Levitating Frictionless Vertical Windmill

Project Title

Levitating Frictionless Vertical Windmill

Project Area of Specialization Mechanical EngineeringProject Summary

This project dwells on the implementation of magnetic levitation to manufacture a wind turbine for power generation purposes. Magnetic levitation is a method by which an object is suspended with no support other than the magnetic fields. Magnetic pressure is used to counteract the effects of the gravitational and any other accelerations. The principal advantage of levitating windmill from conventional is the elimination of mechanical friction. The other major advantage is the ability to levitate windmills to work with starting speeds as low as 1.5 meters per second. In this project, Using the effects of magnetic repulsion, spiral-shaped wind turbine blades will be fitted on a rod for stability during rotation and suspended on magnets as a replacement for ball bearings which are normally used on conventional wind turbines. Power will then be generated with an axial flux generator, which incorporates the use of permanent magnets and a set of coils. A converter will then be used to regulate the varying voltage from the rectifier to output a steady DC voltage.

Project Objectives

1. To design a Vertical axis magnetically levitated wind turbine for low wind application.
2. To fabricate a prototype
   1. To reduce the friction & eliminates the need for bearings in windmill by use of Magnetic levitation
   2. To produce energy with very less noise production as compared to existing conventional windmills.

Project Implementation Method

Methodology / RoadMap:

1. Study of existing levitation based VAWT
2. Design
   1. VAWT Configuration
   2. Design of Blades
   3. Design of Power Generation System
   4. Selection of material for shaft, blade and magnet
3. CAD Modeling
4. FEM Analysis
5. Fabrication of Prototype

Following is the proposed steps for our project’s implementation, business, and commercialization plan:

1. Product Description and Indications for use
2. Marketing claims
3. Value proposition
4. Branding
   1. Branding Strategy, Name
   2. Instructions for Use, Labelling, and Packaging
5. Pricing Strategy
6. Sales Tools and Promotion Materials
   1. Brochure, Sales Sheets
   2. Catalog, Competitive Cross Reference
   3. Demonstration Tools, In-Service Guide
   4. Advertisements, E-blasts
   5. Website
   6. Product Presentations
   7. Product Summary
7. Advertising and Communication
   1. Advertising Plan
   2. Convention Strategy
   3. Publication Strategy
8. Training
   1. Customer Training Plan
   2. Internal Training Plan
   3. Training Materials
9. Launch Event
10. Inventory plan

Benefits of the Project

The major benefits of the project are the following:

1. Suitable for the application in urban areas to provide green energy, effective utilization in street / domestic lighting, and domestic appliances.
2. With the inclusion of an inverter, the power generated can be used for both AC as well as DC loads.
3. A massive tower structure is not required, as VAWT’s are mounter closer to the ground.
4. These are located closer to the ground and hence easier to maintain.
5. They do not require yaw mechanisms.
6. Requires no lubrication.
7. Capable of generating power from wind speed as low as 1.5 m/s and reported to operate in winds reaching 40 m/s.
8. Producing 20 % more energy than a conventional turbine, at the same time decreasing operational costs by 50 % over the traditional wind turbine.
9. Can be used in remote places where the conventional power supply is uneconomic.
10. Such turbines help to reduce noise factor comparatively to other wind turbines.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

1. 3D Modeling of Windmill using Creo
2. Finite Element Analysis of system using ANSYS
3. The prototype of Levitation-based windmill
   1. Darrieus type configuration
   2. H-Rotor type configuration
   3. 3 Blade configuration
   4. Airfoil DU 06-W-200
   5. Power generation system using an electromagnet

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology Clean TechOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	79400
Carbon Fiber Sheet	Equipment	6	6000	36000
Brass Rods	Equipment	8	750	6000
Neodymium Magnets	Equipment	7	3200	22400
Wire SWG 34 Coil	Equipment	10	500	5000
Final Year Project Reports / Printing	Miscellaneous	10	1000	10000