Luke, Make Sunsets has tweeted invoking "trade secrets ' in denying simple
requests to quantify how much helium is needed per
" cooling credit".
This lack of transparency cannot stop anyone , policy analysts included
from running the numbers .
Dimensional analysis based on handbook and com
Stephen,
I hope you can share your calculations or experimental data to show the
performance of a valve vented balloon at realistic over pressure.
Risks for hot landings have to be multiplied by the number of flights -
which would surely need to be in the millions to influence global climate
to d
Hi Daniele,
I'm the other co-founder of Make Sunsets, I was the one that wrote that
post. Apologies I misspoke and the tweet has been deleted. We plan on
releasing balloon spec soon. Thank you for your concern, we will do better
next time.
Best regards,
Andrew Song
Co-Founder of Make Sunsets
Andrew
The survival rate for the Hindenburg was much higher than for aircraft fuelled
with kerosene because its lightness means it leaks upwards. Heavy vapours like
propane or butane are very much more dangerous if they sink into cellars or
bilges. The hydrogen flame has a very low emissivity. N
Andrew,I used Hydrogen for 20 years to use for weather balloons. No problem , even when one exploded fir a colleague in a balloon shed ( he has the doors firmly closed and there was a leak , which he knew about). Probably millions of radiosondes were launched with hydrogen. We had a fusion lab whe
Your web site claim that 1 gram of SO2 injected offsets the effect of 1 ton CO2
for a year is fundamentally misleading. Any effect on temperature of injected
particles lasts only as long as the particles are in the stratosphere. If a
one-time injection has a lifetime of 1-2 years that injectio
Large weather balloons don't have much over pressure relative to volume, so
venting is a challenge. Valves and pumps add weight. Hydrogen has ground
handling risks, due to flammability (Hindenberg), and any leaks risk
buoyancy loss and the canopy descending loaded. The most extreme scenario
is that
Hi
I do not understand the bit about bursting. Control of a venting valve protects
the balloon and allows release at the chosen altitude.
Helium is irreplaceable and needed for super cooling. Is there a reason not to
use hydrogen?
Stephen
Emeritus Professor of Engineering Design
School of Engine
