Wind turbine with rope-drive transmission via Magnus effect-based balloon

Engineering Power Transmission
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(PDF) Wind turbine with rope-drive transmission via Magnus effect-based balloon

Airborne wind energy system (AWES) including a wind turbine with rope-drive transmission, where the main pulley is replaced with a Magnus effect-based balloon.

Introduction

This preprint intends to improve the potential of scalability of an airborne wind energy systems (AWES) including a wind turbine whose transmission to the ground-based generator is done by rope-drive [1 and 2], named “Kiwee”, avoiding supporting the highest mass (generator) aloft. That said the pieces for the transmission settled in the middle on theturbine, above all the “right angle” pulley [1 and 2] can become heavy when scaling.

Possible solution
So, it is planned to install as many of these parts as possible (fixed support and rotatingparts) as inflatable elements. In first, the “right angle” pulley [1 and 2] becomes a Magnus effect-based balloon, with the advantages of both lightness and aerodynamic lift, plus aerostatic lift when inflated with helium or hydrogen, or air heated by an electric cable [4].

(PDF) Wind turbine with rope-drive transmission via Magnus effect-based balloon. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/396444253_Wind_turbine_with_rope-drive_transmission_via_Magnus_effect-based_balloon?channel=doi&linkId=68ec0f0002d6215259bb2893&showFulltext=true [accessed Oct 12 2025].

Some sketches:

Possible mechanism
Possible mechanism682×1173 103 KB

Blades connected directly to the hub and only one rope-drive transmission
Blades connected directly to the hub and only one rope-drive transmission815×1182 40.6 KB

Blades connected directly to the hub and including a wide Magnus balloon
Blades connected directly to the hub and including a wide Magnus balloon815×1182 44.6 KB

Wide Magnus balloon = more wind shadow but also more lift and more turbine protection.

Rope-drive wind turbine farm connected by the Magnus balloon
The Magnus balloon serves as a transmission pulleys, lifter, and wind turbine separator to maximize density.

Rope-drive wind turbine farm connected by the Magnus balloon
Rope-drive wind turbine farm connected by the Magnus balloon1818×976 118 KB

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Experiment of a propeller driving bottles via a bevel gear reproduced below, et on superturbine variant - Engineering / Power Transmission - AWESystems Forum. The bevel gear is not adapted for the described purpose, due to its high mass when scaling and also the position of the Magnus balloon in relation to the rotor.

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Hi Doug,

The nacelle, including the generator and possibly the gearbox, is by far the heaviest part compared to the rotor and the blades. An example of a 1 MW wind turbine:

ELKRAFT Avedøre 1MW - 1,00 MW - Wind turbine

Rotor
Diameter:50.0 m
Swept area:1,963.0 m²
Number of blades:3

Weight
Single blade:3.6 t
Hub:12.8 t
Rotor:23.6 t
Nacelle:91.2 t
Tower, max:95.0 t
Total weight:210.0 t

As you have repeatedly demonstrated that the very large mass of the generator cannot be reduced too much, otherwise it would heat up and break, the Kiwee ​​type rope-drive ground-based generator wind turbine should prevail in this AWES category.

Lightening the hub and main pulley should help reduce weight when scaling. The Magnus balloon is a lightweight option for rope-drive transmission, but giant, lightweight pulleys, such as ring and spokes, could be considered.