Airborne Wind Energy Application using Multiple Vertical Axis Wind Turbines

Cory Schovanec, Ramesh K. Agarwal

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

This paper introduces and evaluates an airborne wind energy application using a quadcopter drone and a series of suspended vertical axis wind turbines. Actuator cylinder theory is used to model each vertical axis wind turbine. The turbulent flow effects are modeled by solving the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with Spalart-Allmaras (SA) turbulence model in ANSYS FLUENT. To analyze the viability of the design, the required power to climb to 500m and to maintain the elevation is compared to the generated power from two and three turbines. Power law is used to extrapolate the external conditions. Additional model considerations are discussed.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition, AIAA AVIATION Forum 2021
PublisherAmerican Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc, AIAA
ISBN (Print)9781624106101
DOIs
StatePublished - 2021
EventAIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition, AIAA AVIATION Forum 2021 - Virtual, Online
Duration: Aug 2 2021Aug 6 2021

Publication series

NameAIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition, AIAA AVIATION Forum 2021

Conference

ConferenceAIAA Aviation and Aeronautics Forum and Exposition, AIAA AVIATION Forum 2021
CityVirtual, Online
Period08/2/2108/6/21

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