Effect of Chordwise Struts and Misaligned Flow on the Aerodynamic Performance of a Leading-Edge Inflatable Wing

Leading-edge inflatable (LEI) kites use a pressurized tubular frame to structurally support a single skin membrane canopy. The presence of the tubes on the pressure side of the wing leads to characteristic flow phenomena for this type of kite. In this paper, we present steady-state Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations for a LEI...

Steady-state RANS simulation of a leading edge inflatable wing with chordwise struts

A crosswind pumping kite power system is an Airborne Wind Energy (AWE) system that uses a flying tethered device for energy generation through a ground-based generator. The AWE research group of the TU Delft was one of the first to demonstrate the functioning of such a system. The spin-off Kitepower later on continued the technological...