Solar panel area estimation and optimization for geostationary stratospheric airships

Abstract

Geostationary stratospheric airships are the systems that will remain airborne for long periods of time and host payloads for purposes such as surveillance, communication, etc. and hence are desired to be powered by renewable source of energy. In this study, an approach is proposed to calculate the incident solar energy on complex airship hull profiles and also to estimate the arrangement and the solar panel area required for a given amount of energy needed by an airship on a per day basis. Further, an optimization technique is also suggested to minimize the area of required solar panels for a given power requirement by maximizing the energy produced per day per unit square meter of the solar panel used. The system is then simulated and the results are discussed in detail for a sample profile of a stratospheric airship. © 2011 the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.