Wind Energy Systems for Base Camp Applications

There has been increasing concern about Energy Security and our reliance on foreign oil. Fuel delivery to FOBs has proven costly in terms of dollars and casualties to convoy personnel. Using renewable energy sources like wind power can reduce fuel consumption. For FOBs the ability to transport, set up, take down and repackage power generation and distribution systems is an important consideration. They can be used as standalone power sources or as part of a microgrid. RCT and AWE plan to demonstrate a VAWT that uses unique multi-element blades to provide maximum lift in a small volume. This type of turbine is extremely quiet. It will be coupled to a pancake brushless DC generator with the high pole count needed for low speed operation. The full scale combination will weigh less than 250 pounds and can produce 300W at a cut in speed of 8 MPH be capable of operation at wind speeds of 60MPH and withstand wind speeds of 100MPH.The turbine alone will be about 3 feet high by 4 feet in diameter. The turbine can be quickly deployed by two warfighters and because of collapsible supports the system will easily fit inside a TRICON shipping container.