Reference design and simulation framework of a multi-megawatt airborne wind energy system
File(s)Eijkelhof_2020_J._Phys.__Conf._Ser._1618_032020.pdf (1.84 MB)
Published version
Author(s)
Eijkelhof, Dylan
Rapp, Sebastian
Fasel, Urban
Gaunaa, Mac
Schmehl, Roland
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
In this paper, we present the design and computational model of a representative multi-megawatt airborne wind energy (AWE) system, together with a simulation framework that accounts for the flight dynamics of the fixed-wing aircraft and the sagging of the tether, combining this with flight control and optimisation strategies to derive the power curve of the system. The computational model is based on a point mass approximation of the aircraft, a discretisation of the tether by five elastic segments and a rotational degree of freedom of the winch. The aircraft has a wing surface area of 150 m2 and is operated in pumping cycles, alternating between crosswind flight manoeuvres during reel out of the tether, and rapid decent towards the ground station during reel in. To maximise the net cycle power, we keep the design parameters of the aircraft constant, while tuning the operational and controller parameters for different wind speeds and given contraints. We find that the presented design can generate a net cycle power of up to 3.8 megawatts.
Date Issued
2020-09-01
Date Acceptance
2020-01-01
Citation
Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2020, 1618 (3), pp.1-12
ISSN
1742-6588
Publisher
IOP Publishing
Start Page
1
End Page
12
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Volume
1618
Issue
3
Copyright Statement
© 2020 The Author(s). Content from this work may be used under the terms of theCreative Commons Attribution 3.0 licence. Any further distribution
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd
Identifier
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1618/3/032020
Subjects
0202 Atomic, Molecular, Nuclear, Particle and Plasma Physics
0204 Condensed Matter Physics
0299 Other Physical Sciences
Publication Status
Published
OA Location
https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1618/3/032020/meta
Date Publish Online
2020-01-01