The Emergence of Magnetic Elevators
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness”
— Frank Gehry
Elevators, the unsung heroes of skyscrapers and high-rise buildings, have come a long way since their invention. Gone are the days of creaky, slow, and claustrophobic boxes. Say hello to the new kind of elevator: magnetic levitation elevators, also known as maglev elevators. These elevators are shaking up the vertical transportation game and taking it to new heights!
Imagine walking into an elevator and being able to zoom up to your floor at breakneck speeds. That’s right, maglev elevators can reach top speeds of up to 1,200 meters per minute, making them faster than Usain Bolt on a caffeine binge! And the best part? You won’t even spill a drop of your coffee. How’s that for a smooth ride?
But wait, there’s more. Multi-maglev elevators are taking the game to a whole new level! Unlike traditional elevators that rely on cables and pulleys, multi-maglev elevators use multiple levitation and guidance systems to allow multiple cabins to run simultaneously in a single shaft. This means that waiting times can be reduced and passenger throughput can be increased. No more “press one for the 15th floor, press two for the 16th floor” announcements. Just step into the nearest cabin and enjoy the ride.
The specs of these elevators are nothing short of impressive. The levitation systems are incredibly safe and reliable, and the cabins are packed with advanced safety features such as emergency brakes, redundant power systems, and fire protection.
And here’s a little secret: maglev elevators are also environmentally friendly! They use significantly less energy than traditional elevators as they don’t rely on mechanical systems for movement.
Elevators like these are already being tested by a German conglomerate, ThyssenKrupp. The system is called MULTI, and it’s revolutionary in the context of elevator technology.
The new MULTI system uses magnetic levitation technology, making steel ropes and their associated complications obsolete. Maglev, or magnetic levitation, is the same technology that powers some of the world’s fastest trains, including Japan’s Shinkansen. The elevator cars are guided by a moving magnetic field created by a maglev track integrated with coils within the structure. Consequently, ThyssenKrupp may use a linear motor, which can easily switch between vertical and horizontal orientations, in place of the conventional wire and counterweight configuration. As each cabin may function independently of the others, the method allows for more than two cabins per shaft, cutting down on passenger waiting times and boosting capacity by as much as 50 percent.
With maglev technology, MULTI’s elevator shafts may be located anywhere in the building and function much like a metro, eliminating any height or design restrictions that existed with conventional elevators. They are also 25% smaller than regular ones, which results in significant savings in square footage.
It is believed that MULTI technology would pave the way for the development of fully enclosed elevator systems that can move passengers not only within a building but also between buildings, therefore enhancing convenience and efficiency.
Still, the technology requires a lot of testing before it is ready to go into mass production. But the prospect of an elevator that will be better than current technology in every respect is worth getting excited about. Hopefully, MULTI will start to commercialize its technology and start a new chapter in the architecture of the cities.
Bibliography:
“Maglev Elevators: Disrupting Architecture and Construction—BBlog Bulldozair.” Blog Bulldozair, 17 Jan. 2018, blog.bulldozair.com/maglev-elevators-are-disrupting-architecture-and-construction.
"The World’s First Maglev Elevator.” World’s First Maglev Elevator, June 11, 2020, www.maglev.net/worlds-first-maglev-elevator.
“MULTI.” MULTI, multi.tkelevator.com. Accessed 2 Feb. 2023.
