Control of high altitude telecommunication balloons via transport phenomena, material and fuell cell

The behavior of the zero pressure balloons has been numerically investigated by balloon dynamics, heat and mass transfer aspects and combined with a velocity control mechanism. The variation of the flight time with the amounts of initial and stored flight gas, total weight of the balloon and its payload is analyzed. The transient temperature variation of the internal gas during floating at 20 000 m altitude is obtained. The effects of the balloon wall thickness on flight time are investigated. It was found that with the velocity control it is possible to reach target altitude faster and extend the flight time considerably.