A general calculation method to specify center-of-buoyancy for the stratospheric airship with multiple gas cells

As the lighter-than-air (LTA) flight vehicle, the stratospheric airship is a desirable platform to provide communication and surveillance services. During the ascent from sea-level to the mission altitude, the volume of the lifting gas may change significantly, which will result in the change of the center-of-buoyancy (CB). A general calculation method is developed to specify CB for the stratospheric airship with a double-ellipsoid hull and an arbitrary number of the gas cells. The cross-section-integral (CSI) method is used as a basic calculation scenario to specify CB. Considering the complexity in determining the boundary between the helium and air in the gas cell, a searching algorithm is put forward and the specification of CB can be conducted by the iterative calculation. As an important application, the stable condition of the pitch angle is analyzed when the change of CB is involved. Under different initial configurations, the stable pitch angle of the stratospheric airship during the ascent is specified and compared, which shows the advantages of the multi-gas-cell configuration. The results of this paper may provide an important reference for the engineering application of the stratospheric airship.     

Ascent trajectory optimization for stratospheric airship with thermal effects

Ascent trajectory optimization with thermal effects is addressed for a stratospheric airship. Basic thermal characteristics of the stratospheric airship are introduced. Besides, the airship’s equations of motion are constructed by including the factors about aerodynamic force, added mass and wind profiles which are developed based on horizontal-wind model. For both minimum-time and minimum-energy flights during ascent, the trajectory optimization problem is described with the path and terminal constraints in different scenarios and then, is converted into a parameter optimization problem by a direct collocation method. Sparse Nonlinear OPTimizer(SNOPT) is employed as a nonlinear programming solver and two scenarios are adopted. The solutions obtained illustrate that the trajectories are greatly affected by the thermal behaviors which prolong the daytime minimum-time flights of about 20.8% compared with that of nighttime in scenario 1 and of about 10.5% in scenario 2. And there is the same trend for minimum-energy flights. For the energy consumption of minimum-time flights, 6% decrease is abstained in scenario 1 and 5% decrease in scenario 2. However, a few energy consumption reduction is achieved for minimum-energy flights. Solar radiation is the principal component and the natural wind also affects the thermal behaviors of stratospheric airship during ascent. The relationship between take-off time and performance of airship during ascent is discussed. it is found that the take-off time at dusk is best choice for stratospheric airship. And in addition, for saving energy, airship prefers to fly downwind.     

平流层飞艇热力学验证温度测量方法研究

平流层飞艇的热力学分析是平流层飞艇关键技术之一。针对热力学分析的工程验证及模型完善,提出了适合于平流层飞艇的艇囊内气体及囊体表面的温度测量方法,包括采集点的分布,传感器的选型,数据传输和处理及数据准确性评价等。经过两次平流层飞艇的缩比飞行试验,对比同艇发放的探空仪采集的温度数据,验证了该方法测量到的数据的准确性。     

综合热力学模型的平流层飞艇上升轨迹优化

针对平流层飞艇的上升轨迹优化问题,综合热力学模型进行了研究.主要分析了飞艇基本热力学行为,研究了蒙皮及内部气体的能量方程并建立了详细的飞艇动力学和运动学模型.在热力学、动力学和运动学分析的基础上,建立了以飞行时间为优化目标的平流层飞艇的轨迹优化模型.利用直接配点法将轨迹优化问题转化为非线性优化问题,再通过非线性求解器SNOPT(Sparse Nonlinear Optimizer)对不同场景的问题进行最优化轨迹求解.优化结果表明:热力学效应对优化轨迹有较大影响,在上升过程中,太阳能辐射为主要影响因素,另外风场也对换热量有一定影响.     

Influence of processing and external storage conditions on the performance of envelope materials for stratospheric airships

Envelope materials are extremely vital for stratospheric airships, which are widely used in numerous applications. The influence of processing as well as the storage and utilization conditions on the performance of envelope materials has been studied systematically for the first time. Results show that the performance of envelope materials depends largely on the hot-pressing temperature and the flexing during processing. The tensile strength of samples dropped to 289.1 ± 8.0 MPa from 346.6 ± 9.3 MPa when pressed at temperature above 180 °C and helium leakage appeared. The outer layers would be worn off when flexed no matter by manual or machine, resulting in dramatic increase of helium permeability and even leakage as well as varying decrease of mechanical properties. Hence, suitable hot-pressing temperature and limitation of flexing as little as possible during processing are essential to obtain products with suitable properties. Besides, the storage and utilization conditions are also critical to the properties of envelope materials. Both naturally aged samples in outdoor storage on ground and samples recovered from actual flight on stratospheric airship exhibited reduced mechanical properties and even helium leakage due to excess solar irradiation, ozone concentration and energetic particles interaction compared with those stored indoors. The weatherability of envelope materials should be further strengthened in the next few years. This research could provide a theoretical guidance for actual practice.     

平流层飞艇总体设计的基础问题

平流层飞艇是一种新型的长航时临近空间飞行器，具有驻空高度高、驻空时间长、承载能力大、使用效费比高等特点，在对地观测及通信中继等领域具有广泛应用前景。但是该飞行器系统十分复杂，技术与设计实现难度大，总体设计需要考虑的基础问题及解决方案尚不完全明晰。根据平流层大气风场、温度和压力的基础特征，考虑平流层环境对平流层飞艇总体设计的影响，根据空气动力学与热力学基本理论，分析平流层飞艇的显著特征及与常规低空飞艇的区别，研究这些基础问题对平流层飞艇总体设计的影响，为平流层飞艇技术发展提供建议和参考。      

A comprehensive numerical model examining the thermal performance of airships

A novel computational model for analyzing the airship’s transient thermal performance under different environmental conditions was developed. Radiative heat transfer and natural convection inside the airship were modeled using the control volume method. The Semi-Implicit Method aiming at the Pressure-Linked Equations algorithm was adopted to solve the control equations. Such approach was able to take into account the solar irradiative heat flux, the infrared radiation at different locations, and the convection both inside and outside the airship. The simulation results, showing the detailed distributions of temperature and velocity on the envelope and inside the airship, were in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The influences of solar position and material radiative properties on temperature distribution, as well as natural convective flow inside airship, were further simulated and discussed.     

Matching trajectory optimization and nonlinear tracking control for HALE

This paper concerns optimal trajectory generation and nonlinear tracking control for stratospheric airship platform of VIA-200. To compensate for the mismatch between the point-mass model of optimal trajectory and the 6-DOF model of the nonlinear tracking problem, a new matching trajectory optimization approach is proposed. The proposed idea reduces the dissimilarity of both problems and reduces the uncertainties in the nonlinear equations of motion for stratospheric airship. In addition, its refined optimal trajectories yield better results under jet stream conditions during flight. The resultant optimal trajectories of VIA-200 are full three-dimensional ascent flight trajectories reflecting the realistic constraints of flight conditions and airship performance with and without a jet stream. Finally, 6-DOF nonlinear equations of motion are derived, including a moving wind field, and the vectorial backstepping approach is applied. The desirable tracking performance is demonstrated that application of the proposed matching optimization method enables the smooth linkage of trajectory optimization to tracking control problems.     

某高空飞艇光学吊舱热状态及飞行策略研究

使用光学遥感设备开展地球大气层临边观测是研究中高层大气目标特性变化规律的重要手段之一.光学遥感设备的热状态对其光学精度及系统信噪比控制至关重要，能够直接影响观测数据质量乃至观测任务的实现.针对中高层大气OH自由基超分辨空间外差光谱仪在高空飞艇平台探测的热状态需求，分析了光谱仪吊舱的热环境，给出了光学吊舱的热平衡控制方程，并对上升/下降段和平飞段先后开展了热状态计算，得到光学吊舱在不同状态下的温度变化规律、光电部件的温度场等计算结果.结果表明热控方案能够满足光谱仪的热状态需求.根据热状态分析计算结果，制定了飞行前后及飞行过程中光学吊舱的热控策略.本文分析方法和飞行策略可为同类飞行设备热控状态设计及研究提供数据参考.      

平流层飞艇太阳能源系统研究

以平流层太阳能飞艇平台为背景,对平流层太阳能飞艇能源系统展开了分析和研究。文中建立了飞艇表面太阳能电池接收太阳直接辐射、散射辐射、反射辐射的模型。利用该模型对某飞艇太阳能电池进行计算,结果显示飞艇接收的太阳辐射能量与飞艇的工作纬度、季节、太阳能电池阵列表面面积、飞行姿态密切相关。当飞艇的脊背从日出到日落时刻正对太阳光线时,太阳能电池接收到的太阳辐射能量将是最大的。     

考虑风场条件的一类平流层飞艇返回过程建模与航迹规划研究

对一类气囊内外压差恒定的平流层软式飞艇,在考虑大气密度、温度变化以及大气风场的基础上,建立了飞艇三维空间运动的动力学模型;并针对能量消耗最少和航行时间最短两个指标函数,利用高斯伪谱法设计了飞艇从平流层返回地面的航迹,并对飞艇飞行高度、速度以及推力等状态变化进行分析研究.     

Venus atmospheric platform options revisited

Various balloon systems intended as scientific platforms to float in the atmosphere of Venus at altitudes between about 35 and 65 km are briefly reviewed. Previous predictions of the altitude oscillations of balloons filled with helium gas and water vapor are largely confirmed through numerical simulation and analysis. The need for refined thermal modelling is emphasised. Several novel technical concepts are introduced. It is concluded that phase change balloons would be more suitable than non-condensing super pressure gas balloons when repeated altitude excursions are a mission requirement.     

Trajectory tracking control for underactuated stratospheric airship

Stratospheric airship is a new kind of aerospace system which has attracted worldwide developing interests for its broad application prospects. Based on the trajectory linearization control (TLC) theory, a novel trajectory tracking control method for an underactuated stratospheric airship is presented in this paper. Firstly, the TLC theory is described sketchily, and the dynamic model of the stratospheric airship is introduced with kinematics and dynamics equations. Then, the trajectory tracking control strategy is deduced in detail. The designed control system possesses a cascaded structure which consists of desired attitude calculation, position control loop and attitude control loop. Two sub-loops are designed for the position and attitude control loops, respectively, including the kinematics control loop and dynamics control loop. Stability analysis shows that the controlled closed-loop system is exponentially stable. Finally, simulation results for the stratospheric airship to track typical trajectories are illustrated to verify effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

平流层上部负离子成分的直接测量和硫酸离子热化学分析

本文报道了在法国南部(44°N)上空进行的两次气球飞行实验的部分负离子成分探测结果.利用自然负离子谱计算了某些硫酸离子的热化学常数ΔG, ΔH和ΔS.讨论了上升段测量中气球表面放气造成的离子化学污染.      

Experimental investigation of transient thermal behavior of an airship under different solar radiation and airflow conditions

Knowledge of the thermal behavior of airships is crucial to the development of airship technology. An experiment apparatus is constructed to investigate the thermal response characteristics of airships, and the transient temperature distributions of both hull and inner gas are obtained under the irradiation of a solar simulator and various airflow conditions. In the course of the research, the transient temperature change of the experimental airship is measured for four airflow speeds of 0 m/s (natural convection), 3.26 m/s, 5.5 m/s and 7.0 m/s, and two incident solar radiation values of 842.4 W/m² and 972.0 W/m². The results show that solar irradiation has significant influence on the airship hull and inner gas temperatures even if the airship stays in a ground airflow environment where the heat transfer is dominated by radiation and convection. The airflow around the airship is conducive to reduce the hull temperature and temperature nonuniformity. Transient thermal response of airships rapidly varies with time under solar radiation conditions and the hull temperature remains approximately constant in ∼5–10 min. Finally, a transient thermal model of airship is developed and the model is validated through comparison with the experimental data.     

一类平流层飞艇质量和惯量特性的计算方法与分析

针对一类具有双拼椭球体外形的平流层飞艇,根据适当假设,给出该类飞艇质量和惯量特性的解析计算方法.以飞艇上升过程为例,通过仿真计算给出该过程飞艇质量、质心位置和转动惯量的变化曲线,结合理论分析,验证该计算方法的合理性.最后,简要分析了质量和惯量特性变化对飞艇运动稳定性和能控性的影响.     

The yaw stability analysis for stratospheric airships in float situation

When a stratospheric airship free floats at pressure altitude, the sideslip angle of the airship is neither random nor against the wind, but is stable on certain values. According to classical potential flow theory, a simplified two-dimensional ellipse and three-dimensional ellipsoid are firstly analyzed respectively, which implied that the airship could present crosswind orientation. The numerical investigations (CFD) on the yaw stability based on a bare hull and a finned airship are employed for verifying the theory conclusion. It is found that the finned airships can remain stable when its sideslip Angle is 55–70°, which is less than 90° of the stable angle of the ellipsoid and bare hull, but statically unstable at low sideslip angles, its static instability is similar to that of dynamic flight. Then the fight data of three stratospheric airships is analyzed. The yaw stability in flight data generally agrees with expectations drawn of theoretical and numerical simulation. These investigations serve to provide references for yaw control and configuration design of airships.     

Station-keeping control for a stratospheric airship platform via fuzzy adaptive backstepping approach

This paper presents a novel approach for station-keeping control of a stratospheric airship platform in the presence of parametric uncertainty and external disturbance. First, conceptual design of the stratospheric airship platform is introduced, including the target mission, configuration, energy sources, propeller and payload. Second, the dynamics model of the airship platform is presented, and the mathematical model of its horizontal motion is derived. Third, a fuzzy adaptive backstepping control approach is proposed to develop the station-keeping control system for the simplified horizontal motion. The backstepping controller is designed assuming that the airship model is accurately known, and a fuzzy adaptive algorithm is used to approximate the uncertainty of the airship model. The stability of the closed-loop control system is proven via the Lyapunov theorem. Finally, simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed control approach.     

基于压差梯度的平流层飞艇艇囊应力计算和仿真

平流层飞艇体积庞大,艇囊表面曲率小,因而蒙皮材料的局部应力集中极易导致飞艇艇囊蒙皮发生过大变形而迅速超压损伤破坏.基于飞艇艇囊内外压力压差梯度载荷条件,建立飞艇艇囊蒙皮受内外压差真实工况下环向与轴向应力的理论计算模型,构建飞艇蒙皮应力分析的Von Mises强度准则.并采用ABAQUS有限元软件非线性仿真艇囊蒙皮分别在超压300,500,800 Pa载荷下的各点环向的Von Mises应力状况.仿真结果与理论模型计算的应力值基本保持一致,飞艇艇囊蒙皮环向Von Mises应力呈现随压差梯度增大而递增的规律,而轴向Von Mises应力大小由环向Von Mises应力、蒙皮局部经纬向曲率共同决定,且两方向的Von Mises应力均与超压载荷大小成正相关关系,为飞艇艇囊蒙皮超压应力评估和强度计算提供基础性研究.