Hey OgNasty,
Have you looked into/read up on High Altitude Wind Generation Technologies? It's been discussed in very isolated circles dating back to the late 1970s, but never implemented. Only now are companies starting to really look at it's true potential. Some interesting tech startups are emerging with interesting ways of harnessing wind turbine energy generation with the use of kites flown at high altitudes.
Theres a number of projects that seem far fetched, but I think in the not so distant future High Altitude Wind Generation is going to be a huge industry; simply because it makes financial sense on practically every level.
I actually went out to Joshua Tree CA a few years back and drove through the massive Wind Farms on the way near the park. Did a lot of photography, got up close to the massive turbines, pretty crazy. Standing directly under a full sized wind turbine while it's running, you literally feel the shockwave, like a very low sounding thump from a woofer; run through your body as each blade crosses down and over you 20 feet above.
But high altitude concepts are pretty amazing, in terms of what's possible with very basic concepts simply put into place and used.
The two that stand out to me are the Laddermill:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laddermill and Angle of Attack Pully systems.
Second; The concept of constructing a large kite which is the shape of a cylinder; The cylinder has vents, similar to how a parachute is able to open vents to turn; which when flown forces the Kite into a fast spinning motion. Tethered with a high strength low weight cable, the kite is flown up to +20,000 feet; and if geographically positioned correctly; you put the kite into the Jet Stream. A fairly constant 200+ MPH wind-stream that never stops. This of course forces the kite to spin very fast, which creates tension on the cable, and the cable spins and turns the generator which is based on the ground. The economics of this are amazing considering that this eliminates much of the costs of ground based turbines; which require large amounts of very heavy materials; the ground pole; the blades, etc, plus lifespan and replacement of such.
Last, but not a favorite;
The Angle of Attach is like a fish on a reel; the kite is pitched back to catch the wind; causing it to reel outwards; which spins a generator, when the kite reaches 50,000 feet; the cable tension is released, and a weight moves towards the nose; pitching it foward. So the kite no longer is being held, and pitched down. After it hits 10,000 feet, the cable is drawn in; (kite is now at low altitude but distance wise very far away); and as the cable is drawn in with the nose down; it maintains low altitude and returns close to the generator. Then the cable is pulled tight, and the weight is moved to the aft of the kite, pitching it back, creating lift, back to 50,000 feet... which as it pulls out drives the generator.
Of course this done on a large scale; thousands of kites like this, would produce massive amounts of energy; at a much more efficient rate; harnessing the 200 MPH winds at high altitudes and not requiring all the heavy steel of today's ground based wind turbines.
Ships could also use them at sea; a generator on a ship, with a kite single 10kw generator on board.
And of course; 100% coordination with the FAA and flight traffic patterns- just to keep all those frequent flyers flying.
But read through this thread; interesting stuff, and good ideas here. Just thought I'd pass this info along; in case you hadnt heard about it, as it's only recently been starting to catch "wind" and still only in small circles. But promising.
Hope you're well,
Cheers!
Strato
