Why in the News?
Some companies have been working to solve the buoyancy challenge of Airships, a longstanding issue that has hindered their use for cargo transportation.
What are Airships?
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How do Airships work?
- Airships achieve lift by using lighter-than-air gases within their structure, much like helium balloons.
- Early airships used hydrogen due to its lightweight and low cost.
- However, hydrogen is highly flammable, leading to tragic incidents such as the Hindenburg disaster of 1937, which damaged public trust in airships.
- Most airships today use helium, a non-flammable gas that is safer than hydrogen.
- However, helium is scarce and expensive, costing about $35 per cubic meter (enough to lift just 1 kg).
- Challenge with varying Buoyancy:
- Airships require the ability to vary their buoyancy to adjust for weight changes when picking up or dropping off loads.
- Solutions such as releasing and refilling helium are impractical due to helium’s high cost and scarcity.
How Airships are a Promising Solution?
Airships hold potential as low-emission cargo vehicles due to their unique design:
- Airships have a high lift-to-drag ratio, meaning they consume far less fuel than aeroplanes for moving the same load.
- Companies are exploring the use of ballast to regulate airship buoyancy, a method common in hot air balloons and submarines.
- A French company has created a 200-meter “flying crane” airship called LCA60T, which can pick up water as ballast mid-flight, avoiding the need for specialized ground infrastructure.
- With concerns about climate change and the aviation industry’s carbon footprint, airships offer a less polluting alternative. They do not burn fossil fuels to lift, making them an eco-friendly choice.
PYQ:[2017] Examine the development of Airports in India through joint ventures under Public–Private Partnership (PPP) model. What are the challenges faced by the authorities in this regard? |
