Feasibility of using wind power for an aerostat-borne radar system
The feasibility of using a wind power system on an aerostat (tethered baloon) was studied. The system would be used by the US Air Force North Warning Program to provide power for a radar carried on the aerostat. Upper atmosphere wind data for a potential site were collected and probability functions for wind speed and wind power density calculated. Information was collected on aerostats, tethers, telemetry transmitters, and auxiliary equipment. Important design considerations were identified and useful mathematical expressions, e.g., wind reliability, derived. A first-cut wind power system was designed and system performance and aerodynamic loads were calculated. The benefits and risks of a wind power system were enumerated. The study concluded that a wind system is feasible for this application.
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- OSTI ID:
- 5397984
- Report Number(s):
- SERI/STR-217-2899; ON: DE86004461
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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