"KiteGen Project: Optimisation of a working cycle for the Carousel wind energy generator" Ilario Gerlero and Filiberto Fele (Politecnico di Torino)
Abstract: The Kite Wind Generators represent a class of wind generators, based on the control of tethered airfoils (kites) aimed to be able to overcome the main limitations of the present aeolian technology based on wind mills.
Two configurations are considered here for wind energy generation, indicated as push-pull (Yo-Yo) and Carousel, respectively.
The talk presents the Carousel KWG model, highlighting the main results achieved by the kite’s research group of Prof. Mario Milanese from “Politecnico di Torino”. The presentation will carry on with the aim of our work, which consist in the numerical optimisation of the working dynamics for the Carousel KWG, in order to maximize the produced energy. The solution that will be achieved for the Carousel KWG dynamics will give us the possibility to compare it with the yo-yo configuration, already optimized. Finally we will show the results achieved in first two weeks of our study, discussing about the problems founded until now.
The numerical optimisation is done by using the package MUSCOD-II, based on Bock’s direct multiple shooting method.
Two OPTEC professors have been awarded three "Gouden Krijtjes", the yearly teaching awards given by the organization of engineering students (vtk). Prof. Lombaert was awarded the prize for the best course in civil engineering, and Prof. Diehl the prizes for the best professor and the best course in mathematical engineering (where he teaches numerical optimization). They received these awards at the yearly "proffentap" where experienced students taught them how to draft beer professionally.
