At the Fifth
Shanghai International Industry Fair, a stunning new technique
for magnetic levitation, designed by an old professor, has
challenged Siemens as an example of innovation in the sector.
The blueprint was initiated last year when researchers in
magnetic levitation disputed Japan's and Germany's techniques.
Thereon a retired professor, Wei Lehan, from Shanghai Teachers
University, began a brand new project on magnetic levitation.
As a doyen of the Shanghai
Academy of Science and Technology in magnetic levitation, he
achieved two things: saving costs and studying environmental
effects.
According to experts, in Germany, the maglev train
achieves magnetic levitation by electrifying its windings and rails
and applying reciprocity of the same nature. In Japan, experts use
superconductors and electrified windings; their magnetic levitation
is due to suction. Wei Lehan's key technique is finding the
critical point of creating balance between reciprocity and suction
by skillful permutation and combination.
No energy is needed for the maglev train. It maintains magnetic
levitation whether the train is on or not. Calculations show that
the cost for the new magnetic levitation technique is one tenth to
one twentieth of other ones, with a suspending force triple that of
others.
But whether excellent new techniques for magnetic levitation
come into reality is not yet known. Talk of investing in the
development of a magnetic levitation line has shown large amounts
of money are needed. Some 10 million yuan (US$1.2million) would be
necessary for building a magnetic levitation experimental line of 1
km length, not covering the cost of adjustments or testing in the
earliest phases. It is an astronomical sum of money to Professor
Wei Lehan.
An unanswerable question: Will it be hard to make Wei Lehan's
invention a useful vehicle that can benefit the public? Perhaps it
has a long way to go, with enough money supporting it, even if the
model of Wei Lehan's magnetic levitation has been presented and
runs swiftly and brightly at the fair.
(China.org.cn by Wang Ruyue, November 14, 2003)