Development of analytical and computational models for predicting the performance of A-PEGASUS airborne electric generator

Analytical and computational techniques are developed and implemented to predict the performance of an augmented airborne electric generation system featuring an augmented horizontal-axis wind turbine mounted beneath the tethered aerostat. The developed analytical model expresses the coefficient of performance in terms of four dimensionless parameters, the free stream wind speed, and the augmenter geometry. The performance prediction is performed through computational models solving the incompressible Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes equations with a two-equation linear eddy viscosity model, supplemented with an algorithm to calculate the performance of the augmented turbine. The models are verified through comparison the empirically derived performance of 60 W wind tunnel test model and a full scale airborne electric generation system. The computational predictions were found to be within five percent of the actual performance.