Altitude Sweet Spot
for a working AWE system
Most recent work is on top.  Discussion is invited in group.

June 15, 2009

Surface Layer- A turbulent wind zone typically extending 50-75 ft above ground surface.

Visibility Ceiling- The altitude at which clouds or fog begin to hide a kite.

Control-Line Ceiling- The line length/altitude at which control becomes excessively sluggish.

Flight Ceiling- Maximum altitude allowable by regulations or conditions.

Preferred Altitude- The best flight altitude given conditions (Altitude Sweet Spot).

June 15, 2009  

Balancing all parameters for generating electricity from a specific EKS at a particular site results in an altitude at which net cost for useful energy is minimal. Engineers are working on how to calculate the altitude sweet spot for a particular EKS and working site.

• Handy measures for input to a formula are wanted. Practical truncation of the parameter list will be needed. Eventual rules of thumb will arrive. The mode of extracting system energy will differ and change the sweet spot. Winds-aloft report will alter the sweet spot. Size and specific kite design will matter. Etc.
  
  In soaring, MacCready came up with the MacCready Ring for speed-to-fly. What will AWE come up with for setting a working kite system at the altitude sweet spot? First offers from the AWE community may well get improvements later.
   
• When all costs are considered, some altitude profile will in a particular instance result in the lowest cost per unit of useful energy.
• Variables: _____________________
• Experimental results: _________________
• Monitoring altitude sweet spot over time
•