Hitachi Building High Speed Elevator That Travels 95 Floors in 43 Seconds
Posted on April 22, 2014
Hitachi is building a high speed elevator that will travel 95 floors (440 meters) in just 43 seconds for a new skyscraper in China. The elevator will reach a maximum speed of 72 km/h (45 mph). BBC News reports that this will top the Taipei 101 building in Taiwan to become the world's fastest elevator. Elevators in the Taipei 101 building can reach 60.6 km/h (37.6 mph). The elevators are to be used in a skyscraper being built in Guangzhou, China. The Guangzhou CTF Finance Center will open in 2016. An artist's rendition of the building is pictured above.
Hitachi describes its speedy new elevator in a press release. It promises the elevator will be able to brake comfortably at the high speed. Here are some highlights of the high-speed elevators:
- Two of the building's elevators will travel from the 1st to 95th floor (a shaft height of 440 meters) in 43 seconds.
- Developed a permanent magnet synchronous motor that achieves both a thin profile and the high output needed to attain a speed of 1,200 m/min.
- Hitachi developed a compact traction machine by lightening the load on the traction machine.
- Hitachi says the braking materials feature "outstanding heat resistance" to safely stop the elevator car in the event of an elevator malfunction.
- Reduced the sensation of ear blockage with a proprietary air pressure adjustment technology.
- The elevators have active guide rollers that detect minute warping in the guide rails and lateral vibration due to wind pressure.
- Descent speed is 600 meters per minute.