Profil Title	Innovative method to exploit the eolic energy with low costs, higher continuity and a minor environmental impact
Reference Nr.	09 IT 54V9 2S2S
Country of origin	Italy
Profil Type	Offer
Entry/Update	2009-05-11 / 2010-01-05

Abstract	An Italian company has developed a new method that allows energy production by means of continue alternate movement of a cable hooked to two aerostatic balloons. The method offers a more efficient and cost-effective alternative to traditional eolic plants. The company is looking for partner to further develop this technology and start a joint project.
Details	The Italian consulting firm proposing this technology has been operating since 2002 in commercial advice to companies and in the development of new technologies. The proposed technology is an innovative method to exploit the Eolic energy with low costs, higher continuity and a minor environmental impact. The kinetic energy is a form of energy owned by a body in virtue of its movement and it varies in proportion to the square of speed. The kinetic energy of a body can be mathematically expressed by the semi-product of its mass for the square of its speed. For the law of kinetic energy, the speed of the wind represents a crucial factor in the efficiency of Eolic generators and speed of the wind grows with the distance from the ground; however, the designing of Eolic generators with horizontal rotation axis puts structural severe limits in the diameter of shovels as well as in the height of towers. The growing in height of the structure and set-up of big diameter rotors are in fact cause of static complication, exposing to risk the structure in case of sudden and very strong wind gusts. Normally, a traditional Eolic generator is projected to work at a maximum height of approximately 80 metres where the speed of the wind has an average value of 4,6 metres/second. The innovation allows exploitation of the kinetic energy that the high altitude winds are able to generate thanks to their high speed and their immutability in time. The method is based on the use of a couple of captive balloons at an altitude of 800 metres, on a rotating platform able to follow the direction of the wind and through cables working also as motion transmission element. At over 800 height metres, the wind has an average speed of 7,6 m/s per 6.000 hours/year against an average of 4,6 m/s for 3.000 hours/year, detectable at the height of 80 metres where the traditional Eolic generators are collocated. A balloon opens the sail connected to it, and while this balloon is kept away by the force of high altitude winds pushing on the surface of the sail, the other balloon, at close sail, is taken on the vertical of the platform, drawn by the same cable connected to the first balloon. At the end of cable unwinding, once it is at run end, an automatic mechanism operates the closing of sail wings of the first balloon and it operates the opening of sail wings of the second; in this way the functions of the two balloons reverse, repeating the same dynamic. Above method allows to obtain energy by means of continue alternate movement of cable hooked to the two aerostatic balloons. For the law of kinetic energy, the energy that can be obtained by the wind increase with the square of its speed; for such a reason at 800 metres of altitude, the available energy is up to 4 times higher than the one present at a height of 80 metres. Compared with traditional Eolic systems, and with an equal produced power, this technology occupies on the ground a more contained space and it presents a very low visual impact on the landscape. Innovative Aspects: At the altitude of 800 meters, air has an average speed of 7,6 meters/second with a pressure equal to m1,14 Kg/cubic metre, an altitude sail expresses a power of 210 watt /square metre of surface. The surface of the balloon is added to the surface of the wing and it contributes to increase the power of the push, but this does not enter into the calculation as it is used for the against the wind dragging of the other balloon with same dimensions. The wing of the balloon has a surface equal to 200 square metres (similar to the one used by cargo ships with Ms Beluga Skysails) and therefore it is able to generate a power of 50 Kw that, on yearly base, represents a value of 438 Mw/h . Considering a 92% efficiency of electric generator on ground, the power on yearly base reaches a value of 400 Mw/h corresponding to 100 tons of oil used in a traditional thermoelectric plant and bringing in atmosphere 280 tons of CO2. A wing of 200 square metres has a total weight of 320 Kg, while 800 linear metres of Kevlar cable (diameter 30 mm), able to support a traction of 40 tons, has a total weight of 640 Kgs; adding 40 Kgs for the wings opening and closing servomechanism, a total weight of 1000 Kgs is reached. To be able to support a weight of one ton at an altitude of 800 metres, 12 meters diameter aerostatic balloons are sufficient. In comparison with a traditional Eolic system, this technology offers a production 4 times higher and it requires a system cost 5 times lower.
Technology sector	- Renewable Sources of Energy - Wind energy
Market application	- Alternative Energy - Wind energy
Stage of development	Available for demonstration - field tested
Patent Rights (IPR)	Patent(s) applied for but not yet granted
Cooperation type	- Joint further development - Adaptation to specific needs - Joint Venture Agreement - Financial Resources # Type of partner sought Company, SME, industry, wind farms. # Specific area of activity of the partner Alternative energy production, wind technologies. # Task to be performed The partner should invest in the project, contribute to further develop this technology and apply it to specific needs.
Organisation type	Org. Size:
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