Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Inc.

Spencer John Baldwin

Michael Sarin

Alexandre Neophytou

Alexandre Zisa

Implementations are described for maintaining helium/air mixture within a tube in an evacuated tube transportation system. A first implementation includes a set of helium tanks uniformly fitted along the tube length, where helium is injected with controlled valves that open or close to maintain the desired level of helium. An operations control center (OCC) receives helium concentration levels in the tube and instructs a controller in the tube to release helium into the tube when detected levels of helium is lower than the desired level of helium. Another implementation is described where a capsule traversing the tube may have a source of helium gas that can be released into the tube. A hybrid approach is also described where helium can be released from a source within the tube and from another source within the capsule.

Method of using air and helium in low-pressure tube transportation systems

A tubular transportation system is disclosed for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule along a predetermined route. A method and an algorithm are described for determining optimum operating points for power/cost and helium-air ratios in a plurality of substantially evacuated tubes in a tubular transportation system for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargos via a capsule along a predetermined route.

Method and an article of manufacture for determining optimum operating points for power/cost and helium-air ratios in a tubular transportation system

A method is described for maintaining a gaseous composition within a tube (that is part of tubular transportation system for transporting passengers or cargos via a capsule), where the tube is arranged along a predetermined route. The method comprises: (a) pumping the tube to a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure until the tube is substantially evacuated; (b) identifying a predetermined power value; (c) identifying a first percentage, x, of helium based on the predetermined power value identified in (b) and a leak rate associated with the tube; (d) maintaining, within each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes, a gaseous composition a gaseous composition comprising a mixture of a first percentage, x, of helium and a second percentage, (100&#x2212;x), of air.

A tubular transportation system is disclosed for transporting one or more passengers or one or more cargoes via a capsule along a predetermined route. The tubular transportation system has: (1) a plurality of substantially evacuated tubes arranged along the predetermined route, where each tube is maintained at a pressure that is below atmospheric pressure; and (2) means for maintaining within each tube in the plurality of substantially evacuated tubes, a gaseous composition comprising a mixture of a first percentage, x, of helium and a second percentage, (100&#x2212;x), of air, and wherein the first percentage, x, of helium is picked based on a predetermined power value and a leak rate associated with the tube.

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Olympia, WA, United States of America

Spencer John Baldwin