China, Japan develop aerotrain running 400-500 km/hour

The aerotrain does not run on traditional fuel resources, such as coal, gas or electricity, and is expected to change the world’s transportation system, according to experts.
(PNA photo)

BEIJING — A high-speed aerotrain that could run 400 km. to 500 km. per hour is being developed by China and Japan in a joint effort, Chinese media Chongqing Morning Post reported.

The aerotrain does not run on traditional fuel resources, such as coal, gas or electricity, and is expected to change the world’s transportation system, according to experts.

Trial manufacturing and test runs of the first and second generation aerotrain have been conducted in Japan, said Lai Chenguang, a professor of Chongqing University of Technology, who participates in the project.

The train will be fully powered by natural energy, reducing costs while improving speed, he noted.

“If the train runs at a speed of 500 km. per hour, the energy it consumes is only one-third of that consumed by current high-speed trains, and one-sixth of the maglev trains,” Lai said.

The new design of an annular spoiler is a major highlight of the aerotrain. Different from the traditional, vertical spoilers which tend to produce unstable airflow, the annular spoiler can increase the lift-drag ratio by 30 to 40 percent, vastly improving the operation stability.

In addition, the load capacity of the train will also be enhanced, thanks to the new design.

Based on aerodynamic studies, the Chongqing University of Technology has furthered the research and has since made the third generation model of the train “LOOP”.

Lai said the zero-pollution train is seemingly impossible to manufacture, but it is actually achievable.