Research Summaries

Back Shroud with RF Mesh to Suppress Radar Cross Section of Small Wind Turbines

Fiscal Year 2015
Division Graduate School of Engineering & Applied Science
Department Electrical & Computer Engineering
Investigator(s) Jenn, David C.
Sponsor Office of Naval Research (Navy)
Summary The movement of wind turbine blades (projected in direction of a radar antenna) can exceed Doppler filtered speeds and thereby degrade the performance of air traffic control (ATC) and other radar systems. Currently there is no DOD approved technical mitigation, so no wind turbine construction permitted within the line of sight (LOS) of a radar facility. This research investigates the electrical design and performance of a shroud enclosure that shields the blades from radar signals. This work is in conjunction with a separate study in parallel that is examining the aerodynamic, structural and mechanical aspects of the shroud design. Initial study indicates that a electromagnetic (EM) opaque shroud and screen can be employed that does not degrade the wind turbine's efficiency.
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Data Publications, theses (not shown) and data repositories will be added to the portal record when information is available in FAIRS and brought back to the portal