The Altaeros Buoyant Airborne Turbine – An Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES)
J. C. Wanja NJUE
Aeronautical Engineer - BEng Flight Vehicle Design & Engineering, MSc Thermal Power - Gas Turbine Technology
BAT leverages proven aerospace technology to lift a wind turbine into stronger, more consistent winds beyond the reach of conventional tower-based turbines [4].
Instead of using wings lift to fly, they use a ring-shaped aerostat with a wind turbine installed in its interior. The aerostat is aerodynamically shaped so that the absolute wind generates lift that helps keeping a high angle of altitude together with the buoyance force [5].
Composed of an inflatable helium shell with stabilizing fins and turbine in the middle, the BAT also has the advantage of being quickly deployable, making it a potential power source for remote areas and emergency zones [1].
The Buoyant Wind Turbine (BAT) is designed to take advantage of high-altitude winds, which are often five times greater than those found at typical wind turbine heights [1].
Since BAT don’t need to be installed on the ground, BATs can be used in more locations than wind towers [3].
The BAT, which would float about 1,000 ft. above the landscape, also addresses the noise and aesthetic concerns commonly lobbed at wind turbines. A strong cable tethers the turbine to the ground and also acts as the conduit through which electricity flows [1].
The Altaeros BAT can lift communication, Internet and sensory equipment alongside the turbine to provide additional services for customers. The addition of payload equipment does not affect the BAT's performance [2].
The BAT project was active through about 2019. Firm re-focused on conventional aerostats [6].
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