Airborne Windmill

16
1. INTRODUCTION  To day more than 80 per cent of the world’s electric power production comes from fossil- fuelled plants. As the demand for electricity is forecasted to increase, there is an urgent need to find new methods to extract electric energy from renewable sources. Renewable electric energy supply is today one of the highest priorities in many parts of the world.  The yoto declaration !""# and the last agreement at $arra%ech &00& are significant  proof of this. 'oth the () and the )* ha+e s et their targets on future gr eenhouse emissions. ence Renewable (nergy *ources are one of future energy producers.  Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources  such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides and geothermal heat , which are renewablenaturally replenished. /n &00, about !81 of global final energy consumption came from renewable, with !21 coming from traditional  biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 21 from hydroelectricity.  3ew renewable small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels accounted for another &.41 and are growing +ery rapidly. The share of renewable in electricity generation is around !81, with !51 of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 2.41 from new renewable. 6ind is a form of solar energy. 6inds are caused by the une+en heating of the atmosphere  by the sun, the irregularit ies of the earth7s su rface, and rotation of th e earth. 6ind flow  patterns are modified by the earth7s terrain, b odies of water, and +egetation. umans use this wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes sailing, flying a %ite, and e+en generating electricity.  6ind power  is growing at the rate of 201 annually, with a worldwide installed capacity  of !5#,"00 megawatts $6 in &00", and is widely used in (urope, Asia, and the )nited *tates. The terms wind energy or wind power describes the process by which the wind is used to generate mechanical power or electricity. 6ind turbines con+ert the %inetic energy in the wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tas%s such as grinding grain or pumping water or a generator can con+ert this mechanical power into electricity.

Transcript of Airborne Windmill

Page 1: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 1/16

1. INTRODUCTION

Today more than 80 per cent of the world’s electric power production comes from fossil-

fuelled plants. As the demand for electricity is forecasted to increase, there is an urgent need

to find new methods to extract electric energy from renewable sources. Renewable electric

energy supply is today one of the highest priorities in many parts of the world.

The yoto declaration !""# and the last agreement at $arra%ech &00& are significant

proof of this. 'oth the () and the )* ha+e set their targets on future greenhouse emissions.

ence Renewable (nergy *ources are one of future energy producers. Renewable

energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight , wind , rain , tides and geothermal heat , which are renewable naturally replenished .

/n &00 , about !81 of global final energy consumption came from renewable, with !21

coming from traditional biomass , which is mainly used for heating , and 21

from hydroelectricity . 3ew renewable small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar,

geothermal, and biofuels accounted for another &.41 and are growing +ery rapidly. The

share of renewable in electricity generation is around !81, with !51 of global electricity

coming from hydroelectricity and 2.41 from new renewable.

6ind is a form of solar energy. 6inds are caused by the une+en heating of the atmosphere

by the sun, the irregularities of the earth7s surface, and rotation of the earth. 6ind flow

patterns are modified by the earth7s terrain, bodies of water, and +egetation. umans use this

wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes sailing, flying a %ite, and e+en generating

electricity.

6ind power is growing at the rate of 201 annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of

!5#,"00 megawatts $6 in &00", and is widely used in (urope , Asia , and the )nited *tates .

The terms wind energy or wind power describes the process by which the wind is used to

generate mechanical power or electricity. 6ind turbines con+ert the %inetic energy in the

wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tas%s such as

grinding grain or pumping water or a generator can con+ert this mechanical power into

electricity.

Page 2: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 2/16

'ut the 9on+entional 6ind Turbines ha+e the disad+antage of being stuc% on the

ground, conse:uently dependent on the wind passing through their location and they are not

economical. Thus these factors ma%e it unreliable for power production. ence a new

inno+ati+e way of deli+ering clean renewable energy to the world has e+ol+ed i.e.

Airborne Wind Turbine is a new design concept for a wind turbine that is floating in the air

without a tower. Airborne Wind Turbine was designed and de+eloped by Magenn Power ,

which is an ;ntario based company. /t is also called as $.A.R.* $agenn Air Rotor *ystem .

Airborne Wind Turbines ha+e distinct ad+antages o+er existing 9on+entional 6ind

Turbines and <iesel =enerating *ystems including global deployment, lower costs, better

operational performance, and greater en+ironmental ad+antages.

ence the new %ind wind turbine would be useful in fulfilling the future energy demands

with >ero emissions.

?There is enough energy in high altitude winds to power ci+ili>ation !00 times o+er@ and

sooner or later, we7re going to learn to tap into the power of winds and use it to run

ci+ili>ation.? *ays en 9aldeira, rofessor of =lobal (cology at the 9arnegie /nstitution for

*cience.

*ource www.wi%ipedia.orgwww.magenn.com

Page 3: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 3/16

2. TECHNOLO !

2.1. Wor"ing#

The Airborne wind Turbine is lighter-than-air tethered de+ice that rotates about ahori>ontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at

a lower cost than all competing systems. 6hen wind rotates the turbine7s blades, which in

turn cause an attached generator to also spin. The generator then con+erts that mo+ing energy

of the wind into electricity using electromagnetic induction. The blades of the $AR* turbine

are actually part of the three-dimensional blimp itself. The blades catch the wind, causing the

entire blimp to spin around. After the generator con+erts that mo+ement into electricity, it7s

transferred down the turbine7s long tether.

*ource www.wi%ipedia.org

Page 4: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 4/16

2.2. How the lift is created?

The lift for the airborne turbine is created due to two reasons. rimarily it’s due to

buoyant lift i.e. due to helium present in the turbine which is lighter than the air. The amount

of helium present in the airship decides the altitude of operation. The helium pro+ides at leasttwice the positi+e lift +ersus the o+erall weight of the $AR* unit. The secondary lift is due to

aerodynamic effect or MA NU$ E%%ECT. $agnus (ffect was disco+ered in the mid !800,

which create lift when a spherical or cylindrical obBect is spun while mo+ing in a fluid. A

dimpled golf ball, hit properly, has a bac% spin that causes it to lift in flight. A baseball cur+e

ball pitch uses the $agnus effect. 'asically, a bac% spin causes a low pressure region to form

abo+e the obBect and high pressure to form below, resulting in lift. A large obBect li%e the

$agenn Air Rotor creates substantial lift, so much so that the de+ice should actually wor% ina wind, without using a lifting gas.

2.3. Components in Airborne Wind Turbine:

The components in $agenn Air Rotary *ystem are

1& '(adder#

The bag filled with any gas is called bladder, here the airship is filled with inert gas which

is non-flammable i.e. elium . elium is the second most abundant element in the

uni+erse. elium pro+ides extra lift and will %eep $AR* at altitude in +ery low winds or

calm air. /t is also plentiful, inexpensi+e and en+ironmentally safe. elium7s inert :uality

o+er other lifting gases ma%es it +ery acceptable. $AR* !0%6 unit will re:uire slightly

o+er 2&,000 cubic feet of helium. The price of elium +aries from country to country. /t

is roughly C0.20 cents per cubic foot. 'ut the helium gas lea%s out at a rate of 0.51 permonth or 1 per year@ therefore the $AR* units will ha+e to be topped up with elium

e+ery 4 to months. The bladder is made up of Dectran fabric which has high strength,

low elongation properties. The bladder is e:uipped with a radar reflecti+e material that

will present an echo to surface radar operating in the &00 $ > to &#00 $ > fre:uency

range. This is useful for AT9 Air Traffic 9ontroller to identify the $agenn wind rotor, if

they interfere the flight path

Page 5: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 5/16

2& $ai(#

The sail is used to catch the wind and con+ert %inetic energy into rotational energy. The sail

acts as a blade of airborne wind turbine. The sail is inclined to the rudder at an angle of 0

degree to ha+e more stable rotation. The sails are made up of fabric Dectran with an inner

laminated coating of $ylar to reduce porosity and an exterior coating of Tedlar which will

pro+ide ultra-+iolet protection, scuff resistance and color. <acron is used for boat sails, $ylar

in sil+er toy helium balloons, and Tedlar is the plastic coating found in all-weather house

siding.

)& Te*+er#

The airborne wind turbine is tied to the winch by the rope made up of Dectran fiber. Tether

%eeps the turbine under control and transfers the electricity produced by the generators down.

Dectran is the core of a braided cable tether that is wrapped with copper that can carry

electrical currents. The tether is part of a sophisticated connection system that hoo%s the

generators on each side of the floating turbine !,000 feet up in the air E where the winds blow

steadily and reliably E to the ground below and transfers electricity that can be used

immediately or stored in batteries. )nits that operate o+er !50 feet will ha+e a lighting

system including indi+idual lights that are placed e+ery 50 feet on its tether. The lights will

flash once per second.

,& enera*or#

The generator is used to con+ert rotational energy into electrical energy. There are &

generators attached to the axle on the either sides. )sually !00%6 capacity generators are

used. 6hich produce the output in 280 D 2 hase 50 >, 480 F 00 D 2 hase 0 > or

Regulated <9 .

*ource # ywind floating wind power production.

'y Alexandra 'ech gBor+ oil F energy in&00 -05-&4

www.magenn.com

www.howstuffwor%s.com

Page 6: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 6/16

). PER%ORMANCE CHARACTERI$TIC$

3.1. Performance:

The performance of the $agenn Air Rotary *ystem of !00%6 model which is yet to start its production in late &0!0 is gi+en below

MAR$ 1--"W Per or/an0e $ e0i i0a*ions

$agenn ower roduct $odel !00%6

Rated ower !0!,000 6atts

*i>e <iameter x Gength 45 ft x !00 ft plus blade height of && ft each

*hipping 6eight )nder !2,000 lbs

Dolume of elium &00,000 cubic feet

Tether eight #50 ft standard - up to !,500 ft optional tether length

*tart-up 6ind *peed &.5 mHsec - 5. mph

9ut-in 6ind *peed 2.0 mHsec - .# mph

Rated 6ind *peed !&.0 mHsec - & .8 mph

9ut-out 6ind *peed &4.0 mHsec - 52.# mph

$aximum 6ind *peed 20.0 mHsec - #.! mph

Temperature Range -40I9 H-40IJ to K45I9HK!!2IJ

=enerators !00 %6 Total

;utput Jorm280 D 2 hase 50 >, 480 F 00 D 2 hase 0 > orRegulated <9

Gife 9ycle !0 to !5 Lears

*ource www.magenn.com

Page 7: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 7/16

The erformance graph of ower ;utput Ds 6ind *peed of $AR* !00%6

model is shown below

3.2. afet! "actors:

*afety is a +ery important factor in present world@ hence $agenn has ta%en some steps to

ensure the safety of the turbine. *ome of them are gi+en below

• $agenn Air Rotor *ystem is e:uipped with a radar reflecti+e material that will

present an echo to surface radar operating in the &00 $ > to &#00 $ > fre:uency

range. *o that AT9 Air Traffic 9ontroller to identify the $agenn wind rotor, if they

in interfere flight path.• $AR* units that operate o+er !50 feet will ha+e a lighting system including

indi+idual lights that are placed e+ery 50 feet on its tether. The lights will flash once

per second. This is because any flying obBect would identify the rope and a+oid

damage.

• A deflate system common on all blimps is an emergency system that would only be

used if for some reason the rotor bro%e free or other extreme emergency li%e high

winds, lightning’s etc .

Page 8: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 8/16

• /f the $AR* unit Mcut downN system does not function properly, it will immediately

notify the nearest AT9 facility of the location, time of escape and the estimated flight

path of the balloon.

,. CON ENTIONAL WINDTUR'INE$ $. AIR'ORNE

WINDTUR'INE$

As we %now con+entional wind turbines are maBor source for wind energy production, but

they are ha+ing some problems associated with them. They are

! Altitude and #fficienc! #

The maBor difference between con+entional and airborne wind turbines is the power output

or efficiency. This is due to the altitude of operation of con+entional is max. of 2&8ft. but

airborne wor%s at max. of !000ft.the below fig. explains it clearly.

/n 'roo%ha+en 3ew Lor% the 9apacity Jactor at !,000 feet for a $AR* high altitude wind

turbine of !00%6 is 5!1 +ersus !#.!1 for a con+entional wind turbine of &$6 operating at

2&8 feet.

Page 9: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 9/16

6inds at higher le+els are significantly faster than low-le+el winds because they don7t

encounter as much resistance from obBects on the ground li%e trees and buildings. Research

shows that with each doubling of ele+ation, there is a !& percent increase in wind speed@ with

each doubling of wind speed there is an eightfold increase in wind power

& Cost:

The cost of the con+entional wind turbines is +ery high compared to airborne wind

turbines. This is due to the components li%e tower@ blades etc that con+entional wind turbines

need to produce power. 'ut in airborne wind turbines there is no need for tower as it floats in

the air and stiff blades are not necessary.

Also the installation cost of con+entional wind turbines is high as it needs large cranes to liftthe blades. 9onstructing and installing con+entional wind turbines is a maBor endea+or often

in+ol+ing foundation blasting and the transport of hea+y e:uipment. 'ut in the airborne wind

turbines the system needs to be inflated with helium and tethered to winch.

2 $ocation:

The con+entional wind turbines are dependent on the location, means they are dependent on

wind speed flowing through them. As they need perfect location or coastal areas to produceelectricity continuously. 'ut as we can see the fig the wind speed inc. with altitude hence the

airborne wind turbines can be placed anywhere.

The locations of the con+entional wind turbines are limited to the high wind blowing areas

only, hence it could not be placed near the power grid therefore the transmission line costs are

+ery high. 'ut in case of airborne wind turbines as it could be placed almost anywhere hence

it reduces the transmission line costs.

A(( 0o/ e*ing 0on3en*iona( wind genera*ors use b(aded *wo4di/ensiona( dis"4(i"e

s*ru0*ures and rigid *owers. T+e Magenn Power Air Ro*or s5s*e/ is a 0(osed *+ree4

di/ensiona( s*ru0*ure 605(inder&. I* o ers +ig+ *or7ue8 (ow s*ar*ing s eeds8 and su erior

o3era(( e i0ien05 *+an"s *o i*s abi(i*5 *o de (o5 +ig+er. T+e 0(osed s*ru0*ure a((ows

Magenn Power *o rodu0e wind ro*ors ro/ 3er5 s/a(( *o 3er5 (arge si9es a* a ra0*ion

o *+e 0os* o 0urren* wind genera*ors.

Page 10: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 10/16

*ource www.marinebu>>.com, www.magenn.com

9alifornia offshore wind energy potential $ichael O.<+ora% article history@ Recei+ed &0 April &00",

accepted !0 3o+ember &00"

:. AD ANTA E$

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is less expensi+e per unit of actual electrical energy output

than competing wind power systems. under &0 cents per %6h

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem will deli+er time-a+eraged output much closer to its rated

capacity than the capacity factor typical with con+entional designs. $agenn efficiency

will be &5 to 0 percent. This is hugely important, since doubling capacity factor cuts

the cost of each deli+ered watt by half.

6ind farms can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs

and transmission line loses.

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is operable between & meterHsec and in excess of &8

metersHsec.

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem can be raised to higher altitudes, thus capitali>ing on

higher winds aloft. Altitudes from 400-ft to !,000-ft abo+e ground le+el are possible,

without ha+ing to build an expensi+e tower, or use a crane to perform maintenance.

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is mobile and can be easily mo+ed to different locations to

correspond to changing wind patterns. $obility is also useful in emergency

deployment and disaster relief situations.

The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem is bird and bat friendly.

$agenn Air Rotary *ystem creates lower noise and +ibrations.

Page 11: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 11/16

Page 12: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 12/16

;. DI$AD ANTA E$

The only restriction is that $agenn Air Rotary *ystems may not operate in controlled

airspace or within fi+e miles of the radius of any airport. *o as to a+oid interference

with the flight path.

The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem could not operate during bad weather conditions, due

to high wind speeds.

The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem is a new technology hence

Page 13: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 13/16

<. APPLICATION$

The application of $agenn Air Rotary *ystems are off-grid and mini-grid application@

combined with diesel power for de+eloping nations, island nations, farms, remote areas, cell

towers, exploration e:uipment, oil and gas wells, mining sites, offshore drilling stations, and

bac%up power F water pumps. $A=(33 rotors could also be used for on-grid applications

for farms, factories, and remote communities.

*ome applications are shown here

Mine $i*e# /t can be deployed temporarily in mining sites for power production.

*ource Responses of Jloating wind turbines to wind and (xcitation, $aster thesis in ocean

engineering, . .Gee, $assachusetts /nstitute of technology, &005, www.magenn.com

Page 14: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 14/16

Re/o*e E= (ora*ions# Jor remote explorations it is +ery useful ha+e power, hence $AR*

could pro+ide it, as it could be easily installed and is mobile.

Oi( Rigs# The oil rigs could use $AR* for producing power as it needs lesser area and is

portable. ere $AR* also does not produce any greenhouse gas.

Page 15: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 15/16

>. CONCLU$ION

(lectricity plays a +ery important role in our day to day life with out which our life becomesmiserable. There is a need to preser+e as well as de+elop it using freely a+ailable sources for

which wind energy is the best option.

6ind power has the potential to be a source of unlimited, clean, renewable energy of the

future. /f we use &01 of wind power to produce electric energy it will satisfy the times the

world’s electricity re:uirement.

Page 16: Airborne Windmill

8/9/2019 Airborne Windmill

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/airborne-windmill 16/16

?. RE%ERENCE$

P ywind floating wind power production.

'y Alexandra 'ech gBor+ oil F energy in&00 -05-&4

PResponses of Jloating wind turbines to wind and (xcitation, $aster thesis in ocean

engineering, . .Gee, $assachhusetts /nstitute of technology, &005

P9alifornia offshore wind energy potential $ichael O.<+ora% article history@ Recei+ed &0

April &00", accepted !0 3o+ember &00"

Pwww.magenn.com, $ac 'rown, chief operating officer of ;ttawa-based $agenn ower

Pwww.marinebu>>.com

Pwww.wi%ipedia.orgHairborne wind turbines