How The Boring Company is increasing tunneling speed • Hacker News Board

Re: How The Boring Company is increasing tunneling speed

#11

Post by Traster » Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 11:22 AM UTC

I was kind of shocked to see their illustration was tunnelling under a road. It may have been a misapprehension but I thought they were aiming much longer tunnels. Obviously the fact they think they can deploy much quicker than traditional TBMs means that has a huge impact on total time.

Also, if you tell me you can sell cornflakes cheaper than kelloggs, I don't expect you to deliver me 60% less conflakes. So why is the diameter redution being counted as a way to reduce cost?

Re: How The Boring Company is increasing tunneling speed

#12

Post by L_226 » Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 11:45 AM UTC

Joker_vD wrote: post #10

ricardobeat wrote: post #6

> TBC’s current tunnels are designed and built in preparation for their eventual transition to Hyperloop. One would expect no less... exciting times ahead.

Ah, Hyperloop. Always wondered what they planned to do with the passenger safety. Say, the passenger capsule depressurizes, and the air escapes into the tunnel, that'd be nasty. Or the capsule gets stuck in the middle of the tunnel: now you have to break it out, reseal the tunnel and then remove the air out of it again (its hundred of kilometres long), that sounds pretty expensive and time-consuming. And what if it c…

The same problems are mostly faced by airliners, I imagine that similar solutions will be found for this transport implementation. e.g. - drop down oxygen masks - dedicated evacuation tunnel infrastructure - ergonomic safety rated seat restraints and capsule superstructure

Re: How The Boring Company is increasing tunneling speed

#13

Post by loa_in_ » Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 1:53 PM UTC

Joker_vD wrote: post #10

ricardobeat wrote: post #6

> TBC’s current tunnels are designed and built in preparation for their eventual transition to Hyperloop. One would expect no less... exciting times ahead.

Ah, Hyperloop. Always wondered what they planned to do with the passenger safety. Say, the passenger capsule depressurizes, and the air escapes into the tunnel, that'd be nasty. Or the capsule gets stuck in the middle of the tunnel: now you have to break it out, reseal the tunnel and then remove the air out of it again (its hundred of kilometres long), that sounds pretty expensive and time-consuming. And what if it c…

If you have means to depressurize the tunnel, it's only a peak in operation costs to do it again. Also not unlike airlines, the company provides the vehicle so they can enforce their own requirements

Re: How The Boring Company is increasing tunneling speed

#14

Post by brudgers » Tue, Sep 15, 2020, 7:18 PM UTC

Traster wrote: post #11

I was kind of shocked to see their illustration was tunnelling under a road. It may have been a misapprehension but I thought they were aiming much longer tunnels. Obviously the fact they think they can deploy much quicker than traditional TBMs means that has a huge impact on total time. Also, if you tell me you can sell cornflakes cheaper than kelloggs, I don't expect you to deliver me 60% less conflakes. So why is…

Boring under roads is a big market. Suppose you need to upgrade a water or sewer line but the main runs on the other side of a road. If it's a very minor road made of asphalt, cut and cover is an option. If it's a significant road paved with concrete, boring is usually the only option and it's expensive.

All kinds of services need to cross roads and the need is ubiquitous. The market is somewhat like the power wall for battery technology.