Design, manufacturing and performance analysis of V-shaped vertical axis wind turbine

Clean and sustainable energy production is the dire need of the time to make planet earth safe place to live. Among the clean energy resources wind is one the abundantly available sources of energy. Since at present interest towards small scale wind power production is gaining particular attention b

Project Title

Design, manufacturing and performance analysis of V-shaped vertical axis wind turbine

Project Area of Specialization

Mechanical Engineering

Project Summary

Clean and sustainable energy production is the dire need of the time to make planet earth safe place to live. Among the clean energy resources wind is one the abundantly available sources of energy. Since at present interest towards small scale wind power production is gaining particular attention by using Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWTs). The VAWTs are insensitive to variation turbulence intensity, wind direction and are simple, easy to manufacture and install. However, the low power coefficient and poor self-starting characteristics are the major drawbacks that limited its use.

The proposed project aim to design and fabricate V-shaped VAWT which is a novel design ( a modified model for H-type VAWT) to increase power performance. Furthermore the power and self-starting characteristics of both the novel V-shaped turbine and H-type VAWT will be compared. For that purpose both the turbine will be design, fabricated and tested to compare the performance of novel V-shaped turbine. The conceptual design will be carried to select appropriate turbine parameters and blade profile such as airfoil, the swept angle, turbine swept area and so on. Once the conceptual design is completed three dimensional CAD model will be developed to use for further manufacturing. The blades of both the turbines will be manufactured through 3d printing technique to get accurate profile and surface uniformity in order to accurate aerodynamic behavior. The remaining auxiliary parts will be manufactured through convention method. Once the all the parts will be manufactured assembly of the part need carried out carefully and accurately at set pitch angle. The assembled model is then installed and will be tested for the power performance and self-starting behavior. Then the H-type VAWT model will be tested to analyze its self-starting and power performance characteristics. The aerodynamic behavior and the power coefficient of both the turbine models is then compared to draw rational conclusion. To test whether the power coefficient will be increased from 20 to 30 % or not as per findings of recent research paper carried out numerical simulation of V-Shaped VAWT.

Project Objectives

• Design and 3D modeling of V-shaped vertical axis wind turbine
• Fabrication of the modeled V-shaped VAWT
• Testing of V-shaped VAWT to measure the power coefficient and self-starting characteristics.

Project Implementation Method

The proposed project aim to experimentally analyze the novel V-shaped design recently presented where author claimed that proposed design has 20-30% higher power coefficient than the H-type VAWT on the basis of numerical study. In this, proposed project the V-shaped VAWT will be designed, fabricated and tested to prove the claim of the author. As proposed project is direct implementation of new idea, that is only supported through computational fluid dynamics simulation. The experimental study will rigorously analyze the effect of various design and operating parameters such as blade pitch angle, solidity turbulence intensity and wind speed to provide better design for future. If the V-shaped turbine will have higher power coefficient as compared to conventional H-type VAWT, then design will be implemented to produce electricity in different regions of the world and an achievement in the field of renewable energy especially in wind energy. These turbines are simple in design, easy to manufacture and install, thus these turbine can locally manufactured through conventional manufacturing processes. This will greatly reduce cost of electricity production from wind through employing these small scale turbines at the rooftop of buildings as well on backyard. The proposed project after rigorous experimental study will provide the scientific grounds future studies and provide constructive recommendation to turbine designers and manufacturers.  

Benefits of the Project

This design will extract more energy from green sustainable energy sources such as wind energy around the world. It will be a significant contribution in field of wind energy. Wind energy has negligible impact on the ecosystem and it is intense sources of energy. This design implemented in urban areas, on the buildings and backyards electricity can be produced easily and economically in every region of the world.  The first prototype model for testing and analysis will be manufactured through 3d technology accurate airfoil shape and surface uniformity to get better and accurate results. However, for standalone power extraction application, these turbines can be fabricated through conventional material and manufacturing method. The wooden blade covered with thin metal sheets may be used for easy local manufacturing of the turbine.

The major reason behind the selection of the Darrieus turbine among all the VAWT was its simple design, ease of manufacturing and installation. Pakistan has abundance potential of power production from wind, however the major limitation is the cost of complicated turbine blades and can’t be manufactured locally. Furthermore, the proposed project will boosts the interest of future engineers to do research on the wind turbine design and look for possible improvements in turbine design. In addition this, current students will be enable to design, fabricate and test turbine and will be capable to overcome the problems associated from conceptual design for the turbine to testing of the turbine. Students will be able use state art instruments to measure various physical parameters.

Additionally, the turbine higher efficiency and low cost manufacturing will greatly enhance interest of local community to get low cost clean energy without affecting the natural environment. Moreover, the improved turbine efficiency attracts public and private companies to start local manufacturing of these simple turbines and sell it at low cost. Low cost production of clean and sustainable energy will ultimately beneficial for socio-economic development and the prosperity of the country.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Since the project to analyze V-shaped design through compare it with H-type VAWT, thus both turbines of same specification will be fabricated. The parameters set for both VAWT are as, NACA 0022 will be selected, the blade chord length of 100m, blade span of 400mm , struts having length of 300mm, results in the diameter of the turbine will be 600mm. The central shaft having length of 520mm, must be light weight in order to rotate in the low wind speed. The material for 3d printing commonly used are ABS and PETG having low densities results in light weight turbine as per our requirement.

Final Deliverable of the Project

Hardware System

Core Industry

Energy

Other Industries

Energy

Core Technology

Clean Tech

Other Technologies

Clean Tech

Sustainable Development Goals

Affordable and Clean Energy, Climate Action

Required Resources

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