Alexander Bolonkin

Utilization of Wind Energy at High Altitude

Ground based, wind energy extraction systems have reached their maximum capability. The limitations of current designs are: wind instability, high cost of installations, and small power output of a single unit. The wind energy industry needs of revolutionary ideas to increase the capabilities of wind installations. This article suggests a revolutionary innovation which produces a dramatic increase in power per unit and is independent of prevailing weather and at a lower cost per unit of energy extracted. The main innovation consists of large free -flying air rotors positioned at high altitude for power and air stream stability, and an energy cable transmission system between the air rotor and a ground based electric generator. The air rotor system flies at high altitude up to 14 km. A stability and control is provided and systems enable the changing of altitude. This article includes six examples having a high unit power output (up to 100 MW). The proposed examples provide the follo wing main advantages: 1. Large power production capacity per unit – up to 5,000 -10,000 times more than conventional ground -based rotor designs; 2. The rotor operates at high altitude of 1 -14 km, where the wind flow is strong and steady; 3. Installation cost per unit energy is low. 4. The installation is environmentally friendly (no propeller noise). Keyword: wind energy, cable energy transmission, utilization of wind energy at high altitude, air rotor, windmills, Bolonkin.

Optimal Solid Space Tower

Theory and computations are provided for building of optimal (minimum weight) solid space towers (mast) up to one hundred kilometers in height. These towers can be used for tourism; scientific observation of space, observation of the Earth’s surface, weather and upper atmosphere experiment, and for radio, television, and communication transmissions. These towers can also be used to launch spaceships and Earth satellites. These macroprojects are not expensive. They require strong hard material (steel). Towers can be built using present technology. Towers can be used (for tourism, communication, etc.) during the construction process and provide self-financing for further construction. The tower design does not require human work at high altitudes; the tower is separated into sections; all construction can be done at the Earth’s surface. The transport system for a tower consists of a small engine (used only for friction compensation) located at the Earth’s surface. Problems involving security, control, repair, and stability of the proposed towers are addressed in other cited publications.

Electrostatic Solar Wind Propulsion System

A revolutionary method of space flights in outer space is suggested by the author. Presented is research that shows that an open high charged (100 MV/m) ball of a small diameter (4-10 m) made from thin film collects a solar wing (protons) from a large area (hundreds of sq. kilometers). The offered propulsion system creates some Newtons of a thrust, and accelerates 100 kg space probe up 60-100 km/sec in 100-800 days. The 100 kg space apparatus offers flights to Mars orbit of ~70 days, to Jupiter ~150 days, to Saturn ~ 250 days, Uren ~ 450 days, Neptune ~ 650 days, and to Pluto ~ 850 days. The author has computed thrust (drag), mass of charged ball, the energy needed for initial charging of ball and discusses the ball discharging in space environment. He also reviews mistakes found in article on these topics. Computations are made for space probes having useful mass 100 kg. ----------------*The work was accepted as paper AIAA-2005-4653 by 41 Propulsion Conference, 10-13 July, 2005, Tucson, Arizona, USA.

Antarctica : a southern hemisphere wind power station?

The International Polar Year commences in 2007. We offer a macro-project plan to generate a large amount of electricity on the continent of Antarctica by using sail-like wind dams incorporating air turbines. Electricity can be used to make exploration and exploitation efforts easier on Antarctica. We offer the technical specifications for the Fabric Aerial Dam and indicate some of the geographical facts underpinning our macro-engineering proposal.

A New Method of Atmospheric Reentry for Space Shuttles

In recent years, industry has produced high-temperature fiber and whiskers. The author examined the atmospheric reentry of the USA Space Shuttles and proposed the use of high temperature tolerant parachute for atmospheric air braking. Though it is not large, a light parachute decreases Shuttle speed from 8 km/s to 1 km/s and Shuttle heat flow by 3 - 4 times. The parachute surface is opened with backside so that it can emit the heat radiation efficiently to Earth-atmosphere. The temperature of parachute is about 1000 - 1300 C. The carbon fiber is able to keep its functionality up to a temperature of 1500 - 2000 C. There is no conceivable problem to manufacture the parachute from carbon fiber. The proposed new method of braking may be applied to the old Space Shuttles as well as to newer spacecraft designs.

Optimal trajectories of air and space vehicles

The author developed a theory of optimal trajectories for air vehicles with variable wing area and conventional wings. He applied a new theory of singular optimal solutions and obtained the optimal flight in many cases. At first glance, the results may seem strange however, this is correct and this paper will show how this new theory may be used. The main idea of the research is in using the vehicles kinetic energy for increasing the range of missiles and projectiles. The author shows that the range of a ballistic warhead can be increased 3‐4 times if an optimal wing is added to the ballistic warhead, especially a wing with variable area. If increased range is not needed, the warhead mass can be increased. The range of big gun shells can also be increased 3‐9 times. The range of aircraft may be improved 3‐15 percent and more. The results can be used for the design of aircraft, missiles, flying bombs and shells of big guns.

Wireless Transfer of Electricity in Outer Space

Author offers conclusions from his research of a revolutionary new idea - transferring electric energy in the hard vacuum of outer space wirelessly, using a plasma power cord as an electric cable (wire). He shows that a certain minimal electric currency creates a compressed force that supports the plasma cable in the compacted form. A large energy can be transferred hundreds of millions of kilometers by this method. The required mass of the plasma cable is only hundreds of grams. He computed the macroprojects: transference of hundreds kilowatts of energy to Earth Space Station, transferring energy to the Moon or back, transferring energy to a spaceship at distance 100 million of kilometers, the transfer energy to Mars when one is located at opposed side of the distant Sun, transfer colossal energy from one of Earths continents to another continent (for example, between Europe-USA) wirelessly-using Earth ionosphere as cable, using Earth as gigantic storage of electric energy, using the plasma ring as huge MagSail for moving of spaceships. He also demonstrates that electric currency in a plasma cord can accelerate or brake spacecraft and space apparatus.

Electrostatic linear engine

Purpose – To suggest a new revolutionary electrostatic linear engine.Design/methodology/approach – Methods of the electrostatic physic are used for research.Findings – Theory of this engine is developed and its possibilities researched.Research limitations/implications – This engine gives a big thrust (up 4 × 105 N/m2), uses a high voltage electricity and light wires.Practical implications – This engine can be used as a linear engine (accelerator), as a strong space launcher, as a high speed delivery system for space elevator, Earth‐Moon cable transport space, for an electrostatic levitation train, as a conventional high voltage rotating engine, as an electrostatic electric generator weapon (high speed gun), and so on. Theory of engine applications was developed and it shows powerful possibilities in space, transport and military industries. The projects are computed and show the good potential of the offered new concept.Originality/value – Succeeds in proposing a new revolutionary electrostatic linear en...

Beam space propulsion

Purpose – The authors aim is to offer a revolutionary method – the non‐rocket transfer of energy and thrust into Space with distances of millions of kilometers.Design/methodology/approach – The author develops the theory and makes the computations.Findings – The method is more efficient than transmission of energy by high‐frequency waves.Practical implications – The method may be used for space launch and for acceleration of spaceships and probes to very high speeds, up to relativistic speed by current technology.Originality/value – The research presented contains prospective projects which illustrate the possibilities of the suggested method.

AB levitator and electricity storage

Purpose – This paper aims to suggest a new revolutionary method and installation for flight on Earth and into outer space.Design/methodology/approach – Methods of electromagnetic physics are used for research and the theory of levitation vehicles is developed and its possibilities researched.Findings – It was found that levitation devices and electricity storage make a jump in aviation, space, storage and transfer energy and many branches of industry.Practical implications – Many projects were calculated using different versions of the offered AB engine: a small device for levitation‐flight of a human (including flight from Earth to outer space), fly VTOL car (track), big VTOL aircraft, suspended low‐altitude stationary satellite, powerful Space Shuttle‐like booster for travel to the Moon and Mars without spending energy (spent energy is replenished in braking when the ship returns from another planet to its point of origin), using AB‐devices in military, in sea‐going ships (submarines), in energy industr...