Kite bunch

It could also be “kite bouquet”, or even “kite cluster” by analogy with “parachute cluster”.

It is not a network of kites because each of the kites is completely independent.

This is a simple method (except in construction and active control) to arrange an AWES farm with the greatest possible density in a given space.

These are kites flying crosswind (left, right…, rather than figure-eight paths which take too much space) in superposition, each kite being attached to its winch, all the winches and generators being in the same ground station which can rotate depending on the direction of the wind.

An attempt had been made: see the presentation to the 21st World Energy Congress Montreal 2010 https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/servlets/purl/21505319 and the old video, just below.

OrthoKiteBunch

Hence the name of this topic. One can see that the management of the kites on the video is too difficult, if even possible, at least because the point of intersection of the kite bunch lines is in flight, while the lines should arrive at the station to allow a better control. Moreover the lever system is not useful and is replaced with winches in the ground station, for a reeling yo-yo mode which is equivalent but far simpler. A sketch below:


In this configuration, tight (with recent wings such like Flysurfer that are more efficient and easy to handle) half turns can be achieved in the end of each horizontal trajectory and close to the edge of the flight window, while a short reel-in recovery phase occurs where the traction is lower.

Such a configuration could also apply to Wind Fisher MAG.

Preprint “Kite bunch”: DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.18810.71361.

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