PRINCETON SATELLITE SYSTEMS, INC.
Grant: $99,967 - National Science Foundation - Jun. 15, 2009
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Award Description: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project seeks to develop advanced control technologies for improving the overall cost-effectiveness of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines. Most commercial wind turbines operate at energy efficiencies much lower than what can be practically realized. The efficiency can be vastly improved by implementing active control. In this project, simple blade actuation mechanisms, advanced control algorithms, nonlinear filtering methods will be integrated with effective generator, power converter and sensor technologies for reduction of overall cost per kilowatt. Furthermore, cooperative control methods will be developed for multiple vertical axis wind turbines installed on a building, by enabling inter-unit communication. It is expected that the proposed advanced technologies will render vertical axis wind turbines units economically viable for small-to-medium scale implementation on residential and commercial buildings.
Project Description: This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I research project seeks to develop advanced control technologies for improving the overall cost-effectiveness of small-scale vertical axis wind turbines. Most commercial wind turbines operate at energy efficiencies much lower than what can be practically realized. The efficiency can be vastly improved by implementing active control. In this project, simple blade actuation mechanisms, advanced control algorithms, nonlinear filtering methods will be integrated with effective generator, power converter and sensor technologies for reduction of overall cost per kilowatt. Furthermore, cooperative control methods will be developed for multiple vertical axis wind turbines installed on a building, by enabling inter-unit communication. It is expected that the proposed advanced technologies will render vertical axis wind turbines units economically viable for small-to-medium scale implementation on residential and commercial buildings. Baseline mechanical design of a vertical axis wind turbine prototype has been completed. Blades for the prototype have been ordered. Most other parts have been identified. Pitch control algorithms have been studied in simulation. Research is ongoing in the area of integrating pitch control, generator control, sensing and estimation.
Jobs Summary: 1 senior personnel job (chief scientist/senior engineer) engaged in research and development activities retained. 0.3 other personnel (mechanical engineer/technician) job engaged in design and manufacturing activities retained. (Total jobs reported: 1)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
This award's data was last updated on Jun. 15, 2009. Help expand these official descriptions using the wiki below.
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