On the Take-off of Airborne Wind Energy Systems Based on Rigid Wings

TL;DR

This paper analyzes and compares three take-off methods for tethered airborne wind energy systems with rigid wings, identifying the most viable approach through numerical simulations and viability criteria.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive comparison of take-off strategies and validates the most promising method using detailed numerical simulations.

Findings

Linear take-off with on-board propellers is most viable.

Numerical simulations confirm the approach's feasibility.

Power requirements for take-off are within practical limits.

Abstract

The problem of launching a tethered aircraft to be used for airborne wind energy generation is investigated. Exploiting well-assessed physical principles, an analysis of three different take-off approaches is carried out. The approaches are then compared on the basis of quantitative and qualitative criteria introduced to assess their technical and economic viability. Finally, a deeper study of the concept that is deemed the most viable one, i.e. a linear take-off maneuver combined with on-board propellers, is performed by means of numerical simulations. The latter are used to refine the initial analysis in terms of power required for take-off, and further confirm the viability of the approach.