HTSC SUPERCONDUCTING SHIELDS

THE PROBLEM OF SHIELDING LARGE AREAS OF THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT FROM THE RESIDUAL MAGNETIC FIELD EMANATING FROM THE DRIVE AND LEVITATION MAGNETS IS ADDRESSED USING AN ACTIVE/PASSIVE HIGH TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING SHIELD. THE LARGE AREA SHIELDS REQUIRED BY MAGLEV AND THE RESIDUAL FIELD LEVEL MAKE PASSIVE SHIELDING PROHIBITIVE. ACTIVE SHIELDING WITH AN ARRAY OF WATER COPPER CANCELLATION COILS WILL PROVIDE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER PASSIVE SHIELDS BUT THE COST, WEIGHT, AND ESPECIALLY THE POWER DISSIPATION REQUIREMENTS ARE STILL LARGE. AN ACTIVE/PASSIVE HTSC SHIELD OFFERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHIELD DOWN TO VERY LOW LEVELS OF RESIDUAL MAGNETIC FIELDS. INCLUDING MAGNETOMETERS TO FEED BACK CURRENT TO THE HTSC CANCELING COILS PROVIDES AC FIELD CANCELLATION. THE PROPOSED EFFORT DEMONSTRATES THE CRITCAL HTSC TECHNOLOGY AND PROVIDES A TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT RELATIVE TO ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES. SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY WILL PROVIDE NEW CAPABILITIES IN THE AREA OF MAGNETIC SHIELDING OF BOTH AC AND DC FIELDS.