Surface UnderSea Kites (SUSK) are an emerging renewable tethered ocean energy technology. SUSK systems use a vertical underwater wing suspended beneath a surface hull that moves cross-current in a simple arc on the ocean surface. This concept moves the tether above the water surface to reduce tether drag and increase wing speed and power output. Our project builds on earlier tethered energy research at WPI. A SUSK scale-model with a higher aspect ratio wing, improved hull configuration and new turbine was designed, analyzed, and tested. We determined the optimal hull shape for our design that will maximize stability in the water. A 3D printed Wells turbine within a converging nozzle at the lower wingtip allows for increased power output during SUSK motions along the ocean surface arc.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Curtis, Adrianne
• Sotland, Zachary
• Ventura Molina, Andrew
• Rau, Thomas
• Chiasson, Olivia

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 53786
• E-project-032422-191508

Advisor

• Burnham, Nancy A.
• Olinger, David J.

Year

• 2022

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Date created

• 2022-03-24

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Aerospace Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright