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AWE Model Overview

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Uwe Fechner edited this page May 8, 2025 · 15 revisions

Overview existing and planned AWE concepts and models

Rigid wing models

MegAWES

MegAWES is a Matlab/Simulink model of an airborne wind energy (AWE) system based on a tethered rigid wing that is operated in pumping cycles producing multiple megawatt of electricity. The framework is a further development of the graduation project of Dylan Eijkelhof which was jointly supervised by TU Delft, ETH Zurich and DTU. The ultimate purpose is to provide a reference model of a megawatt-range AWE system and a computational framework to simulate its operation.

https://github.com/awegroup/MegAWES

It would be very valuable to port this model to Julia, firstly because of performance (MegAWES is very slow) and secondly because MegAWES requires a commercial software license (Matlab/ Simulink). Have a look at [Add rigid wing model(]https://github.com/ufechner7/KiteModels.jl/issues/157) and leave a comment if you would be interested in picking up this task.

LEI kite models

KPS3

This model assumes the kite to be a point mass. This is sufficient to model the aerodynamic forces, but the dynamic concerning the turning action of the kite is not realistic. When combined with a controller for the turn rate it can be used to simulate a pumping kite power system with medium accuracy.

KPS4

This model assumes the kite to consist of four-point masses with aerodynamic forces acting on points B, C and D. It reacts much more realistically than the one-point model because it has rotational inertia in every axis.

KPS5

RAM-air kite for ship propulsion

This model represents the kite as a deforming rigid body, with orientation governed by quaternion dynamics. Aerodynamics are computed using the Vortex Step Method. The kite is controlled from the ground via four tethers.

Tensile Rotary Power Transmission

Three rotating wings

A simulator for a particular kind of TRPT type. TRPT airborne wind energy is a class of windmills that are airborne and where the power of the flying part of the windmill is transferred using torque transfer through a tensile shaft. This particular class of TRPT consists of a soft shaft (possibly with compression rods) and a number of kites rotating in a single layer, connected through a bridle, flying in a ring. And all the kites are of the same type.

Rotating Pair of Wings

The concept is described here: https://www.tiira.ch/

Advantages:

  1. continues power production
  2. lower mass, costs and complexity of the wing than concepts with wing mounted generators
  3. automated launch and landing is straightforward

Components

  • pair of wings
  • generator
  • two winches with two tethers
  • tilting actuator

Still missing

No open source model is so far available for the following concepts:

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