Several techniques to model high temperature superconductors (HTSs) are used throughout the world. At the same time, the use of superconductors in transportation and magnetic bearings promises an increase in energy efficiency. However, the most widespread simulation technique in the literature, the H-formulation, has not yet been used to simulate superconducting levitation. The goal of this work is to present solutions for the challenges concerning the use of the H-formulation to predict the behavior of superconducting levitators built either with YBCO bulks or stacks of 2G wires. It is worth mentioning the originality of replacing bulks with HTS stacks in this application. In our simulation methodology, the movement between the HTS and the permanent magnet was avoided by restricting the simulation domain to the HTS itself, which can be done by applying appropriate boundary conditions and analytical expressions for the source field. Commercial finite element software was used for the sake of ease of implementation. Simulation results were compared with experimental data, showing good agreement. We conclude that the H-formulation is suitable for problems involving moving objects and is a good alternative to other approaches for simulating superconducting magnetic bearings.

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This paper describes the construction and main components of a full-scale superconducting magnetic levitation vehicle. The prototype, comprising four 1.5-m-long wagons, will travel a short test line of 200 meters, connecting two buildings inside the campus of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. The efforts to implement this technology started thirteen years ago with a small-scale prototype in an attempt to prove the concept. The second step was the construction of a functional prototype that could levitate more than one Ton. The actual stage of this project is the construction of an operational prototype mentioned above, designed to transport up to 24 passengers. This work has been reported in several previous editions of the ASC conference. New details about the elevated test line, the permanent magnetic (Nd-Fe-B) guideways, the cryostats with YBCO high critical temperature superconductors, the energy conditioning, the linear induction motor and its regenerative braking, as well as the automatic supply system of liquid nitrogen will be presented in the proposed paper. Tests with this operational prototype demonstrate the technology feasibility.

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Cyclodextrins (CDs) can form inclusion complexes with a wide variety of molecules making them very attractive in different areas, such as pharmaceutics, biochemistry, food chemistry and textile. In this communication we will report on the physico-chemical characterization of cellulose modified with CDs by means of infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), cross polarization magic angle spinning solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (CP-MAS NMR), polarized optical microscopy (POM) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Both CP-MAS NMR and FTIR indicate that CDs are chemically attached to cellulose backbone through the formation of ester bonds. Furthermore, the CD-grafted cellulose was dissolved in a "superphosphoric" acid solution but, despite the increase of hydrophilicity due to the modification, POM revealed that grafted cellulose was less soluble when compared to the unmodified polymer. The formation of a complex CD-cellulose network is suggested.