26 January, 2021
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) now proudly owns its first windthermal turbine: it has a rated output of 15 kW, is about 20 m high, equipped with two anemometers and will be part of the project "Aerothermie". For this purpose, we removed the electric generator has been removed, and therefore, the wind turbine will initially operate in idle running. A special brake, a so-called hydrodynamic retarder, will replace the motor. The retarder will control the wind turbine and convert the torque into frictional heat. In addition, a mechanical heat pump will increase the overall system efficiency. This technology can supply heat to buildings such as greenhouses, paper mills, dairy farms or stables. Other possible applications are so called windthermal energy systems (WTES) with high-temperature heat storage and subsequent conversion to electricity.