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Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

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Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#2
If they used H2 (vs He) for buoyancy they could make (liquefied) H2 fuel very cost efficient: When you want to come down you are high up and it is cold! Perfect time to liquefy!

Making H2 gas is also subsidized on the production end, as Airship travel is cheaper than any other method, so making H2 has that cost advantage.

Safety is not an issue for transport. Human travel has that tradeoff though over He.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#4
All air travel combined emits 2.5% of our yearly CO2 emissions.

That’s hundreds of thousands of flights a day.

We could just eliminate all coal electric plants in the world and make a real impact. Then use that cleaner energy to power our electric cars.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#5

If they used H2 (vs He) for buoyancy they could make (liquefied) H2 fuel very cost efficient: When you want to come down you are high up and it is cold! Perfect time to liquefy! Making H2 gas is also subsidized on the production end, as Airship travel is cheaper than any other method, so making H2 has that cost advantage. Safety is not an issue for transport. Human travel has that tradeoff though over He.

> Safety is not an issue for transport.

It's less of an issue. You still don't want a burning hydrogen zeppelin crashing down on a populated area, and unless you've fully automated it you'll still have human crew aboard (though they'll be better trained and equipped to deal with problems).

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#6
post #3

Why wouldn’t people think this is a serious idea?? We can make far safer zeppelins with current technology even if we use H2 gas. And when you’re using it for something mundane like cargo instead of human recreational activity it’s a no brainer.

It would seem like it has the same issue as nuclear power, where the problem really is public perception not the science underlying it

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#7
Better idea ultra high speed megascale nuclear powered cruise ships that never dock. They pull in 1 km from port and use deckside drones to transport tens of thousands of passengers safely on shore in different places all at once or as needed. Speed should reach at least 150mph. And with nuclear power become the domina t coastal form of circuit/belt transport. Not just people but cargo. Nuclear powered merchant marine should have happened. One day it will.

Problem with zepllins is the skin will never be robust...because the bigger and faster the zepplins go the thicker the skin must be and the more difficult self healin smart skin systems will be to invent iterate and operate.

Forget c02 and global warming. Think about simple economics. Next generation systems must be an order of magnitude more efficient in delivering a passenger to his ultimate goal or to any goal. That doesnt always mean only energy efficiency and operation and fuel price per passenger mile but these are strong factors in the equation.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#8
post #3

Why wouldn’t people think this is a serious idea?? We can make far safer zeppelins with current technology even if we use H2 gas. And when you’re using it for something mundane like cargo instead of human recreational activity it’s a no brainer.

Wind shear.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#9
post #4

All air travel combined emits 2.5% of our yearly CO2 emissions. That’s hundreds of thousands of flights a day. We could just eliminate all coal electric plants in the world and make a real impact. Then use that cleaner energy to power our electric cars.

Eliminating the majority of generation does not enable the electric vehicle market.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#10
post #4

All air travel combined emits 2.5% of our yearly CO2 emissions. That’s hundreds of thousands of flights a day. We could just eliminate all coal electric plants in the world and make a real impact. Then use that cleaner energy to power our electric cars.

Except we're not demi-Gods, able to decide what to do at will with the entire planet. Pursuing some serious efforts in one area can't be turned down simply because there's something else that could be done in another area.
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