The Airborne Wind Turbine Technology

Altaeros. (Picture from:
http://www.cbc.ca/)

Wind energy is abundant and environmentally friendly makes the engineers from various research institutions compete to create an airborne wind turbine concept. Today many of the airborne wind turbines that have been made such as wind turbines made by Altaeros Energies which is one proof that the wind energy can be harvested from a height.

The airborne wind turbine that was created by Altaeros Energies researchers, is a hot air balloon that has a white barrel shape. In the middle there are three white blades rotating when blown. Resulting power of the propeller rotation is channeled to generator to produce electricity.

Founded by a group of MIT and Harvard 
colleagues in 2010, Altaeros Energies 
has developed a floating wind turbine 
and after successful testing, the team 
is confident that the new project of 
company could in fact become a popular 
power source in future. (Picture from:
http://wonderfulengineering.com/)

The vane technology that used in the Altaeros airborne wind turbine is not much different from the turbines at wind power plant that has been used. The three propeller is served to capture wind energy. The propeller is rotating with the coils that located on its axis. Magnets contained in the make electrons move around the coil, so as to create electricity. Electricity supplied to stations beneath it by using a cable.

Altaeros balloon deliberately made with a cylindrical shape that can carry a lot of helium, but still an aerodynamics. The ends of the barrel is made notched, so wind will pass through this section to be smooth without experiencing a lot of friction. When it broke through to the middle of the cylinder, the wind moving parallel and produces a maximum thrust.

The helium filled balloons are able to fly these ballon to several kilometers. However, three pieces of wire that are planted into the ground to hold the balloon so as not to rise higher than 300 meters. In addition to the cables, the researchers were able to read electrical energy that generated by the wind turbine from the portable computer screen. One unit of Altaeros airborne wind turbine can generate electricity at 30-100 kilowatts. The power could meet the electricity needs of a village in a remote location. Although in such areas generally people do not understand about technology, Altaeros still works because it does not need the human operator for direct it to catch the wind.

Floating wind turbines developed by Altaeros Energies could revolutionize the market for wind energy. (Picture from: http://past.meteomedia.com)

The offshore oil refineries can also take advantage from the Altaeros. The oil companies will require electricity for sucking hydrocarbons from the earth. With the Altaeros tether, then clean electricity can be generated.

How a Helium-filled Wind Turbine Works. (Picture from: http://tech.co/)

The Altaeros's electricity power can also be used in the affected areas. Disasters such as floods, earthquakes, tsunamis, or volcanic eruption will cripple the conventional power grid. And that is time the Altaeros mounted. Altaeros has good mobility because it can be carried in a deflated condition and inflated in its flight location.

The Altaeros airborne wind turbine cover the weaknesses that found on most wind turbines. On conventional wind turbines always use as a building or tower stand. For an example, traditional windmill in the Netherlands, only placed at a height of tens of meters. While modern windmills installed only to a maximum height of 100 meters. Taller towers require large cost so the plant no longer economical. The tower height limits into the sky impenetrable current wind turbine technologies.

However the Altaeros is not the only airborne wind turbine that ever made. The following are 4 airborne wind turbine technologies that ever made before it:

1. Wing 7

Wing 7. (Picture from:
http://www.technewsworld.com/)

Helium's lifting capacity is not always obtained. An energy company, Makani Power using small unmanned aircraft to fly a turbine. Two side-mounted wing aircraft provide enough lift to fly up to a height of at least 300 meters.

To be able to float in the air, the Wing 7 plane is raised with helium balloons. After reaching the specified altitude, the balloon is removed. The aircraft was flown by the wind. In order to stay in place, tethered to the ground plane using a wire. Wing 7 was flying like a kite.

On the Wing 7 body mounted four propeller. Propeller rotation that produces electricity and fed into the station below. Experiments have been conducted last year that showed the turbines could generate 30 kilowatts of electricity. And in mid-May 2013, Wing 7 fly autonomously. The cyberspace giant, Google is interested in the design and soon acquired the Wing 7 manufacturer company.

2.KiteGen

KiteGen. (Picture from:
http://www.formiche.net/)

KiteGen is developed in Italy, the air turbine concept using a kite as used in kite surfers. A hi-tech electronic equipment that controled wiring terminations under, making kites snaking. The kites movement is used as an electicity power producer.

In its development, KiteGen designed to be anchored in the truck, so the turbine can be taken to various locations desired.

3. Magenn Air Rotor System (MARS)

Magenn Air Rotor System 
(MARS). (Picture from:
http://solarist.orgfree.com/)

Magenn Power is an energy company that makes power plants that utilize a rotating balloon. This tool is a cylindrical air-filled balloon that flew to a height of 300 meters but still tethered to the ground. On the side of balloons there is a line of fins that make the cylinder rotating on its axis. The shaft rotation was later arrested by the generator, so it can generate electricity.

The advantage of the Magen turbines is the balloon could deflated and folded up to the size that is easy to carry. And the generating units can be taken to various locations like a portable generator.

4. Twind

Twind. (Picture from:
http://www.twind.eu/)

This power plant uses a parachute is lifted by helium balloon. The parachutes then tethered to a generator that mounted on the ground. The wind makes changing the parachute's altitude, so that the process pull the generator wheel. The generator rotation that produces an electricity power.

The Twind concept was developed by an Italian company, Zanettistudios. This technology is still at the concept level. The researchers awaiting funding from investors to realize their dreams. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | KITEGEN | ALTAEROS ENERGIES | TWIND | REUTERS | ANTON WILLIAM | KORAN TEMPO 4254]

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