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Facts About Pneumatic Capsule Pipeline

What is PCP (Pneumatic Capsule Pipeline)?

PCP is the transportation of freight by capsules (wheeled vehicles) moving in a pipeline. The motion of the capsules is driven by air or another gas moving through the pipe. PCP is similar to the pneumatic tube systems used at drive-in banks for transporting cash and documents between the customer and the teller, except that in the case of PCP the transportation distance is much longer, the capsules and the pipe are much larger, and the capsules have wheels.

Why do capsules in PCP have wheels?

Because wheels roll and have low friction, they enable the use of large capsules to transport heavy cargoes.

What are the typical size, length and speed of PCP?

The size, length and speed of PCP depend on applications. It can be as small as one foot in diameter and only half a mile long for transporting mail or machine parts between two buildings, or as large as 6 feet in diameter and hundreds of miles long for intercity and interstate freight shipment.

Has PCP been used successfully before?

Yes, for about 50 years in the beginning of this century, five cities in the United States (Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis) used PCP to transport U.S. mail and parcels between each city's main post office and its branch offices. The system was used very successfully for about 50 years until the pipes and equipment became so old that they had to be abandoned. They were then replaced with trucks which were new technology at the time. Major cities in Europe such as London and Paris had even more extensive PCP systems for mail and telegraphs. Some of them are still in use today.

How do modern PCP systems compare with the old PCP or tube transport systems?

The modern PCP systems are much better because they are based on modern pipeline technology and high tech such as fiber optics and automatic control by computers.

Is the United States the world's leader in PCP technology?

No. The current world leader in PCP technology is Japan which has developed and used PCP systems successfully. For example, in Kuzuu City, Japan, a 1-meter (3.28 ft) diameter PCP is being used for transporting limestone from a quarry to a cement plant owned by the Sumitomo Company. This 2-mile-long pipeline is buried underground beneath an abandoned railroad track. It has been used very successfully since 1983. The Sumitomo Metal Industries, Ltd. is currently marketing new PCP systems in Japan and around the world.

What is University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC) doing about PCP?

UMC has a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded research center - the Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC). This is the only capsule pipeline research enter in the United States. One of the capsule pipeline technologies being studied at this Center is PCP. The Center's research in PCP is focused on improving the capability and lowering the cost of PCP for transporting freight. The PCP system is being studied for improvement by using an electromagnetic propulsion system called linear induction motor (LIM). It is expected that LIM can greatly improve the PCP system capability and lower the cost for transporting freight by PCP. The University of Missouri owns a U.S. patent on capsule pipeline systems based on LIM.

What are the advantages of using PCP for freight transport?

Use of PCP reduces the reliance on trucks for freight transportation. With fewer trucks on highways and streets, traffic congestion, accidents and air and noise pollution will all be lessened. Because PCP technology uses underground pipelines powered by electricity, it does not contribute to highway congestion, is very safe, and is non-polluting. Furthermore, PCP is far more reliable than trucks, uses less energy, is weather-proof, theft-proof and strike-proof. It also gets cargoes to destinations sooner than trucks. It can be used for transporting hundreds of cargoes that are ordinarily carried by trucks, such as mail, grain, vegetables, packaged products, bottled milk, boxes of cans, etc. Therefore, use of PCP in the future for intercity transportation of freight has vast implications for the nation and the world.

Do government officials and the public realize the potential of PCP and other capsule pipeline technologies?

Generally not. Even the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is rather ignorant (or silent?) about PCP. Even though DOT has commissioned more than one paper study of PCP which all pointed out PCP's great potential, DOT has done nothing to publicize the findings of these studies, nor to sponsor any research in PCP or other pipeline technologies. Consequently, the public is generally unaware of the new PCP technology, and years have been wasted in not doing any research in PCP.

Is there current research in PCP, and if so, where is it being conducted and who are the sponsors?

Recently, some universities in the United States, including the University of Missouri-Columbia, have started some research in PCP. The research at Missouri is conducted at the Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC) which receives funding from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the State of Missouri (Department of Economic Development), and an industry consortium. The PCP research at Missouri is funded by Sumitomo Metal Industries in Japan, and a small grant from the Mid-America Transportation Center. The research at Minnesota is sponsored by the Minnesota Transportation Department, and the study at Massachusetts Institute of Technology is sponsored by the Florida Phosphate Research Institute.

Why is the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) ignoring or neglecting research in PCP?

One reason state by some DOT officials is that in the United States, pipelines are owned and operated by private entities. The government's role has been limited to oversight and regulating pipelines, rather than promoting their use. However, this cannot be the sole or even a good reason because the U.S. government, including both DOT and DOE, has sponsored much research to improve trucks and railroads which are also privately owned and operated. For instance, even today many million dollars are being spent each year by DOE to improve the fuel efficiency of trucks, and by DOT to study "intelligent vehicles."

A more possible reason for DOT neglect in freight pipeline research is the strong lobbying efforts by the trucking industry and the railroad industry. They do not want competition from pipelines. Furthermore, there is no pipeline advocates within DOT. The only pipeline office in DOT has the limited mission on pipeline safety. It is mainly regulatory in nature; it does not promote pipelines. This is in sharp contrast to the missions of Federal Highway Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, or Federal Railway Administration, all of which have strong research programs and thousands of advocates within DOT. It will take an act of Congress in order to change the current situation that stifles the development of new pipeline technology, especially PCP. Government needs to be involved in PCP and other pipeline technologies because they serve enormous public interest.

Is there encouraging signs that things are heading for the better for PCP?

Yes, in 1996, the American Society of Civil Engineers held a conference on Pipeline Research Needs in Leesburg, Virginia. One of the need areas identified was freight pipelines - mainly PCP and other capsule pipelines. This is stated in the conference proceedings. In 1997, the Engineering Council of the United Kingdom also published a visionary document entitled "2020 Vision." The report strongly recommends increased use of pipelines, especially PCP, to solve UK's transportation problems. Also in 1997, the National Science and Technology Council under the U.S. President issued a report, Transportation Science and Technology Strategy. For the first time in history, capsule pipelines are mentioned in a high-level government report as a means to improve the nation's freight transportation.

It is believed that with these encouraging new developments, and with capsule pipeline research being sponsored by NSF and a few other agencies, public will become aware of and interested in PCP, and DOT will take a final lead in this area in the future.