Kitepower: Difference between revisions
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The Kitepower system <ref name="rolfchapter">{{cite book|last1=van der Vlugt|first1=Rolf|last2=Peschel|first2=Johannes|last3=Schmehl|first3=Roland|date=2013|contribution=Design and Experimental Characterization of a Pumping Kite Power System|editor-last1=Ahrens|editor-first1=Uwe|editor-last2=Diehl|editor-first2=Moritz|editor-last3=Schmehl|editor-first3=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=403-425|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin Heidelberg|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_23|contributionurl=http://www.kitepower.eu/images/stories/publications/ch23_awe35_vandervlugt.pdf}}</ref> consists of three major components: A lightweight, high-performance kite, a load-bearing tether and a ground-based electric generator. Another important component is the so called kite control unit and together with the according control software for remotely steering the kite. |
The Kitepower system <ref name="rolfchapter">{{cite book|last1=van der Vlugt|first1=Rolf|last2=Peschel|first2=Johannes|last3=Schmehl|first3=Roland|date=2013|contribution=Design and Experimental Characterization of a Pumping Kite Power System|editor-last1=Ahrens|editor-first1=Uwe|editor-last2=Diehl|editor-first2=Moritz|editor-last3=Schmehl|editor-first3=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=403-425|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin Heidelberg|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_23|contributionurl=http://www.kitepower.eu/images/stories/publications/ch23_awe35_vandervlugt.pdf}}</ref> consists of three major components: A lightweight, high-performance kite, a load-bearing tether and a ground-based electric generator. Another important component is the so called kite control unit and together with the according control software for remotely steering the kite. |
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For energy production, Kitepower uses the so called "pumping concept"<ref name="rolfchapter" />. This means the kite is operated in iterating phases: First the kite is flown in a crosswind pattern (perpendicular to the incoming wind, commonly a figure of eight). The created large pulling force reels out the tether from a ground-based winch such that the subsequent motion can be converted into electricity. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back in facing into the wind such that it glides with a low resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced. |
For energy production, Kitepower uses the so called "pumping concept"<ref name="rolfchapter" /><ref name="uwechapter">{{cite book|last1=Fechner|first1=Uwe|last2=Schmehl|first2=Roland|date=2018|contribution=Flight Path Planning in a Turbulent Wind Environment|editor-last1=Schmehl|editor-first1=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=361-390|publisher=Springer|location=Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_15}}</ref>. This means the kite is operated in iterating phases: First the kite is flown in a crosswind pattern (perpendicular to the incoming wind, commonly a figure of eight). The created large pulling force reels out the tether from a ground-based winch such that the subsequent motion can be converted into electricity. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back in facing into the wind such that it glides with a low resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced. |
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Airborne wind energy<ref name="jannischapter">{{cite book|last1=Heilmann|first1=Jannis|last2=Houle|first2=Corey|date=2013|contribution=Economics of Pumping Kite Generators|editor-last1=Ahrens|editor-first1=Uwe|editor-last2=Diehl|editor-first2=Moritz|editor-last3=Schmehl|editor-first3=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=271-284|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin Heidelberg|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_15|contributionurl=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289624113_Economics_of_Pumping_Kite_Generators}}</ref> promises to be a cost-competitive solution to existing renewable energy technologies. The main advantages of the airborne wind energy technology are the reduced material usage compared to conventional wind turbines (no foundation, no tower) which allows reaching for higher altitudes and makes the systems more mobile in terms of location, and considerably cheaper in construction. |
Airborne wind energy<ref name="jannischapter">{{cite book|last1=Heilmann|first1=Jannis|last2=Houle|first2=Corey|date=2013|contribution=Economics of Pumping Kite Generators|editor-last1=Ahrens|editor-first1=Uwe|editor-last2=Diehl|editor-first2=Moritz|editor-last3=Schmehl|editor-first3=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=271-284|publisher=Springer|location=Berlin Heidelberg|doi=10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_15|contributionurl=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/289624113_Economics_of_Pumping_Kite_Generators}}</ref> promises to be a cost-competitive solution to existing renewable energy technologies. The main advantages of the airborne wind energy technology are the reduced material usage compared to conventional wind turbines (no foundation, no tower) which allows reaching for higher altitudes and makes the systems more mobile in terms of location, and considerably cheaper in construction. |
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Revision as of 20:31, 25 May 2018
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 | This article appears to contain a large number of buzzwords. (September 2017) |
| Company type | B.V. |
|---|---|
| Industry | Wind Energy, Renewable Energy |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Founders | Johannes Peschel, Dr. Roland Schmehl |
| Headquarters | Delft, Netherlands |
Number of employees | 10 |
| Website | https://kitepower.nl/ |
Kitepower is a registered trade mark of the Dutch company Enevate B.V. developing mobile airborne wind energy solutions.
Company
Kitepower was founded in 2016 by Johannes Peschel and Roland Schmehl as a commercial spin-off [1] from the Delft University of Technology’s pioneering airborne wind energy research group [2] established by the former astronaut Wubbo Ockels.
The company is located in Delft, Netherlands, and currently comprises 18 employees (2018).
System
Based on its first 20 kW (rated generator power) prototype, Kitepower is currently developing a scaled-up 100 kW system for the purpose of commercialization. This goal is realized within the European Horizon 2020 FTI program REACH[3][4] in which the company is collaborating with a consortium of established European partners. As a research institution Delft University of Technology is involved together with and the industry participants [5] Dromec, Maxon Motor and Genetrix.
Technology
The Kitepower system [6] consists of three major components: A lightweight, high-performance kite, a load-bearing tether and a ground-based electric generator. Another important component is the so called kite control unit and together with the according control software for remotely steering the kite.
For energy production, Kitepower uses the so called "pumping concept"[6][7]. This means the kite is operated in iterating phases: First the kite is flown in a crosswind pattern (perpendicular to the incoming wind, commonly a figure of eight). The created large pulling force reels out the tether from a ground-based winch such that the subsequent motion can be converted into electricity. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back in facing into the wind such that it glides with a low resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced.
Airborne wind energy[8] promises to be a cost-competitive solution to existing renewable energy technologies. The main advantages of the airborne wind energy technology are the reduced material usage compared to conventional wind turbines (no foundation, no tower) which allows reaching for higher altitudes and makes the systems more mobile in terms of location, and considerably cheaper in construction.
Awards
- YES!Delft Launchlab 2016 [9]
- Dutch Defense Innovation Competition 2016 [10]
- YES!Delft Incubation Program 2017 [11]
See also
References
- ^ Company Portfolio Delft Enterprises. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Airborne Wind Energy ResearchDelft University of Technology. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ "Resource Efficient Automatic Conversion of High-Altitude Wind (REACH)". European Commission Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS). Retrieved 25 May 2018.
- ^ REACH Project Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ REACH Partners, Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ a b van der Vlugt, Rolf; Peschel, Johannes; Schmehl, Roland (2013). "Design and Experimental Characterization of a Pumping Kite Power System". In Ahrens, Uwe; Diehl, Moritz; Schmehl, Roland (eds.). Airborne Wind Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 403–425. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_23.
{{cite book}}: External link in|contributionurl=|contributionurl=ignored (|contribution-url=suggested) (help) - ^ Fechner, Uwe; Schmehl, Roland (2018). "Flight Path Planning in a Turbulent Wind Environment". In Schmehl, Roland (ed.). Airborne Wind Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Singapore: Springer. pp. 361–390. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_15.
- ^ Heilmann, Jannis; Houle, Corey (2013). "Economics of Pumping Kite Generators". In Ahrens, Uwe; Diehl, Moritz; Schmehl, Roland (eds.). Airborne Wind Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Berlin Heidelberg: Springer. pp. 271–284. doi:10.1007/978-3-642-39965-7_15.
{{cite book}}: External link in|contributionurl=|contributionurl=ignored (|contribution-url=suggested) (help) - ^ Kitepower Launchlab Prize YES!Delft. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Kitepower Innovation CompetitionDelft Enterprises. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Kitepower Incubation Program YES!Delft. Retrieved 2017-09-04