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1. INTRODUCTION
Today more than 80 per cent of the world’s electric power production comes from fossil-
fuelled plants. As the demand for electricity is forecasted to increase, there is an urgent need
to find new methods to extract electric energy from renewable sources. Renewable electric
energy supply is today one of the highest priorities in many parts of the world.
The yoto declaration !""# and the last agreement at $arra%ech &00& are significant
proof of this. 'oth the () and the )* ha+e set their targets on future greenhouse emissions.
ence Renewable (nergy *ources are one of future energy producers. Renewable
energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight , wind , rain , tides and geothermal heat , which are renewable naturally replenished .
/n &00 , about !81 of global final energy consumption came from renewable, with !21
coming from traditional biomass , which is mainly used for heating , and 21
from hydroelectricity . 3ew renewable small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar,
geothermal, and biofuels accounted for another &.41 and are growing +ery rapidly. The
share of renewable in electricity generation is around !81, with !51 of global electricity
coming from hydroelectricity and 2.41 from new renewable.
6ind is a form of solar energy. 6inds are caused by the une+en heating of the atmosphere
by the sun, the irregularities of the earth7s surface, and rotation of the earth. 6ind flow
patterns are modified by the earth7s terrain, bodies of water, and +egetation. umans use this
wind flow, or motion energy, for many purposes sailing, flying a %ite, and e+en generating
electricity.
6ind power is growing at the rate of 201 annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of
!5#,"00 megawatts $6 in &00", and is widely used in (urope , Asia , and the )nited *tates .
The terms wind energy or wind power describes the process by which the wind is used to
generate mechanical power or electricity. 6ind turbines con+ert the %inetic energy in the
wind into mechanical power. This mechanical power can be used for specific tas%s such as
grinding grain or pumping water or a generator can con+ert this mechanical power into
electricity.
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'ut the 9on+entional 6ind Turbines ha+e the disad+antage of being stuc% on the
ground, conse:uently dependent on the wind passing through their location and they are not
economical. Thus these factors ma%e it unreliable for power production. ence a new
inno+ati+e way of deli+ering clean renewable energy to the world has e+ol+ed i.e.
Airborne Wind Turbine is a new design concept for a wind turbine that is floating in the air
without a tower. Airborne Wind Turbine was designed and de+eloped by Magenn Power ,
which is an ;ntario based company. /t is also called as $.A.R.* $agenn Air Rotor *ystem .
Airborne Wind Turbines ha+e distinct ad+antages o+er existing 9on+entional 6ind
Turbines and <iesel =enerating *ystems including global deployment, lower costs, better
operational performance, and greater en+ironmental ad+antages.
ence the new %ind wind turbine would be useful in fulfilling the future energy demands
with >ero emissions.
?There is enough energy in high altitude winds to power ci+ili>ation !00 times o+er@ and
sooner or later, we7re going to learn to tap into the power of winds and use it to run
ci+ili>ation.? *ays en 9aldeira, rofessor of =lobal (cology at the 9arnegie /nstitution for
*cience.
*ource www.wi%ipedia.orgwww.magenn.com
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2. TECHNOLO !
2.1. Wor"ing#
The Airborne wind Turbine is lighter-than-air tethered de+ice that rotates about ahori>ontal axis in response to wind, efficiently generating clean renewable electrical energy at
a lower cost than all competing systems. 6hen wind rotates the turbine7s blades, which in
turn cause an attached generator to also spin. The generator then con+erts that mo+ing energy
of the wind into electricity using electromagnetic induction. The blades of the $AR* turbine
are actually part of the three-dimensional blimp itself. The blades catch the wind, causing the
entire blimp to spin around. After the generator con+erts that mo+ement into electricity, it7s
transferred down the turbine7s long tether.
*ource www.wi%ipedia.org
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2.2. How the lift is created?
The lift for the airborne turbine is created due to two reasons. rimarily it’s due to
buoyant lift i.e. due to helium present in the turbine which is lighter than the air. The amount
of helium present in the airship decides the altitude of operation. The helium pro+ides at leasttwice the positi+e lift +ersus the o+erall weight of the $AR* unit. The secondary lift is due to
aerodynamic effect or MA NU$ E%%ECT. $agnus (ffect was disco+ered in the mid !800,
which create lift when a spherical or cylindrical obBect is spun while mo+ing in a fluid. A
dimpled golf ball, hit properly, has a bac% spin that causes it to lift in flight. A baseball cur+e
ball pitch uses the $agnus effect. 'asically, a bac% spin causes a low pressure region to form
abo+e the obBect and high pressure to form below, resulting in lift. A large obBect li%e the
$agenn Air Rotor creates substantial lift, so much so that the de+ice should actually wor% ina wind, without using a lifting gas.
2.3. Components in Airborne Wind Turbine:
The components in $agenn Air Rotary *ystem are
1& '(adder#
The bag filled with any gas is called bladder, here the airship is filled with inert gas which
is non-flammable i.e. elium . elium is the second most abundant element in the
uni+erse. elium pro+ides extra lift and will %eep $AR* at altitude in +ery low winds or
calm air. /t is also plentiful, inexpensi+e and en+ironmentally safe. elium7s inert :uality
o+er other lifting gases ma%es it +ery acceptable. $AR* !0%6 unit will re:uire slightly
o+er 2&,000 cubic feet of helium. The price of elium +aries from country to country. /t
is roughly C0.20 cents per cubic foot. 'ut the helium gas lea%s out at a rate of 0.51 permonth or 1 per year@ therefore the $AR* units will ha+e to be topped up with elium
e+ery 4 to months. The bladder is made up of Dectran fabric which has high strength,
low elongation properties. The bladder is e:uipped with a radar reflecti+e material that
will present an echo to surface radar operating in the &00 $ > to � $ > fre:uency
range. This is useful for AT9 Air Traffic 9ontroller to identify the $agenn wind rotor, if
they interfere the flight path
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2& $ai(#
The sail is used to catch the wind and con+ert %inetic energy into rotational energy. The sail
acts as a blade of airborne wind turbine. The sail is inclined to the rudder at an angle of 0
degree to ha+e more stable rotation. The sails are made up of fabric Dectran with an inner
laminated coating of $ylar to reduce porosity and an exterior coating of Tedlar which will
pro+ide ultra-+iolet protection, scuff resistance and color. <acron is used for boat sails, $ylar
in sil+er toy helium balloons, and Tedlar is the plastic coating found in all-weather house
siding.
)& Te*+er#
The airborne wind turbine is tied to the winch by the rope made up of Dectran fiber. Tether
%eeps the turbine under control and transfers the electricity produced by the generators down.
Dectran is the core of a braided cable tether that is wrapped with copper that can carry
electrical currents. The tether is part of a sophisticated connection system that hoo%s the
generators on each side of the floating turbine !,000 feet up in the air E where the winds blow
steadily and reliably E to the ground below and transfers electricity that can be used
immediately or stored in batteries. )nits that operate o+er !50 feet will ha+e a lighting
system including indi+idual lights that are placed e+ery 50 feet on its tether. The lights will
flash once per second.
,& enera*or#
The generator is used to con+ert rotational energy into electrical energy. There are &
generators attached to the axle on the either sides. )sually !00%6 capacity generators are
used. 6hich produce the output in 280 D 2 hase 50 >, 480 F 00 D 2 hase 0 > or
Regulated <9 .
*ource # ywind floating wind power production.
'y Alexandra 'ech gBor+ oil F energy in&00 -05-&4
www.magenn.com
www.howstuffwor%s.com
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). PER%ORMANCE CHARACTERI$TIC$
3.1. Performance:
The performance of the $agenn Air Rotary *ystem of !00%6 model which is yet to start its production in late &0!0 is gi+en below
MAR$ 1--"W Per or/an0e $ e0i i0a*ions
$agenn ower roduct $odel !00%6
Rated ower !0!,000 6atts
*i>e <iameter x Gength 45 ft x !00 ft plus blade height of && ft each
*hipping 6eight )nder !2,000 lbs
Dolume of elium &00,000 cubic feet
Tether eight #50 ft standard - up to !,500 ft optional tether length
*tart-up 6ind *peed &.5 mHsec - 5. mph
9ut-in 6ind *peed 2.0 mHsec - .# mph
Rated 6ind *peed !&.0 mHsec - & .8 mph
9ut-out 6ind *peed &4.0 mHsec - 52.# mph
$aximum 6ind *peed 20.0 mHsec - #.! mph
Temperature Range -40I9 H-40IJ to K45I9HK!!2IJ
=enerators !00 %6 Total
;utput Jorm280 D 2 hase 50 >, 480 F 00 D 2 hase 0 > orRegulated <9
Gife 9ycle !0 to !5 Lears
*ource www.magenn.com
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The erformance graph of ower ;utput Ds 6ind *peed of $AR* !00%6
model is shown below
3.2. afet! "actors:
*afety is a +ery important factor in present world@ hence $agenn has ta%en some steps to
ensure the safety of the turbine. *ome of them are gi+en below
• $agenn Air Rotor *ystem is e:uipped with a radar reflecti+e material that will
present an echo to surface radar operating in the &00 $ > to � $ > fre:uency
range. *o that AT9 Air Traffic 9ontroller to identify the $agenn wind rotor, if they
in interfere flight path.• $AR* units that operate o+er !50 feet will ha+e a lighting system including
indi+idual lights that are placed e+ery 50 feet on its tether. The lights will flash once
per second. This is because any flying obBect would identify the rope and a+oid
damage.
• A deflate system common on all blimps is an emergency system that would only be
used if for some reason the rotor bro%e free or other extreme emergency li%e high
winds, lightning’s etc .
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• /f the $AR* unit Mcut downN system does not function properly, it will immediately
notify the nearest AT9 facility of the location, time of escape and the estimated flight
path of the balloon.
,. CON ENTIONAL WINDTUR'INE$ $. AIR'ORNE
WINDTUR'INE$
As we %now con+entional wind turbines are maBor source for wind energy production, but
they are ha+ing some problems associated with them. They are
! Altitude and #fficienc! #
The maBor difference between con+entional and airborne wind turbines is the power output
or efficiency. This is due to the altitude of operation of con+entional is max. of 2&8ft. but
airborne wor%s at max. of !000ft.the below fig. explains it clearly.
/n 'roo%ha+en 3ew Lor% the 9apacity Jactor at !,000 feet for a $AR* high altitude wind
turbine of !00%6 is 5!1 +ersus !#.!1 for a con+entional wind turbine of &$6 operating at
2&8 feet.
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6inds at higher le+els are significantly faster than low-le+el winds because they don7t
encounter as much resistance from obBects on the ground li%e trees and buildings. Research
shows that with each doubling of ele+ation, there is a !& percent increase in wind speed@ with
each doubling of wind speed there is an eightfold increase in wind power
& Cost:
The cost of the con+entional wind turbines is +ery high compared to airborne wind
turbines. This is due to the components li%e tower@ blades etc that con+entional wind turbines
need to produce power. 'ut in airborne wind turbines there is no need for tower as it floats in
the air and stiff blades are not necessary.
Also the installation cost of con+entional wind turbines is high as it needs large cranes to liftthe blades. 9onstructing and installing con+entional wind turbines is a maBor endea+or often
in+ol+ing foundation blasting and the transport of hea+y e:uipment. 'ut in the airborne wind
turbines the system needs to be inflated with helium and tethered to winch.
2 $ocation:
The con+entional wind turbines are dependent on the location, means they are dependent on
wind speed flowing through them. As they need perfect location or coastal areas to produceelectricity continuously. 'ut as we can see the fig the wind speed inc. with altitude hence the
airborne wind turbines can be placed anywhere.
The locations of the con+entional wind turbines are limited to the high wind blowing areas
only, hence it could not be placed near the power grid therefore the transmission line costs are
+ery high. 'ut in case of airborne wind turbines as it could be placed almost anywhere hence
it reduces the transmission line costs.
A(( 0o/ e*ing 0on3en*iona( wind genera*ors use b(aded *wo4di/ensiona( dis"4(i"e
s*ru0*ures and rigid *owers. T+e Magenn Power Air Ro*or s5s*e/ is a 0(osed *+ree4
di/ensiona( s*ru0*ure 605(inder&. I* o ers +ig+ *or7ue8 (ow s*ar*ing s eeds8 and su erior
o3era(( e i0ien05 *+an"s *o i*s abi(i*5 *o de (o5 +ig+er. T+e 0(osed s*ru0*ure a((ows
Magenn Power *o rodu0e wind ro*ors ro/ 3er5 s/a(( *o 3er5 (arge si9es a* a ra0*ion
o *+e 0os* o 0urren* wind genera*ors.
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*ource www.marinebu>>.com, www.magenn.com
9alifornia offshore wind energy potential $ichael O.<+ora% article history@ Recei+ed &0 April &00",
accepted !0 3o+ember &00"
:. AD ANTA E$
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is less expensi+e per unit of actual electrical energy output
than competing wind power systems. under &0 cents per %6h
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem will deli+er time-a+eraged output much closer to its rated
capacity than the capacity factor typical with con+entional designs. $agenn efficiency
will be &5 to 0 percent. This is hugely important, since doubling capacity factor cuts
the cost of each deli+ered watt by half.
6ind farms can be placed closer to demand centers, reducing transmission line costs
and transmission line loses.
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is operable between & meterHsec and in excess of &8
metersHsec.
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem can be raised to higher altitudes, thus capitali>ing on
higher winds aloft. Altitudes from 400-ft to !,000-ft abo+e ground le+el are possible,
without ha+ing to build an expensi+e tower, or use a crane to perform maintenance.
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem is mobile and can be easily mo+ed to different locations to
correspond to changing wind patterns. $obility is also useful in emergency
deployment and disaster relief situations.
The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem is bird and bat friendly.
$agenn Air Rotary *ystem creates lower noise and +ibrations.
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;. DI$AD ANTA E$
The only restriction is that $agenn Air Rotary *ystems may not operate in controlled
airspace or within fi+e miles of the radius of any airport. *o as to a+oid interference
with the flight path.
The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem could not operate during bad weather conditions, due
to high wind speeds.
The $agenn Air Rotary *ystem is a new technology hence
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<. APPLICATION$
The application of $agenn Air Rotary *ystems are off-grid and mini-grid application@
combined with diesel power for de+eloping nations, island nations, farms, remote areas, cell
towers, exploration e:uipment, oil and gas wells, mining sites, offshore drilling stations, and
bac%up power F water pumps. $A=(33 rotors could also be used for on-grid applications
for farms, factories, and remote communities.
*ome applications are shown here
Mine $i*e# /t can be deployed temporarily in mining sites for power production.
*ource Responses of Jloating wind turbines to wind and (xcitation, $aster thesis in ocean
engineering, . .Gee, $assachusetts /nstitute of technology, &005, www.magenn.com
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Re/o*e E= (ora*ions# Jor remote explorations it is +ery useful ha+e power, hence $AR*
could pro+ide it, as it could be easily installed and is mobile.
Oi( Rigs# The oil rigs could use $AR* for producing power as it needs lesser area and is
portable. ere $AR* also does not produce any greenhouse gas.
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>. CONCLU$ION
(lectricity plays a +ery important role in our day to day life with out which our life becomesmiserable. There is a need to preser+e as well as de+elop it using freely a+ailable sources for
which wind energy is the best option.
6ind power has the potential to be a source of unlimited, clean, renewable energy of the
future. /f we use &01 of wind power to produce electric energy it will satisfy the times the
world’s electricity re:uirement.
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?. RE%ERENCE$
P ywind floating wind power production.
'y Alexandra 'ech gBor+ oil F energy in&00 -05-&4
PResponses of Jloating wind turbines to wind and (xcitation, $aster thesis in ocean
engineering, . .Gee, $assachhusetts /nstitute of technology, &005
P9alifornia offshore wind energy potential $ichael O.<+ora% article history@ Recei+ed &0
April &00", accepted !0 3o+ember &00"
Pwww.magenn.com, $ac 'rown, chief operating officer of ;ttawa-based $agenn ower
Pwww.marinebu>>.com
Pwww.wi%ipedia.orgHairborne wind turbines