A Tensile Rotary Airborne Wind Energy System—Modelling, Analysis and Improved Design

Oliver Tulloch, Hong Yue (), Abbas Mehrad Kazemi Amiri and Roderick Read
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Oliver Tulloch: Wind Energy and Control Centre, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Hong Yue: Wind Energy and Control Centre, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Abbas Mehrad Kazemi Amiri: Wind Energy and Control Centre, Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Strathclyde, 204 George Street, Glasgow G1 1XW, UK
Roderick Read: Windswept and Interesting Limited, Nesbister, Shetland ZE2 9LJ, UK

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-42

Abstract: A unique rotary kite turbine designed with tensile rotary power transmission (TRPT) is introduced in this work. Power extraction, power transmission and the ground station are modelled in a modular framework. The TRPT system is the key component of power transmission, for which three models with different levels of complexity are proposed. The first representation is based on the stationary state of the system, in which the external and internal torques of a TRPT section are in equilibrium, referred to as the steady-state TRPT model. The second representation is a simplified spring-disc model for dynamic TRPT, and the third one is a multi-spring model with higher degrees of freedom and more flexibility in describing TRPT dynamics. To assess the torque loss on TRPT, a simple tether drag model is written for the steady-state TRPT, followed by an improved tether drag model for the dynamic TRPT. This modular framework allows for multiple versions of the rotor, tether aerodynamics and TRPT representations. The developed models are validated by laboratory and field-testing experimental data, simulated over a range of modelling options. Model-based analysis are performed on TRPT design, rotor design and tether drag to understand any limitations and crucial design drivers. Improved designs are explored through multi-parameter optimisation based on steady-state analysis.

Keywords: airborne wind energy (AWE); tensile rotary power transmission (TRPT); rotary kite turbine; steady-state TRPT model; spring-disc dynamic model; multi-spring dynamic model; tether drag model; system analysis; optimisation design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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