How will this Buoyant-Wind/Helium Powered Kite fly in air?

[Primestar2017]

I created a model on autodesk inventor of a concept model kite that would stay in high altitudes and take in wind energy through the cone opening. Is there any advice you can give me about the aerodynamics of this model? (There are balloons that provide lift above the wings, and I want the highest vertical lift from the wind)

 

[berkeman]

I created a model on autodesk inventor of a concept model kite that would stay in high altitudes and take in wind energy through the cone opening. Is there any advice you can give me about the aerodynamics of this model? (There are balloons that provide lift above the wings, and I want the highest vertical lift from the wind)

Welcome to the PF.

Fun drawing, but I'm not following the aerodynamic themes. What do high-altitude kites look like already? What do wind energy harvesting kites look like now? Can you post some links to the reading you've done so far on this subject? I'm pretty sure that some wind energy harvesting kits are in development and in field trials now.

Also, why do you want to focus on high-altitude for this? Can you post some of your thoughts on the amount of wind energy that is available at different altitudes?

 

[CWatters]

Some more things to think about...

Wind turbines extract energy from the wind slowing it down in the process. So it would be best not to put your kite in the wind shadow of the turbine mounted on it.

The efficiency of a wing is related to it's aspect ratio (= span/chord). This is why gliders and high altitude spy planes from the 1960s have long narrow wings rather than short fat ones.

 

[Primestar2017]

Welcome to the PF.

Fun drawing, but I'm not following the aerodynamic themes. What do high-altitude kites look like already? What do wind energy harvesting kites look like now? Can you post some links to the reading you've done so far on this subject? I'm pretty sure that some wind energy harvesting kits are in development and in field trials now.

Also, why do you want to focus on high-altitude for this? Can you post some of your thoughts on the amount of wind energy that is available at different altitudes?

I want to focus on a high-altitude because I read that at higher altitudes, there is a higher wind gradient that would produce more wind energy for my kite.

Here are a few pictures that show where my team got the inspiration for the kite.

 

[Primestar2017]

Some more things to think about...

Wind turbines extract energy from the wind slowing it down in the process. So it would be best not to put your kite in the wind shadow of the turbine mounted on it.

The efficiency of a wing is related to it's aspect ratio (= span/chord). This is why gliders and high altitude spy planes from the 1960s have long narrow wings rather than short fat ones.

Thank you for your input about putting our kite in the wind shadow of the turbines, CWatters. Can you give us any advice on where we should put the turbines instead?

 

[Primestar2017]

In addition, we hope to have piezoelectric strips along the outer sides of the kite wings, and to have the skin on the top of the kite covered in flexible solar panels. What are your inputs on this?

Thank you.

 

[CWatters]

I think you mean the wind speed not the wind gradient is greater the higher you go. It's the wind speed that matters. Wind gradients or wind shear can cause problems for large turbines.

I believe most kite systems use tension in the cable to power a generator on the ground (weight saving).