Conceptual Development, Analysis and Simulation of the Transport Capacity of a Freight Transport Vehicle in Vacuum Tubes at High Speed (Hyperloop Concept)

Abstract

In this paper, a freight transport vehicle has been conceptually developed, analyzed and simulated. This vehicle runs in vacuum tubes at high speed, which is a transport concept commonly referred to as Hyperloop. In this case, Hyperloop is adapted for freight containers. First, the main characteristics of the vehicle have been defined. These features conceptually define the freight Hyperloop studied, which does not include a compressor and levitates on magnets. After this conceptual development, the defined Hyperloop is analyzed. For this analysis it was necessary to establish variables for the different aspects: Kantrowitz limit, aerodynamics, transportation, energy consumption, etc. These variables were employed to set parametric equations thereafter. Some of these formulae were extracted from previous theoretical works, while others are based on physical principles and others such as the capacity and energy indices are more practical. Later, the simulation of the transport capacity has been performed. The computer program Engineering Equation Solver Professional V9.457-3D (EES) has been used to process the equations, create parametric tables and plots and obtain the final results. Prior to the simulation, input data were entered. These data come from references, calculations or optimizations developed by the authors in a previous work. The simulation allows choosing the number of containers, operating speed and tube length, primarily basing on energy and capacity indices, though auxiliary results as Kantrowitz limit results are needed as well. Lastly, the optimal number of containers, operating speed and tube length were introduced in EES and EES yielded the definitive values of all of the output variables. These values constitute a pre-design of the train and are discussed at the end of the work. Further works that could originate from this one are proposed in this discussion.