SYSTEM ENERGY IN HIGH SPEED GROUND TRANSPORTATION

The power requirements of the tracked air cushion vehicle and the magnetically levitated vehicle are examined. To provide a quantitative measure and a rational basis for the comparison of energy cost of various systems, a nondimensional parameter, transport efficiency, is introduced. It is defined as the ratio of transport productivity to the corresponding power input of the transportation system. A distinct speed range is found within which the tracked air cushion vehicle would have higher transport efficiency than that of the vehicle system using vehicle-borne superconducing magnets and conducting roadbed. Within the speed range of 250 to 300 mph, the power consumption per unit transport productivity of the two high-speed ground transportation systems analyzed is of the same order of magnitude as that of subsonic jet aircraft cruising at approximately twice the speed. This indicates that there is an upper limit to the economical speed range of ground transportation systems operating in atmospheric pressure, beyond which the power consumption per unit transport productivity would likely be excessive.

• Corporate Authors:

  Planning Transport Associates, Incorporated

  P.O. Box 4824, Duke Station
  Durham, NC  United States  27706
• Authors:
  • WONG, J Y
• Publication Date: 1975

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 307-320
• Serial:
  • High Speed Ground Transportation Journal
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 1

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drag; Economic efficiency; Energy; Energy consumption; Ground transportation; High speed ground transportation; Intelligent transportation systems; Magnetic levitation; Magnetic levitation vehicles; Superconductivity; Tracked air cushion vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Efficiency
• Old TRIS Terms: Advanced systems; Energy intensiveness
• Subject Areas: Economics; Energy; Operations and Traffic Management; Public Transportation; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00095249
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Engineering Index
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1975 12:00AM