This document discusses eddy current brakes. Eddy current brakes work by using electromagnetic induction and Lenz's law to generate opposing eddy currents in a conductive material that create drag and slow the object's motion. They have advantages over traditional friction brakes like being wear-free and not requiring maintenance. However, they cannot hold an object stationary and are only useful above a certain minimum speed. Potential applications include braking for trains, rollercoasters, and other high-speed vehicles.

1. A STUDY ON APPLICATION
OF EDDY CURRENT BRAKES
SUBMITTED BY
NAME :- SHUBHAM SHAILESH BHALERAO
ROLL NO :- 21BF510055
BRANCH :- ELECTRICAL ENGG.
SEMESTER :- 7 th

2. 
ABSTRACT
This is an electric braking system which works on the principle
that eddy current produced in it opposes the driving torque. This opposing
torque is used to brake the automobiles. Mainly this system is purely based
on Faraday’s laws of electromagnetic induction and Lenz’s law.
For operating this a control switch is provided on the steering
column in a position for easy manual. The skidding and complexity of
mechanical braking system can be minimized by this system. Also the wear
and tear of the vehicles can be reduced.
Since researches are going on to eliminate some of the
disadvantages of this system, we can accept it to be the norm one in a few
years of time

3. Introduction
Principle
Types of Eddy Current Brakes
Working
Advantages
Disadvantages
Applications
CONTENTS

4. INTRODUCTION
 An eddy current brake, like a conventional friction brake, is a device used to
slow or stop a moving object by dissipating its kinetic energy as heat.
 These brakes make use of opposing tendency of eddy currents.
 In an eddy current brake the magnetic field may be created by a permanent
magnet, or an electromagnet so the braking force can be turned on and off
or varied by varying the electric current in the electromagnet's windings.
Contd..,

5.  The Eddy Current brakes does not work by friction, there are no brake
shoe surfaces to wear out, necessitating replacement, as with friction
brakes.
 Eddy current brakes are used to slow high-speed trains and roller coasters,
to stop powered tools quickly when power is turned off, and in electric
meters used by electric utilities.

6. PRINCIPLE
 Faraday’s Law of Electromagnetic Induction
The induced electromotive force at any closed circuit is equal to the negative of
the time rate of change of the magnetic flux through the circuit.
Where
• E is EMF
• ΦB is Magnetic flux
• N is Number of turns of wire
E= -N dΦB/dt

7.  Lenz’s Law
An induced emf always gives rise to a current whose magnetic field opposite the
change in magnetic flux.
Where
• E is EMF
• ΦB is Magnetic Flux
E= -dΦB/dt

8. TYPES
 Circular:- In a circular eddy current brakes, the
conductor is a flat disk rotor that turns between the
poles of the magnet.

9.  Linear :- In a linear eddy current brakes, the conductive
piece is a straight rail or track that the magnet moves along.

10. WORKING
 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
Contd..,

11. 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
copper’s 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.

12. ADVANTAGES
 It uses electromagnetic force and not mechanical friction.
 Non-mechanical ( no moving parts, no friction )
 Fully resettable
 Can be activated at will via electrical signal
 Low maintenance
 Operates at any rotational speed
 Light weight
 Eddy-current brakes are quite, frictionless, and wear-free, and require
little or no maintenance.
 They produce no smell or pollution ( unlike friction brakes, which can
release toxic chemicals into the environment ).

13. DISADVANTAGES
 Braking force diminishes as speed diminishes with no ability to
hold the load in position at standstill.
 That could be considered to be a safety issue, but it really
means that friction braking may need to be used as well.
 Eddy-current brakes can only be used where the infrastructure
has been modified to accept them.
 It can not be used at low speed vehicles or vehicle running at
low speed

14. APPLICATIONS
 For additional safety on long decants in mountain area.
 For high speed passenger and goods vehicle.
 Eddy current brakes are best substitutes for ordinary brakes,
which are being used nowadays in road vehicles even in trains,
because of their jerk-free operation.
 In mountain areas where continuous braking force is needed,
for a long time, the eddy current braking is very much useful
for working without overheating.
 Eddy current brakes are very much useful for high-speed
passengers and good vehicles.

15. CONCLUSION
 The ordinary brakes which are being used now a days stop the
vehicles by means of mechanical blocking. These may cause skidding
and wear and tear of the vehicle.
 Eddy Current Brakes is a good invention for speed control of high
speed vehicles.
 It is an abrasion free method for braking of vehicle including trains.
 It makes use of opposite tendency of eddy currents.