h a l f b a k e r yBite me.
add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random
news, help, about, links, report a problem
browse anonymously,
or get an account
and write.
register,
|
|
|
A conventional hot air balloon burner is just a big flame burning up into the interior of the envelope.
There are, however, some disadvantages to this. The combustion is not that efficient, and one of the combustion products - water - is a liquid at ambient temperatures; as it cools, its volume decreases
by orders of magnitude, and as the flight progresses, the envelope is pretty much full of just combustion products.
The answer to this is the new BorgCo Gas condensing high bypass hot air balloon burner. Borrowing technology from domestic hot water/heating systems, the enclosed burner (the enclosure being built of lightweight aerospace-grade materials such as ceramics) heats a separate airstream, driven by a minature gas turbine operating in a venturi tube, which passes through a jacket around the burner to the desired temperature, and cools the exhaust gases to the point that water vapour condenses out. The remaining warm air is also piped into the envelope, and the condensate (actually a strong solution of nitric acid) is simply allowed to dribble out randomly on whatver's under the basket at that moment.
[link]
|
|
We thought you would appreciate that. |
|
|
[+] on its own merits. I have one quibble, though: What's
with the "random" nitric acid dripping? It's unlike you to omit
an aiming mechanism. |
|
|
Even from the modest altitudes at which balloons operate, any sort of aiming of a liquid jet is a practical impossibility due to the effects of air currents. |
|
|
It would be possible to collect condensate in thin plastic bags for subsequent release on an appropriate target, but aiming would be challenging. Using 2 litre soft drink bottles equipped with fins (like a "water rocket") would be a more promising approach. |
|
|
A two liter bottle is quite strong (could be dropped
without breaking) and the plastic
would be melted by the acid. Recommend a glass
bottle of the same shape instead. |
|
|
"Hey, just what you see pal." |
|
| |