bought from a certified gun shop. This still doesn't keep gun enthusiasts from creating homemade variants of this technology. Because the propulsion method doesn’t rely on explosive gases inside a sealed chamber to project the bullet, these guns are a bit more user friendly to build and modify. Extreme caution should be taken when involving electrical voltage and currents in any design. Improper designs can be harmful, if not fatal if done incorrectly.
(image taken from wiki: Railgun)
References:
Fletcher, Seth. "Navy Tests 32- Megajoule Railgun." Popular Science. Retrieved 9-29-16.
Simplified diagram of a multistage coilgun with three coils, a barrel and a ferromagnetic projectile. Retrieved 9-29-16. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coilgun.
Mick, Jason. "Japan Gives Top US Politicians a Free Ride, Sales Pitch on New Maglev Trains." Nov. 25, 2013. Retrieved 9-29-16. http://www.dailytech.com/Japan+Gives+Top+US+Politicians+a+Free+Ride+Sales+Pitch+on+New+Maglev+Trains/article33778.htm
Argawal, Tarun. "How to Control a Brushless DC Motor in Electrical Field." Aug. 8, 2014. Retrieved 9-29-16.
https://www.efxkits.co.uk/speed-control-of-brushless-dc-motor/
"Electromagnetic Railgun." Retrieved 9-29-16.
http://www.baesystems.com/en-us/product/electromagnetic--em--railgun
Cavas, Christopher P. "Navy's Railgun Still Heading Out to Sea, but on Which Ship?" Jan. 10, 2016. Retrieved 9-29-16. http://www.defensenews.com/story/defense/naval/ships/2016/01/10/railgun-navy-fanta-naval-zumwalt-ddg1000/78443016/