HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY

A Seminar report submitted in partial fulfillment for the requirements for

the award of the

DIPLOMA

In

Mechanical Engineering

By

PRANAV S L

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE
ATTINGAL

OCTOBER- 2022

1
 GOVERNMENT POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE , ATTINGAL
DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this is a report of seminar on HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY presented by

PRANAV S L,20020545 of fifth semester Mechanical engineering in the partial fulfillment of the
requirement for the award of Diploma in Mechanical Engineering under the State Board of
Technical Education, Kerala during the academic year 2020-2023.

HEAD OF DEPARTMENT SEMINAR GUIDE

DR. RANJITH B. P ADHUB BIN A SALAM , LECTURER
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

2
 ABSTRACT

The conventional modes of people consist 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 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.

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I take this opportunity to express my deep sense of gratitude and sincere thanks to all
those who helped me to complete the seminar successfully. I gratefully acknowledge the staff
advisors and coordinators and my guide,ADHUB BIN A SALAM, Lecturer in Department of
Mechanical Engineering for their excellent guidance to achieve a clear structure of the project
.
I am greatly thankful to DR. RANJITH B. P , Head of Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Government Polytechnic College, Attingal for his support and cooperation.

I also thank my parents and friends who contributed directly or indirectly to the
successful completion of my seminar.

Above all, I thank God Almighty without whose blessings this effort would not have
been a reality.

PRANAV S L
RegNo :20020545

4
 CONTENTS

Title Page No

List of figures

CHAPTER 1. Introduction………………………………………………… 8

CHAPTER 2. Historical Review……………………………………..…… 9

CHAPTER 3. Construction features of Hyperloop…………….…..…….. 10

3.1 Tube…………………………………………………………….……. 10

3.2 Capsule…………………………………………………………..…… 10

3.3 Compressor……………………………………………………….……. 11

3.4 Power source……………………………………………………….… . 12

3.5 Suspension……………………………………………………….……. 12

3.6 Propulsion ……………………………………………………….…..… 13

CHAPTER 4. Working of Hyperloop system……………………….……. 14

CHAPTER 5. Development of Hyperloop………………………….……. 16

CHAPTER 6. Advantages and Disadvantages of Hyperloop………….…. 17

5
6.1 Advantages……………………………………………………………… 17

6.2 Disadvantages…………………………………………………….…….. 17

CHAPTER 7. Future scope…………….………………………….……….. 18

Conclusion…………………………………………………………………… 19

References……………………………………………………..……..……… 20

6
 LIST OF FIGURE

Figure Page No
Fig 1 :- Pioneers ………………………………………………………………….… 9

Fig 2 :- Tube & Pylons…………………………………………………………….. 10

Fig 3 :- Capsule…………………………………………………………………..….11

Fig 4 :- Compressor ………………………………………………………………...11

Fig 5 :- Power Source …………………………………………………………….…12

Fig 6 :- Suspension…………………………………………………………………. 12

Fig 7 :- Propulsion …………………………………………………………………. 13

Fig 8 :- Working of Hyperloop system…………………………………………….. 14

Fig 9 :- Air through bypass tunnel………………………………………………….. 15

Fig 10 :- Hyperloop in India ………………………………………………………. 16

7
 CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION

Hyperloop is a completely new mode of fastest transportation.Hyperloop is firstly

proposed by Elon musk and a team of engineers from Tesla Motors and the Space Exploration
Technologies Corporation in August 2013. The concept of hyperloop includes sending people
from one place to another in a capsule which is propelling at a very high speed. We can also call
hyperloop as a solar powered transportation system and it is an alternative of high-speed train.
Basically, hyperloop is a magnetically levitated train which runs inside a long tube or pipe.

It consists of low-pressure tube with capsule that is transported at both low and high
speeds. It is driven by 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.

8
 CHAPTER-2
HISTORICAL REVIEW

Hyperloop concept was invented and designed in 1812 by the British Mechanical
Engineer George Wenger and later on polished by various people like George Medhurst in 1827
and Alfred Ely Beach in 1869.

Concepts for high-speed trains in vacuum or evacuated tubes can be traced back as far
as 1909, when rocket pioneer Robert H. Goddard proposed high-speed passenger-carrying pods
traveling through evacuated tubes.

Bachelet introduced the core idea behind magnetically levitating trains as early as 1910.
Over the years these ideas have been further renamed, for instance by the Rand Corporation in
1972 with their “Very HighSpeed Transport System.
.
The concept of Hyperloop is now developed and redesigned by the billionaire Elon
Musk in 2012. Hyperloop is in some countries a registered trademark of the Space Exploration
Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) for the high speed transportation of passengers and goods in
partially evacuated tubes. Earlier, in all types of transportation mode, we have encountered many
accidents, cost issues, comfort issues, affordability, conservation issues and environmental
issues. Hyperloop confront all the above point issues to provide better way to future with help of
modern science and engineering solutions.

Fig 1 :- Pioneers

9
 CHAPTER-3
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES OF HYPERLOOP

3.1 TUBE
The tube is made of steel. There are two tubes which are welded together side - by - side
configuration to allow the capsules travel in both directions. The tube will be supported by
pillars.Pylons are placed every feet (30m) to support the tube.There is a solar arrays are provided
on a top of the tubes for the purpose of power to the system.

Fig 2 :- Tube & Pylons

3.2 CAPSULE
The capsule can carry 28 passengers at a time and it send at a very high speed and it is
levitated by a high pressure air cushion. The design of capsule is start with the aerodynamic
shape. There are two version of capsule are being considered: a passenger only version and a
passenger plus vehicle version.The capsule in hyperloop is an enclosed component in a reduced
pressure tube. The capsules are supported via air-bearings that operate using compressed air
reservior and aerodynamic lift. Capsules are used to carry passengers and goods.

10
 Fig 3 :- Capsule

3.3 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

11
3.4 POWER SOURCE
The main source for the power is solar energy.Necessary battery arrangements are made
to store the energy so as to operate at night and in cloudy weather conditions.

Fig 5 :- Power Source

3.5 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 6 :- Suspension

12
3.6 PROPULSION
To accelerate and decelerate the capsule the linear induction motor is used in 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 7 :- Propulsion

13
 CHAPTER- 4
WORKING OF HYPERLOOP SYSTEM

Fig 8 :- Working of Hyperloop System

Working of hyperloop system is based on magnetic levitation principle. The passenger

pod travel through a low pressure tube which is pylon-supported. In hyperloop system, an air
compressor fan is fitted on front side of pod which sucks the air. It transfer high pressure air in
the front side to the rear side of capsule (pod) and it propels the pod. It creates the air cushion
around the pod, so that the pod is suspended on 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 is send from one place to another
place at a subsonic velocity that is slower than the speed of sound.The pod will be self-powered.
There is solar panel fitted on top of the tube. From 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 stored in the form of compressed air.

14
 Fig 9 :- Air through bypass tunnel

In above figure it shown that the air through the compressor is send to a bypass nozzle at
the rear end of the capsule. If capsule cover 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,the friction between the air and tube walls is increased
tremendously. Therefore to avoid this problem the compressor is fitted at the front of the capsule
through which the air flows to bypass nozzle.

15
 CHAPTER- 5
DEVELOPMENT OF HYPERLOOP IN INDIA

Fig 10 :- Hyperloop in India

Projects have been approved by the Indian Government for constructing the Hyperloop
for the routes between.

*Amravati to Vijayawada ( estimated time 6-8 minutes to reach).

*Mumbai to Chennai (estimated time 63 minutes).
*Bengaluru to Chennai (estimated time 30 minutes).
*Mumbai to Pune (estimated time 25 minutes).

16
 CHAPTER - 6
MERITS AND DEMERITS OF HYPERLOOP TECHNOLOGY

6.1 MERITS

1. It saves the travelling time.

2. There is no problem of traffic.
3. It is powered by the solar panel.
4. It can travel in any kind of weather.
5. Pollution free and Faster
6. Resistance to earthquakes.
7. It is safe and green mode of transportation system.
8. More convenient.

6.2 DEMERITS

1. Turnings will be critical.

2. Less movable space for passenger.
3. High speed travel might cause dizziness in some passengers.
4. Initial investment is high.
5.Experience could be frightening.

17
 CHAPTER - 7
FUTURE SCOPE

Hyperloop is a newborn technology since it is different from any existing mode of

transportation. The design for everything inside it is developed innovatively for even a small
entity. Thus, Technology welcomes further involvement of inventors.

Hyperloop is considered an open source transportation concept. Iteration of the design by

various individuals and groups can help bring Hyperloop from an idea to a reality.

The future research & development scope is to :-

* improve the passenger capacity
* Detailed station design with loading and unloading of passengers.
*Safety features improvement.

18
 CONCLUSION

A high speed transportation system known as Hyperloop has been studied in detail in this
report.As it has a number of advantages, it will be very helpful for transporting public as well as
goods in a very short period of time ( at a top speed of 1220 km/hr) & also at lower
cost.Hyperloop transportation system can be used over the conventional modes of
transportation..It is a new concept so there is some future work will be required for development
of this project.

19
 REFERENCES

*Ahmed Hodaib, Samar, et al, international journal of mechanical, aerospace, industrial,

mechatronics and manufacturing engineering Vol:10 No:5, (May 2016)
*Paper by Mark Sakowski, “The Next Contender in High Speed Transport Elon Musks
Hyperloop”, 2016
*“Hyperloop One”. Hyperloop One. Retrieved November 25, 2016.
*International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET) Volume: 04 Issue: 04 |
Apr -2017 www.irjet.net

20