PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AT STRATOSPHERIC ALTITUDES

This paper compares hydrogen production by photovoltaic powered electrolysis of water at sea level and at low stratospheric altitudes up to 21 km. All the hydrogen production process has been considered from catchable solar radiation to storage technologies. The evaluation has been performed for 1 m2 of flat horizontal plane. It has been considered the electric energy amount produced by considering the equilibrium temperature of PV modules and its evolution due to external temperature and solar radiation. Hydrogen production through electrolysis has been evaluated too. Two different methods of hydrogen storage have been evaluated: high pressure compression up to 20 MPa and liquefaction process. The energetic cost of both production processes has been evaluated. The comparison is presented in terms of effective energy deliverable to final users considered in terms of HHV. This evaluation considers also, in the case of liquefaction process the energy which can be recovered by the regasification process

PSICHE: A Stratospheric Platform Producing Hydrogen and Oxygen

In the present study, the feasibility of P.S.I.C.H.E. (Photovoltaic Space Island for Conversion of Hydrogen as Energy vector), a stratospheric platform for hydrogen and oxygen production by photovoltaics, has been investigated theoretically for altitudes between 10 and 20 km form the ground at 45° latitude north. The upper envelope of the airship is equipped with a PV array that covers energy request during the day; surplus in power supplies an electrolyzer for hydrogen and oxygen production from water. Products are compressed and stored. With insufficient solar irradiance and during the night a fuel cell system fed by hydrogen and oxygen tanks supplies power requirements. Typically atmospheric conditions in Po plain were used for evaluation of PV performance at various altitudes. A propulsion system with electric motors grants airship manoeuvrability and hovering. Energy balance of PV-hydrogen energy supply system has been analysed for three airship shapes with equal volume with concern of overabundant hydrogen and oxygen production. Total weight and payload are calculated in relation to altitude. Storage tanks dimensions and products ground transportation frequency has been estimated. Hydrogen yearly production for PV square meter has been valued in relation to ground production at the same latitude

Photovoltaic Space Isle for Conversion in Hydrogen as Energy Vector: the Concept of a Stratospheric Airship for Energy Production, Telecommunications and Territorial Surveillance

A new interest of airships has begun about 15 years ago and it is witnessed by futuristic and fascinating projects. But nowadays it seems that some projects are going to become reality, despite the economic crisis. Specialized aerospace magazines presented the project JHL40 teamed by Boeing with the Canadian company SkyHook. It is a heavy-lift aircraft that combines helicop-ter rotor systems with a neutrally buoyant airship. It is considered the first heavy transport hybrid which is going to be operative. Some high altitude platforms are cur-rently in pre-design phase for civil purposes, essentially telecommunications and digital broadcasting, and military systems such as air defence and surveillance. Due to their heavy operative tasks both transport airships and high altitude platforms need large energy supply for very long enduring mission. A concrete possibility is con-stituted by photovoltaic energy production associated to a fuel cell system for hydrogen and oxygen. It is a closed mass loop cycle based on renewable solar energy, ex-cept a fractional dissipation in the hydrolytic process. It produces hydrogen and oxygen dissociation from water by electrolysis, coupled with a fuel cell system for night-time energy supply fed by O2 and H2 tanks. This paper investigates hydrogen and oxygen production by stratospheric lighter-than-air platform with large hull photovoltaic surface, at operative altitudes above 12 km, which is defined in order to avoid dangerous meteoro-logical phenomena like summer cumulonimbus and clouds shadowing in order to maximize solar energy in-tercepted in a year

An Innovative Lenticular Blimp for Thermal Monitoring and Close Reconnaissance

The project aim is to achieve a lite blimp equipped to scan the spatial dispersion and thermal sources. The articulation of the research program includes the study and implementation of a system for detecting aerothermography. The tests will be carried out on urban land in the city of Reggio Emilia, these operations will make possible the detection of all the basic parameters for the operation of the system, and then to streamline the processes in place. The establishment of action research refers to the need to continue working on an integrated cognitive action by which to operate the crossing, the terms of split detection, evaluation and interpretation of the dynamics of the area and priorities / critical emerging. A second aspect concerns the intention to follow the path of deepening and study of local sustainability indicators

“PHOTOVOLTAIC STRATOSPHERIC ISLE FOR CONVERSION IN HYDROGEN AS ENERGY VECTOR

In a previous work it has been demonstrated that solar radiation intercepted by an unconventional airship is sufficient for all energetic needs for civil uses, namely broadcastingand telecommunications. This article analyses the energetic feasibility of an airship, named PSICHE (acronym for‘photovoltaic stratospheric isle for conversion in hydrogen as energywith high quote and hydrogen and oxygen production are discussed. The advantages of this kindof hydrogen production are presented together with the environmental benefits of the system

EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE ON PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN”, ASME 5TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY

This paper compares hydrogen production by photovoltaic electrolysis of water at sea level and at different altitudes up to 21 km. All the hydrogen production process has been considered from catchable solar radiation to storage technologies. The evaluation has been performed for 1 m2 of flat horizontal plane. It has been considered the electric energy amount produced considering variations in solar radiation and of equilibrium temperature. Two different methods of hydrogen storage have been evaluated: high pressure compression up to 20 MPa and liquefaction process. The energetic cost of both production processes has been evaluated. The comparison is presented in terms of effective energy deliverable to final users considered in terms of HHV. This evaluation considers also, in the case of liquefaction process the energy which can be recovered by the rigasification process

A flying saucer

A control system for controlling horizontal trim of aflying saucer comprises a plurality of horizontal vanes(3), automatically and passively selectively movablebetween a first rest configuration 5 and a perturbedconfiguration, in response to an undesired variation ina flight trim of the flying saucer (1). [FIG. 3