Aero-structural dynamics modeling for an auto-gyro generator system

New Leaf Management是一家总部位于温哥华的研发初创公司，专注于可持续能源解决方案。该公司旨在开发新型机载风能（AWE）收集技术，其雄心勃勃的目标是以极低的成本生产能源，从而能够与任何其他形式的传统可再生能源竞争。由于高海拔地区的风力更强、更稳定，NewLeaf正在寻求使用经济的机载设备开发破坏性的AWE收集技术。现代风力涡轮机需要巨大的轮毂、机舱和数百吨的钢塔和混凝土基础。与这样的涡轮机相比，AWE设备只需要一个轻系绳和飞行设备。如果基于AWE的技术成功开发，风能可以在广泛的地理位置收集，并且以不到现有风力涡轮机技术一半的成本提供电力。拟议的项目旨在评估用于发电的自动陀螺风筝系统的可行性，并评估这种系统的商业可行性。为此，新叶开发了一个简单的自陀螺风筝功率预测模型。然而，这个模型没有捕捉风梯度，叶片失速，以及转子和系绳动力学的影响。它不适合用于自陀螺装置的设计和结构优化。为了实现这一目标，需要一种能够准确捕捉自陀螺系统的空气动力学和结构动力学的气动结构动力学模型。该模型将使我们能够预测不同设计配置的性能，以帮助确定对保持飞行稳定性和最大化发电量都很重要的最佳参数。模型验证和设计配置验证测试将使用由新叶公司开发的RC控制自动陀螺原型装置来实现。这些都是通往未来商业AWE演示项目的重要先决条件。

New Leaf Management is a Vancouver-based R&D startup company focused on sustainable energy solutions.The company aims to develop novel Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) harvesting technologies with an ambitiousgoal to produce energy at very low cost so that it can compete against any other form of conventional andrenewable power. Motivated by the fact that wind at higher altitude is both stronger and more consistent, NewLeaf is pursuing the development of disruptive AWE harvesting technologies using economical airbornedevices. A modern wind turbine requires a massive hub, nacelle, and hundreds of tons of tower steel andconcrete foundations. Compared to such a turbine, an AWE apparatus only requires a light tether and flyingapparatus. If AWE based technologies are successfully developed, wind energy can be harvested in a widerrange of geographic locations and provide electricity at less than half the cost of existing wind turbinetechnologies.The proposed project aims to evaluate the feasibility of an auto-gyro kite system for energy generation andassess the commercial viability of such a system. To this end, New Leaf has developed a simple auto-gyro kitepower prediction model. However, this model does not capture the effects of wind gradient, blade stall, as wellas rotor and tether dynamics. It is inappropriate to be used for design and configuration optimization of theauto-gyro apparatus. To achieve this goal, an aero-structural dynamics model that can accurately capture boththe aerodynamics and the structural dynamics of the auto-gyro system is necessary. The model will enable us topredict the performance of different design configurations to help determine the optimum parameters that areimportant for both maintaining flight stability and maximizing power generation. Model validation and designconfiguration proof testing will be achieved using a RC controlled auto-gyro prototype device developed byNew Leaf. These are important pre-requisite R&D steps leading to a future commercial AWE demonstrationproject.