Lightning induction method

Abstract

The present invention provides a lightning induction method using a water-propelled rocket 10 using water as a propellant. Water and compressed air are injected into the water-propelled rocket 10 provided with a metal rod 11 at its tip (Step S1), the water-propelled rocket 10 is launched toward a thundercloud (Step S2), and lightning is induced to the metal rod 11 and guided to water ejected by the water-propelled rocket 10 (Step S3).

Description

Lightning attraction method

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method for triggering lightning.

[0002] Lightning strikes can cause significant damage to people and equipment due to the large currents that flow through them, and damage to communication equipment alone is estimated to exceed 100 billion yen per year (see Non-Patent Document 1).

[0003] Lightning strikes occur when an electric charge accumulated in the air is energized the moment a conductive path is formed between the air and the ground. To prevent lightning strikes caused by uncontrolled conductive paths, various methods have been devised to artificially create conductive paths and guide lightning strikes to safe locations. Specifically, methods include launching a rocket connected to a conductor into the sky to induce lightning, irradiating the air with a laser from the ground to create plasma and induce lightning, and spraying conductive water from the ground.

[0004] Takashi Ikeda and seven others, "Proactive Environmental Adaptation Technology for Safe and Secure Social Life Even in Extreme Natural Phenomena," NTT Technical Journal, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, December 2022, Vol. 34, No. 12, pp. 26-29. "Plastic Bottle Rocket Breaks World Record! Flight Distance of 830 Meters," [online], October 13, 2015, Gizmodo, Internet, URL: https: / / www.gizmodo.jp / 2015 / 10 / _830.html

[0005] The method of using rockets to trigger lightning poses the challenge of numerous legal and safety restrictions when the rocket's propellant is explosive. Even when using a non-explosive compact, a mixture of oxidizer and fuel components, as a non-explosive propellant, many materials, such as organic peroxides, require careful handling. Furthermore, the method of using metal wire as a conductor connected to the rocket poses problems regarding the disposal of the metal wire if lightning cannot be triggered, and the disposal of metal vapor when the metal wire evaporates after lightning is triggered.

[0006] The lightning triggering method using a laser requires a large-scale device. Since the lightning is ultimately triggered at a lightning rod, there is little flexibility in the location of use, and it cannot be triggered over long distances.

[0007] The water-splashing lightning method has a maximum height of about 100 m, making it difficult to spray water up to such a high altitude.

[0008] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a method for triggering lightning more simply and safely.

[0009] One aspect of the lightning attraction method disclosed herein is a method using a water-propellant rocket that uses water as a propellant. Water and compressed air are injected into a water-propellant rocket equipped with a metal rod at its tip, and the water-propellant rocket is launched toward a thundercloud, attracting lightning to the metal rod and directing it toward the water ejected by the water-propellant rocket.

[0010] According to the present disclosure, lightning can be triggered more simply and safely.

[0011] Figure 1 shows an example of the configuration of a water propulsion rocket used for attracting lightning. Figure 2 is a flowchart showing an example of the flow of a lightning attracting method. Figure 3 shows what happens when lightning is attracted to a water propulsion rocket. Figure 4 shows what happens when lightning is attracted to a water propulsion rocket.

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] This disclosure describes a method for attracting lightning using a water-propellant rocket. A metal rod is attached to the tip of the rocket, and the rocket is launched toward a thundercloud, attracting lightning to the rocket. The lightning attracted to the rocket is guided by the water jetted from the rocket, minimizing damage caused by lightning strikes.

[0014] A well-known example of a water-propelled rocket is the plastic bottle rocket. A plastic bottle rocket is created by filling a plastic bottle with an appropriate amount of water, injecting compressed air, and momentarily opening the nozzle. The water is pushed out by the compressed air and the resulting recoil launches the rocket. Even commercially available plastic bottle rockets can reach a maximum altitude of 100 meters. A water-propelled rocket made of carbon fiber that can withstand high pressure has a flight distance of 830 meters and a maximum altitude of several hundred meters (Non-Patent Document 2).

[0015] The lightning triggering method disclosed herein can solve all of the issues of handling explosive and non-explosive propellants, processing metal wires, freedom of use location, and reachable height.

[0016] An example of the configuration of a water propulsion rocket 10 used in the lightning-triggering method of this embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 1. The water propulsion rocket 10 shown in the figure includes a metal rod 11, a body 12, a compressed air bottle 13, a water bottle 14, a connector 15, a nozzle 16, and a jet 17. The water propulsion rocket 10 may also be called a lightning-triggered rocket.

[0017] The metal rod 11 is connected to the tip of the body 12 and attracts lightning to the water propulsion rocket 10.

[0018] The main body 12 houses a compressed air bottle 13 and a water bottle 14. The compressed air bottle 13 contains compressed air 200 that serves as the propellant. The water bottle 14 contains water that serves as the propellant. The main body 12 is preferably made of a material that can withstand high pressure. The main body 12 may also be made of a conductor.

[0019] A connector 15 is disposed between the compressed air bottle 13 and the water bottle 14. A nozzle 16 is disposed at the rear end of the body 12, at one end of the water bottle 14. When the water propulsion rocket 10 is launched, the connector 15 and the nozzle 16 are momentarily opened.

[0020] On the outer periphery of the main body 12, blades 17 are attached to maintain the attitude of the water propulsion rocket 10.

[0021] An example of the lightning triggering method of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0022] In step S1, an operator injects water and compressed air into the water-propelled rocket 10. A compressed air bottle 13 filled with compressed air and a water bottle 14 filled with water may be attached to the main body 12. Alternatively, the compressed air bottle 13 and the water bottle 14 may be combined into a single bottle, and air may be injected into the water-filled bottle through the nozzle 16.

[0023] In step S2, the operator places the water propulsion rocket 10 on the launch pad, facing the thundercloud, and opens the connection part 15 and the nozzle 16. This launches the water propulsion rocket 10 toward the thundercloud while spraying water backward.

[0024] In step S3, lightning is attracted to the water propulsion rocket 10 launched into the sky.

[0025] Figure 3 shows the situation when lightning is attracted to the water propulsion rocket 10. The lightning attracted to the metal rod 11 is guided to the water 100 that is jetted out behind the water propulsion rocket 10. The water 100 jetted from the water propulsion rocket 10 does not continue to the ground, but droplets 110 are distributed in the air along the trajectory of the water propulsion rocket 10, so lightning can be guided to the droplets 110, which have low resistance in their trajectory.

[0026] Using saltwater as a propellant increases the thrust and allows the rocket to reach higher altitudes because saltwater has a higher density than water. Saltwater also has a lower electrical resistance than water, making it easier to induce lightning.

[0027] Figure 4 shows an example of a modified water-propelled rocket 10. The modified water-propelled rocket 10 has a thread 18 near the nozzle 16. The thread 18 does not need to be conductive. Because the water sprayed from the nozzle 16 flows along the thread 18, the thread 18 has the same lightning-attracting effect as a conductive wire. The length of the thread 18 does not need to reach the ground. By making the thread 18 long enough, the dispersion of droplets is suppressed, resulting in a high lightning-attracting effect.

[0028] In conventional lightning-triggered rockets, a conductive thread is connected to the rear end of the rocket to attract lightning from the rocket to the ground. The conductive thread contains a conductive material, which increases its specific gravity. In the water-propelled rocket 10 shown in Figure 4, the water jetted from the water-propelled rocket 10 is used as the conductive material, so the material of the thread 18 is free to choose. For example, a lightweight thread such as nylon (specific gravity 1.14) can be used for the thread 18. Furthermore, the use of hollow threads can significantly reduce the weight.

[0029] As explained above, the lightning attraction method of this embodiment is a method using a water propellant rocket 10 that uses water as a propellant. Water and compressed air are injected into the water propellant rocket 10, which has a metal rod 11 at its tip. The water propellant rocket 10 is then launched toward a thundercloud, and lightning is attracted to the metal rod 11 and guided to the water sprayed by the water propellant rocket 10. This allows lightning to be attracted safely with a rocket of simple construction, without using explosives, which are subject to many restrictions, or non-explosive propellants, which require careful handling.

[0030] 10 Water propulsion rocket 11 Metal rod 12 Body 13 Compressed air bottle 14 Water bottle 15 Connection part 16 Jet nozzle 17 Blade 18 Thread

Claims

1. A method of luring lightning using a water-propellant rocket that uses water as a propellant, comprising the steps of injecting water and compressed air into a water-propellant rocket equipped with a metal rod at the tip, launching the water-propellant rocket toward a thundercloud, and luring lightning to the metal rod and then to the water ejected by the water-propellant rocket.

2. A method for attracting lightning according to claim 1, comprising providing a string near the rear end of the water propulsion rocket and directing lightning by running water along the string.

3. A lightning-attracting method according to claim 1 or 2, in which salt water is used as the propellant for the water-propellant rocket.

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