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Performance and Feasibility Analysis of a Wind Turbine Power System for Use on MarsA wind turbine power system for future missions to the Martian surface was studied for performance and feasibility. A C++ program was developed from existing FORTRAN code to analyze the power capabilities of wind turbines under different environments and design philosophies. Power output, efficiency, torque, thrust, and other performance criteria could be computed given design geometries, atmospheric conditions, and airfoil behavior. After reviewing performance of such a wind turbine, a conceptual system design was modeled to evaluate feasibility. More analysis code was developed to study and optimize the overall structural design. Findings of this preliminary study show that turbine power output on Mars could be as high as several hundred kilowatts. The optimized conceptual design examined here would have a power output of 104 kW, total mass of 1910 kg, and specific power of 54.6 W/kg.
Document ID
19990081125
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Lichter, Matthew D. (Pennsylvania State Univ. University Park, PA United States)
Viterna, Larry (NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH United States)
Date Acquired
September 6, 2013
Publication Date
September 1, 1999
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Report/Patent Number
E-11819
NAS 1.15:209390
NASA/TM-1999-209390
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 251-30-07
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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