Wind Energy: A concept of High Altitude of Wind

Turbine

Jatin Savaliya

Institute of Infrastrucutre, Technology, Research And

Management

September 24, 2018

Content

Introduction
Reason for high altitude wind energy
Airborne wind turbine
Ground based power generation
Multiple wing system
Dirigible based rotors
KiteGen (Ground based power generator model)
Makani - on board power generation model
Magenn Air Rotor system -DBR
Materials used for construction of Air Borne Module
Merits and Demerits of HAWT
Comparison between HAWT and C W T
Bibliography

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Introduction

Differential heating of the earth’s surface and atmosphere

induces vertical and horizontal air currents that are affected by
the earth’s rotation and contours of the land which results in
wind.
The earth receives 1.74 × 1017 watts of power (per hour) from
the sun.
About one or 2 percent of this energy is converted to wind
energy.
Windmill captures wind energy and then uses a generator to
convert it to electrical energy.
However,opportunity for ground based wind turbine systems
are becoming constrained due to limitations on turbine.
As a result, technology to harness high altitude wind is being
tested.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Why High Altitude Wind
Energy ?
Power generation through wind is given by:
1
P = ρAν3 (1)
2
Where, ρ = Air density,
A = Area swept by blade of wind turbine,
ν = Wind speed
Above equation shows dependency of power generation on
wind speed.
Power generation increases with cube of wind speed.
Wind tends to blow faster and more constantly at higher
altitude.
Surface topography, feature and shear between circulating
surface reduce wind speed at ground level.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Wind power density at high altitude

Figure: Wind power density averaged over a 20-year time span across
various pressure level heights(Ireland)

Figure suggests with increasing altitude power density goes

increasing. 1
1
Data by: National Centers for Environmental Prediction(NCEP)
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Increasing height of wind
turbines

Figure: Evolution of wind turbine size

Ground based turbines are growing taller and taller to access

better wind resource.
In 1995 the hub height of a 750 kW machine was 50 m. In
2015 the hub height of 6 MW machine had grown to 120m.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Airborne wind turbine

High Altitude Wind Power(HWAP) devices were first proposed

by the concept known as ’Crosswind Kite Power’ using tethered
airplanes to harvest energy.
There are two main techniques on which HWAP works, are (1)
Drag mode and (2) Lift mode
Followings are some of innovative HWAP solutions
1 Ground based power generation
2 Multiple wings system
3 Dirigible based rotors (DBR)

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Ground Based Power
Generation

Operating principal of this device is to drive a ground based

generator using tethered wing that flies in lying eight orbit
taking advantage of high cross wind speed.
At ground station lower portion of tether is wound over drum
which is connected to the generator.
When kite ascends into high altitude, high tension causes
tether to reel out and to rotate the drum which consequently
generate the power.
Tether reeled back onto drum using generator as motor.
Larger the tension difference during reeled out and reeled back
generates net power.
This generation is also known as ’pumping mode’.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Multiple Wing Systems

Multiple wing system uses multiple kites which looks like

ladder of kites.
In pumping mode of laddermill first the first kite is launched
into the air. Ground station unreels the rope while the first kite
pulls the rest of the kites until they are all in the air.
When the kites are considered launched, the ground station
switches into dynamo mode and starts generating electricity.
When the total length of the rope is achieved the kites are
depowered (angle of attack is set to zero lift value), ground
station switches into motor mode and the rope is reeled back in
to the starting length.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Dirigibles Based Rotors

On board power generation approach.

Uses lighter than air gas filled balloon to keep heavy payload
aloft.
It is designed to be fully autonomous from take off, through
operation, to landing onto transportable ground station.
Aerodynamic phenomena known as ’Magnus effect’ is
utilized.This occurs when a D BR device is rotated while
ascending to higher altitudes, which in turn lower the drag
effect of wind.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen (Ground based power generator model)

Figure: KiteGen Model: site of sommariva 2013

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen (Ground based power generator model) cont....

Figure: Simplified view of Kitegen

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen (Ground based power generator model) cont..

Figure: Schematic layout of the KiteGen stem showing main components

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen (Ground based power generator model) cont..

Figure: Schematic layout of the KiteGen stem showing main components

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen - Control
software

predictive control software : accumulate data transmitted by

the various sensors and perform real time simulations of the
wind condition.
Objectives of predictive control :
Maximize performances of energy production
Maintain good condition of mechanical, electrical and
electronic components
Pursuit of optimal trajectory in order to maximize energy
production
Recovery of the kite, "Sideslip".

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
KiteGen - Electrical component and Ultra-
capacitor

Figure: Electrical components

Electrical cables and pipes in igloo structure are used to

transfer generated electricity to ulra-capacitor block.
Ultra-capacitor accumulates the energy (1) to perform
slide-slip function and (2) to reduce of energy output
intermittency.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Makani- On board power generation model

Figure: Makani airborne turbine model, California, USA - 600 kW model

Works on the concept of tethered airfoil with on board power

generation, creating lift and power.
It is a part of GoogleX research family.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Magenn Air Rotor System- DBR

Figure: Magenn air rotor

Components used are:

Cylindrical Balloon
Wind vane stabilizer
Axle
Generator
Aluminum tubes
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
MARS - Lift Mechanism

Lift is created by aerodynamics phenomena known as Magnus

effect which occurs when rotor spins in wind
Inert gas Helium lighter than air filled in cylindrical balloon
provides additional lifting force.

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
MARS -
Working

Figure: Working of MARs

Wind turns the blade which spin a shaft connected to

generator.
Turbine rotates at speed of 30 to 60 rpm which increased by
gearbox and feed to generator.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Materials for High Altitude Wind
Turbine

Table: Material used for construction of HAWT

KiteGe Maka MAR

n
Woven fibers ni s
Air Borne Carbon fiber High modules fibre
Module ex.rip stop nylon, ex- Vectran, Kevlar
rip stop polyester and e - glass
Copper conductor Aluminium conductor
T ether Kevlar, Dyneema with dyneema shrouded in
fibre vectran fibre

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Merits and Demerits of HAWT
Advantages
Disadvantages
Low cost of electrical energy
Very young and developing
for consumers
technology
Noise free operation
Complex technology
Do not produce any
Need of more sophisticated
pollutant or GHG
automatic control
Material saving due to
Require continuous
elimination of heavy tower
monitoring of equipment
It is feasible generate energy
Devices more prone to
closer to power grid
damage.
Ideal for off grid operation or
Helium leakage is concern
where power is not reliable
for D B R system
Bird and bat friendly
Geographical limitation to
Rapid deployment to disaster ensure safety of society and
areas for power to emergency infrastructure.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Comparison of Ground based Wind turbine and High
Altitude Wind turbine

Figure: AWE system replace the tips of wind turbine with tethered fast
flying wing

Well defined fact, outer 30% of the blade in wind turbine

generates more than half of the total power.
This most productive part of wind turbine is replaced by fast
flying wing.
Moreover, Tower construction is replaced by tether, this
conclude HAWT saves material.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Figure: Comparison between the power curves of a typical wind tower and
of a KiteGen, both with the same nominal power of 2 MW.

Due to the possibility for a kite to sweep a bigger area than

the one intercepted by the blades of a turbine, the KG-yoyo
can produce the nominal power already with a wind speed
value of 9 m/s, while 15-m/s wind speed is necessary for a
wind tower to produce the same amount of power.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
Comparison of Ground based Wind turbine and High
Altitude Wind turbine (Cont..)

Table: Comparison among Traditional wind turbine, KitGen and MARs

Tradition
Parameters KiteGen
al
Wind
MARs Turbine
Rated Power 3 MW 3 MW 100 kW
Equivalent working
hours at nominal power 1550 6800 NA
(hours/year)
Weight (tons) 1440 20 5.9
Height (meter) 80 800-2000 200-450
Life Span
Energy (year)
density 20-25 20 10-15
18 363 NA
Energy
(MW/km Cost
2)
90-150
> 20 NA

(euro/MWh)

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
References

1 KiteGen,KiteGenSTEM.[Online].Available at:
http://www.kitegen.com/en/ products/stem/; August2009.
2 Altaeros Energies,Technology,BAT[Online].Available at:
http://www.altaer osenergies.com/bat.html
3 Magenn,Magenn Air Rotor System(MARS)[Online].Available
at: http://www.nampet.org/phase1/resources/mars.html
4 Makani.The Technology,Google.Available at:
http://www.google.com/makani/technology/
5 Sky Wind Power,Swp Technology.Available at:
http://www.skywindpower.com/technology.html
6 Sky Wind Power,Flying Electric Generators. Available at:
http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/page003.html
7 Sky WindPower website. www.skywindpower.com
8 Loyd ML.Cross wind kite power.J Energy 1980; IV(3):
106–11.
Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine
References

1 National Renewable Energy Laboratory.Cost of wind energy

review.Available at:
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/56266.pdf; March2013
2 High Altitude Wind Power: The Sky’s the Limit, Taylor Cone,
October 24, 2010
3 Energy matters, available at:
http://euanmearns.com/high-altitude-wind-power-reviewed/
4 A state-of-the-art review and feasibility analysis of high
altitude wind power in Northern Ireland, E. Lunney, M.Ban,
N.Duic, A.Foley,

Jati n Savaliya Wind Energy: A concept of Hig h Alti tude of Wind Turbine