Technological challenge for harvesting wind energy at high altitude

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630496
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Energy engineering
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Arakawa Kazuo 九州大学, 応用力学研究所, 教授 (00151150)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 再生可能エネルギー

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed research and development for harvesting wind energy at high altitude using two types of airbone wind rotors and the energy transfer method using the torsional elastic deformation of polymeric fiber tether ropes. Using improved two types of airbone wind rotors, we measured torque and tension of the tether ropes induced by the wind rotors. The results suggested that the wind rotors have a promising for harvesting wind energy at high altitude. We also studied the fracture behavior of the tether ropes and carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) manufactured with a vacuum assisted resin transfer molding to construct the airbone wind rotors with light weight and high strength.

Free Research Field

工学