With many things going electric these days, I wonder, is there an electric hot air balloon? One that doesn't use propane tanks to heat the balloon air.
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2$\begingroup$ I can't imagine that working very well. Batteries are heavy, and unlike propane (or similar fuels) the batteries don't get lighter as they discharge. $\endgroup$– manassehkatz-Moving 2 CodidactCommented Jul 9 at 2:04
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5$\begingroup$ It really does seem a terrible idea. I'm all for electric aircraft, but I think the best way to use batteries for a hot air balloon would be to set them on fire... $\endgroup$– Rob McDonaldCommented Jul 9 at 5:09
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$\begingroup$ Electricity is relatively bad for heating things (compared e.g. to engines). OTOH you can use electricity on ground to generate fuels (PtX: Power to Gas/Liquid), which may be good because you can use the excess electricity on some time of most days (so also cheap) $\endgroup$– Giacomo CatenazziCommented Jul 9 at 6:51
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$\begingroup$ It's not completely terrible. Ideas: helium-free tethered balloon, where power lines are easier than gas lines, or where payload power is beamed. $\endgroup$– user71659Commented Jul 12 at 20:24
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2 Answers
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To a limited extent. There are electric fans for inflating hot air ballons, and electric maneuvering engines for balloons.
I haven't heard of anyone heating the air inside a balloon by electric means, although it seems easy enough to use an electric heat cannon for initial balloon inflation while on the ground. But even such cannons often combine propane heat with electric fans.
Using electricity to heat air isn't an environmental priority. Most electricity is produced by burning coal globally (although natural gas and nuclear have overtaken it in the most-developed countries). This heat-electricity-storage-heat conversion has an efficiency of 30%-50%, while burning propane directly, about 90%. The heater would also have to stay on the ground, supplied by AC grid power.
However, there does exist at least one solar-powered balloon. It doesn't use photovoltaics, but rather converts solar energy to heat directly, by being black on one side.
Perhaps one reason for limited innovation in hot air ballons is that a more environmentally sustainable alternative already exists: helium balloons. While helium is also in limited supply, coming as a byproduct of natural gas extraction, most of that helium isn't currently being collected.
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Nope. the energy density of battery technology is way, way less than that of propane. A battery source for heating the air inside a balloon would be far too heavy for the balloon to lift.
answered Jul 9 at 15:41
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$\begingroup$ So much nope that even a (Chinese) patent for such a thing was allowed to quietly expire instead of paying the fee to preserve it. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 9 at 18:30
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$\begingroup$ I don't challenge your claims, but without figures to support them they look like opinions. $\endgroup$– minsCommented Jul 10 at 10:19
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$\begingroup$ The energy density of a mostly empty propane tank is way, way less than the energy density of a full propane tank. A balloon will fly briefly with a mostly empty tank. It will also fly briefly with battery power. $\endgroup$ Commented Jul 11 at 11:49