Subventions et des contributions :

Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier (2017-2018 à 2018-2019).

New Leaf Management is a Vancouver-based R&D startup company focused on sustainable energy solutions.x000D
The company aims to develop novel Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) harvesting technologies with an ambitiousx000D
goal to produce energy at very low cost so that it can compete against any other form of conventional andx000D
renewable power. Motivated by the fact that wind at higher altitude is both stronger and more consistent, Newx000D
Leaf is pursuing the development of disruptive AWE harvesting technologies using economical airbornex000D
devices. A modern wind turbine requires a massive hub, nacelle, and hundreds of tons of tower steel andx000D
concrete foundations. Compared to such a turbine, an AWE apparatus only requires a light tether and flyingx000D
apparatus. If AWE based technologies are successfully developed, wind energy can be harvested in a widerx000D
range of geographic locations and provide electricity at less than half the cost of existing wind turbinex000D
technologies.x000D
The proposed project aims to evaluate the feasibility of an auto-gyro kite system for energy generation andx000D
assess the commercial viability of such a system. To this end, New Leaf has developed a simple auto-gyro kitex000D
power prediction model. However, this model does not capture the effects of wind gradient, blade stall, as wellx000D
as rotor and tether dynamics. It is inappropriate to be used for design and configuration optimization of thex000D
auto-gyro apparatus. To achieve this goal, an aero-structural dynamics model that can accurately capture bothx000D
the aerodynamics and the structural dynamics of the auto-gyro system is necessary. The model will enable us tox000D
predict the performance of different design configurations to help determine the optimum parameters that arex000D
important for both maintaining flight stability and maximizing power generation. Model validation and designx000D
configuration proof testing will be achieved using a RC controlled auto-gyro prototype device developed byx000D
New Leaf. These are important pre-requisite R&D steps leading to a future commercial AWE demonstrationx000D
project.