https://steemitimages.com/DQmXdkPDAwESuADh6xjcZoUtGmjJ4ohoorqaWrBryzCjLdy/25569533285_428c711622_b.jpg
<center>[Image Source: Kevin Krejci Flickr, Creative Commons License with editing by @csusbgeochem1](https://www.flickr.com/photos/kevinkrejci/25569533285)</center>

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmdxFkexMxnygyGqfxiFkkdUuqLrUYpcC6y6QHgedg4TwB/steembanner.jpg</center>

<center>Welcome everyone!  A few days ago @kryzsec initiated a seed post to generate more community involvement in #steemstem. The topic was on the feasibility of the Hyperloop project, calling on anyone and everyone to participate.  @tfcoates responded with a few of his ideas as well as a few others and I would like to make this post to reply  and put forth my ideas of the topic.</center>

<center><h2>*Disclaimer!*</h2>
I am no where near an expert in any field presented and I am only proposing these ideas.  I would appreciate community involvement in letting me know any fallacies I may put forth or any thoughts or ideas you may have. My experience comes from working research and development for a construction materials company so I do have knowledge and background on construction materials and their applications. 
</center>
 

<center><h2>*My thoughts and ideas on the design and implementation of the Hyperloop One*</h2></center>

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmeCCzVzL93uKCavHBHo9LGVWPbnZuNXVFg36CXWhReZ26/download.png</center>
<center>[Image Source: Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HyperloopOne_Logo_2017.jpg)</center>

<center> Hyperloop ONE you may ask?  YES the project was recently branded VIRGIN Hyperloop One.  An [introduction written in October of 2017 states:](https://hyperloop-one.com/introducing-virgin-hyperloop-one)

>Hyperloop One, the only company in the world that has built a full-scale Hyperloop system, today announced that the Virgin Group has invested in the company to form a global strategic partnership. With this partnership, Richard Branson joined the board of directors and Hyperloop One will rebrand itself as Virgin Hyperloop One in the coming months.

The article further elaborates...

>With Hyperloop One, passengers and cargo are loaded into a pod, and accelerate gradually via electric propulsion through a low-pressure tube. The pod quickly lifts above the track using magnetic levitation and glides at airline speeds for long distances due to ultra-low aerodynamic drag. Hyperloop One’s radically efficient and clean, all-electric technology is aligned with the Virgin Group’s purpose-driven mission to deliver more sustainable modes of transportation.

<center> So now that everyone is aware that Virgin and Space X are on a joint venture,  I will propose to this community not arguing for or against the notion of the Hyperloop just simply addressing the ideas and concepts brought up by those that have engaged in this topic. Hopefully before the end of the 7 days I can post my arguments that were not touched upon by the others.

Current posts submitted by (please let me know if im missing any!):
@kryzsec 
@alexs1320  
@rharphelle
@tfcoates

<h2>Energy</h2>

@kryzsec initially started this engagement and he states in his post [Steemstem Community: Respond to this with your opinions on the subject](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@kryzsec/steemstem-community-respond-to-this-with-your-opinions-on-the-subject)

>My argument against the hyperloop is simple, the energy required to first vacuum out the tunnel, move the train/car from location A to location B, then re-pressurize the tube would be more than the energy required for maintaining the velocity of the N700 Series Shinkansen in Japan

@kryzsec then followed up with [Mathematically Breaking Down the Hyperloop (Math Warning) Part 1](https://steemit.com/hyperloop/@kryzsec/mathematically-breaking-down-the-hyperloop-math-warning-part-1)

My thoughts on the subject were shared by @tfcoates in his post [Thoughts on Hyperloop](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@tfcoates/thoughts-on-hyperloop) when he stated:

>Only a fraction of the entire tunnel must be depressurized, and it's an even smaller fraction than you'd think. Assuming the train takes up a considerable amount of the volume of the tunnel, only the remaining volume contains air which must be pumped out.

This idea is a correct way of thinking, by keeping very tight tolerances between the shell of the tube and the train itself, the amount of air present is reduced. 

<h3>My response to this idea although I agree with it:</h3></center>

<center>Train maintenance! With such tight tolerances along the sides of the train the only method of attack when it comes to train maintenance would be at the forward or reverse of the train, there would be no way of accessing all sides at once.  The only way to mitigate this would be at a station where passengers would depart and board, allowing maintenance workers to view the entire train </center>

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmW2jkwFfrLxgnnABjUBGBhjiFYwF2p3Xb5SHX5x1L14D1/images.jpeg
[Image Source: Maxpixel](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRQGyphjOIq789Gbm2czBF_VI5MwyrVlD9N8IGrwUfV9q_Lbctf)

One way to achieve such a large docking station like a subway platform, at either entrance of the track, those tight tolerance tunnels would be a waiting port, allowing for pressurization/depressurization before pulling up to the platform.  This compartmentalizes the process and allows for redundancy of seals.  @tfcoates explains it best in his post when he states;

>As the train pulls in to a platform the tunnel which it is in is sealed off at the front and back, creating a compartment within the tunnel in which the entire train is sealed.

Now there are a lot of ways this statement can be miss read and the way I'm assuming he meant, is only a small section of the train allows for the disembark of passengers while the rest of the train is still in the tight tolerances of the tube.  I only assume this because of the argument we both agreed on. I am specifically stating that two of these small compartments would reside on either side of the platform and that small compartment would be re/depressurized before allowing the train to enter the area where the passengers are.  

Now this was in response to @kryzsec's issue with powering the project.  I wanted to add my response to the idea of power.  From the picture below we see the hyperloop will reside largely above ground.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmWEHMb4Pm36GZ5Da2RehSCCsWewy9QU4TFrZxvDXjNQ3n/overlay.jpeg
[Image source: Vimeo screenshot labeled for reuse](https://vimeo.com/240335672)

With it being built above ground, utilizing solar power would mitigate some of the power needs.  The picture below shows an excellent example of this concept.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmcoL38nJnXM34QbZTKAMNYgAeMwFoeaRhbhRhLrjdxGVu/download.jpeg
[Image source: Russian Wikipedia, labeled for reuse](https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A4%D0%B0%D0%B9%D0%BB:Hyperloop.jpg)

With hundreds of miles of track, utilizing solar would give a leg up.  

<h2>Cons</h2></center>

- Panel Maintenance 
- Not 100% efficient

<center>Now aside from solar to aid in powering the system the [Hyperloop Transportation Technologies](http://www.hyperloop.global/) company, a competing company to Virgins Hyperloop One, proposes to use Regenerative Braking Technology. Power is created the second half of the trip as the train decelerates.  [Popular Mechanics explains:](https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/a20794/hyperloop-company-passive-magnetic-levitation-system-details/)

>To slow down, HTT plans to simply fire reverse thrusters and use a regenerative braking system to help recharge the batteries in the pod system. 

Now I'm not sure how they would adapt this to their "passive" magnetice levitation" but I do know the technology does exist and is being utilized in electric cars. In fact, [Telsa Technologies](https://www.tesla.com/blog/magic-tesla-roadster-regenerative-braking) uses regenerative braking in its Tesla Roadsters!</center>

<h2>Vacuum</h2>

<center>Now that I have addressed the energy aspect of the project lets get into the vacuum aspect.  Those that have posted, agree a series of pump stations would be needed to maintain a constant pressure inside the tube. @tfcoates and I both agree that a very tight tolerance between train and tube would reduce the amount of air, also the longer the train the less space for air.  I would have to argue against a very long train as I have stated above a platform is needed for total maintenance. If air was to be pumped out, a series of check valves would be needed (more than one for redundancy) so that pressurization could be easily maintained.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmNNpqp8D74JUeHeRjwsHi1PHJGx2ZcqkbizSYVsr52tVZ/1024px-Symbol_Check_valve_spring-tensioned.svg.png
[Image source: Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Symbol_Check_valve_(spring-tensioned).svg)

[Waterworld.com explains:](http://www.waterworld.com/articles/print/volume-23/issue-5/editorial-feature/understanding-check-valves-sizing-for-the-application-not-the-line-size.html)

>Simply put, a check valve allows flow in one direction and automatically prevents back flow (reverse flow) when fluid in the line reverses direction. They are one of the few self-automated valves that do not require assistance to open and close. Unlike other valves, they continue to work even if the plant facility loses air, electricity, or the human being that might manually cycle them.

Re-pressurization would only occur near boarding sites in those compartmentalized sections, so the check valves would maintain the system of track between each platform.

@tfcoates also brought up how everything would be sealed using rubber seals. What first came to mind when I thought of pressurized systems at vacuum was the ISS and NASA docking.  I came across a paper explaining [The Effects of Low Earth Orbit On Docking Seal Materials](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150000900.pdf) in which it explains: 

>  Exposure to LEO did less damage to the seals than hypothesized, and the data did not support
the conjecture that UV causes more damage than AO.

As the above states, the elastomers used as the seals actually rated higher that what was originally proposed. Now Low Earth Orbit is a different atmosphere than ground level but what that means is less direct UV as well as almost no atomic oxygen.  

Now this was just a research paper I had come across but I wanted to know exactly how the space station docked with spacecraft and how they were able to maintain pressurization.  Maybe the technology could be used in high speed rail.  I came across the Common Berthing Mechanism.  [The Common Berthing Mechanism](http://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/design_lib/ICES01-2435.ISS_CBM.pdf) is explained as:

>hardware to mate/berth or demate/deberth two pressurized elements on-orbit. Berthing and deberthing of two elements together on-orbit occurs many times throughout the Space Station Assembly Sequence to provide pressurized access between the module vestibules via hatches. 

Could this type of technology be used on high speed rail to solve the rubber seal option? 

Well it looks like this post is becoming more than what I was able to discuss.  I feel I need to elaborate in a second part to really address the ideas I have.  </center>

<h2>My agreements with @rharphelle and @alexs1320</h2>  

<center>In @rharphelle's post: [THE HYPERLOOP?; HOW?](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@rharphelle/the-hyperloop-how) the question of how passengers would depart in an emergency was asked.  This is a very good question and my only response to this would be that at every pump station, emergency hatches could be build but then what happens when a malfunction occurs between pump stations....I would like to hear your response to this.</center>

<center>Also, @alexs1320 goes in to a very detailed explanation in his post [Finding the Problems for the Existing Solutions - Hyperloop](https://steemit.com/steemstem/@alexs1320/finding-the-problems-for-the-existing-solutions-hyperloop) about travel time and how it figures in to the effectiveness of the hyperloop system.  Whats amazing about his post is that he utilizes Southern California as an example due to the massive transit delays and traffic we experience. </center>

<center>I would like to explore my ideas as to why the hyperloop system may experience hurdles but I will have to save that for another day. Thank you for reading this and please engage in thoughtful conversation. 

</center>

Sources Used:

[Official Virgin Hyperloop One](https://hyperloop-one.com/)
[Popular Mechanics](https://www.popularmechanics.com/)
[Waterworld Magazine](http://www.waterworld.com/index.html)
[Effects of Low Earth Orbit on Docking Seal Materials](https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20150000900.pdf)
[The Common Berthing Mechanism (CBM) for International
Space Station](http://spacecraft.ssl.umd.edu/design_lib/ICES01-2435.ISS_CBM.pdf)

</center>
<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmccMJwbF6x7QfgBeyYoTNHALg21yyJ7WuteUq1eAmHudY/mybnner.gif</center>

<center>Animation and cover photo created by @csusbgeochem1 using GIMP.</center>

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