China has developed a groundbreaking technology known as the high-temperature superconducting high-speed maglev train, which has a top speed of 800 kilometers per hour. This achievement has amazed the world, including technologically advanced countries like the United States. This high-speed maglev train is more cost-effective than Japan's maglev technology and signifies a potential shift towards land-based transportation.
The train was independently developed by Southwest Jiaotong University in China and features a carbon fiber body with a low-resistance design. It utilizes superconducting maglev technology with permanent magnets and achieves a "never derailed" suspension state. The train's name, high-temperature superconducting maglev train, refers to the relatively high temperature of minus one to two hundred degrees Celsius, achieved by using liquid nitrogen instead of expensive and scarce liquid helium.
The train weighs 12.5 tons but can achieve static suspension, similar to a leaf floating in water. Its resistance is almost zero, allowing it to circulate induced current through the superconductor, generating a levitation force that keeps it suspended above the track. The train operates by filling liquid nitrogen into the fuel tank, which cools down the temperature to reach the superconducting state. This generates a pinning force with the track, ensuring stability and preventing deviation.
The high-temperature superconducting maglev train has virtually no friction with the track, enabling high speeds and surpassing the current common high-speed rail. This breakthrough in maglev technology has significant implications for land-based transportation, potentially revolutionizing the way people travel.