Maglev Goes to Work

The ability to levitate an object using high-temperature superconductors has fantastic capabilities. The most popular future application is a maglev train. Although maglev trains are still a long way from replacing all the existing rails, they have major advantages over trains using conventional electromagnets and will probably become more practical when the price of superconductors comes down. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are using these superconductors today for purposes other than train propulsion. Yttrium-barium-copper oxide superconductors are being used to suspend impellers in mixers and pumps. The pharmaceutical mixers take advantage of superconductors’ ability to lock magnets in place while simultaneously levitating. A magnetic impeller inside a 3-inch-diameter cassette is placed in the magnetic field generated by superconductors. This allows the impeller to be locked in place and rotated while also floating in space. This is a breakthrough for biopharma processing which usually requires extensive sterilization after each operation. There are no shafts or bearings to worry about, therefore the system greatly reduces the risk of contamination.
 
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