Hyperloop Transportation System
Introduction:
Transportation system plays important role in the development of country. Good
transportation system enhances the growth of country’s economy. There is need to develop
efficient transportation system for carrying goods and passengers over all kind of obstacles.
Road ways, rail ways, waterways and airways are important component of transporting goods
and humans all around the world. Airplane being considered one of the fastest ways of
transporting, but not very viable for daily traveling inside the country. Therefore, it is very
important to get a way of transporting humans and goods close to the surface of earth in very
fast manner just similar to airplanes. Moreover, the system shall have,
More efficiency
Low cost
High reliability
What is HTS?
HTS is new way of carrying passengers and goods from one place to another and hence called
fifth mode of transportation. Airplanes fly at high altitude to get low pressure region having less
dense air hence reduce the air resistance. During this process airplane consume most of energy.
What if a train gets the same ideal condition close to the surface of earth? Yes, this is hyperloop
transportation system but there is also need to limit friction which the train experience. Elon
Musk in 2013 gave the same idea of hyperloop transportation where there will be no air
resistance and friction between track and tires. The speed of HTS will be sonic or nearly sonic
(Speed greater than speed of sound 334m/s)
Superstructure of Hyperloop transportation system consist of tube and travelling pod. The tube
is partially evacuated or low-pressure tube hence no air particles hitting the train. The pressure
inside the tube would be 0.01 atm (with minimum drag force on the pod). The steel tube will be
of 23mm thickness simply supported and span length of the tube will be approximately 30
meters. The traveling pods will levitate by one set of magnets (Maglev) and will propel forward
by another set of magnets, thus direct contact of pod with tube can be eliminated and this
elimination of wheels will result in zero friction. The efficiency of magnets can be increased by
decreasing temperature of the tube. By dropping temperature of tube to -450 °F the magnet
become 10 times stronger. The linear induction motor (LIM) will help the pod to propel in
forward direction. By provision of LIM rectilinear motion of pod can be achieved. LIM is just like
a conventional rotary motor but its windings have been cut open and laid flat out. The
levitation of the pod may be of two types i.e., (i) Electro Magnetic suspension (ii) Electro
Dynamic suspension. Initially the vacuum pump installed at every 10 km or so will suck out 90%
air in the tube. This mechanism reduces air resistance and drag drastically. The pressure in the
tube is so low that it will be equivalent to the flight of airplane flying at 150,000ft above Mean
Sea level. There will be normal/regular air pressure inside capsule/pod. The travelling
pod/capsule will gather some air in the front, upon moving forward, thus results in compress air
formation. The compressor fans on the front of capsule will remove air from the front and will
redirects it to the back for additional thrust. Compress air can also be displaced from the tube
via air bearings present beneath the pod.
Braking system of HTS:
Without wheels and ground contact the application of brakes inside HTS is quite challenging.
One method of stopping the pod inside tube is to provide the moving magnets around the
track. The moving magnets can generate electric current inside the track which creates
magnetic effects and hence opposes the motion of train. The second method is to provide large
fans at the back of train. Using 10% of air left inside the tube, fan pushes the train backward
and hence slows down the train motion.
Sectional
view of Levitation and Propulsion of capsule pod (Fig-1)
Plan view of
propulsion of pod inside tube (Fig-2)
Substructure of HTS consist of conventional pylons/pier shafts supporting two steel tube for
one way traffic.
Advantages of HTS:
The mechanism of HTS is very simple and require low power consumption
HTS is low-cost transportation system on long run
HTS is protected/immune to bad weather conditions
HTS is green mode of transportation system
The overall system is safe and have resistance to earthquake
The system is free of friction and drag forces
Required less construction space and hence usage of land for transportation is restricted
The system will divert the passenger traffic from road and airports and hence the
congestion inside the country can be minimized.
Executional and operational challenges:
Tunneling the mountains will be required for smooth rectilinear motion
Turning will be critical with large radius
The size of pod/capsule is very small and the movement of passengers will be very
difficult
The transport system is limit to intercity and short haul
Experience could be frightening
The design of tube and capsule in order to minimize the drag will be challenging
Rupture of capsule could be fatal and cause passenger killing via asphyxiation
Tube failure could be fatal for all people travelling
Structure failure of the engine due to high rpm
Expansion and contraction of tube due to severe weather exposure
Getting passengers out of the tube once pod has trouble
Oxygen supply and safety tank in case capsule has a trouble and stuck midway between
two stations
Condense water removal at cold spots, which prevent to achieve vacuum
Choke flows occurring around the capsule
