An Advanced Electromagnetic Capsule Pipeline System for ConveyingMinerals and Mine Wastes

摘要

Under the sponsorship of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a project has been completed in 2005, which studied the use of a special pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) system, driven by linear induction motor (LIM), for transporting minerals and/or mine wastes. In this study, the pipeline is a rectangular conduit of 1m x 1m cross section. The capsules are similar to railroad cars running on small rails imbedded in the conduit. A LIM is placed in the entrance region of the conduit to transfer power electromagnetically from the LIM to the capsules. The capsules going through the LIM, propelled by the electromagnetic field generated by the LIM, move faster than the air and hence impart energy into the airflow through the conduit, which in turn pushes the capsules in the conduit forward. When the conduit is long (say longer than 10 km), additional LIMs may be placed along the conduit to serve as booster pumps.