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Freight Pipeline Company

The Company of the Future

Changing the world in the following ways:

Current Projects (updated August 2004)

Feasibility of Underground Pneumatic Freight Transport in New York City, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Agreement No.7643 (4/1/03-8/1/04).

This project investigates the feasibility of using pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) for underground freight transport in New York City (NYC). Six different applications of advanced PCP systems in NYC were considered including: (1) temporary PCPs for transporting materials in and out tunnels during tunnel construction, (2) a dedicated PCP for transporting municipal solid wastes from nine transfer stations in NYC to a large landfill in a neighboring state, (3) a dedicated PCP for transporting mail and parcels from (to) five locations in NYC to (from) Washington D.C. and the cities in between along the East Coast, (4) a network of underground PCP tunnels of 7 ft diameter in NYC to transport any freight that is normally transported on pallets, or in crates, boxes or bags, (5) a special PCP to dispatch containers from (to) the ports of NYC to (from) an inland inspection/intermodal-transfer station in New Jersey, and (6) a special PCP to ferry trucks from (to) the food center of Hunts Point to (from) a nearby highway interchange.

Of the six potential applications studied, the first five were found to be far more cost-effective than using trucks, which is the current means of freight transport in 97% of cases in NYC. The study found that in adding to reducing freight transportation cost in NYC, the use of PCPs will greatly benefit the City in other ways as well including reducing traffic jam on the City's streets and highways, reducing air pollution and accidents caused by trucks, improving New Yorkers' quality of life, and enhancing economic development.

For more information about the project, please read the ASCE article and/or the project final report in the section "Company Publications". (Note: Please feel free to download the article and the report for detailed reading.)

An Electromagnetic Pneumo Capsule System for Conveying Minerals, sponsored by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), U. S. Department of Energy (DOE), Grant No. DE-PS26_03NT41757-1 (9/1/03-11/30/04).

The purpose of this project is to conduct research to design and develop a new advanced pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) system for transporting minerals and mine wastes. The system is to be driven by linear induction motors (LIMs), and it uses capsules that run on guided rails inside the pipe (conduit) of 1 m by 1 m cross-section. The system is expected to be a major improvement over the current PCP systems, which use blowers instead of LIMs, and use capsule wheels with rubber tires rolling freely inside the pipe. The use of LIMs instead of blowers enables capsules to pass through the entire pipe system from inlet to outlet unimpeded, thereby greatly enhancing throughput and system capability. The use of capsules with steel wheels running on rails greatly reduces contact friction, thereby drastically reducing energy consumption of the system. It also facilitates control of the motion of capsules at pipeline branches, inlet and outlet. The study is expected to result in the development of a revolutionized advanced PCP system for use in mining. Use of such a system in mining in the future will result in large cost savings and reduced energy consumption to mining companies. It also helps the environment by reducing the use of trucks for transporting minerals and mine wastes. The scope of work of the project includes: (1) deriving all the equations needed for the design and operation of this special PCP system driven by LIMs, (2) using the derived equations to design several systems of the advanced PCP for analysis and optimization, (3) analyzing the system performance under various conditions in order to determine system characteristics and to optimize the design of the system, (4) calculating the energy efficiency of the optimized systems, and (5) determining the costs and the cost effectiveness of the optimized systems of PCP, and comparing the results with the costs of using trucks and railroads to transport minerals and mine wastes.

For more information on the project, please read the final report of this project which will appear on this website in January 2005.

Compacting Fly Ash to Make Bricks, sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF), Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase-1 project, Grant No. NSF-DMI-0419311 (7/1/04-12/31/04).

Fly ash is a byproduct of burning coal for power generation. It exists in large quantity at the nation's coal fired power plants. So far, only about 30% of fly ash generated in the United States is utilized; the remaining 70% is wasted and enters landfills or slurry ponds. Previous research has found that by mixing Class-C Fly ash with a small amount of water, the mixture can be compacted into bricks which, upon curing at room temperature, become as strong as concrete bricks. The fly ash bricks also have good water absorption property and low permeability. However, they are weak in freezing/thawing property, causing the bricks to deteriorate prematurely when used outdoor in cold climates. The purpose of this NSF grant is to improve the freezing/thawing properties of the compacted fly ash bricks, so that such bricks can be used economically anywhere in the United States.

In this project, the freezing/thawing property of the flyash bricks will be improved by five different approaches: (1) adding a small amount of fiber to the flyash before compaction, (2) adding some cement or lime to the flyash before compaction, (3) using a special sealants to coat the bricks, (4) using improved flyash-to-water ratios and better mixing of fly ash with water, and (5) using an improved mold design that can make better bricks. The effectiveness of using each of these approaches to improve the freezing/thawing property of the flyash bricks are being tested and assessed in this study, together with a determination of the cost-effectiveness of each of the approaches.

Due to the simplicity of the process in producing such fly ash bricks and the low cost of the raw materials (fly ash and water) - it is expected that the fly bricks can be produced at a cost significantly less than that of either the concrete brick or the vitrified clay brick. Therefore, once the freezing-thawing property of the fly ash brick is significantly improved, the brick is expected to have a large market and a bright future.

Company Personnel

President & CEO: Henry Liu
Business Manager and Treasurer: Susie Liu
Chief Engineer: Charles W. Lenau
Senior Engineer: Shankha Banerji
Senior Engineer: William Burkett

Qualifications

Henry Liu has a Ph. D. from Colorado State University, specializing in fluid mechanics. He is the founder, President and CEO of FPC. He started FPC in 2001 after retiring from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) where he was a chaired professor and the Director of Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC). Dr. Liu served in leadership positions on several national and international organizations such as: Chairman of the Aerodynamics Committee, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Chairman of Pipeline Research Committee (ASCE), and President of the International Freight Pipeline Society (IFPS). He received numerous honors including Aerospace Science and Technology Applications Award (ASCE), Bechtel Pipeline Engineering Award (ASCE), Distinguished Lecture Award (IFPS), Missouri Energy Innovation Award, and three University of Missouri faculty awards. He is the inventor or co-inventor of five capsule pipeline related patents, and has published more than 100 technical papers and a Prentice Hall book: Wind Engineering. He is a Professional Engineer registered in Missouri.

Susie Liu has a M.S. Degree in Accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). She worked for the State of Missouri (State Auditor's Office and Department of Social Services) and the University of Missouri for over ten years before starting her own business practice as a self-employed CPA. She also has taught College classes in accounting.

Charles W. Lenau is the Chief Engineer of FPC. He has a Ph. D. from Stanford University, and is a Professional Engineer (P.E.) registered in Missouri. Dr. Lenau served as Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia before retiring from the University in 2000. Dr. Lenau is an expert in fluid mechanics and hydraulics. He has been publishing extensively in the fields of hydraulic transient, unsteady flow in pipe, open channel flow, and potential flow. He designed and supervised the construction of an automated coal log pipeline pilot plant. It is a state-of-the-art major experimental pipeline facility described and pictured in the CLP Fact Sheet on this Website.

Shankha Banerji is Senior Engineer of FPC. He has a Ph. D from the University of Illinois-Urbana, and is a Professional Engineer (PE) registered in Missouri. He was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois-Urbana, an Assistant Professor at the University of Delaware, an Associate & Project Manager at Kidde Consultants Inc., and a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). He retried from MU in 2000. Dr. Banerji's expertise is in environmental engineering--water treatment, wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and hazardous waste management. He has taught many courses in these areas, both at the graduate and undergraduate levels. He has served key positions in professional organizations such as: Chairman of the Task Committee on Final Clarifiers for Activated Sludge Process, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), Associate Editor of the Environmental Engineering Journal (ASCE), and a member of the Advisory Committee for EPA Regions VII and VIII Hazardous Substance Research Center. Dr. Banerji has published over 100 papers in various journals and conference proceedings.

William J. Burkett is a Senior Engineer of FPC. He has a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Texas-Austin, and M.S. from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Mr. Burkett has extensive R & D and industry experience. He worked for the Monsanto Company for 35 years retiring as a manager-engineer. From 1991-2000, he worked as Senior Researcher of CPRC directing research in the compaction of coal logs and biomass logs, and supervising laboratory facilities. He specializes in chemical engineering, bulk materials handling, and equipment selection/utilization/design.

Business Plan

Freight Pipeline Company (FPC) has developed a business plan to raise approximately $4 million for expanding the company and for carrying out an ambitious crash program of R & D to accelerate the commercial readiness of several capsule pipeline related promising technologies, not only for freight transport but also for high-pressure compaction of solid waste materials in order to turn them into useful products such as clean fuel for power plants and construction materials. The compaction technology is also promising for making high-quility bricks from flyash, and for rendering certain hazardous solid wastes harmless for safe disposal. The technology may be used for cleaning up hazardous waste sites including certain EPA listed Superfund waste sites. Companies and individuals interested in investing in this startup should contact Dr Henry Liu at fpc_liuh@yahoo.com.

Company History

Freight Pipeline Company (FPC) is a new start-up company organized and owned by Dr. Henry Liu who is an inventor, scientist, engineer, educator, researcher, and now a businessman. Dr. Liu started FPC upon early retirement from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) where he was an engineering professor and research center director. While serving as the Director of Capsule Pipeline Research Center at MU, Dr. Liu and his colleagues invented and developed several new technologies in the fields of capsule pipelines, coal log pipeline, and high-pressure compaction of solid waste. In 2000, Dr. Liu took an early retirement from MU to free himself from teaching and other academic duties in order to further develop and commercialize capsule pipeline and coal log pipeline related new technologies.

FPC was incorporated in the state of Missouri on February 8, 2001. Since its incorporation, FPC has submitted several R & D related proposals to seek funding from government and private sources. It is currently preparing a Business Plan to seek capital from selected investors to expand the Company and to accelerate the R & D and the commercialization of these new technologies. Any individual or company interested in investing in FPC can get a copy of the Business Plan by sending FPC an email to: fpc_liuh@yahoo.com.

What Does FPC Do?

Applications of Underground Freight Transportation by Capsule Pipelines

A. Advantages of Capsule Pipelines

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. 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. Because pipelines are built by private companies, there will be no increase in tax to the average citizen for implementing capsule pipelines. It is an invention that will facilitate freight transport in the 21st century.

B. Types of Capsule Pipelines

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. High-value products, such as mail and parcel, can be transported by PCP.

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 municipal solid waste.

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.

C. MU's Contribution and Research in Capsule Pipelines

Led by Dr. Henry Liu, Director of Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC),University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) faculty 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 is Missouri's only NSF Center and the nation's only pipeline research center. Since 1991, CPRC received over six million dollars of funds from various government agencies and private companies. This has resulted in extensive research and development (R&D) in capsule pipelines, bringing all three types of capsule pipeline much closer to commercial use. Currently, an HCP/CLP pilot plant is being constructed on MU's Holstein Farm to demonstrate/test a complete system of HCP/CLP. Upon completion of the pilot plant test program, the technology of CLP and HCP will be headed for commercial use. MU is number one in the world in capsule pipeline research and education, training America's next generation of new pipeline engineers.

D. Contact

For further information or to arrange a tour of MU's capsule pipeline facilities, contact Carla Roberts at Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC) by phone: (573) 882-1810; FAX: (573) 884-4888: E-mail: RobertsC@Missouri.edu; or visit the CPRC website at http://www.missouri.edu/~cprc.

A New Technology to Turning Biomass Waste Materials into an Upgraded Fuel

Biomass waste materials, such as agriculture residues, wood processing residues, waste paper and yard waste, are valuable green power resources. While carbon dioxide is emitted during biomass combustion, an equal amount of carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere during the biomass growth phase. Therefore, use of biomass does not cause global warming. Besides, biomass contains virtually no sulfur, so it emits no sulfur dioxide which is a precursor of acid rain. The use of biomass as energy resource is highly encouraged by the U.S. government.

Biomass waste materials are usually loose and unsuitable for direct use as fuel. It must first be densified. The densified biomass is easy to handle, store, transport, and burn in stove or power plants. However, the high cost of conventional means of densification - pelletizing - prohibits the widespread use of biomass as fuel. The current market price for biomass pellets, which are mainly made of wood residues and used as fuel in domestic pellet stoves, is about $150 per ton! Production cost of such pellets is much above $20 per ton.

However, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), CPRC has developed a high-pressure compaction technology to turn waste materials into dense compacts of cylindrical shapes called "logs." Various types of biomass materials, including wood processing residues, yard waste, switchgrass, waste paper, and many others, were tested and found able to be compacted into high-quality fuel logs with a density of 1.1 gm/cm3 approximately. These densified biomass logs are ideal fuels for household stoves, for co-firing with coal at power plant, and for gasification plants. An economic analysis conducted under DOE sponsorship indicates that the cost for mass production of 5.4-inch-diameter biomass logs is in the range of $5 to $8 per ton. Smaller logs of 1.9-inch diameter cost in the range of $8 to $14 per ton. These cost figures include not only costs and taxes, but also a 15% above-inflation return on investment. Production of biomass logs also uses less energy than producing biomass pellets. The biomass log is a superior form of solid fuel and less costly than biomass pellets. Photos of biomass logs made of lawn-mown grass and paper are shown below [omitted].

Use of a New Technology to Solve Mine-Waste Disposal Problem

The disposal of the fine particles of waste materials generated by mining, such as mine tailings and coal fines, has been a health problem and a threat to the environment. For instance, in October 2000, a coal waste dam in Kentucky collapsed, sending large quantity of gooey coal slurry into a stream, causing serious damage to water quality and aquatic lives. Officials have called it "the worst environmental disaster to hit the region in more than a decade." Another example is the lead mine tailings in Missouri that resulted from many years of lead mining activities. Their threat to health and water quality has been well-known, and they have been included by EPA as Superfund sites for future clean-up. All these problems can be solved or greatly mitigated if a new technology developed by the Capsule Pipeline Research Center (CPRC), University of Missouri-Columbia (MU), is used.

Under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Energy, CPRC has developed a high-pressure compaction technology to turn powdered waste materials resulting from mining and other activities into dense compacts of cylindrical shapes called "logs"-see picture below. The logs are strong and have very low permeability. When disposed in mine pits or placed underground, such logs will not deteriorate and will not leach pollutants. This new technology constitutes the best hope for a permanent solution to the nation's mine waste disposal problem. Depending on the size and production rate of the logs, such waste materials can be compacted into logs at a cost of $3 to $8 per ton.

It is a justifiable cost of mining to pay for protecting public health and the nation's environment. Mining companies and pertinent government agencies may want to consider incorporating this strategy in future mining and Superfund clean-up to reduce the impact of mining and to protect the environment and public health.

Contact (updated August 2004)

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