Balloon lightning rod
The balloon-string system equalizes charge separation in thunderclouds to mitigate lightning strikes and recover electrical energy or produce hydrogen, providing a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional lightning rods.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2024162711
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-10
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-24
AI Technical Summary
Existing lightning protection systems, such as lightning rods, do not effectively mitigate lightning strikes and fail to harness the energy generated by lightning, while also posing risks to structures and people.
A balloon attached to a string is raised above a thundercloud to equalize charge separation within the cloud, utilizing the string to dissipate static electricity and potentially recover electrical energy or produce hydrogen through small electrical discharges.
The system effectively mitigates lightning strikes by equalizing charge separation and provides a means to harness electrical energy or produce hydrogen, offering a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional lightning rods.
Abstract
Description
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to the mitigation and utilization of lightning energy. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]
[0002] Lightning mitigation. Solutions to the problem.
[0003] The balloon attached to the string is raised to a height above the thundercloud. This reduces the separation of high and low charges within the cloud.
[0004] Lightning is mitigated and energy is obtained.
[0005] The balloon is raised so that the string penetrates from the bottom of the thundercloud to the top of the cloud. The static electricity above and below the cloud is released and reduced by the wet string.
[0006] Unlike lightning rods, which guide the location of lightning strikes, this aims to constantly discharge small amounts of electricity (perhaps it is possible to recover electrical energy or produce hydrogen using small discharges).
[0007] If a substance with a density of 1 is used to create a string of 1mm x 1mm x 10km in height, it will weigh 10kg. 3 (At a location where the air volume is 10 times lower than the normal level, the distance is several hundred meters. 3 It is thought that it can float stably at about 1 / 4 of the original volume (metals are several times larger).
[0008] When the string is wet from rain, its ability to dissipate electricity (its conductivity) becomes much higher than that of air. However, adding metal to the string makes it even more effective. It is also thought that the string can be used to recover electrical energy, and even if it is intermittent, it may be possible to conduct the string through water to produce hydrogen.
[0009] The dominant air current in a cumulonimbus cloud is an updraft caused by radiant heat from the ground. Even if the balloon stops in the cloud due to lack of string, it is believed to still have a certain degree of stability and effectiveness.
[0010] In reality, what exists at the top of cumulonimbus clouds are ice particles, so it is thought that the effect of wetting the threads cannot be expected, but it is still thought to be quite meaningful near the ground, where it is important.
Claims
1. It raises a balloon that penetrates the thundercloud, reducing the static charge.
2. Among the contents of claim 1 above, metal is made to allow electricity to pass through.
3. Among the contents of claim 1 above, those that recover and utilize electrical energy.