CIKITUSI JOURNAL FOR MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ISSN NO: 0975-6876

A Review: Hyperloop Transportation System

Dr. C. Dhandapani
HOD, Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Rajagopal Polytechnic College, Gudiyattam-632602, India

Abstract – The conventional modes of transportation of people consists of four unique types and that are rail, road, water,
and air. These modes of transport tend to be either relatively slow, expensive or a combination of both. Hyperloop (Freight
Transportation) is a new mode of transport that seeks to change this pattern by being both fast and inexpensive for people
and goods. Hyperloop is a proposed mode of passenger and freight transportation that propels a capsule-like vehicle
through a near-vacuum tube at more than airline speed. The pods would accelerate to cruising speed gradually using a
linear electric motor and glide above their track using passive magnetic levitation or air bearings. Hyperloop consists of a
low-pressure tube with capsules that are transported at both low and high speeds throughout the length of the tube. The
capsules are supported on a cushion of air, featuring pressurized air and aerodynamic lift. Passengers may enter and exit
Hyperloop at stations located either at the ends of the tube, or branches along the tube length. It quickly becomes apparent
just how dramatically the Hyperloop could change transportation, road congestion and minimize the carbon footprint
globally. With the Hyperloop, extremely fast, inexpensive intercity travel would be widely accessible. If both people and
goods can move more quickly and comparatively cheaply, rapid growth is a logical outcome.

Key Words: Hyperloop (Freight Transportation), Propels, Vacuum Tube, Capsule, Passive Magnetic Levitation, Air
Bearings

1. PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
As we know that there are four modes of conventional transportation. First is rail which is relatively slow and expensive
another is road and water which is relatively slow and next is air which is too expensive. Road travel is particularly problematic,
given carbon emissions and the fluctuating price of oil. As the environmental dangers of energy consumption continue to worsen,
mass transit will be crucial in the years to come. Developments in high-speed rail have historically been impeded by the difficulties
in managing friction and air resistance, both of which become substantial when vehicles approach high speeds. Rail travel is
relatively energy efficient and offers the most environmentally friendly option, but is too slow and expensive to be massively
adopted. At distances less than 900 miles, supersonic travel is unfeasible, as most of the journey would be spent ascending and
descending (the slowest parts of a flight.) Given these issues, the Hyperloop aims to make a cost-effective, high-speed
transportation system for use at moderate distances. The Hyperloop tubes would have solar panels installed on the roof, allowing
for a clean and self-powering system.
2. INTRODUCTION
Hyperloop is a completely new mode of fastest transportation. Hyperloop is firstly proposed by Elon Musk and a team of the
engineer from Tesla Motors and the Space Exploration Technologies Corporation in August 2013. The concept of hyperloop
includes traveling people from one place to another place in a capsule which is propelling at a very high speed. We can also be
called hyperloop as a solar-powered transportation system and it is an alternative to a high-speed train. Basically, hyperloop is
magnetically levitated train which runs inside a long tube or pipe. It consists of a low-pressure tube with a capsule that is
transported at both low and high speeds. It is driven by a linear induction motor and compressor. It includes 28 passenger pods.
For propulsion, magnetic accelerators will be planted along the length of the tube, propelling the pods forward. The tubes
would house a low-pressure environment, surrounding the pod with a cushion of air that permits the pod to move safely at such
high speeds, like a puck gliding over an air hockey table. Given the tight quarters in the tube, pressure buildup in front of the
pod could be a problem. The tube needs a system to keep air from building up in this way. Musk's design recommends an air
compressor on the front of the pod that will move air from the front to the tail, keeping it aloft and preventing pressure building
up due to air displacement. A one way trip on the Hyperloop is projected to take about 35 minutes (for comparison, traveling the
same distance by car takes roughly six hours.) Passengers may enter and exit Hyperloop at stations located either at the ends of the
tube, or branches along the tube length.
3. LITERATURE REVIEW
Ahmed Hodaib, Samar F. Abdel Fattah (May 2016), discussed the design of a hyperloop capsule with linear induction propulsion
system which is used to accelerate and decelerate the capsule. They studied that like rotary synchronous motors; linear motors run
on 3-phase power and can support very high speeds. However, there are end effects that reduce the motor's thrust force. Linear
induction motors are thus less energy efficient than normal rotary motors for any required force output. They also discussed the
manufacturing of linear induction motor in this paper.[1]

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Jeffrey C. Chin, Justin S. Gray, Scott M. Jones, Jeffrey J. Berton, They discussed the Open-Source Conceptual Sizing Models for
the Hyperloop Passenger Pod in this paper. They concluded that the refined analysis illuminates several interdisciplinary
couplings that alter two major aspects of the initial concept. First, the pod travel speed and the tube cross-sectional area are
linked, forcing the tube size to be roughly twice the diameter of the original specification, in order for the pod to reach Mach 0.8.
Second, the steady-state tube temperature is dominated by ambient thermal interactions unrelated to the heat generated by the
pod compression system.[2]

Mark Sakowski (2016) discussed the current maglev technology along with the theoretical evacuated tube technology and they
concluded that the hyperloop is feasible and if properly designed, has the potential to be much more efficient in terms of energy
usage of pods traversing down the tube.[3]

N. Kayela, (2014) investigated that the hyperloop is the fifth mode of transportation alongside trains, planes, automobiles, and
boats. He discussed the railway track for the hyperloop, stations for the hyperloop. Also, discussed the two version of the capsule
that is one is passenger only version and another is passenger plus vehicle version.[4]

Mohammed Imran (2016) He focused his study element on the hyperloop technology (the passenger transport system). He
discussed the two versions of hyperloop in that one passenger only accommodated in this version and another is passenger plus
vehicle version. Hyperloop System.[5]

4. PRINCIPLE OF HYPERLOOP DESIGN

Hyperloop is based on a principle of magnetic levitation. The principle of magnetic levitation is that a vehicle can be
suspended and propelled on a guidance track made with magnets. The vehicle on top of the track may be propelled with the help
of a linear induction motor.

Fig. 1 Operating principle of hyperloop[8]

5. DESIGN OF CONSTRUCTION

 Tube:
The tube is made of steel. There are two tubes which are welded together side by side configuration to allow the capsules to
travel in both directions. The tube will be supported by pillars. There is solar arrays are provided on a top of the tubes for the
purpose of power to the system.

Fig. 2 Construction of tube

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 Capsule:
The capsule can carry 28 passengers at a time and it sends at a very high speed and it is levitated by a high-pressure air cushion.
The design of the capsule starts with the aerodynamic shape. There are two versions of the capsule are being considered: a
passenger only version and a passenger plus vehicle version.

Inlet Compressor Compressor

Battery
motor
Seat Suspension
Firewall
Fig. 3 Arrangement in capsule
Air Storage

 Compressor:
The compressor is fitted at the front side of the capsule. It supplies the air to the air bearings which supports the weight of the
capsule. The compressor allows the capsule to traverse to the low-pressure tube without choking the air flow that travels between
tube walls and capsule.

Fig. 4 Compressor
 Suspension:

Air bearing suspension offers stability and extremely low drag at a feasible cost. A stiff air bearing suspension is superb for
reliability and safety. When there is a gap between ski and tube walls is high then it shows the nonlinear reaction and which
results in large restoring pressure.

Fig. 5 Schematic of air bearing skis that support the capsule

 Propulsions:
To accelerate and decelerate the capsule the linear induction motor is used in the hyperloop system. It provides some advantages
over a permanent magnet motor. To accelerate the capsules there is linear accelerators are constructed on a length of the tube.
Stators are placed on the capsules to transfer momentum to the capsules via the linear accelerators.

Fig. 6 Propulsion

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6. WORKING PRINCIPLE OF HYPERLOOP SYSTEM

Fig. 7 Working Principle of the Hyperloop system

Working of hyperloop system is based on magnetic levitation principle. As we know that the passenger pad travels through
the low-pressure tube which is a pylon-supported tube. In the Hyperloop system, an air compressor fan is fitted on the front side of
the pod which sucks the air. It transfers high-pressure air front side to the rear side of the capsule (pod) and it propels the pod. It
creates the air cushion around the pod so that the pod is suspended in air within the tube.
On the basis of magnetic levitation principle, the pod will be propelled by the linear induction motor. By the linear induction
motor, the capsule sends from one place to another place to a subsonic velocity that is slower than the speed of sound. The pod
will be self-powered. There is a solar panel fitted on top of the tube. By this solar panel, there is enough energy is stored in
battery packs to operate at night and in cloudy weather for some periods. The energy is also is stored in the form of compressed
air. The air between the capsule acts as a cushion to prevent two capsules from colliding within the tube.

Fig. 8 Air through the bypass tunnel

In the above figure is shown that the air through the compressor is sent to a bypass nozzle at the rear end of the capsule. If
capsule covers too much area of the tube then, the air does not flow around the capsule and ultimately the entire column of air in
the tube is being pushed ahead of the capsule and because of this, there is friction between the air and tube walls is increasing
tremendously. Therefore to avoid this problem the compressor is fitted at the front of the capsule through which the air is flow
which will not flow around the capsule and send it to bypass nozzle.
7. MERITS AND DEMERITS OF HYPERLOOP TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
 Merits:
o It saves traveling time.
o There is no problem with traffic.
o It is powered by the solar panel.
o It can travel in any kind of weather.
o Cost of hyperloop is low.
o Not disruptive to those along the route.

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o More convenient.
o Resistance to the earthquake.
 Demerits:
o Turning will be critical.
o Less movable space for the passenger.
o High speed might cause dizziness in some passenger.
o The punctured tunnel could cause shockwaves.

8. CONCLUSION
A high-speed transportation system known as Hyperloop has been developed in this report. Hyperloop transportation system
can be used over the conventional modes of transportation that are rail, road, water, and air. At very high speed it provides better
comfort and cost is also low. By reducing the pressure of the air in the tube which reduces simple air drag and enables the capsule
to move faster than through a tube at atmospheric pressure.
9. FUTURE WORK
1. Improve passenger capacity.
2. Detailed station designs with loading and unloading of passenger
3. Safety features improvement.
4. It can be used in material handling devices.
REFERENCES
[1] Ahmed Hodaib, Samar, et al, international journal of mechanical, aerospace, industrial, mechatronics and manufacturing
engineering Vol:10 No:5, (May 2016)
[2] Chetan Ramesh Ingale, Prof. Mrs. J. V. Chopade2, Review Paper on Hyperloop: A New Mode of Transportation, IJSRD
- International Journal for Scientific Research & Development, Vol. 5, Issue 01, 2017, ISSN (online): 2321-0613
[3] Chin, Jeffrey C.; Gray, Justin S.; Jones, Scott M.; Breton, Jeffrey J. (January 2015). Open-Source Conceptual Sizing
Models for the Hyperloop Passenger Pod (PDF). 56th AIAA/ASCE/AHS/ASC Structures, Structural Dynamics, and
Materials Conference. January 5–9, 2015. Kissimmee, Florida. doi:10.2514/6.2015-1587.
[4] Compressor:https://patrickenewman.files.wordpress.co m/2016/03/compressoriso.png
[5] N. Kayela, editor of the scientific and technical department, “Hyperloop: A Fifth Mode of Transportation”, 2014
[6] Mohammed Imran, international journal of engineering research, 2016
[7] Musk, Elon (August 12, 2013). "Hyperloop Alpha"(PDF). SpaceX. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
[8] Operating principle of hyperloop http://web- japan.org/kidsweb/hitech/maglev/images/004.jpg
[9] Paper by Mark Sakowski, "The Next Contender in High-Speed Transport Elon Musks Hyperloop”, 2016
[10] Pranay Mehta1, Taheer Alarico Da Piedade Mascarenhas, Design Considerations and Analysis of a Single-seated
Hyperloop Pod, International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), Volume: 04 Issue: 10, Oct -
2017, e-ISSN: 2395-0056
[11] Rajshri Tukaram Shinde, Vaishnavi Balasaheb Raijade, Abhishek Sunil Lahore, Vijay B. Sarode, Hyperloop
Transportation System, International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET), Volume: 04 Issue: 04,
Apr -2017, e-ISSN: 2395 -0056
[12] Tubehttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/common s/thumb/8/86/Hyperloop.jpg/220px-Hyperloop.jpg
[13] Vinay Pandey, Shyam Sasi Pallissery, Hyperloop, Train of Future, International Journal of Scientific & Engineering
Research, Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2017 ISSN 2229-5518.
[14] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperloop
[15] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freight_transport

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