Effect of the Electrical Energy Conversion on Optimal Cycles for Pumping Airborne Wind Energy

Airborne wind energy harvesting offers an alternative to traditional wind turbines by flying crosswind cycles with a tethered airfoil. By reeling in and out the tether periodically, net electrical power can be generated. When looking for the optimal cycle to fly, one should optimize for maximal electrical power generation. However, the conversion from mechanical to electrical power was not yet included in the models. In this paper, it is shown that by including an electrical energy conversion model into cycle optimization, the electrical output of the system increases and the acquired system can be used in a broader range of wind speeds. The approach is illustrated with experimentally verified models.