The future of transport and alternative bio-fuels are explored in the latest design by Belgian architect and designer Vincent Callebaut’s zero emission, self-sufficient algae powered vertical airship.
Dubbed Hydrogenase, the futuristic design utilizes organic algae to power the bio-hydrogen airship.
“Hydrogenase is one of the first projects of bio-mimicry which draws its inspiration from the beauty and the shapes of the nature, but also, and especially, from the qualities of its materials and its self-manufacturing processes,” explains the architect.
This vertical hybrid aircraft is fuelled by algae bio-fuel harvested from the floating organic ocean farms powered by seaweed with a combination of inflatable photovoltaic cells and wind propellers utilized as a supplementary renewable energy source. The algae farm is also an organic purifying station taking in carbon dioxide delivered by ships and processed by the seaweed.
The Hydrogenase hybrid aircraft flies at 2,000m (6560ft.) and can carry up to 200 tons of freight at 175 kph (109mph). Although, seven times slower than an airplane, the energy efficient Hydrogenase is also designed to raise awareness about the benefits and pleasures of slower, more leisurely travel.
Visit: http://www.vincent.callebaut.org/
Via Deezen
I realise now why the shpes of these airships seems so strange in aerodynamic terms. If you check out the web site of the designer you will see he is an architect who normally designs structures not airships. If you want to see more stange funny pictures anf links to both u tube and other airship ideas see www.airship.me
Regards Bond, James Bond ( www.airshipblimp.com )
written by James Bond , May 11, 2010
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I love the pictures and the idea, but I wonder how it will all work on a windy day. Very different aerodynamics to a modern vectored thrust airship like the well proven Skyship 600 series. The biggest blimp to fly recently in 1995 was the Sentinel 1000 from AMS. If you want to try something big and likely to fly, try one of the Skyship series and then just add a new high efficiency diesel electric drive with a layer of thin film solar panels to help during the day.
Regards Bond, James Bond
written by James Bond , May 09, 2010