A variable-volume aerostat, consisting of a flat gas envelope 102, joined to guide aerostat bodies in the form of airships or balloons 104. The aerostat comprises depth-constraining structures (Fig 2c, 115) which constrain the depth of the flat gas envelope. The aerostat further comprises openings or pipes to enable lifting gas to flow between the aerostat bodies and the interior of the flat gas envelope, such that it can move between a stowed configuration in which the gas is contained within the aerostat bodies and a deployed configuration in which the flat gas envelope is filled. The flat gas envelope may be deployed by rotation of cylindrical guide aerostats, or rollers suspended beneath guide aerostats. In its stowed configuration, the flat gas envelope may be rolled, uninflated and compact. As the aerostat lifting gas expands out of the guide aerostats into the unrolling flat gas envelope. When fully deployed, the flat gas envelope is self-supporting, and has a horizontal surface area up-to 100 times larger than that of the guide aerostats. The aerostat may be used for targeted Solar Radiation management (SRM) or airborne solar power generation.
High-altitude aerostat with large surface area
2023-11-01
Patent
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
IPC: | B64B LIGHTER-THAN-AIR AIRCRAFT , Luftfahrzeuge leichter als Luft |
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