Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

[deleted] t1_j8gu64h wrote

Reply to comment by Sodium_Showercurtain in 7 international companies have teamed with the EU to form the International Hyperloop Association, the industry's first trade body. by lughnasadh

Because it's taking the most expensive type of train and putting it in a vacuum tube. The vacuum tube at that scale is impossible.

And on top of that, the real reason it's a scam is that it's being sold as more affordable than regular high speed rail. It's a horrifically expensive thing built inside another horrifically expensive thing that probably can't work and then gets sold as something less expensive than the conventional option.

14

Sodium_Showercurtain t1_j8gynqp wrote

Thanks for the explanation. Like most things, it seems rather obvious once you've had the points laid out!

2

Reddit-runner t1_j8h2j8q wrote

While I also don't think any Hyperloop system can operate on a sensible financial basis, this "this vacuum tube is impossible" claims lack any base in reality.

Physically such a vacuum is absolutely possible.

But you always will get people who fall for the populist claim that the thermal expansion of such a long tube would destroy it/make it impossible.

In pipelines you work around this problem by having Omega-joints. In a Hyperloop this obviously doesn't work. But bellow-joints also exist.

You will find many "Hyperloop destroyed" videos online which colourfully point out the first part, but purposefully let out the second part with the solution.

0

Weltkaiser t1_j8hal4s wrote

Creating such a vacuum is not the issue. But keeping it stable over a long period of time without using vast amounts of energy is impossible. At least as long as materials have certain properties, maintenance is a thing and you apply real world physics. Why do you have to focus on that one metric for you proof btw. there are hundreds of scenarios that make this unviable other than the type of joints you're using.

3

Reddit-runner t1_j8hd4x9 wrote

>Why do you have to focus on that one metric for you proof btw. there are hundreds of scenarios that make this unviable other than the type of joints you're using.

Because as you have pointed out there are real engineering challenges you can talk about.

So why lie about a benign problem that already had a simple solution?

That's what I take issue with.

0

Weltkaiser t1_j8hguoe wrote

That one flaw in some videos you watched doesn't render the entire criticism invalid.

1

ZeenTex t1_j8h535t wrote

Part of the reason for digging up the hyperloop concept is that you can gain many of the advantages at near vacuum instead of full vacuum.

The concept seems feasible and might be commercially viable, and if it is, has the potential to significantly reduce flights within the continent.

It might not work out, or not be feasible yet, but I for one am happy were at least looking into it.

And while many here say instead we need to push high speed rail, we'll, look at the state high speed rail is in. While it may attain high speed, getting from Amsterdam to Italy or even Paris is all but fast.

1