CHAPTER 1

INRODUCTION
Wind is the fastest growing energy source in the world and one of the lowest priced
renewable energy technologies today, at a cost of 4-6cents per killo watt hour."There is
enough energy in high altitude winds to power civilization 100 times over; and sooner or
later we're going to learn to tap into the power of winds and use it to run civilization."
Magenn Power's high altitude wind turbine called MARS, is a Wind Power solution with
distinct advantages over existing Conventional Wind Turbines and Diesel Generating
Systems including: global deployment, lower costs, better performance and environmental
advantages

Fig1.1 Magenn Power Air Rotor System

The wind is a completely renewable source that will last forever. The life cycle for the
energy gained from wind turbines is simply as long as the physical parts last. The
generation of electricity from wind power takes place in several steps. It requires a rotor,
usually consisting of 2-3 blades, mounted atop a tower; wiring; and "balance of power"
1

components such as converters, inverters and batteries Wind turbines at ground level
produce at a rate of 20-25%, but when placed at altitudes from 600-1000 feet, energy
output can double. The

Magenn Air Rotor System or MARS is a stationary blimp kept afloat with helium and
tethered into place on an electrical grid. Centrifugal blades on the MARS can generate up
to several megawatts of clean, renewable energy at a price well below our current
grounded wind turbines. An airborne wind turbine is a design concept for a wind
turbine that is supported in the air without a tower. Airborne wind turbines may operate in
low or high altitudes; they are part of a wider class of Airborne Wind Energy systems
(AWE) addressed by high altitude wind power. When the generator is on the ground, then
the tethered aircraft need not carry the generator mass or have a conductive tether. When
the generator is aloft, then a conductive tether would be used to transmit energy to the
ground or used aloft or beamed to receivers using microwave or laser. Airborne turbine
systems would have the advantage of tapping an almost constant wind, without
requirements for slip rings or yaw mechanism, and without the expense of tower
construction. As of 2010, no commercial airborne wind turbines are in regular operation.

CHAPTER 2

MAIN COMPONENTS OF M.A.R.S

2.1 TETHER
A tether is a cord or fixture that anchors something movable to a reference point which
may be fixed or moving. Energy generated by a high-altitude system may be used aloft or
sent to the ground surface by conducting cables, mechanical force through a tether,
rotation of endless line loop, movement of changed chemicals, flow of high pressure
gases, flow of low-pressure gases, or laser or microwave power beams. A tether is a long
cable usually made of thin strands of high-strength fibers or conducting wires. The tether
can provide a mechanical connection between two space objects that enables the transfer
of energy and momentum from one object to the other. The electrical current that is
generated travels down the tethering lines to a transformer at the ground station, then is
redirected to the power grid.

2.2 HELIUM BALLOON

A Helium balloon is a balloon that stays aloft due to being filled with a gas less dense than
air or lighter than air. Today, balloons include large blimps and small rubber party
balloons. Helium balloons work by the same law of buoyancy. As long as the helium plus
the balloon is lighter than the air it displaces, the balloon will float in the air. Helium
sustains the Magenn Air Rotor System, which ascends to an altitude as selected by the
operator for the best winds

2.3 HELIUM
Helium is the chemical element with atomic number 2 and an atomic weight of 4.002602,
which is represented by the symbolHe. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, nontoxic, inert monatomic gas that heads the noble gas group in the periodic table.
3

Its boiling and melting points are the lowest among the elements and it exists only as a gas
except in extreme conditions

2.4 BLADE
The blades are relatively thin because this means they have a greater surface area to
volume ratio and so are affected more by the wind. For a simple demonstration, think of
the difference between fanning yourself with a flat piece of paper and a rolled up piece of
paper. The flat piece causes a far greater movement of air and the same goes in reverse.
Air movement is going to affect the flat piece much more than the roll, although the
weight is the same. The blades are also curved to increase their efficiency.
As the blades move they cause a shaft in the body of the wind turbine to start turning.
This leads into a gearbox. Gears transmit rotational energy in a similar manner to the cogs
in an old fashioned clock. The gears in the gearbox of a wind turbine end up spinning far
faster than the blades were. Wind turbine blades turn at a speed of 10-50 revolutions per
minute, and are equipped with regulators that shut the system down during hazardous
weather to avoid having them spin out of control.
Blade Specifications: Obviously, this is the one variable that engineers can control.
Longer, slimmer and lighter turbine blades can increase energy production. In his detailed
May 5, 2010 article, Wind power Engineering Editor Paul Dvorak stresses the importance
of turbine blades being as light as possible, yet durable enough to withstand high winds
without breaking. Current blades range from 130-300 feet (40-90 meters), but future
prototypes may be as big as 435 feet (145 meters).

2.5 TURBINE
There are two types of turbines. One is the vertical-axis type. It works like an egg beater.
It works for small power uses: pumping water and grinding grain. This turbine cannot
produce enough energy for electrical purposes. The second turbine is a horizontal axis,

which has the capabilities of converting wind into electricity. This is the style used today
on wind farms.
Turbines will generally last for around 120,000 hours, or about 20-25 years. Since they
have moving parts, they require maintenance and repair, at a cost of about 1 cent per killo
watt hour produced, or 1-2% annually of the original cost of the turbine.
The Honeywell turbine would measure 57 feet across and carry two one-megawatt
turbines. In 34 MPH winds at 5,000 feet, the device would travel at 172 miles per hour
and generate a megawatt of energy. The generator sits in the back of the device to add
stability. This is done by the massive rotor blades, which form the visible part of a wind
turbine.

2.6 GENERATOR
The wind turbine generator converts mechanical energy to electrical energy.
Wind turbine generators are a bit unusual, compared to other generating units you
ordinarily find attached to the electrical grid. One reason is that the generator has to work
with a power source (the wind turbine rotor) which supplies very fluctuating mechanical
power (torque). A generator situated 500-1000 feet above ground level would enjoy much
more consistent strong wind - which is why the Magenn MARS system makes so much
sense. It's a helium-filled rotating airship that spins in the wind on the end of a variablelength tether that also acts as a power transmitter, and it's expected to operate at more like
50% of its rated capacity.
On large wind turbines (above 100-150 kW) the voltage (tension) generated by the turbine
is usually 690 V three-phase alternating current (AC). The current is subsequently sent
through a transformer next to the wind turbine (or inside the tower) to raise the voltage to
somewhere between 10,000 and 30,000 volts, depending on the standard in the local
electrical grid. Large manufacturers will supply both 50 Hz wind turbine models (for the
electrical grids in most of the world) and 60 Hz models (for the electrical grid
in America).

2.5.1 COOLING

Generators need cooling while they work. On most turbines this is accomplished by
encapsulating the generator in a duct, using a large fan for air cooling, but a few
manufacturers use water cooled generators. Water cooled generators may be built more
compactly, which also gives some electrical efficiency advantages, but they require a
radiator in the nacelle to get rid of the heat from the liquid cooling system

CHAPTER 3

WORKING PRINCIPLE OF MARS

The Magnus effect or Magnus force is the phenomenon whereby a
spinning object flying in a fluid creates a whirlpool of fluid around itself,
and experiences a force perpendicular to the line of motion. The overall
behaviour is similar to that around an airfoil (see lift force) with a
circulation which is generated by the mechanical rotation, rather than
by aero foil action. In many ball
sports, the Magnus effect is responsible for the curved motion of a
spinning ball. The effect also affects spinning missiles, and is used in
rotor and Flattener aero planes.

3.1 MAGNUS EFFECT

When a body (such as a sphere or circular cylinder) is spinning in a
viscous fluid, it creates a boundary layer around itself, and the
boundary layer induces a more
widespread circular motion of the fluid. If the body ismoving through
the fluid with a velocity V, the velocity of the thin layer of fluid close to
6

the body is a little less than V on the forward-moving side and a little
greater than V on the backward-moving side. This is because the
induced
velocity due to the boundary layer surrounding the spinning body is
subtracted from V on the forward moving side, and added to V on the
backward-moving side. If the spinning body is regarded as an inefficient
airpump, air will build up on the forward-moving side causing higher
pressure there than on the opposite side. Another explanation of the
Magnus effect is since there is less (forward) acceleration of air on the
forward-moving side than the backward-moving side, there is more
pressure on the forward-moving side, resulting in a perpendicular
component of force from the air towards the backward-moving side.

This layer of spinning air, however, is very thin, and it is more likely that
most of
the Magnus effect is due to the earlier detachment of the air flow on the
forward-moving side, which results in a diversion of the flow
(acceleration of air) with a
perpendicular component towards the forward-moving side, coexisting
with an opposing aerodynamic force with a perpendicular component
towards the backward moving side.

CHAPTER 5

COMPONENTS REQUIRES OF MARS

SYSTEM
The various components of magenn air rotor system are listed bellow
Air rotor
Flexible cable and Witch
Air stabilizer, spark arrestor
Generator
Transformer

4.1 ROTATING BALLOON

MARS will be constructed with composite fabrics used in airships today. The fabric will
be either woven Dacron or Veteran with an inner laminated coating of Mylar to reduce
porosity and an exterior coating of Tedlar which will provide ultra-violet protection, scuff
resistance and color. Dacron is used for boat sails, Mylar in silver toy helium balloons,
and Tedlar is the plastic coating found in all-weather house siding. Pictures below show
older conceptual drawings of the Magenn Air Rotor Systems balloon getting helium
filling.

4.2 FLEXIBLE CABLE & WINCH

Helium-filled aerostats that are 400-ft in length and are tethered at up
to 15,000-ft in altitude by means of flexible cable and cable is
supported by the winch which will also
help to change altitude of rotor. Due to the inherent elegance of the
design, the Magenn
Air Rotors will always weather-vane properly. Regardless of wind
direction, the deflection disk will ensure MARS units will automatically
rotate toward the wind, with the Magnus aerodynamic effect creating
additional lift. It is done by wind vane stabilizer.

Fig. 4 Air Stabilizer and Spark Arrester

10

CHAPTER 3

WORKING
Wind spins a turbine's blades, which, in turn, cause an attached generator to also spin.
The wind blows through blades (made of fiberglass-reinforced polyester this makes the
blades lightweight and yet strong enough to withstand the force of the wind).The blades
change the wind's energy into a rotational shaft energy (think of a standard fan).The shaft
connects to a drive train with a gear box that uses the rotation of the blades to Spin the
magnets in the generator to produce mechanical energy This mechanical energy is
imparted to the shaft in the hub of the turbine and causes a great amount of torque to
develop on the shaft. At the other end of the shaft, a gearbox transfers the energy to a
secondary shaft. The step up gearing causes higher revolutions per minute (rpm) in the
secondary shaft and consequently lower torque. A generator or alternator is mounted on
the secondary shaft, and converts the mechanical energy originally imparted by the wind
to the turbine. A protective cover, nacelle, houses the shaft, drive train and generator.
The generator then converts that moving energy of the wind into electricity using
electromagnetic induction, which involves using the opposite charges of a magnet to
create an electric current. The generators are at each end of the rotor with a direct output
power connection to the twin cables. Outboard of the generators at each end of the rotor
are wind vane stabilizers in the form of conical wheels. The deviation in the trajectory of a
11

spinning projectile caused by the Magnus force. The deviation is toward the direction of
the spin and results from pressure differentials in the spinning projectile. The Magnus
effect is greatest when the axis of spin is perpendicular to the direction of relative fluid
velocity The Magnus effect, associated with the rotor rotation, also provides additional
lift, which stabilises the rotor position causing it to pull up overhead, rather than drift
downwind on its tether.

Wind causes the blimp to rotate: That movement gets converted into electrical energy and
is then transferred down the tether.
Instead of the large pinwheel blades that are typical of wind turbines though, the blades of
the M.A.R.S turbine are actually part of the three-dimensional blimp itself. The blades
catch the wind, causing the entire blimp to spin around. After the generator converts that
movement into electricity, it's transferred down the turbine's long tether. Whereas most
regular turbines capture winds at altitudes of 200 to 300 feet (61 to 91 meters), the MARS
turbine can reach winds from 600 to 1,000 feet (183 to 305 meters) above ground level.
Winds at these higher levels are significantly faster than low-level winds because they
don't encounter as much resistance from objects on the ground like trees and buildings.
Research shows that with each doubling of elevation, there is a 12 percent increase in
wind speed with each doubling of wind speed there is an eightfold increase in wind power
The wind pushes the rotor blades, converting kinetic energy to rotary motion. This spins a
low-speed shaft, which turns a gear at the lower end. The gear in turn drives a smaller gear
on a high-speed shaft that runs through generator housing.
A magnetic rotor on the high-speed shaft spins inside loops of copper wire that are wound
around an iron core. This creates "electromagnetic induction" through the coils and
generates an electric current. The current must be regulated for the strength of current
desired (110 w in the US for household AC current). It is then fed into a grid or routed into
a battery bank for later use.

12

CHAPTER 4

INSIDE M.A.R.S
Magenn Power designed its turbine not only for easy deployment, but also for easy
maintenance. Obviously, a blimp like object floating at 1,000 feet (305 meters) could
receive quite a beating from the elements, but the company estimates the MARS should
last at least 15 years before requiring maintenance. To achieve this longevity, the inflatable
part of the turbine is made from an extremely durable fabric used by most current airships.
The woven outer part is actually made from the same material used in bulletproof
vests and is lined with a coating that protects it from UV rays and abrasion. The inner
portion is coated with Mylar (the silver part you see in helium balloons) to prevent the
helium gas from escaping. Since the MARS is located at such high altitudes, it was also
designed to be able to withstand strong winds. While conventional turbines will shut down
at wind speeds in excess of 45 mph, the MARS can function at speeds greater than 63
mph. At the other end of the spectrum, the MARS turbine can also convert wind energy
into electricity at wind speeds as low as 7 mph

Part of what enables the MARS to stay vertical at high wind speeds is due to something
called the Magnus effect. This refers to the lift created when a curved object spins while
moving in a fluid medium like air. When the object spins, an area of high pressure forms
13

beneath it and causes it to rise. Golf balls, when hit a certain way, and curveball pitches in
baseball, have a back spin that causes them to lift in flight -- this is the Magnus effect.
Since the effect increases as wind speed increases, the MARS is able to use it in
combination with the lift from the helium to maintain a near vertical position and not lean
in high winds.
The wide range of speeds at which it can operate means that the MARS can deliver output
much closer to its rated capacity than standard designs can. This is because although wind
energy can theoretically generate significant amounts of electricity, most generators only
produce a fraction of that because of inconsistent winds.

14