The Hyperloop is a proposed form of high-speed transportation that accelerates c

Question

The Hyperloop is a proposed form of high-speed transportation that accelerates cylindrical pods that can carry up to 28 passengers in a low pressure tube at speeds of 760 mph. In a whitepaper published by Elon Musk (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/hyperloop_alpha.pdf), a 380 mile route between L.A. and San Francisco is discussed, and the following constraints are introduced: The route should follow existing freeways (i.e. I-5) as closely as possible, the maximum acceleration should be limited to 0.5 g for rider comfort. the maximum speed should be limited to 760 mph to avoid sonic booms. By levitating the pods using either air pressure or magnetism and evacuating most of the air from the tube, the pods can be made virtually frictionless. The pods would be accelerated up to cruising speed using linear induction motors (a line of electromagnets built into the track that act on the pod going over them).

So far we have completely neglected air resistance, but even in the low pressure of the tube, there is expected to be about 320 N of drag. Linear motors would be placed along the track to periodically boost the speed of the capsule to compensate for the loss of speed due to drag.

The energy put in to accelerating the capsules to a given speed can be extracted when using the same linear motors as electrical generators when braking. Thus (neglecting any electrical inefficiencies and any energy required to pump air out of the tube) the net energy consumed by the system is entirely due to work done by air resistance.

8. If exactly 40 capsules are operated in the tube at any moment in time, what is the total power consumption of the hyperloop system.

9. Would it be possible to power the system using only solar energy from panels mounted above the tube? Explain.

10. How does the energy consumed per rider per mile for the hyperloop compare to a car with a single driver?

11. what is the minimum radius that the path of the tube can have as it winds through the terrain if the pods are to maintain cruising speed throughout their journey?

12. How does the calculated minimum turning radius affect the possible routes that a hyperloop could take if it were built between LA and San Francisco?

The one about the hyperloop The Hyperloop is a proposed form of high-speed transportation that accelerates cylindrical pods that can carry up to 28 passengers in a low pressure tube at speeds of 760 mph. In a whitepaper published by Elon Musk (http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/ hyperloop-alpha.pdf), a 380 mile route between L.A. and San Francisco is discussed and the following constraints are introduced: The route should follow existing freeways (i.e. I-5) as closely as possible, the maximum acceleration should be limited to 0.5 g for rider comfort, the maximum speed should be limited to 760 mph to avoid sonic booms. By levitating the pods using either air pressure or magnetism and evacuating most of the air from the tube, the pods can be made virtually frictionless. The pods would be accelerated up to cruising speed using linear induction motors (a line of electromagnets built into the track that act on the pod going over them) For this assignment assume an empty pod has a mass of 3100 kg, and that each rider has an average mass of 65.0 kg.

Explanation / Answer

Q8. From 7. power consumeed per capsule due to drag, P = 105148.60 W

now as all the power that is used is used to overcome drag

hence total power used for 40 capsules

Ptot = P*40 = 605944 W

Q9. Power output of a typical solar panel per unit area is about 250 W per m^2

now, for generating Ptot, area of solar panels required, A = Ptot/250 = 2423.776 m^2

for length of the loop, l = 380 miles = 611551 m, width of solar panel required, w = 2423.776/611551 = 0.39633 cm

hence this is a small width which can be placed over the hyper loop, hence all this power can be generated using the solar panels plasced above the hyper loop

Q10. number of passangers in one pod, n = 28 passengers

energy used per pod per mile , E = 320*1609.34 = 514988.8 J

energy consumed per passenger = E/28 = 18392.457 J

ennergy consumption per passenger per mile in a typical mile is about 175 J per person ( for 4 people travelling in a car)

hence hyperloop consumes much more energy than a person would spend in a typical car

Q11. let the minimum radius be r

then maximum acceleration = 0.5g

for speed of v = 760 mph = 339.75 m/s

v^2/r = 0.5*9.81

r = 23533.1422 m

r = 14.6228 miles

Related Questions

Navigate

• Browse (All)
• Browse T
• Subjects

---

---

Integrity-first tutoring: explanations and feedback only — we do not complete graded work. Learn more.