Cost Analysis of Freight Transport by a LIM-Driven

Pneumatic Capsule Pipeline

Henry Liu, Capsule Pipeline Research Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, U.S.A.

Sanai Kosugi, Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd., Japan

Alan Foster, FORCE Engineering, Ltd., England

Amanda Lee, Department of Civil & environmental Engineering, University of
Missouri-Columbia, U.S.A.

A cost analysis is being conducted for a pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) system driven by linear induction motors (LIMs). The PCP analyzed is a 10 km length steel pipeline having an inner diameter of 1.04 m. The LIM's bore (inner diameter) is 1.0 m, and the length of the LIMs used for the system has a total length of 50 m. Dual pipes are used—one to send the cargo-laden capsules to destination, and the other to return the empty capsules. Five hundred (500) capsules are used in each line. This corresponds to a linefill rate of 20%. The capsule diameter is 0.98 m, the capsule length is 4 m, and each empty capsule weighs about 1500 kg. The capsules move in the pipe at 10 m/s, and their speed in the LIM is 15.53 m/s. Each capsule has two end disks of 0.99 m diameter.

Based on the foregoing design, the capital cost and the annual operation/maintenance costs of the system are evaluated. A life-cycle cost analysis is performed to determine the total life-cycle cost of the system for 30 years. Then the annualized cost is determined and divided by the throughput (capacity) of cargoes transported by this pipeline system. The result gives the unit cost of freight transported by this PCP system in $/tonne/100 km. It is then compared to the unit cost of freight transport by truck and train in the United States. The result shows the cost-competitiveness of future PCP systems based on LIMs as compared to truck and train in the United States.

The study shows how a rigorous analysis can be made to assess the cost competitiveness of any new pipeline or tube/tunnel system for underground freight transport.