3 ms·

I didn't watch the entire 28 minute video, but I did watch the first part and the creator has a misconception that you share. It's key to understand that the Hy

• stephen_g 3y ago
  To anyone who works with vacuum systems, there is no "full vacuum", it's always some level of partial vacuum. The challenges are very similar, just the incredible amount of energy that would be required to pump down and maintain that partial vacuum such a huge volume would be slightly less massive.
  • diebeforei485 3y ago
    I don't think energy for air pumps is anywhere near the biggest problem for Hyperloop. There are other far hairier engineering challenges. That said, the efficiency of pumps is not at all linear with air pressure - 100 Pa is significantly better than near vacuum. The other misconception here is the assumption that the entire length needs to be maintained at 100 Pa. This is not necessary. Having a pressure gradient is fine because it isn't going fast near the terminals anyway.
• himinlomax 3y ago
  For all practical purposes, there's no meaningful difference between a full vacuum and a partial vacuum in this context. For example, the energy stored in the vacuum is nearly the same, so in case of explosive decompression, the partial vacuum will do 99% as much damage as a full vacuum. In other words, the misconception is yours.