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Solar Stirling High Altitude Airship |
Category: Safety and Security |
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Laurens Rademakers
Leuven, BE
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Page Views: 340
Votes: 12
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Entered: 08/12/2008
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The
future
brings
us
an
innovative
solar-electric
airship
that
can
stay
aloft
for
long
periods
of
time
in
the
stratosphere.
The
invention
can
be
used
to
perform
a
myriad
of
tasks,
such
as
monitoring
borders
and
battlefields,
establishing
wireless
communications
networks
or
environmental
monitoring.
The
high
altitude
airship
is
based
on
a
synergy
of
existing
technologies:
-stirling
engines
are
highly
efficient;
the
higher
the
temperature
difference
between
the
engine's
hot
and
cold
part,
the
higher
its
efficiency.
This
basic
rule
forms
the
core
of
the
airship's
energy
system.
At
high
altitudes
(15
to
25km),
the
atmosphere's
average
temperature
is
between
-60
and
-40
°C.
-the
stirling
engines
receive
heat
from
a
solar
concentrating
dish.
Because
the
airship
resides
at
high
altitudes,
above
clouds,
the
dish
can
capture
sunlight
constantly
throughout
the
day.
-the
dish
stirling
units
are
coupled
to
a
solar
tracker,
allowing
for
the
most
optimal
capture
of
solar
energy.
-the
solar
energy
is
converted
either
into
electricity
for
storage
in
a
battery,
or
retained
as
heat
stored
in
a
thermal
battery,
ready
for
later
use.
-this
way,
the
airship
can
be
powered
at
night.
-the
dish
and
the
stirling
engine
are
housed
in
a
large,
transparent
shell
made
from
a
light-weight
material.
The
shell
is
filled
with
a
lifting
gas.
-the
entire
airship
is
(slightly)
heavier
than
air,
but
vector
thrust
allows
it
to
lift
off
vertically.
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Meet the Entrant, Laurens Rademakers
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Profession: Engineer/Designer |
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Number of times entering contest previously: 0
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Design Tools:
Image rendering software
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Software used:
Blender
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Laurens's favorite design tool:
Blender - it's open source, very easy to use, and renders heavy images and animations fast.
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Laurens's hobbies and activities:
Designing and inventing concepts that border on fantasy.
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What role does Laurens believe product design plays in creating a better future?
Well designed products often go beyond mere practical applications. They can carry a symbolic message and a meaning that prompts people to change their behavior.
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Hardware used for design:
Dell
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