Random thought, mostly because they are cool. Could you use a hot air balloon instead of helium? If its generating that much power surely it can heat the air inside it using just a tiny portion of that.
And because I have been browsing too much non credible defense - if Russia attacks these balloons would cut down their planes.
For an explosion you need a well mixed oxygen + hydrogen atmosphere, which is nearly impossible to create in a blimp. Even the old Hindenburg did not explode, but rather its highly flammable nitro-cellulose skin burned and most of the Hydrogen likely escaped without ever catching fire.
4 Comments
HerbGrower@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 6d
Random thought, mostly because they are cool. Could you use a hot air balloon instead of helium? If its generating that much power surely it can heat the air inside it using just a tiny portion of that.
And because I have been browsing too much non credible defense - if Russia attacks these balloons would cut down their planes.
poVoq@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 6d
Hot air doesn't have very good lift. Better would be to produce hydrogen via electrolysis.
HerbGrower@slrpnk.net · 2 pts · 6d
I assume the explodey problem is why they didn't use hydrogen but yeah if the risk is low enough that could be a good choice.
poVoq@slrpnk.net · 3 pts · 6d
For an explosion you need a well mixed oxygen + hydrogen atmosphere, which is nearly impossible to create in a blimp. Even the old Hindenburg did not explode, but rather its highly flammable nitro-cellulose skin burned and most of the Hydrogen likely escaped without ever catching fire.