ylexot
Super Genius
http://www.popsci.com/science/artic...lying-turbine-goes-higher-find-stronger-winds
This is a pretty neat concept.
Airborne Wind Turbine
- Thread starter ylexot
- Start date
R
rhenderson
Guest
As height at which it is used is increased there will be an increase in the expanse of the tether points on the ground.
if ground tether points are not dispersed sufficiently a change in wind direction could cause the entire device to rotate, twisting the tethers and making retrieval difficult.
Also, at some point this device will require alert lights for aviation saftey - same as towers - especially along the tethers. Also, there is the issue of just how strong of a wind can it withstand? Stronger tethers to with stand stronger winds will add weight.
if ground tether points are not dispersed sufficiently a change in wind direction could cause the entire device to rotate, twisting the tethers and making retrieval difficult.
Also, at some point this device will require alert lights for aviation saftey - same as towers - especially along the tethers. Also, there is the issue of just how strong of a wind can it withstand? Stronger tethers to with stand stronger winds will add weight.
dustin
UAIOE
That tethering cable is gioing to be the choke point then, if the try to send any signifigant amount of power down it, it's going to turn into a fusible link. If they try to increase the wire guage to get by this issue then they increase the weight of the cable to the point that the balloon won't be able to carry it up.
GWguy
*
Well, since it has already flown and proven, that's probably not much to get excited about.
I never saw, how many watts made it to the ground?
GWguy
*
dunno... didn't see that.
It doesn't have to be high current. I'd like to think they were smart about this and use A/C current at a higher voltage, not unlike the miles of transmission lines to your house. Smaller, lighter cables.
I gather it's purpose is to charge batteries, and you don't need high current to do that.