Optimization of Airships with Constructal Design for Efficiency Method 2013-01-2168

It is possible to define a novel optimization method, which aims to overcome the traditional Multidisciplinary Design Optimization. It aims to improve Constructal design method to optimize complex systems such as vehicles.

The proposed method is based on the constructal principle and it is articulated in different stages:

1. 1
   preliminary top-down design process to ensure that the full system has one of the best configurations for the specified goals (contour conditions for constructal optimization could be stated ensuring an effective optimization at full-system level).
2. 2
   constructal optimization of the elemental components of the system to maximize the system performances;
3. 3
   eventually a competitive comparison between different configurations choosing the better one.

The definition of an optimized flying vehicle (an airship) has been produced an example of this improved design method with the objective of minimizing the energy consumption during flight. Following this method, this paper aims defining the guidelines for an effective energetic optimization of an airship. The produced results allow defining a novel airship concept, which optimizes the airship shape to reach three fundamental energetic goals: energy consumption minimization, photovoltaic energy production maximization, definition of the conditions for energetically self-sufficient flight. This paper also demonstrates that the resulting architecture can fit perfectly novel operating conditions such as effective point to point logistic without any airport infrastructure having a potential breakthrough impact on the aerial logistic models and allowing an effective and better integration with any other terrestrial, maritime and aerial transport mode.