Kitepower, a Delft-based start-up, has developed a revolutionary system for an energy kite. This experiment by astronaut Wubbo Ockels was a dream and became a reality with the vision of Kitepower and is now fully operational in Ireland. DROMEC Winches made a significant contribution to the development of the system by designing and building the winches in the ground stations.
Electric winch system
With a winch specially developed by DROMEC Winches, electricity is generated by unrolling a cable connected to the circling kite. The pulling force of the kite is converted into electricity by the electric winch. With the help of a control system, the kite can automatically take off and land. A sustainable and efficient system. The winches from DROMEC Winches in the ground stations control the kite in a constant cycle up and down.
Kite cycle
In the cycle, the kite generates electricity for 96 seconds, after which it consumes electricity for 24 seconds. The system is powered by a winch system where braking provides energy to the grid. This electric drive has an asynchronous motor with a gearbox. It is equipped with a full-safe brake so that the motor can be switched off in case of an emergency. What’s special about the system are the ultracaps, which compensate for the cycle, ensuring continuous power delivery.
The kite can fly out to 200 to 300 meters with high power and low speed in a cycle of about 2 minutes and a total wire length of 450 meters. Then it is depowered and retracted at low power and high speed. With a start at altitude, the kite always has good wind capture.
Geerart de Vree, CTO Engineering:
‘We are working on a third 100kWh system for Kitepower to further innovate the principle so that we can scale up. With the upcoming projects, we aim to achieve even more flight hours and thus contribute to a sustainable world. Additionally, a new 30kWh system is in the works, which can be flexibly deployed in various locations. We have a great collaboration with Kitepower. It is at the cutting edge of what is possible and feasible. It is a skilled team, and the product is industrial-worthy, even in collaboration with aviation authorities.’
Control
DROMEC Winches provides the control of the winch system. This must work in tandem with the kite control. With this control, the winch system can release energy at a speed of 3 meters per second as energy production speed. The retrieval speed is even around 11 meters per second. Sometimes, the system generates a peak of 200kW at very high wind speeds. With Kitepower, a stable way of generating energy is achieved because they can adjust the kite control to the wind speed and the width of the cycle.
Ahead of the wind
Kitepower is a pioneer leading in the top ten of the best kiters in the world. They are literally ‘ahead of the wind’. Energy kites can also be used as temporary energy sources, for example, in the event of natural disasters. This not only makes it sustainable but also serves a social purpose. Thus, together with Kitepower, DROMEC Winches contributes to a green future!
Read more about this system: https://thekitepower.com/the-hawk/
