Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

onezero.medium.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

61–70 of 198 posts

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#61

Post by dr_dshiv »

perilunar wrote: post #60
dr_dshiv wrote: post #46

Airplanes fly high and have tiny porthole windows. You can't appreciate the beauty of the earth. Zeppelins can have huge windows and fly relatively low. The experience of flight would be amazing -- focused on the beauty of the natural world. Zeppelins offer a low-carbon earth-conscious luxury good that the superrich should spend money on -- so that eventually it's affordable to the rest of us.

> Zeppelins can have huge windows and fly relatively low Also they are constrained by weight, not volume, so there's plenty of legroom. The Hindenburg had private cabins, a lounge, a bar, and a dining room (and a smoking room!). More like a cruise ship than an airliner.

Here is a picture:

https://images.app.goo.gl/7Q7T2DLDjwU3xk367

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#62

Post by moneytide1 »

kiba wrote: post #23
melling wrote: 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.

Airships have a use case for bulk cargo, so it will displace some trucks.

Makes sense to use slower, low energy freight instead of deliverin cargo ASAP only for it to sit idle in warehouses afterwards. All that speed with the emission penalty is wasteful as the article describes.

Barges are cheap and slow too but going down river and letting consistent currents do the heavy lifting with a certain regimented cargo means haste becomes irrelevant. Going against the current (or wind) then generates the energy penalty, especially with returning freight.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#63

Post by john_moscow »

huntertwo wrote: post #30
john_moscow wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On the contrary, the rational way of solving a complex problem that cannot be addressed entirely is to break it down into smaller ones, estimate their individual cost/impact/risk and start with the most cost-effective options. In fact, people who actively shame others for eating meat, having vacations, and raising kids, are doing exactly that. Except, instead of optimizing the ecological impact, they optimize their o…

Nah dude if everybody started using paper straws we would make a significant dent in plastic waste and oil production.

Well, then design a decent paper straw, figure out production/sales/logistics and sell it to me at a cost that won't make a huge difference, since I don't care whether I spent $5 or $15 per year on straws. And if you say it's not realistic, than pick a realistic goal and start working on it.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#64

Post by etaioinshrdlu »

galaxyLogic wrote: post #55
etaioinshrdlu wrote: post #50

I got a dumb idea. Permanently stationed blimps around the world that never land. And cable cars for moving between them, on pulleys. Pros: Energy efficient: no need to generate lift. No need for fans to move the cars as you are on pulleys, which are more efficient. Minimal noise! You could go as fast as you want but your efficiency will start to drop due to drag. It can't be any worse an idea than a hyperloop can it…

Wouldn't that be like a train? Maybe cheaper. A long cable would weigh a lot?

Yes kind of like a train but without disrupting the land below so much. Maybe much faster to install too.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#65

Post by etaioinshrdlu »

Mountain_Skies wrote: post #57
etaioinshrdlu wrote: post #50

I got a dumb idea. Permanently stationed blimps around the world that never land. And cable cars for moving between them, on pulleys. Pros: Energy efficient: no need to generate lift. No need for fans to move the cars as you are on pulleys, which are more efficient. Minimal noise! You could go as fast as you want but your efficiency will start to drop due to drag. It can't be any worse an idea than a hyperloop can it…

Hyperloop tubes held aloft by blimps!

Awesome idea!!!

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#66

Post by etaioinshrdlu »

haspoken wrote: post #56
etaioinshrdlu wrote: post #50

I got a dumb idea. Permanently stationed blimps around the world that never land. And cable cars for moving between them, on pulleys. Pros: Energy efficient: no need to generate lift. No need for fans to move the cars as you are on pulleys, which are more efficient. Minimal noise! You could go as fast as you want but your efficiency will start to drop due to drag. It can't be any worse an idea than a hyperloop can it…

Sounds like they would need to keep the same position. Would that be practical for such a large, light ship that can not avoid the weather?

Yes... They may have to be grounded occasionally during extreme weather.

But they can be tethered to the ground and use the tether for power for maneuvering with electric props.

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#67

Post by wnevets »

VonGuard wrote: post #36

This article doesn't seem to take into account that Helium is becoming scarce, and when used in airships, it's eventually just released and lost forever. NYT Article on the shortage: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/16/science/helium-shortage-p... We used to have a strategic Helium reserve in the US for zepplins and so forth, then it was just kept for chemistry and other purposes. I think we started selling it down un…

According to Sam Burton of The Federal Helium Program [1], we have at-least 100 years worth of Helium in Wyoming with the current supply and demand. This is before taking into account new sources.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOy8Xjaa_o8 [1]

Re: Some scientists are serious about resurrecting zeppelins for cargo

#68

Post by dang »

crazygringo wrote: post #39

The article's headline seems misleading: the article is actually about cargo, not traditional travel -- since airships are so slow. But I don't see what needs this would meet -- either you need something to be shipped between continents quick (~overnight) so you use a plane, or you don't so you use a container ship. This seems like it has neither the speed advantage of a plane, nor anything close to the size and scal…

Title updated to say cargo. Thanks!
Post reply on HN