Technology

Energy and persistence conquer all things. - Benjamin Franklin

Energy Balloon Innovation

Wind Fisher has invented a unique architecture to cost effectively capture wind energy. We increase swept area with our large semi-rigid wings and cross-wind flight pattern. And we access more powerful, higher speed winds at altitude by flying on a string.

Our patented Energy Balloon is a cylindrical wing kite, inflated with helium, which flies figure 8 cross-wind patterns. The natural buoyancy and lightweight structural elements lead to a lighter-than-air design that resists high aerodynamic loads during cross-wind flight. The system is inherently stable enabling robust, fail-safe flight operations.

Wind energy is captured by the Energy Balloon and mechanically transferred by tethers to a winch drum at ground level. The winch drum rotation is converted into electricity using electrical generators located inside the ground station. Once the system reaches maximum tether length, the generators operate as motors to reel the system back to the start position. During this energy positive cycle, the autopilot system optimizes the flight plan based upon actual wind conditions and electrical load.

We strive to make our systems easy to manufacture in order to ensure scalability. Mass deployment is required to ensure the energy transition to renewables in the shortest possible time. Our cylindrical wings are a simple form without the usual shape or twist of a traditional airfoil. This will greatly facilitate industrial production and ramp-up to a scale similar to automobile production.

Airborne Wind Energy

Airborne wind energy is a nascent industry combining proven drone, kite and aerostat technologies with tethers and electrical generators. Airborne wind energy systems are characterized by two key points:

• Access to higher altitudes and thus more persistent and power dense winds than tower mounted turbines
• Less raw material use than an equivalent powered traditional wind turbine because the tower is replaced by a tether and the large blades are replaced by smaller wings.

As airborne wind energy systems mature, energy availability will surge and energy prices will drop, leading to widespread adoption of this emerging technology.

If you’d like to learn more, follow this link to the expert reports at Airborne Wind Europe.

Magnus Effect Aerodynamics

Wind Fisher’s Energy Balloons generate lift using the Magnus effect, named after Gustav Magnus, a professor of physics at the University of Berlin in the mid 1800s. The rotation of the cylinders in wind influences the airflow creating differential pressure, and thus lift on the cylindrical wing.

Wind Fisher harnesses this lift force to generate high traction forces on the tether during the generation phase to maximize power. During the reel-in phase, the drag force is minimized to reduce the recovery power.

One of the great benefits of the Magnus effect is that our cylindrical inflated wings are insensitive to changes in wind direction and gusting. This inherent aerodynamic behavior greatly reduces the relative magnitude of load peaks on the structure and the tether when compared to traditional airfoils. Our systems are thus well suited for turbulent wind sites.

Powering Green Hydrogen

Wind Fisher will power the green hydrogen revolution. Our Energy Balloons ensure more productive hours thereby increasing hydrogen electrolyser utilization and reducing hydrogen cost. Our first step includes on-shore & off-shore Energy Balloon power plants linked to renewable hydrogen, ammonia or synthetic hydrocarbon factories.

Our ambition is to harness the persistent energy on the high seas of the southern oceans where the power of the Roaring Forties and Furious Fifties winds can provide over 5000 times humanity’s annual energy needs. The name Wind Fisher was inspired by the concept and possibility of capturing this energy and converting it to storable renewable fuel.