hyperloop thoughtsfrank certainly expressed his thoughts on the use of the Hyperloop technology for long distance transport of chromite ore. He sees the green benefit of above ground and burried corridor. he expressed the economic benefits as well.
I feel his excitement was in the possibility to use it to transport ore from underground to surface - basicly replacing the skips and hoists.
It would still need to have some way of accessing the underground by both men and machines - Perhaps the Hyperloop would simply replace the skips in their compartments of the shaft. The following is a guide to what weight is moved.
Mining is tough work, and it requires careful and decisive logistics to move a great number of personnel, materials, and equipment to properly facilitate operations. The Mining Weekly website published a feature on how mine skips made from aluminum can be indispensable to operations. The article outlined why aluminum is the best choice, and even highlights how the skips are vital for mining:
Underground mining represents a complicated transport environment. Far fewer people are involved at the face than are involved in getting the ore to surface, and payload efficiency is therefore an important contributor to profitability, Dr Tony Paterson of the Aluminium Federation of South Africa (Afsa) reports. According to Paterson, mining skips are required to carry the ore to the surface. “Generally, these have a capacity of around 26 tons and a dead mass of about ten tons. To lift this to the surface, a wire rope of some 120 tons is required, so about 146 tons is lifted to gain 26 tons,” he explains. Paterson says the winder capacity is a restriction, but a trade-off between skip mass and payload is possible. “While the skip overall dimensions are normally restricted by specific shaft steelwork, additional payload could be carried in length or the height,” he adds.
The article stressed the crucial role that mine skip payload efficiency plays in making a mining operation profitable. Unearthed metals and minerals need to be quickly and safely brought to the surface so that they can be processed right away. More importantly, these precious materials need to be delivered for processing on time to meet production schedules and fulfill customer demand. To that end, mine skips suited to specific mining operations must be implemented in order to expedite the transportation of such materials.
In the old days, mine skips referred exclusively to carts that ran inside mines on rails, allowing workers to easily pile minerals and debris on the vehicles for quick transfers to the face of the mine. Today, skips are found running along vertical mine shafts. These modern mechanized ore skips are more akin to elevators as they enable material to be the easy transported up and out of underground mines.
Mining operators and managers are encouraged to carefully choose their skips and purchase according to current loads and projected demands. Equipment from reputable manufacturers like Wabi Iron & Steel Corp. can help to ensure efficient mining operations with minimal downtime.
(Source: Aluminium mining skips are being used underground, Mining Weekly)
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This web site lets one see the configuration (shape) of the skips.
Hyperloop gets it push from the difference in air pressure on the two ends of the container being moved.
Therefore i do not see hyperloop being used to LIFT ore from the underground up a vertical shaft. It might be possible - here are some thoughts - one does not know the difference in pressure in a hyperloop mining system - if a complete vaccuum on one side the lift would be about 11 ton sper square meter. The skips in the picture on page 4 the link above looks to be a bit more than the man for scale beside it . Lets give it 2 meters wide and long ( it is laying down ) so the push would be on about a 4Msquare surface area. Since a perfect vacuum would lift in this case about 44 short tons. This level of vacuum NOT happening.
Sticking with the " general level of lifting tonage" 26 tons out of best possible still gives a 60% vacuum - I do not know what level of air removal and megalev lift combination would be needed to directly lift ore up a shaft and stay competative - even be better than what is now used, Certainly when considering the 120 ton rope moving 146 tons to get 26 tons Should be able to be improved by getting a vacuum boost.
No I think the idea is to use a ramp concept to contain the hyperloop from the bottom of the mine to surface . Megalev lift the capsule and reduce the air friction in front of movement to bring the ore to surface and if wanted keep it moving to its destination . efficiency would suggest loops at each end of long "tracks' to store pods before using the same pipe at night to return them for reloading the following day.
Getting Ore to surface via hyperloop could be more cheaply done. It would be a giant leap. It would also be in the relm of the short "proven technology" that exists now.
jerry