Google has patented height control methods balloons

The search giant has received several patents , describing the methods of management height balloons. Patents will be applied in a certain project called Google Project Loon, which is a group of balloons moving in the stratosphere at an altitude of 20 km. They will be used to provide coverage LTE-bond inaccessible areas.

Patents describe the long-known principle of control height of the balloon - the increase in the volume of gas in the shell of the ball increases the height and vice versa. Only now everything will be offline without direct human intervention and with the help of solar energy generators.

Schematic diagram is as follows:





A ball mounted in the gondola of the pressure vessel (342) for storing hydrogen and solar power generator (327). When ball software decides that the height should be reduced, the gas is pumped into the shell of the storage tank. The ball drops below. Reverse process leads to an increase in its height.

Autonomy in obtaining hydrogen balloon is provided with special fuel cell (344), in which as a result of a chemical reaction produces hydrogen. If desired, it is pumped into the shell of the ball, and the reverse reaction - the interaction of hydrogen and oxygen - will lead to formation of some amounts of water. As a result, the ball becomes harder, and its height will also change.

Even more simple way to change the height of the ball lies in the fact that its shell is painted in different colors, which are differently reflected solar radiation. If there is a need to increase the height of the ball, the software determines the position of the sun and turn it to the shell of the dark side. Solar rays are absorbed, which leads to a change in gas temperature and an increase in its height.

Late last year, a team of engineers Project Loon described the results of their work. One of the main problems - the lifetime of the ball in the hostile environment of the upper atmosphere - has been solved successfully. Now the ball under the code name "Marathon" was "longevity." He was able to hold in the air 134 days, starting in New Zealand and landed in Chile. Also noted satisfactory results and other parameters: speed of the ball and time exposure to low temperature.

Source: geektimes.ru/post/246946/