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The Kitepower system consists of three major components:<ref>{{cite web|title=Kite power: towards affordable, clean energy|url=https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ae/news/spotlight/kite-power-towards-affordable-clean-energy/|publisher=Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref><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/vlugt13.pdf}}</ref><ref name="QSMpaper">{{cite journal|last1=van der Vlugt|first1=Rolf|last2=Bley|first2=Anna|last3=Noom|first3=Michael|last4=Schmehl|first4=Roland|date=2018|title=Quasi-Steady Model of a Pumping Kite Power System|journal=Renewable Energy|volume=131|pages=83–99|doi=10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.023|arxiv=1705.04133}} {{open access}}</ref> a lightweight, high-performance kite,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Oehler|first1=Johannes|last2=Schmehl|first2=Roland|title=Aerodynamic characterization of a soft kite by in situ flow measurement|journal=Wind Energy Science|volume=4|pages=1–21|doi=10.5194/wes-4-1-2019}} {{open access}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roschi|first1=Stefan|title=Clean energy from high above|url=https://drive.tech/en/stream-content/high-altitude-wind-ernergy-from-kites|website=drive tech|publisher=maxon motor|accessdate=25 May 2018}}</ref>
The Kitepower system consists of three major components:<ref>{{cite web|title=Kite power: towards affordable, clean energy|url=https://www.tudelft.nl/en/ae/news/spotlight/kite-power-towards-affordable-clean-energy/|publisher=Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref><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/vlugt13.pdf}}</ref><ref name="QSMpaper">{{cite journal|last1=van der Vlugt|first1=Rolf|last2=Bley|first2=Anna|last3=Noom|first3=Michael|last4=Schmehl|first4=Roland|date=2018|title=Quasi-Steady Model of a Pumping Kite Power System|journal=Renewable Energy|volume=131|pages=83–99|doi=10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.023|arxiv=1705.04133}} {{open access}}</ref> a lightweight, high-performance kite,<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Oehler|first1=Johannes|last2=Schmehl|first2=Roland|title=Aerodynamic characterization of a soft kite by in situ flow measurement|journal=Wind Energy Science|volume=4|pages=1–21|doi=10.5194/wes-4-1-2019}} {{open access}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Roschi|first1=Stefan|title=Clean energy from high above|url=https://drive.tech/en/stream-content/high-altitude-wind-ernergy-from-kites|website=drive tech|publisher=maxon motor|accessdate=25 May 2018}}</ref>


For energy production, the kite is operated in consecutive "pumping cycles" with alternating reel-out and reel-in phases:<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> during reel-out the kite is flown in crosswind maneuvers (transverse to the incoming wind, commonly figure of eight patterns). This creates a large pulling force which is used to pull the tether from a ground-based drum that is connected to a generator.
For energy production, the kite is operated in consecutive "pumping cycles" with alternating reel-out and reel-in phases:<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|contributionurl=http://www.kitepower.eu/images/stories/publications/fechner18.pdf}}</ref> during reel-out the kite is flown in crosswind maneuvers (transverse to the incoming wind, commonly figure of eight patterns). This creates a large pulling force which is used to pull the tether from a ground-based drum that is connected to a generator.
In this phase electricity is generated. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back, but this time depowered,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schmehl|first1=Roland|title=Simulated de-powering of a LEI tube kite for power generation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D2wGbwT9Ws|website=YouTube|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref> such that it can be retracted with a low aerodynamic resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced. The electricity is buffered by a rechargeable battery unit, or, in a kite park configuration, several systems can be operated with phase shifts such that the battery capacity can be reduced.<ref name="pietrochapter">{{cite book|last1=Faggiani|first1=Pietro|last2=Schmehl|first2=Roland|date=2018|contribution=Design and Economics of a Pumping Kite Wind Park|editor-last1=Schmehl|editor-first1=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=391–411|publisher=Springer|location=Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_16}}</ref>
In this phase electricity is generated. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back, but this time depowered,<ref>{{cite web|last1=Schmehl|first1=Roland|title=Simulated de-powering of a LEI tube kite for power generation|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-D2wGbwT9Ws|website=YouTube|accessdate=26 May 2018}}</ref> such that it can be retracted with a low aerodynamic resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced. The electricity is buffered by a rechargeable battery unit, or, in a kite park configuration, several systems can be operated with phase shifts such that the battery capacity can be reduced.<ref name="pietrochapter">{{cite book|last1=Faggiani|first1=Pietro|last2=Schmehl|first2=Roland|date=2018|contribution=Design and Economics of a Pumping Kite Wind Park|editor-last1=Schmehl|editor-first1=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=391–411|publisher=Springer|location=Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_16|contributionurl=http://www.kitepower.eu/images/stories/publications/faggiani18.pdf}}</ref>


== Technology context ==
== Technology context ==
Line 40: Line 40:
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=100 kW airborne wind energy system|url=https://www.offgridenergyindependence.com/articles/11190/100-kw-airborne-wind-energy-system|publisher=Offgrid Energy Independence|accessdate=26 May 2018|date=2017-06-14}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite web|title=100 kW airborne wind energy system|url=https://www.offgridenergyindependence.com/articles/11190/100-kw-airborne-wind-energy-system|publisher=Offgrid Energy Independence|accessdate=26 May 2018|date=2017-06-14}}</ref>
Challenges are robustness and reliability of the flying wind energy system<ref>{{cite conference|last1=Friedl|first1=Felix|last2=Braun|first2=Lukas|last3=Schmehl|first3=Roland|last4=Stripf|first4=Matthias|title=Fault-Tolerant and Reliable Design of a Pumping Kite Power System|conference=Energy, Science and Technology Conference 2015|location=Karlsruhe, Germany|date=20 May 2015|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283084455_Fault-Tolerant_and_Reliable_Design_of_a_Pumping_Kite_Power_System}}</ref>
Challenges are robustness and reliability of the flying wind energy system<ref>{{cite conference|last1=Friedl|first1=Felix|last2=Braun|first2=Lukas|last3=Schmehl|first3=Roland|last4=Stripf|first4=Matthias|title=Fault-Tolerant and Reliable Design of a Pumping Kite Power System|conference=Energy, Science and Technology Conference 2015|location=Karlsruhe, Germany|date=20 May 2015|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283084455_Fault-Tolerant_and_Reliable_Design_of_a_Pumping_Kite_Power_System}}</ref>
and the airspace requirements of the technology.<ref name="volkanchapter">{{cite book|last1=Salma|first1=Volkan|last2=Ruiterkamp|first2=Richard|last3=Kruijff|first3=Michiel|last4=van Paassen|first4=M. M. (René)|last5=Schmehl|first5=Roland|date=2018|contribution=Current and Expected Airspace Regulations for Airborne Wind Energy Systems|editor-last1=Schmehl|editor-first1=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=703–725|publisher=Springer|location=Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_29}}</ref>
and the airspace requirements of the technology.<ref name="volkanchapter">{{cite book|last1=Salma|first1=Volkan|last2=Ruiterkamp|first2=Richard|last3=Kruijff|first3=Michiel|last4=van Paassen|first4=M. M. (René)|last5=Schmehl|first5=Roland|date=2018|contribution=Current and Expected Airspace Regulations for Airborne Wind Energy Systems|editor-last1=Schmehl|editor-first1=Roland|title=Airborne Wind Energy|series=Green Energy and Technology|pages=703–725|publisher=Springer|location=Singapore|doi=10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_29|contributionurl=http://www.kitepower.eu/images/stories/publications/salma18.pdf}}</ref>


== Applications ==
== Applications ==

Revision as of 04:55, 30 April 2019

Kitepower
Company typeB.V.
IndustryWind Energy, Renewable Energy
Founded2016
FoundersJohannes Peschel,
Dr. Roland Schmehl
HeadquartersDelft, Netherlands
Number of employees
18
Websitehttps://kitepower.nl/

Kitepower is a registered trade mark of the Dutch company Enevate B.V. developing mobile airborne wind power systems. Kitepower was founded in 2016 by Johannes Peschel and Roland Schmehl[1][2] as a commercial spin-off [3] from the Delft University of Technology’s airborne wind energy research group[4] established by the former astronaut Wubbo Ockels. The company is located in Delft, Netherlands, and currently comprises 18 employees (2018).

System

40 m2 kite with suspended control unit
40 m2 kite in operation at the former naval airbase Valkenburg, Leiden, the Netherlands
100 kW ground station
Nightflight with tracing light, visualizing a complete pumping cycle with traction phase (figure eight maneuvers) and retraction phase

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.[5] Funding is provided by the European Commission's Horizon 2020 Fast Track to Innovation [6] project REACH[7][8] in which the company is collaborating with Delft University of Technology and industry partners [9] Dromec, Maxon Motor and Genetrix.

Working principle

The Kitepower system consists of three major components:[10][11][12] a lightweight, high-performance kite,[13] 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.[14]

For energy production, the kite is operated in consecutive "pumping cycles" with alternating reel-out and reel-in phases:[11][15] during reel-out the kite is flown in crosswind maneuvers (transverse to the incoming wind, commonly figure of eight patterns). This creates a large pulling force which is used to pull the tether from a ground-based drum that is connected to a generator. In this phase electricity is generated. Once the maximum tether length is reached, the kite is reeled back, but this time depowered,[16] such that it can be retracted with a low aerodynamic resistance. This phase consumes a small fraction of the previously generated power such that in total net energy is produced. The electricity is buffered by a rechargeable battery unit, or, in a kite park configuration, several systems can be operated with phase shifts such that the battery capacity can be reduced.[17]

Technology context

Airborne wind energy promises to be a cost-competitive solution to existing renewable energy technologies.[18] 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.[19] Challenges are robustness and reliability of the flying wind energy system[20] and the airspace requirements of the technology.[21]

Applications

For the art project Windvogel of Dutch artist Daan Roosegaarde the Kitepower system was operated also during night, using a light-emitting tether [22]

Awards

  • YES!Delft Launchlab 2016 [23]
  • Dutch Defense Innovation Competition 2016 [24]
  • YES!Delft Incubation Program 2017 [25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Schmehl, Roland. "Finally, kites have grown up". TEDxDelft 2012. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  2. ^ Anderson, Mark (2019-02-26). "Ready Flyer One: Airborne Wind Energy Simulations Guide the Leap to Satisfying Global Energy Demand". IEEE Spectrum. Retrieved 2 March 2019.
  3. ^ Company Portfolio Delft Enterprises. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  4. ^ Airborne Wind Energy Research Delft University of Technology. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  5. ^ Breuer, Joep (28 September 2017). Commercializing A 100 kW, Mobile Airborne Wind Energy System: Potentially For Ships And Land Use. Energy Independent Electric Vehicles: Land, Water & Air. Delft, Netherlands: IDTechEx. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Fast Track to Innovation Pilot". European Commission. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Resource Efficient Automatic Conversion of High-Altitude Wind (REACH)". European Commission Community Research & Development Information Service (CORDIS). Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  8. ^ REACH Project Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  9. ^ REACH Partners, Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  10. ^ "Kite power: towards affordable, clean energy". Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  11. ^ 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= (help); Unknown parameter |contributionurl= ignored (|contribution-url= suggested) (help)
  12. ^ van der Vlugt, Rolf; Bley, Anna; Noom, Michael; Schmehl, Roland (2018). "Quasi-Steady Model of a Pumping Kite Power System". Renewable Energy. 131: 83–99. arXiv:1705.04133. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2018.07.023. Open access icon
  13. ^ Oehler, Johannes; Schmehl, Roland. "Aerodynamic characterization of a soft kite by in situ flow measurement". Wind Energy Science. 4: 1–21. doi:10.5194/wes-4-1-2019.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link) Open access icon
  14. ^ Roschi, Stefan. "Clean energy from high above". drive tech. maxon motor. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  15. ^ 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. {{cite book}}: External link in |contributionurl= (help); Unknown parameter |contributionurl= ignored (|contribution-url= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Schmehl, Roland. "Simulated de-powering of a LEI tube kite for power generation". YouTube. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  17. ^ Faggiani, Pietro; Schmehl, Roland (2018). "Design and Economics of a Pumping Kite Wind Park". In Schmehl, Roland (ed.). Airborne Wind Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Singapore: Springer. pp. 391–411. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_16. {{cite book}}: External link in |contributionurl= (help); Unknown parameter |contributionurl= ignored (|contribution-url= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ 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= (help); Unknown parameter |contributionurl= ignored (|contribution-url= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "100 kW airborne wind energy system". Offgrid Energy Independence. 2017-06-14. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  20. ^ Friedl, Felix; Braun, Lukas; Schmehl, Roland; Stripf, Matthias (20 May 2015). Fault-Tolerant and Reliable Design of a Pumping Kite Power System. Energy, Science and Technology Conference 2015. Karlsruhe, Germany.
  21. ^ Salma, Volkan; Ruiterkamp, Richard; Kruijff, Michiel; van Paassen, M. M. (René); Schmehl, Roland (2018). "Current and Expected Airspace Regulations for Airborne Wind Energy Systems". In Schmehl, Roland (ed.). Airborne Wind Energy. Green Energy and Technology. Singapore: Springer. pp. 703–725. doi:10.1007/978-981-10-1947-0_29. {{cite book}}: External link in |contributionurl= (help); Unknown parameter |contributionurl= ignored (|contribution-url= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ "Windvogel". Studio Roosegaarde. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  23. ^ Kitepower Launchlab Prize YES!Delft. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  24. ^ Kitepower Innovation Competition Delft Enterprises. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  25. ^ Kitepower Incubation Program YES!Delft. Retrieved 2017-09-04

External links

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