Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform

Cemal Isilak; İsmail Serkan Üncü

doi:10.29130/dubited.1749574

EN TR

Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate and quantify wind turbine performance aloft using a field-deployable tethered aerostat test platform, combining a lightweight horizontal-axis turbine, a conical diffuser, and synchronized onboard measurements of atmospheric conditions and electrical output. The platform is designed to enable higher-altitude operation (up to ~500 m), while the results presented in this study are based on field measurements up to ~60 m. Field measurements show that the mean wind speed increased from approximately 4.6 m/s at 20 m to 6.1 m/s at 60 m, producing a corresponding rise in electrical power output from ~37 W at the lowest recorded operating point (V≈2.6 m/s) to a maximum of ~52 W at around 50 m altitude (V≈6.1 m/s), consistent with the cubic wind–power relationship. The conical diffuser was additionally assessed under comparable wind conditions (~6.1 m/s) and provided a modest gain from 50 W to 52 W (≈ 4%) for the present geometry. These results indicate that height-adjustable lighter-than-air deployment can improve energy yield in low-wind regions without tower infrastructure by leveraging the vertical wind gradient, while highlighting that diffuser benefits are measurable but limited under the tested conditions and merit further geometric optimization and repeated trials.

Keywords

Aerostat system, High-altitude wind energy, Wind turbine performance, Renewable energy

Supporting Institution

This research received no external funding.

Ethical Statement

This study does not involve human or animal participants. All procedures were conducted in accordance with scientific and ethical standards, and all cited sources are properly referenced.

Thanks

The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude to Otonom Teknoloji Robotics, Electronics and Software Industry LLC for its valuable support and contributions to this study.

Bir Aerostat Tabanlı Stabilize Platform Kullanılarak Yüksek İrtifalarda Bir Rüzgar Türbininin Performans Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, aktif stabilizasyon sistemine sahip helyum dolu bağlı bir aerostat kullanarak yüksek irtifalarda rüzgar türbini performansının değerlendirilmesine yönelik yenilikçi bir yaklaşım sunmaktadır. Aerostat platformu, hafif bir yatay eksenli rüzgar türbinini yaklaşık 500 metreye kadar yükseltebilmekte ve böylece yer tabanlı sistemlerin erişemediği daha güçlü, daha istikrarlı ve daha az türbülanslı rüzgar akımlarından faydalanma imkânı sağlamaktadır. Güç üretim verimliliğini en üst düzeye çıkarmak amacıyla, stabilizasyon mekanizması türbinin hâkim rüzgar yönlerine sürekli olarak hizalanmasını ve atmosferik türbülans kaynaklı dinamik kararsızlıkların en aza indirilmesini sağlar. Deneysel yapılandırma, anemometreler, barometrik altimetreler, sıcaklık sensörleri ve GPS modülleri dahil olmak üzere kapsamlı bir çevresel sensör seti içermekte ve gerçek zamanlı atmosferik verilerin yüksek hassasiyetle toplanmasını sağlamaktadır. Aynı anda, elektriksel çıkış parametreleri—gerilim, akım ve buna bağlı güç—sürekli olarak kaydedilmekte ve analiz edilmektedir. Bu güçlü veri toplama yaklaşımı, farklı meteorolojik koşullar altında ayrıntılı performans değerlendirmelerine olanak tanımaktadır. Elde edilen deneysel bulgular, aerostat tabanlı platformlarla yüksek irtifalarda konuşlandırılan rüzgar türbinlerinin enerji üretim performansını önemli ölçüde artırdığını göstermekte olup, bu teknolojiyi geleneksel kule tabanlı kurulumların coğrafi veya ekonomik olarak uygulanmasının zor olduğu durumlarda umut verici bir alternatif olarak öne çıkarmaktadır

Keywords

Aerostat sistemi, Yüksek irtifa rüzgar enerjisi, Rüzgar türbini performansı, Yenilenebilir enerji

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Wind Energy Systems

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Cemal Isilak ^*
0000-0002-2445-0220
Türkiye

İsmail Serkan Üncü
0000-0003-4345-761X
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 19, 2026

Submission Date

July 23, 2025

Acceptance Date

February 24, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 14 Number: 2

DOI

https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1749574

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA73BT66EC

APA

Isilak, C., & Üncü, İ. S. (2026). Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, 14(2), 525-536. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1749574

AMA

1.Isilak C, Üncü İS. Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform. DUBİTED. 2026;14(2):525-536. doi:10.29130/dubited.1749574

Chicago

Isilak, Cemal, and İsmail Serkan Üncü. 2026. “Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14 (2): 525-36. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1749574.

EndNote

Isilak C, Üncü İS (April 1, 2026) Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14 2 525–536.

IEEE

[1]C. Isilak and İ. S. Üncü, “Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform”, DUBİTED, vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 525–536, Apr. 2026, doi: 10.29130/dubited.1749574.

ISNAD

Isilak, Cemal - Üncü, İsmail Serkan. “Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology 14/2 (April 1, 2026): 525-536. https://doi.org/10.29130/dubited.1749574.

JAMA

1.Isilak C, Üncü İS. Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform. DUBİTED. 2026;14:525–536.

MLA

Isilak, Cemal, and İsmail Serkan Üncü. “Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform”. Duzce University Journal of Science and Technology, vol. 14, no. 2, Apr. 2026, pp. 525-36, doi:10.29130/dubited.1749574.

Vancouver

1.Cemal Isilak, İsmail Serkan Üncü. Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform. DUBİTED. 2026 Apr. 1;14(2):525-36. doi:10.29130/dubited.1749574

Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine at High Altitudes Using an Aerostat-Based Stabilized Platform

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

Thanks

Bir Aerostat Tabanlı Stabilize Platform Kullanılarak Yüksek İrtifalarda Bir Rüzgar Türbininin Performans Değerlendirmesi

Abstract

Keywords

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

Cite