The Allender Personal On-demand Transportation Network is based on the design concepts for a pneumatic capsule pipeline (PCP) or pneumatic tube transport (PTT). Per Wikipedia, the history of the system goes back to 1836, but I became aware of the concept as a child at the JC Penney store many years ago.

 

The system has historically been used for small item delivery such as mail, money, and lab specimens. No US installations of large diameter systems exist, but have been studied.

 

I obtained my PCP concept introduction and the math modeling information from:

“An Electromagnetic Pneumatic Capsule System for Conveying Minerals and Mine Wastes”

Final Report

Henry Liu and Charles W. Lenau Freight Pipeline Company 2601 Maguire Blvd. Columbia, Missouri 65201

March 1, 2005

DOE Award No.: DE-FG26-03NT41928 Project Duration: 09/30/03 – 12/31/04

 

Appendix I is particularly helpful.

 

A second document by Mr. Liu:

“Feasibility of Underground Pneumatic Freight Transport in New York City”

Final Report

Prepared for The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Albany, NY

Prepared by Henry Liu, Ph.D., P.E. Freight Pipeline Company Columbia, Missouri

 

I had hoped to contract Henry Liu at Freight Pipeline, but the company website states that Mr. Liu passed away in 2009 and the company no longer pursues the PCP concept.

 

Mr. Liu's late work was on using linear induction motors (LIM) rather than blowers in a pipeline for freight and ore transportation. One of his stated reasons for going to LIM was the problem blowers presented in integrating them into the system. In all systems to date, the blowers were standard industrial blowers installed near the tube with the air piped to an end of the pipeline. The pipeline length is limited to the distance the fan can service, and certainly complicates the design process for a more complex system.

 

The Allender network fan design allows pods to pass through; thereby, eliminating the restraints that a standard blower presents, and the proposed simple network concept allows unlimited access to the entire system, and have a small right-of-way footprint.