Trim analysis of a tethered airfoil

• Main Authors: Dobriyal, Ritvik, Kumar, Pushpendra, Maqsood, Adnan
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Airfoils; Angle of attack; Center of gravity; High angle of attack; Stability analysis; Tethers
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0114644

The purpose of this paper is to study the trim behavior of a tethered airfoil. Dynamics of airfoil are studied in 2D space. Angle of attack of the airfoil is also controlled by a tether. The airfoil pulls the tether at a high angle of attack producing high tension in the tether while it is pulled back at a low angle of attack when the tension in the tether is low. This difference in tension can produce net positive work. A linear stability analysis of the airfoil is performed and the maximum difference in tension produced in the tether by varying the angle of attack is found out while the airfoil remains stable. It is found that the airfoil has enough stability for practical use only for a limited range of operating parameters. It is further found that for best performance the center of gravity of the airfoil should be located behind the quarter chord point for which the tension in the tether can be increased to twice its value by changing the angle of attack. Use of such system can be made for generating power from the wind.