Seminar on

AIRBORNE WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS

Contents

• Introduction
• Characteristics of the Airborne Wind Energy
Resource
• Types of Airborne Wind Energy
Systems(AWES)
• Discussions
• References
Introduction

• Airborne=moved or conveyed by or through

air
• AWE:Capturing of High Altitude Energy in the
air without a tower, thus benefiting from more
mechanical and aerodynamic options.
Characteristics of wind energy

• Wind Energy P  1 V 3 

P=Power =Density of Air
2
V=Velocity of wind
Altitude Vs Wind Speed

i.e At Higher altitude high power

can be generated
Kite-gen Stem NTS Makani Power Altaeros Energy
AMPYX Power Energies Job Energy Sky wind Power
Skysails Power
HAWE SYSTEMS

Ground Generation Fly Generation

Fixed-ground-station systems
 Pumping cycle
The kite’s angle of attack will be changed so it can be
reeled in to its starting position with minimum drag.

flying 8-patterns

Reel-out phase

P=Optimal Power,Vw=Wind Speed

1 G=Equivalent Aerodynamic Efficiency
3 4
P   (VW Cos ) G 2C L A CL=Coefficient of Lift L
2 27 A=Area of Kite G 
D
Control layout GG-AWESs

Control Pod
Rotating Kite

Magenn Air rotor concept

• High drag on top, coupled with the low drag

on the bottom results in Torque
• About half as efficient at extracting power
• At 400 ft wind speed is 3m/s
Moving-ground-station systems
a)Vertical axis generator

(a) Vertical axis generator: ground stations are fixed on the periphery of
the rotorof a verticalaxisgenerator
Moving-ground-station systems
(b)Closedlooprail

(b)Closedlooprail: ground stations are fixed on trolleys that move along a closed
looprail
Moving-ground-station systems
(c)Open loop rail

(c)Open loop rail:ground stations are fixedon trolleys that move along a
open loop rail.
Fly Generation
1)Cross Wind
Principle:Buoyancy and static lift Principle: Rotor thrust

(c)Toroidal lifting aerostat with a wind (d)Static suspension quadrotor in

turbine in the center autorotation design by Sky
design by Altaeros Energies WindPower
Fly Generation

2)Non Cross wind

• Principle:Wings Lift

(a)Plane with four turbines,design by (b)Aircraft composed by a frame of

Makani Power wings and turbines,design by
Joby Energy
Discussion

• Effectof flying mass

Increasing the flying mass decreases the tension
of the cables.
1)Ground-Gen systems rely oncables tension to
generate electricity , a higher mass of the aircraft and/or cables
decreases the energy production
2)Flying-Gen effect has no impact on production
• Take-off and landing challenge
• Optimal altitude
– Depends on Cable LengthP  1  (V Cos ) 3 4 G 2C A
W L
,Elevation angle, 2 27
reduction of cable drag
P=Optimal Power,Vw=Wind Speed
• Angle of attack control G=Equivalent Aerodynamic Efficiency
CL=Coefficient of Lift
– For Aerodyanmic design A=Area of Kite L
G2CL should be max. G
D
Corresponding to the
Angle of attack Fixed
• Cables Material
– Ultra-High-Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)
– High strength-to-weight ratio tether materials

• Aerodynamic drag opportunities

– Reducing drag increases G which increases power

1 3 4
P   (VW Cos ) G 2C L A
2 27
 References
• [1] Airborne Wind Energy Systems: A review of the technologies by
Antonello Cherubini, Andrea Papini, Rocco Vertechy,Marco Fontana a
PERCRO SEES, TeCIP Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, University
of Bologna,Pisa, Italy,2015

• [2] http://kitegen.com/

• [3]http://www.altaerosenergies.com/