Foodtubes Foodtubes
Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes Foodtubes
Global-Warming, Global-Warming , Global-Warming, Global-Warming. Global-Warming, Global-Warming
FOODTUBES – SPONSORING ORGANISATIONS
A global project to reduce CO2 and
global-warming.
Runner-Up in the
2008 St Andrews Prize for the Environment competition.
Sponsored by
CONOCOPhillips
LIST OF PART ICIPANTS:
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Participant no. * |
Participant organisation name |
Country |
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1 (Coordinator) |
SW2000 Intelligent Transport (SW2000) |
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2 Partner |
ADVANTICA (British Gas) (ADVAN) |
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3 Partner |
STONER SOFTWARE (STON) |
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4 Partner |
Fundacion Universidad-Empresa
de Madrid (FUE) |
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5 Partner |
SES Construction Software Ltd (SWIFT) |
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6 Partner |
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Institute for Industrial Engineering (IAO) With …the Universitiy of |
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7 Partner |
Industrial Research Institute for Automation and Measurements (PIAP) |
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EXPERT
TEAM OF PIPELINE CAPSULE SCIENCE & ENGINEERING |
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8. Subcontractor |
Professor
FW Taylor M.A. D.Phil., F.R.A.S., F.R. Met.S., F.R.S.A. ( |
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9. Subcontractor |
Dr.
Jonathan Carter, |
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10. Subcontractor |
J.T. Zaklad Budowy Gazociagow, which develops pipelines for EUROPOLGAS |
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11 Subcontractor |
Prof. Turkowski, Head of Pipeline Systems studies; Warsaw University of Technology |
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12. Subcontractor |
Professor
Henry Liu, President, Freight Pipeline |
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13. Subcontractor |
P. Brink Weaver, President, Pneutrans Systems Limited |
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14. Subcontractor |
Ms Sarah Hadland, LLB, Director of IPR, Intellectual Property Expert |
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15 Subcontractor |
Mr |
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16 Subcontractor |
Mr Dave Wetzel FRSA FCILT, Transport, Public Finance, Local Government and Sustainable Land Policy Consultant |
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17 Subcontractor |
Mr Don Hughston, Business Development Consultant. |
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THE TEAM
This is a collegiate Team of experts from major industry, universities, research institutes and SMEs (small & medium enterprises). Each member of the Team is an experienced multi-skilled expert with direct relevance to FOODTUBES. All persons will contribute to the main task – namely, of creating the best possible technical specifications for a world-first pipeline-cargo-capsule mass goods-transit system, which saves substantial energy and can be built and operated profitably. Some technical experts also have management / coordination duties. None of any of the participants’ allotted time is surplus to requirements.
PART ICIPATING
INSTITUTIONS
1. ADVANTICA (ADVAN)
FOODTUBES looks to ADVANTICA and STONER to write and create
the computer-simulation-model which will incorporate and demonstrate all the
research conclusions and design from the FOODTUBES Team.
Advantica was originally formed in the early 1970’s, to
operate British Gas’ (BG) extensive R&D and technical programmes, including
the development of the bespoke software used by Transco in network
management. Through the purchase in
2001 of Stoner, a US-based technology company, Advantica’s consulting services
and bespoke software applications were complemented by Stoner’s market-leading
off-the-shelf software products for electricity, natural gas, water and
petroleum industries.Advantica’s solutions improve clients’ knowledge of
network performance and customer behaviour, providing the foundations for
direct improvement of financial performance, operational efficiency, customer
service and regulatory compliance.
Leading energy and water delivery companies are working with Advantica
to implement integrated solutions, allowing them to rapidly determine,
distribute and act on network performance knowledge. Advantica supplies a wide range of
consultancy services to support the planning, design and operation of oil and
gas installations from up-stream through transmission, distribution and product
utilisation. This includes the
application of advanced engineering expertise, hazard and risk management,
integrity management, asset optimisation, legislative compliance, metering and
due diligence.
2. ADVANTICA - STONER SOFTWARE (STON)
Stoner Software are world leaders in pipeline computer
simulation modelling. The organisation is a brand name and division of
ADVANTICA, which is an international pipeline consulting company established by
British Gas.
Stoner Software
Products
SYNERGEE Network
Modelling and Analysis
Model and analyze gas, water and electric distribution
systems. Perform steady state, pressure flow simulation of single-or
multi-pressure level networks.
STONER PIPELINE SIMULATOR
Simulate transient flow of gas and liquid transmission
systems. Manage pipeline scenarios including control system analysis, equipment
performance, pressure flow.
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3. CONTAINER WORLD – FOODTUBES EXPERT
SUBCONTRACTOR - DR. CART ER
A major factor in the proposed FOODTUBES system is the
algorithms that are used to route cargo-capsules from place to place. FOODTUBES
looks to Dr Carter to lead research on this aspect of the design.
CONTAINER WORLD
The Container World Project is a three year research project
funded jointly by the UK Government and some of the major companies involved in
containerised transport. The aim of the project is to improve strategic
modelling of the container transport system both within the
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4. FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT (IAO)
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft undertakes applied research of
direct utility to private and public enterprise and of wide benefit to society.
Our Customers:
Industry
Service sector
Public
administration
Facts and Figures at a Glance:
56 Fraunhofer Institutes in
at 40 different locations
12 500 number of employees
1,2 Mrd € annual research budget totaling
Roughly 2/3 of this sum is generated through contract
research on behalf of industry and publicly funded research projects
Research centers and representative offices:
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is also active on an international
level: Affiliated research centers and representative offices provide contact
with the regions of greatest importance to present and future scientific
progress and economic development.
The FRAUNHOFER - FOODTUBES pipeline research connection.
About 70 per cent of the costs of water consumption have to
be spent on the financing and maintenance of pipelines. The researchers at the
Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research, ISI, Karlsruhe,
reckon with a total investment demand of between 5 and 8 billion € per year
over the next ten years for building, modernising and renovating sewage
treatment plants and sewers. Repair and maintenance expenses are continuously
increasing; pipelines are ageing in many cities and especially in rural areas:
"Water pipes have about the same lifespan as a person, and the older they
get, the more preventive care and maintenance they need", says Prof.
Karl-Ulrich Rudolph from the Institute for Environmental Technology and
Management of the University of Witten/Herdecke
Pipelines /
Freshwater and Sewage Pipes
Approximately 3 millions kilometers of oil and gas pipelines
span the world. Due to the growing energy needs, this length increases annually
by 25 000 km.
Today, the pipelines are mostly made of high-tensile ductile
steel with yield strength 600 to 800 megapascal (MPa). Because of internal
pressure, they can be operated with mechanical stress up to 80 percent of the
specified minimal yield strength. It is expected that pipelines can carry these
loads without any threat to their integrity. However, the pipelines are exposed
to mechanical damaging of the coating, corrosion and corrosion-induced cracks
which may lead to their failure.
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5. FREIGHT PIPELINE COMPANY – FOODTUBES
SUBCONTRACTOR - PROF HENRY LIU
This company and its founder Professor Henry Liu can claim
to be one of the world’s the most experienced practical researcher in the
pipeline capsule field. FOODTUBES looks to them to provide many innovative
solutions to the FOODTUBES designs.
Capsule Pipelines & Underground Freight Transportation
Capsule pipeline is a new pipeline technology that can
transport freight such as coal and other minerals, solid waste including
hazardous waste, grain and other agricultural products, mail and parcels, and
many other products. By using large capsules running through large-diameter
pipes, conduits or tunnels, cargoes on pallets or in boxes, crates and bags or
even in standard size containers can be transported underground by this new
technology.
Advantages of Capsule Pipelines
The pipeline is underground and environmentally friendly,
safe, reliable, energy efficient and weatherproof. Use of such underground
pipelines to transport freight not only reduces freight transportation cost but
also reduces the number of trucks on highways and streets, and freight trains
crisscrossing the nation. Consequently, there will be less traffic congestion
on highways and streets, fewer accidents caused by trucks and freight trains,
and less damage to highway and rail infrastructures and hence reduced
infrastructure maintenance cost. As compared to truck, train, airplane and
boats, underground capsule pipeline is also the most reliable and secure means
of freight transport, very difficult to inflict serious damage by terrorists,
and impossible to be used by terrorists as projectiles or bombs to destroy
other targets as experienced by the World Trade Center tragedy. Finally,
because pipelines are built by private companies, there will be no increase in
tax to the average citizen for implementing capsule pipelines commercially. It
is a new technology that will create new jobs and revolutionize freight
transport in the 21st century.
There are three general types of capsule pipelines:
pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP), hydraulic capsule pipeline (HCP), and coal
log pipeline (CLP).
Pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) uses wheeled capsules
(vehicles) to carry cargoes through a pipeline filled with air. The air is used
to push the capsules through the pipeline. For a PCP of 3-foot diameter, each
capsule can carry about two tons of cargo, traveling at 25 mph approximately.
Because the capsules travel at 25 mph non-stop, they move at approximately the
same daily average speed of trucks in rural areas, and much faster than trucks
in cities. High-value products, such as mail and parcel, can be transported by
PCP. The system is best suited for underground freight transport in large city
– see News in this website about the completion of the feasibility study on
using PCP in
Hydraulic capsule pipeline (HCP) uses unwheeled capsules
(water-tight cylindrical containers) to transport cargoes through a
water-filled pipeline. The water is used to float and push the capsules through
the pipeline. HCP travels at 6 to 10 feet per second in pipe which is much
slower than PCP. However, HCP can transport several times more freight than can
PCP of the same diameter. It also uses less energy than PCP, and is more
economical. Consequently, HCP is more suitable for transporting bulk materials such
as grain and other agricultural products, and minerals.
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Hydraulic Capsule Pipeline tested at |
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Pneumatic capsule pipeline wheeled capsule utilized in |
Coal log pipeline (CLP) is a special type of HCP in which
the capsules are in the form of compacted coal that can be in direct contact
with water and the pipe. Because no containers are needed for CLP, there is no
need for a separate pipeline to return empty containers, as would be required
for HCP and PCP. CLP is the most cost-effective type of capsule pipeline.
However, its use is limited to coal and a few other minerals and solid waste
materials which, like coal, can be compacted into water-resistant and
wear-resistant logs
MU’s Contribution and Research in Capsule Pipelines
During the period 1991-200, Dr. Henry Liu, Director of
Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC),University of Missouri-Columbia (MU)
and his colleagues invented the coal log pipeline (CLP) technology, and also
invented special pumps and injection systems for HCP and PCP, such as an
electromagnetic pump based on the principle of linear induction motor (LIM).
For MU's contribution and accomplishment in capsule pipeline, in 1991 the
National Science Foundation established a research center on capsule
pipelines—the Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC), which was