WIND ENERGY TAKES FLIGHT WITH ALTAEROS ENERGIES’ FLYING TURBINE

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By Sierra Robinson

June 1, 2012 (San Diego's East County)--It has been proven that ground-based wind turbines can result in issues such as environmental damage, noise and visual blight. But Altaeros Energies has brought an intriguing alternative to the table.

Altaeros has announced a breakthrough in high altitude wind power. In April, the company reports that it tested a successful prototype of a flying wind turbine, able to lift a standard Skystream turbine 1000 feet into the air--and produce far more power with the blades aloft.

 
The company has even posted a video of the prototype rising into the skies and landing in a completely automated cycle.This means that the turbine inflates, flies, and lands on its docking station completely on its own.

The turbine is designed to fly at great heights, where the wind speed is stronger, and more constant than those closer to the ground.

"Wind speeds are about twice as strong at 1,000 feet as at 100 feet...That means you can get about five times as much energy as from a conventional similar size and scale turbine," said co-designer Adam Rein.
Altaeros’ goal is to be able to produce power for remote, hard to reach areas, or industrial places where people need cheaper energy while off the grid. Rein said that several places they had in mind where Alaska and Hawaii.

“On thing particularly of interest in California is huge untapped winds over the ocean,” said Rein. Landlocked turbines can only delve so deep in the water, while a flyting turbine may be able to dock on a floating barge anywhere. The Califiornia Energy Commission is looking at the potential for Altaeros to develop a large system that could operate five to ten miles off the coast, Rein added.

This new technology isn’t expected to be on the market anytime soon, Rein affirmed; “We’re looking at about three years until we have our first products, and another year or two of demonstrations.”

The company has obtained funding from the U.S. Department of Agricultural as well as the California Energy Commission, the Conoco Phillips corporation, and private investors to date.

After completing a prototype this spring, the company isn ow designing its first product--a 30 Kw system capable of powering approximately eight homes. 

The prototype used a Skystream turbine surrounded by a helium-filled inflatable shell measuring only about 35 feet.

The company aims to achieve heights of 1,000 feet. "The main barrier is that you are limited to 2,000 feet," Rein said. Above that, airspace is restricted due to aircraft traffic. Flying turbines would also have to be sited at least three miles from airports and have lights at night for visibility to aircraft.

From underneath, "these are the equivalent of looking at a white blimp mixed in with the sky and clouds," Rein said. "We can make them as inconspicuous as possible, or more conspicuous...Some have said we want it conspicuous with the name of our town. WE want to be flexible and let each community decide."

The technology offers potential for improvements over some problems caused by conventional wind energy facilities, such as environmental and habitat destruction, noise, and deaths of birds that fly into the whirling blades.

A preliminary study on birds found that "at higher altitudes you ahve less bird activity and the inflatable shell is visible, so it acts as a deterrent," Rein said. The main concern from an avian standpoint is making cables tethered to the ground visible during night and fog, he added.

Multiple tethers are included on the company's flying turbines.  Each also has a multilple rip system to lower it to the ground in case of emergency.  Tough helium inflatable shells won't bursts if penetrated, but instead form slow leaks that can be easily patched, according to Altaeros.

Asked about decibels produced, Rein conceded he doesn't have measurements yet, nor is he aware whether the devices produce infrasound. He said studies are needed. But he observed, "All our modeling shows it will be less noise than a conventional turbine. It is higher in the air with a smaller blade, and the inflatable shell acts as a sound buffer."

Asked about stray voltage, a problem at some wind facilities, Rein replied, "I would expect we will face similar opportunities and challenges facing conventional wind."

Energy would be transmitted from the flying turbine down a cable, then connected to powerlines to tie into the grid, or a microgrid can be created for remote locations. 

The company is one of about a half dozen now in the prototype stage with flying turbines. Another, Makani, has a system that resembles an airplane that flies on a tether. Makani has obtained funds from Google and the U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information about Altaeros Energies and their flying wind turbine design, visit their site or read their newsletter listed below.

Site: http://www.altaerosenergies.com/ 

Press release: http://www.altaerosenergies.com/AltaerosPressRelease032712.pdf


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