Operational-Driven Optimal-Design of a Hyperloop System

We present an operational-driven optimal-design framework of a Hyperloop system. The novelty of the proposed framework is in the problem formulation that links the operation of a network of Hyperloop capsules, the model of the Hyperloop infrastructure, and the model of the capsule’s propulsion and kinematics. The objective of the optimisation is to minimize the energy consumption of the whole Hyperloop system for different operational strategies. By considering a network of energy-autonomous capsules and various depressurisation control strategies of the Hyperloop infrastructure, the constraints of the optimisation problem represent the capsule’s battery energy storage system response, the capsule’s propulsion system and its kinematic model linked with the model of the depressurisation system of the Hyperloop infrastructure. Depending on the operational scheme and lengths of the trajectories, the proposed framework determines optimal operating pressures of the Hyperloop infrastructure between 1.5 to 8 mars along with the maximum capsules cruising speeds. Furthermore, the proposed framework determines maximum operational power of the capsule’s propulsion system in the range between 1.7 to 5 MW with a minimum energy need of 25 Wh per passenger per km.