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Aerodynamic Performance and Wake Flow of Crosswind Kite Power Systems

Author

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  • Mojtaba Kheiri

    (Fluid-Structure Interactions & Aeroelasticity Laboratory, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
    New Leaf Management Ltd., 500-1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3, Canada)

  • Samson Victor

    (New Leaf Management Ltd., 500-1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3, Canada)

  • Sina Rangriz

    (Fluid-Structure Interactions & Aeroelasticity Laboratory, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montreal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada)

  • Mher M. Karakouzian

    (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, Canada)

  • Frederic Bourgault

    (New Leaf Management Ltd., 500-1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 2K3, Canada)

Abstract

This paper presents some results from a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a multi-megawatt crosswind kite spinning on a circular path in a straight downwind configuration. The unsteady Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations closed by the k − ω SST turbulence model are solved in the three-dimensional space using ANSYS Fluent. The flow behaviour is examined at the rotation plane, and the overall (or global) induction factor is obtained by getting the weighted average of induction factors on multiple annuli over the swept area. The wake flow behaviour is also discussed in some details using velocity and pressure contour plots. In addition to the CFD model, an analytical model for calculating the average flow velocity and radii of the annular wake downstream of the kite is developed. The model is formulated based on the widely-used Jensen’s model which was developed for conventional wind turbines, and thus has a simple form. Expressions for the dimensionless wake flow velocity and wake radii are obtained by assuming self-similarity of flow velocity and linear wake expansion. Comparisons are made between numerical results from the analytical model and those from the CFD simulation. The level of agreement was found to be reasonably good. Such computational and analytical models are indispensable for kite farm layout design and optimization, where aerodynamic interactions between kites should be considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Mojtaba Kheiri & Samson Victor & Sina Rangriz & Mher M. Karakouzian & Frederic Bourgault, 2022. "Aerodynamic Performance and Wake Flow of Crosswind Kite Power Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:7:p:2449-:d:780433
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kaldellis, John K. & Triantafyllou, Panagiotis & Stinis, Panagiotis, 2021. "Critical evaluation of Wind Turbines’ analytical wake models," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
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    5. De Lellis, Marcelo & Reginatto, Romeu & Saraiva, Ramiro & Trofino, Alexandre, 2018. "The Betz limit applied to Airborne Wind Energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 32-40.
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    Cited by:

    1. Antonio Crespo, 2023. "Computational Fluid Dynamic Models of Wind Turbine Wakes," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-3, February.
    2. Niels Pynaert & Thomas Haas & Jolan Wauters & Guillaume Crevecoeur & Joris Degroote, 2023. "Wing Deformation of an Airborne Wind Energy System in Crosswind Flight Using High-Fidelity Fluid–Structure Interaction," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.

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