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。      

Modeling and analysis of floating performances of stratospheric semi-rigid airships

In recent years, the study of semi-rigid airship has revived with the development of airships. Semi-rigid airships have some characteristics of rigid airships and non-rigid airships. Due to the flexibility of the envelope of the non-rigid airship, the variation of the temperature of the inner gas will lead to its structure deformation and affect its flight altitude. This paper develops the structural mechanics model, thermodynamic model and dynamic model of the semi-rigid airship, based on which nonlinear finite element analysis is employed for geometrically nonlinear deformation of the airship upper film in consideration of thermodynamics and structural mechanics coupling. Based on the thermal-structural interaction, the thermal characteristics and flight performances of the airship during floating flight are investigated. The 3-D solar radiation and temperature distribution of the airship skin and the temperature variation of the inner gas are presented to investigate the thermal performance of the airship, flight velocity, acceleration and flight altitude are simulated to investigate the flight performance, and the variations of the volume and pressure difference of the inner gas are calculated to provide a basis for structure design. The results of the simulation can be referenced for the design of the semi-rigid airship, and can be used for the further study on the attitude control of the airship during its floating flight.     

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.     

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.     

The radiation controlled balloon (RACOON)

The RACOON concept permits the flight of large, low-cost polyethylene balloons for several weeks at stratospheric altitudes without ballast. The theory of operations is described. The RACOON balloon ascends each morning and descends at night. This movement of 15 to 20 km in altitude provides an ideal platform for vertical soundings and sampling measurements in the stratosphere. Results of a number of globe-circling flights are presented.     

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.     

Effect of vapor condensation on ascending performance of stratospheric airship

This paper reports a numerical investigation on the effects of water vapor condensing inside the air bag of a stratospheric airship on its ascending performance. The kinetic and thermal model considering vapor condensation was established, based on which a computer program was written in Fortran. The simulation results show that the vapor condensation remarkably affects the kinetic and thermal characteristics of the stratospheric airship in the ascent process. During the ascent process below 11 km, a large amount of latent heat is released when the water vapor in the air inside the air bag of the stratospheric airship condenses, which results in the increase of the temperature and the reduction of the weight of the air in the air bag, causing the airship to speed up, the accelerated expansion of the helium, and the decrease of the helium temperature in the helium bag. When the flight altitude is higher than 11 km, the effect of vapor condensation on the kinetic and thermal characteristics of the stratospheric airship is negligible because vapor is virtually nonexistent in the air.     

Diffuse and atmospheric photon fluxes measured with a time of flight telescope

A simple gamma ray telescope based on a time of flight triggering device has been constructed to measure medium energy photons (4–50 MeV). This instrument has been flown twice aboard stratospheric balloons. The results of these flights, used to separate the cosmic diffuse gamma-radiation from the atmospheric flux, using the growth curves, are presented.     

Feasibility study of a sea-anchored stratospheric balloon for long-duration flights

Sea-anchored balloons are stratospheric super-pressure balloons that are anchored to the sea. The sea-anchored balloon is a simple system that has the capability for long-duration flights, fixed-point observations, flexible launch windows, easy telemetry links to ground stations, and quick recoveries. Such balloons are not required to fly through the jet stream while tethered to the ground or sea, because the tether is deployed from a reel on the balloon after reaching a floating altitude. In this study, the feasibility of the sea-anchored balloon is investigated, with particular emphasis on the tether strength, balloon altitude, and system mass, based on the present technological level of the tether’s specific strength. Although the wind distribution with altitude is a dominant factor for feasibility, a sea-anchored balloon with an altitude of about 25 km would be feasible if the velocity of the jet stream is sufficiently low. The sea-anchored balloon can be simply flight-tested, since additional ground facilities and special flight operations are not necessary.     

考虑倍率的平流层飞艇储能电池建模与分析

准确掌握储能电池的实际电量是确保平流层飞艇实现长航时飞行的关键因素之一。首先，建立了平流层飞艇能源系统仿真模型，对能量输入和消耗进行动态分析。随后，对储能电池进行不同电流倍率的充放电测试，采用多项式拟合的方法，根据测试数据建立了储能电池充放电过程中荷电状态(SOC)、剩余放电时间(RDT)、剩余充电时间(RCT)的分析模型。最后，结合能源系统能量输入、消耗模型和储能电池模型进行飞行模拟仿真，获取各部分变化数据，与已有试验数据进行量化对比分析。结果表明:所构建储能电池模型在SOC、RDT、RCT的计算误差分别小于3%、1.5%、1.5%，能够准确反映电池工作过程中SOC、RDT、RCT的变化，可为平流层飞艇平台制定优化的飞行策略提供量化支撑。      

Transient thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons at float conditions

The prediction of the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons under varying environmental conditions is one of the key issues in the design and flight test of balloons. In this paper, a three-dimensional transient thermal model is developed to predict the thermal behavior of spherical stratospheric balloons. The diurnal variations of the skin and lifting gas temperatures at float conditions are discussed in detail. The further studies on the thermal behavior of stratospheric balloons are presented also.     

气象因素对飞机进近飞行燃油效率的影响

气象因素对航空飞行意义重大。为了考察航空飞行的燃油效率,基于飞机性能数据库（BADA）模型,考虑气象因素,建立飞机燃油消耗的修正模型。以广州白云国际机场某进港航班为例,开展飞机进近飞行仿真试验,从燃油流量和燃油消耗量2个维度分别讨论气温、气压、风速变化对飞机燃油效率的影响。结果表明:气象因素与飞机燃油效率存在明显的相关性。当飞机飞行高度一定时,气温升高,燃油流量和燃油消耗量增大,燃油效率降低;气压增强,燃油流量无明显变化,燃油消耗量略有降低,燃油效率升高;风速增加,燃油流量和燃油消耗量先减小后增大,燃油效率先升后降,风速为4 m/s时燃油效率最高。当飞机飞行高度下降时,气温和气压升高,风速下降,燃油流量小幅度波动上升,燃油效率降低。最佳气象条件下,一次进近飞行能减少约3%的燃油消耗。研究结果对提高实际飞行的燃油效率有一定的参考意义。      

Properties of tandem balloons connected by extendable suspension wires

The tandem balloon system has been known as a candidate system for long duration flight balloons. In this paper, the properties of the system are analytically studied in a new way by introducing an extendable suspension wire in the Sky Anchor configuration, which consists of a zero-pressure main balloon suspending a payload and a super-pressure balloon suspended below the payload. It was found that extension of the suspension wire between the payload and the super-pressure balloon can extend the capability of the tandem system; the altitude of the zero-pressure balloon can be changed without any consumables except some energy, and the day–night oscillation of the balloon altitude can be suppressed. This property is useful as the vehicle for long duration flights. It is also pointed out that the method to control the altitude of a balloon using an additional suspended super-pressure balloon can also be applied for super-pressure balloons.     

Development overview of the revised NASA Ultra Long Duration Balloon

The desire for longer duration stratospheric flights at constant float altitudes for heavy payloads has been the focus of the development of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Ultra Long Duration Balloon (ULDB) effort. Recent efforts have focused on ground testing and analysis to understand the previously observed issue of balloon deployment. A revised approach to the pumpkin balloon design has been tested through ground testing of model balloons and through two test flights. The design approach does not require foreshortening, and will significantly reduce the balloon handling during manufacture reducing the chances of inducing damage to the envelope. Successful ground testing of model balloons lead to the fabrication and test flight of a ∼176,000 m³ (∼6.2 MCF – Million Cubic Foot) balloon. Pre-flight analytical predictions predicted that the proposed flight balloon design to be stable and should fully deploy. This paper provides an overview of this first test flight of the revised Ultra Long Duration Balloon design which was a short domestic test flight from Ft. Sumner, NM, USA. This balloon fully deployed, but developed a leak under pressurization. After an extensive investigation to the cause of the leak, a second test flight balloon was fabricated. This ∼176,000 m³ (∼6.2 MCF) balloon was flown from Kiruna, Sweden in June of 2006. Flight results for both test flights, including flight performance are presented.     

基于交通状态的离场航班动态协同排序方法

为适应协同决策(CDM)需要，考虑空管、航司和机场三方的诉求，对拥挤和非拥挤场景下的离场航班动态协同排序问题进行了系统研究。通过分析离场航班运行特性，利用离场航班的计划撤轮档时间(SOBT)和预计撤轮档时间(EOBT)数据设计了一种离场航班动态排序方法；针对各方构建了离场航班排序的多个优化目标，且为保证排序公平性，提出了航空公司延误公平性评价指标，将非受控离场航班优先级分为3类，对各类非受控离场航班设置其可接受的最大延误时间和最大位置偏移量，创建了基于交通状态的离场航班协同排序模型；采用带精英策略的快速非支配排序遗传算法(NSGA-Ⅱ)寻求离场航班动态协同排序的最优解。仿真结果表明:较先到先服务(FCFS)方法，所提方法在2种场景下各排序时段均增加多种排序方案，离场航班总延误均减少50%以上，且在非拥挤场景下提高了航空公司延误公平性。所提方法可对离场航班进行优化排序，显著减少航班延误，有效提升公平性，契合协同决策理念，可实现三方协同排序。      

An alternate approach to very long duration ballooning in the northern hemisphere

A plan to achieve balloon flights of 2 or more weeks in the northern hemisphere is outlined. The results of 21 separate simulations of this flight plan are presented and discussed. The simulations are based on rocketsonde wind observations which were compiled to arrive at a continuous time/altitude depiction of the wind regime over the flight path. Simulated flight durations vary from 3 to 31 days and exhibit a wide variety of trajectory types.     

分子筛供氧爆炸减压过程的数值模拟

 建立了爆炸减压时肺泡氧分压随时间变化的房室数学模型,对于分子筛供氧情况下爆炸减压过程进行了数值模拟,模拟结果和实测结果能够很好的符合.分析了飞行高度及供氧浓度对过程的影响.此模型为求解爆炸减压时肺泡氧分压降到临界值的时间提供了一种简单的方法,对高空飞行医务监督和应急供氧装备的设计有实际意义.