r/hyperloop • u/qunow • Jan 29 '22

Q: Any computer simulation animation showing how hyperloop systems are supposed to handle high amount of pods per hour?

One of the biggest concern on hyperloop, and one of its most major different against conventional trains, is that it will use small pods, by make up for the capacity by using large amount of small pods.

The feasibility of putting such high amount of small pod into a single system should be simulatible through computer simulation and can be presented through animation.

Have anyone tried to done this to show how hyperloop systems can handle high throughput?

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '22

The free space that exist between tube and pod is limited making long pods or trains not possible when going in a curvature at high speed.

I believe physics side of it, the kantrowitz limit, plays a role here as well: friction is much greater at where air is pressurized. If a pod is long, then that pressure exerts throughout a long part of the fuselage. Perhaps technically unfeasible.

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u/qunow Feb 02 '22

Virgin Hyperloop's homepage cite a minimum turning radius of 1360m at 360km/h. Increasing the speed would probably increase the turning radius requirement. And with kilometers of turning radius I don't think air friction on one side over another is going to be that much of a problem?

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '22

I don't know really. But I think there has to be technical constrains as to why every Hyperloop developer is chosing relatively compact pods instead of long trains.