METHOD FOR AIRBORNE KINETIC ENERGY CONVERSION

摘要

Methods and apparatus to harvest renewable energy are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method to harvest renewable energy includes providing an aircraft suitable for untethered flight in an open airspace and an airborne kinetic energy conversion system attached to the airframe, the airborne kinetic energy conversion system comprising a turbine, a generator connected to the turbine, and electrical storage means connected to the generator; flying the aircraft; gaining excess kinetic energy; and converting excess kinetic energy into electricity using the kinetic energy conversion system.

主权项

1. A method to harvest renewable energy, comprising:
flying an aircraft in untethered flight in an open airspace, the aircraft having an airborne kinetic energy conversion system attached to an airframe of the aircraft, the airborne kinetic energy conversion system comprising a turbine, a generator connected to the turbine, and an energy storage device connected to the generator; gaining excess kinetic energy of the aircraft by gaining excess aircraft speed over an aircraft cruise speed; converting excess kinetic energy of the aircraft into electricity using the kinetic energy conversion system by driving the turbine at the excess aircraft speed while decelerating the aircraft; and storing the electricity from the kinetic energy conversion system using the energy storage device.