Faculty Publications
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/18736
Publications by NITK Faculty
Browse
4 results
Search Results
Item Airborne Kite Tether Force Estimation and Experimental Validation Using Analytical and Machine Learning Models for Coastal Regions(MDPI, 2022) Castelino, R.V.; Kashyap, Y.; Kosmopoulos, P.Wind power can significantly contribute to the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energies. Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) technology is one of the approaches to tapping the power of high-altitude wind. The main purpose of a ground-based kite power system is to estimate the tether force for autonomous operations. The tether force of a particular kite depends on the wind velocity and the kite’s orientation to the wind vector in the figure-eight trajectory. In this paper, we present an experimental measurement of the pulling force of an Airush Lithium 12 (Formula presented.) kite with a constant tether length of 24 m in a coastal region. We obtain the position and orientation data of the kite from the sensors mounted on the kite. The flight dynamics of the kite are studied using multiple field tests under steady and turbulent wind conditions. We propose a physical model (PM) using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) deep neural network algorithms to estimate the tether force in the experimental validation. The performance study using the root mean square error (RMSE) method shows that the LSTM model performs better, with overall error values of 126 N and 168 N under steady and turbulent wind conditions. © 2022 by the authors.Item Exploring the Potential of Kite-Based Wind Power Generation: An Emulation-Based Approach(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Castelino, R.V.; Kumar, P.; Kashyap, Y.; Karthikeyan, A.; Sharma K, M.; Karmakar, D.; Kosmopoulos, P.A Kite-based Airborne Wind Energy Conversion System (KAWECS) works by harnessing the kinetic energy from the wind and converting it into electric power. The study of the dynamics of KAWECS is fundamental in researching and developing a commercial-scale KAWECS. Testing an actual KAWECS in a location with suitable wind conditions is only sometimes a trusted method for conducting research. A KAWECS emulator was developed based on a Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM) drive coupled with a generator to mimic the kite’s behaviour in wind conditions. Using MATLAB-SIMULINK, three different power ratings of 1 kW, 10 kW, and 100 kW systems were designed with a kite surface area of 2.5 m (Formula presented.), 14 m (Formula presented.), and 60 m (Formula presented.), respectively. The reel-out speed of the tether, tether force, traction power, drum speed, and drum torque were analysed for a wind speed range of 2 m/s to 12.25 m/s. The satellite wind speed data at 10 m and 50 m above ground with field data of the kite’s figure-of-eight trajectories were used to emulate the kite’s characteristics. The results of this study will promote the use of KAWECS, which can provide reliable and seamless energy flow, enriching wind energy exploitation under various installation environments. © 2023 by the authors.Item Laboratory-Scale Airborne Wind Energy Conversion Emulator Using OPAL-RT Real-Time Simulator(Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2023) Kumar, P.; Kashyap, Y.; Castelino, R.V.; Karthikeyan, A.; Sharma K, M.; Karmakar, D.; Kosmopoulos, P.Airborne wind energy systems (AWES) are more efficient than traditional wind turbines because they can capture higher wind speeds at higher altitudes using connected kite generators. Securing a real wind turbine or a site with favorable wind conditions is not always an assured opportunity for conducting research. Hence, the Research and Development of the Laboratory Scale Airborne Wind Energy Conversion System (LAWECS) require a better understanding of airborne wind turbine dynamics and emulation. Therefore, an airborne wind turbine emulation system was designed, implemented, simulated, and experimentally tested with ground data for the real time simulation. The speed and torque of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) connected to a kite are regulated to maximize wind energy harvesting. A field-oriented control technique is then used to control the PMSM’s torque, while a three-phase power inverter is utilized to drive the PMSM with PI controllers in a closed loop. The proposed framework was tested, and the emulated airborne wind energy conversion system results were proven experimentally for different wind speeds and generator loads. Further, the LAWECS emulator simulated a 2 kW, 20 kW, and 60 kW designed with a projected kite area of 5, 25, and 70 square meters, respectively. This system was simulated using the Matlab/Simulink software and tested with the experimental data. Furthermore, the evaluation of the proposed framework is validated using a real-time hardware-in-the-loop environment, which uses the FPGA-based OPAL-RT Simulator. © 2023 by the authors.Item Design and development of a ground-based kite steer controller for kite-based wind power generation(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2025) Castelino, R.V.; Kumar, P.; Kashyap, Y.Kite Power Systems, a class of Airborne Wind Energy Systems (AWES), are capable of harvesting high-altitude wind energy using tethered kites, offering substantial material and efficiency advantages over traditional wind turbines. This paper introduces a novel ground-based Kite Steer Controller (KSC), pivotal for optimizing kite trajectory and power generation. The proposed KSC incorporates a Roll-Pitch-Zone control method, enabling precise steering in figure-of-eight trajectories while maintaining operational efficiency under varying wind conditions, including turbulence. Unlike prior approaches, this study emphasizes a detailed force analysis of control lines, revealing that control forces account for 23% of total aerodynamic forces, and the KSC consumes only 20% of the total power generated during a cycle. Experimental field tests with a 12 m2 Leading Edge Inflatable kite validate the system’s performance, demonstrating robust control capabilities under both steady and turbulent winds. This research advances global efforts in renewable airborne wind energy by presenting a scalable, energy-efficient solution for autonomous kite control, addressing critical challenges in AWES design and deployment. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2025.