Lighter-than-air aircraft including a closed loop combustion generating system and related methods for powering the same

Abstract

A lighter-than-air aircraft includes a gas envelope for containing a buoyant gas, and a propulsion system is carried by the gas envelope. A solar panel is carried by the gas envelope for powering the propulsion system when generating sufficient power. A closed loop combustion generating system is also carried by the gas envelope for powering the propulsion system when the solar panel is not generating sufficient power. The fuel for the closed loop combustion generator is regenerated by the solar panel from its exhaust when the solar panel is generating sufficient power.

1 - 19 . (canceled)  
   
   
       20 . A method for operating a lighter-than-air aircraft comprising a gas envelope for containing a buoyant gas, a propulsion system carried by the gas envelope, at least one solar panel carried by the gas envelope, and a closed loop combustion generating system carried by the gas envelope, the method comprising: 
 powering the propulsion system using the at least one solar panel when generating sufficient power;    powering the propulsion system using the closed loop combustion generator when the at least one solar panel is not generating sufficient power, and producing exhaust as a result thereof; and    regenerating fuel from the exhaust when the at least one solar panel is generating sufficient power.    
   
   
       21 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the closed loop combustion generating system further comprises a combustion generator for generating the power and producing the exhaust as a result thereof, and a converter for regenerating the fuel from the exhaust.  
   
   
       22 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the closed loop combustion generating system further comprises a condenser for receiving the exhaust from the combustion generator; the method further comprising using the condenser for condensing the exhaust to a liquid before regenerating the fuel.  
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22  wherein the condenser is adjacent the at least one solar panel, with the at least one solar panel functioning as a heat sink during the night.  
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the combustion generator comprises at least one of a turbine generator and a piston generator.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 21  wherein the fuel comprises hydrogen gas and oxygen gas so that the exhaust comprises water; and wherein the converter comprises an electrolyzer for disassociating the hydrogen and oxygen gases from the exhaust.  
   
   
       26 . A method according to  claim 22  further comprising routing a portion of the liquid from the condenser to the combustion generator so that heat being generated by the combustion chamber heats the liquid to a pressurized gas; and wherein the closed loop combustion generating system further comprises a secondary generator being driven by the pressurized gas.  
   
   
       27 . A method according to  claim 20  wherein the closed loop combustion generating system further comprises a fuel cell for generating electricity from the fuel.  
   
   
       28 . A method according to  claim 21  further comprising: 
 using heat from the combustion generator for heating a supplemental liquid to a pressurized gas;    generating power using a supplemental generator being driven by the pressurized gas, and producing exhaust as a result thereof; and    condensing the exhaust from the supplemental generator using a supplemental condenser.    
   
   
       29 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the supplemental liquid comprises at least one of propane and butane.  
   
   
       30 . A method according to  claim 28  wherein the supplemental condenser is adjacent the at least one solar panel, with the at least one solar panel functioning as a heat sink during the night.  
   
   
       31 . A method for operating a lighter-than-air aircraft comprising a gas envelope for containing a buoyant gas, a propulsion system carried by the gas envelope, at least one solar panel carried by the gas envelope, and a closed loop fuel cell system carried by the gas envelope and comprising a fuel cell, a generator and a converter, the method comprising: 
 powering the propulsion system using the at least one solar panel when generating sufficient power;    powering the propulsion system using the closed loop fuel cell system when the at least one solar panel is not generating sufficient power, the powering comprising 
 using the fuel cell for generating power, and producing heat and a first exhaust as a result thereof,  
 heating a supplemental liquid to a pressurized gas with the heat generated by the fuel cell,  
 driving the generator with the pressurized gas for generating power, and producing a second exhaust as a result thereof, and  
 using the converter for converting the first exhaust from the fuel cell into fuel based upon power input from the at least one solar panel.  
   
   
   
       32 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the supplemental liquid comprises butane.  
   
   
       33 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the supplemental liquid comprises propane.  
   
   
       34 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the closed loop fuel cell system further comprises a condenser for condensing the second exhaust to a liquid.  
   
   
       35 . A method according to  claim 34  wherein the condenser is carried by the gas envelope and is adjacent the at least one solar panel, with the at least one solar panel functioning as a heat sink during the night.  
   
   
       36 . A method according to  claim 31  wherein the fuel received by the closed loop fuel cell comprises hydrogen and oxygen gasses so that the first exhaust comprises water; and wherein the converter comprises an electrolyzer for disassociating the hydrogen and oxygen gases from the water of the first exhaust.  
   
   
       37 . A method according to  claim 31  further comprising generating additional power during a day cycle using the closed loop fuel cell system, the generating comprising: 
 heating the supplemental liquid to a pressurized gas with the heat generated by the at least one solar panel when generating sufficient power;    driving the generator with the pressurized gas for generating additional power, and producing a third exhaust as a result thereof; and    condensing the third exhaust back into the supplemental liquid by ambient air.