Basic Structure of Eddy Current Brakes

Eddy current brakes basically consist of a rotating disc (made of conductive material) and a
permanent magnet:

As the disc spins in the constant magnetic field generated by the permanent magnet, its
conductive properties induce eddy currents. The Lorentz forces from these currents in turn slow
down the disc. The most common application areas of magnetic brakes are trains, roller coasters,
and aircraft. Its not unlikely that eddy current brakes will eventually be found in cars as well.
You may have also heard of electromagnetic brakes, which are similar in design, except instead
of a permanent magnet they have iron wound with a coil.

Modeling Eddy Current Brakes

Lets suppose you are designing an eddy current brake, and you want to know how large the
permanent magnet needs to be in order to provide enough torque to slow down the vehicle (train,
roller coaster, car) in time. In this case were assuming the induced current distribution does
not move with the rotating disc; it stays where the magnet is located.
Note that the induced Lorentz current density term often leads to confusion when modeling
electromagnetics where there are moving magnetic sources or the moving domain is of bounded
extent in the same direction as the motion or varies in this direction. These types of moving
sources generate magnetic flux that cannot be included in the Lorentz term. To be clear, in our
case the induced current distribution is stationary and does not move with the disc.
Lets assume you have a copper disc thats 1 cm thick, has a radius of 10 cm, and moves at an
initial angular speed of 1,000 rpm. The 1 T permanent magnet is connected via an iron yoke, and
theres a 1.5 cm gap of air where the disc can spin. Using COMSOL Multiphysics and the
AC/DC Module, you can figure out how much torque your brake system will have. Whats

notable is that you can include the rotation of the device without having a moving mesh. The
magnetic brake model couples a dynamic equation (this defines the rotation of the disc) with the
finite element method (this defines the torque). This will allow you to calculate the total time to
completely brake the system.

3D model showing induced eddy current

density and direction at t=0 s.

3D model showing induced eddy current

density and direction at t=25 s.

You can also plot the time evolution of the angular velocity, braking torque, and dissipated power
in your magnetic brake system:
CIRCULAR EDDY CURRENT BRAKING SYSTEM

metal discs (rotors) are connected to a rotating coil, and a magnetic field
between the rotor and the coil creates a current used to generate electricity
which produces heat.

When electromagnets are used, control of the braking action is made

possible by varying the strength of the magnetic field.

The movement of the metal through the magnetic field of the electromagnets
creates eddy currents in the discs.
These eddy currents generate an opposing magnetic field (Lenz's law), which
then resists the rotation of the discs, providing braking force which decelerate
the moving system.
The net result is to convert the motion of the rotors into heat in the rotors.

Linear eddy current brakes

It is first described by French physicist Foucault.
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, as with the magnetic brake, but is held
at a constant small distance from the rail (approximately seven mm).
When the magnet is moved along the rail, it generates a non-stationary
magnetic field in the head of the rail, which then generates electrical tension
(Faraday's induction law), and causes eddy currents.
These disturb the magnetic field in such a way that the magnetic force is
diverted to the opposite of the direction of the movement, thus creating a
horizontal force component, which works against the movement of the
magnet.

Advantages. . .
Independent of wheel/rail adhesion.

No contact, therefore no wear or tear.

No noise or smell.

Adjustable brake force.

High brake forces at high speeds.

Used also as service brake.

It uses electromagnetic force and not friction

Non-mechanical (no moving parts, no friction)
Can be activated at will via electrical signal
Low maintenance
Light weight

How does an eddy current brake stop something moving?

Suppose we have a huge solid block of copper

mounted on wheels. It is moving at a very high speed
and we need to stop it.
Suppose we place a giant magnet next to the track
so that train had to pass nearby.
As the copper approached the magnet eddy currents
would be generated inside the copper which would
their own magnetic field.
As the front part approached the magnet eddy
currents in that bit of copper would try to generate a
repulsive magnetic field to slow down coppers
approach to magnet.
As the front passed by, slowing down, the currents
there would reverse, generating an attractive
magnetic field that tried to pull the train back again.
(again, slowing it down).
The copper would heat up the eddy currents swirled
inside it, gaining the kinetic energy lost by the train
as it slowed down.

Arrangement of ECB in high speed trains:

ECB IN CARS:

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otu-KV3iH_I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mopfuVfeIhc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekZkN_jQkZk