Wind Turbin Design Project

Your team has been assigned the task of designing, building, and testing a windmill powered electric generator. Windmill construction is to be based on an analysis similar to that required in the Problem 1. Include this analysis and the experimental data in the written project report.

The maximum diameter of the wind turbine is 30 cm, and testing is to be performed in the wind tunnel that is provided.

Design and build the turbine, but limit rotor designs to those using the venetian blind blades that are supplied. Model airplane propellers from hobby stores are not permitted.

Designs are limited to a turbine rotor attached directly to the generator. Gears, multiple rotors, etc. are not allowed, and the diameter of the supplied turbine hub is not to be modified. The unmodified generator must be returned at the end of the project.

The airflow must remain off until the turbine and generator are mounted inside the wind tunnel. The safety glasses provided at the wind tunnel must be worn while testing, as well as by anyone within 8 feet of the test end of the wind tunnel.

This project will be graded according to an optimization of the overall efficiency of converting incident wind power, as determined by Equation 6.7, to electric power delivered to a load resistor of the team’s choice. Note: the incident wind power is the power of the wind HITTING THE BLADES, not the power of all the wind in the wind tunnel. Therefore, shorter blades with a smaller radius will have a smaller denominator than long blades in Equation 6.10.

The following will be provided:

· C37,085 Mabuchi electric motor (generator) from Edmund Scientific:

"Miniature, permanent magnet-type motor. Body 1.25"L x 1"W x 0.75"H. Flat top and bottom with curved sides. Shaft 0.075" diameter x 0.5"L. 6V to 18V DC at 150 mA. Speeds from 2200 RPM at 6V to 4900 RPM at 18V. Motor has external contact pins with small hole."

· 5.9 cm diameter turbine hub made of 1.9 cm thick plywood.

· Various lengths of Venetian blind material.

· Wind tunnel with electric meters and load resistors.

· Safety glasses, white glue, hacksaw, vise, hole punch.

	Airscrew software
	Tutorial on using Airscrew software for windmill project
	The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world. http://www.awea.org/
	Using the Wind Tunnel Electric Test Box to Measure Voc, Isc, and PLmax.
	Basic aerodynamic operating principles of wind turbines http://www.awea.org/faq/basicop.html
	Wind Power Comes Of Age
	Wind Power Development In Europe

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