The MAAT project (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) aims to investigate aerial transportation possibility by airship based cruiser-feeder system. MAAT is composed by two modules: The cruiser, named PTAH, (acronym of Photovoltaic Transport Aerial High altitude system); the feeder, named ATEN (Aerial Transport Elevator Network feeder), is a VTOL system (Vertical Take Off and Landing) which ensure the connection between the cruiser and the ground. They can lift up and down by the control of buoyancy force and displace horizontally to join to cruiser
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 considering variations in equilibrium temperature and in solar. 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 rigasification process.
MAAT project is a large airship project presented to the last European 7 Framework Program Transport including Aeronautics 2011 deadline. MAAT project is an airship based cruiser-feeder transport system. This paper analyzes the criticalities of the project and the way to upfront these problems which have different natures and possible solutions. Most important criticalities are analyzed both on a methodological point of view and on a direct point of view. Enhanced design methodologies are analyzed in depth to analyze problems, upgrade the project design status continuously and to examine different design options and solutions. An innovative design method has been defined to avoid that problems can produce show stoppers and minimize time delays during project definition
This paper presents a model of energetic consumption and photovoltaic production for a large airship which acts as feeder connecting the ground with a large cruiser. An optimal sizing and operative mission profile definition methodology has been modeled on the basis of energetic consumption during operations and energetic production during its specific mission of ascent and descent, including operations related to its connection with the airport building to the ground and the cruiser at high altitude. Photovoltaic energetic production in terms of hydrogen and electric propulsion is is considered. The evaluation is supported by CFD evaluation on aerodynamic behaviour of the system at various altitudes
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.