TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

QUEZON CITY

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING PROGRAM

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
and for the Completion of the course Energy Conversion/EE408 through the Design of Experiment
entitled: Design an Experiment on How Wind Turbine can Generate Electric Power

Submitted By:

Binos, Kristel Camille C

Fernandez, Jan Marinelle A.
Francisco, Angelo John H.
Ortilla, Ray Louie.M.
Quiros, Aloysius P.
Sanchez, Aldrin Rupert

Submitted To:

Engr. Alvin T. Dela Cruz

Instructor

Engr. Ferdinand D. Milan

Program Chair

March 9, 2016

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Life is a continuous process of energy conversion and consumption. Recent studies show that the
accomplishments of civilization have largely been achieved through the increasingly efficient and extensive
harnessing of various forms of energy to accommodate and extend human capabilities and skills. As
presented in a dissertation by Mohamed (2010), energy is similarly indispensable for continued human
development and economic growth. Providing adequate, affordable energy is essential for eradicating
poverty, improving human welfare, and raising living standards world-wide. Energy cannot be created nor
destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another - light, heat, electrical, mechanical, chemical
and nuclear, just to name a few. Most modern wind power is generated in the form of electricity by
converting the rotation of turbine blades into electrical current by means of an electrical generator. Wind
power is used in large scale wind farms for national electrical grids as well as in small individual turbines for
providing electricity to rural residences or grid-isolated locations. Wind energy is plentiful, renewable, widely
distributed, cleans, and reduces toxic atmospheric and greenhouse gas emissions if used to replace fossilfuel-derived electricity.
Among all the renewable sources of energy, wind energy has gained quite attention. Wind power is
booming, largely due to a search for energy from sources other than fossil fuels, such as petroleum and
coal. Much of todays wind power comes from big farms that have many tall, modern windmills, called
wind turbines. These machines have long shafts. In some designs, they can reach taller than a 10-story
building. Wind energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy resources on the earth and has been
targeted for centuries (Priya et al., 2013). Wind energy is best utilized by using wind turbine, a device that
utilizes wind energy to generate mechanical or electrical power (Kasera et al., 2014). These shafts are

topped by giant blades. These connect to a generator that converts the energy of their spinning motion into
electricity.

Figure 1 Schematic drawing showing drag forces exert

on three-bladed Savonius wind turbine
Savonius wind turbines are a type of vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT), used for converting the
force of the wind into torque on a rotating shaft. The turbine consists of a number of aerofoils, usuallybut
not alwaysvertically mounted on a rotating shaft or framework, either ground stationed or tethered in
airborne systems.
Recent studies about Wind Energy consider improving designs in order to increase the power
output of a classical Savonius Turbine. It aims to improve the static torque, which measures the self-starting
capability of the turbine.
STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE
The study aims to achieve the following objectives:

To utilize the use of wind turbine in generating electricity by measuring the electrical parameters of

a wind turbine while operating at a windy environment suitable for optimum generation activity.
To understand the basic operation of a wind turbine in generating electricity from wind energy to

electrical energy through experiment.

To analyse graphs showing relationship between electrical parameters and mechanical properties
of a Savonius wind turbine

DISCUSSION OF METHODOLOGY / STRATEGY

Materials Needed:
Table 1 Materials Used in the Experiment
Materials

Savonius Wind Turbine

Image

Description

A three-bladed and three

staged Savonius wind
turbine which converts
kinetic energy from the
wind to generate electric
power

Tachometer

used to get the speed of

the shaft in RPM

used to get the voltage

Digital Multimeter

Picture Evidences

and current produced

Engineering Calculations Needed:

V = IR

(Ohms Law)

Po = Vgenerated x Iarmature
T=

Po
2 N

Where,
Po = Generated output power of the wind turbine in watts
T = Torque in N-m
N = Speed of the rotating shaft in rpm

This experiment works on the principle of drag as opposed to aerodynamic lift of the wind turbine.
This is done by converting the kinetic energy of the wind into rotational kinetic energy in the turbine which is
converted through blades to mechanical energy of a rotating shaft and then transmitted to a motor, which
converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
To demonstrate the experiment, the motor used to model a wind turbines actual motor is a
modified fan rotor.
PROCEDURES
Activity A
Identify the parts and its functions of the Savonius wind turbine to be used in the experiment:
A
B
C
D

Activity B:
1. Set the wind turbine on a ground where it is desirable to incur optimum amount of wind pressure to
move the blades of the wind turbine.
2. Measure also the speed of the rotating shaft located in the bottom part of the wind turbine using the
tachometer. Record the results in Table 1.
3. Proceed with the measurement of the electrical parameters generated by the wind turbine as
follows:
A. Voltage Measurement
3.1.1 Attach the wires from the generator to the multimeter. Polarity is irrelevant at this point.
3.1.2
3.1.3

Hence, colors of the multimeter wires to be used do not matter.

To check the voltage, select DC volt (V) and set the number to 20.
Measure the voltage generated using the multimeter. Record the results.
Table 2 Voltage Generation
Trial
Trial 1
Trial 2

Speed (RPM)
<value 1>
<value 2>

Voltage Generated (V)

Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5

<value 3>
<value 4>
<value 5>

It is normal for the voltage readings to fluctuate because of the inconsistent nature of the
wind or unbalanced blades.
Voltage is related to how fast the DC generator is spinning. The faster it spins, the higher
the voltage. With no load on the generator, it has little resistance and can spin very fast.
3.1.4

Graph the results from the measurement of voltage generation.

Speed (RPM)

Voltage (V)
B. Current Measurement
3.2.1 Place the multimeter in series with a load to measure the armature current being
3.2.2
3.2.3

driven in the motor.

Set the meter to 200 or 20 mA. This is a typical range for various devices.
Measure the current generated through the multimeter. Record the results.
Trial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5

Speed (RPM)
Current Generated (mA)
<value 1>
<value 2>
<value 3>
<value 4>
<value 5>
Table 2 Current Generation

When measuring current you are monitoring how many electrons are being pushed
through the wire by the turbine. The current that the turbine produces depends on the load
placed in the circuit and the torque your blades are generating.
3.2.4 Graph the results from the measurement of voltage generation.

Speed (RPM)

C. Power Output
3.3.1 From the results

Ampere (mA)
gathered in part (A) and (B), calculate the

power output.
Po = VI
where V and I are the voltage and current generated, respectively.
3.3.2 Tabulate and graph the results.
Trial
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Trial 4
Trial 5

Speed (RPM)

Speed (RPM)
Current Generated (mA)
<value 1>
<value 2>
<value 3>
<value 4>
<value 5>
Table 3 Power Output

Trial

Speed
(RPM)

Voltage
(V)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Current
(A)
Power (W)

Resistanc
e
()

Pt
(W)

Torque
(N-m)

4. Complete the table shown below using the engineering calculations sited in the beginning of the
activity. Continue the trials until you have 10 trials of data at various wind speeds generating
different values of electric power.

Torque(N-m)
Power (W)

Trial

Speed
(RPM)

Voltage
(V)

Current
(mA)

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

205
275
235
353
432
875
672
983
455
323

3.14
5.82
4.06
7.62
8.17
13.55
11.02
17.14
8.66
7.11

19.539
36.738
26.148
54.796
62.065
74.84
67.498
88.33
60.089
45.024

Resistanc
e
()
160.708
158.420
155.271
139.061
131.636
181.054
163.264
194.046
144.12
157.915

DATA AND RESULTS

Table 1 Electrical Parameters

Power
(mW)

Torque
(N-mm)

61.35
213.8
106.16
417.5
507.07
1014.08
743.83
1513.97
520.37
320.12

4.76e-2
0.124
7.19e-2
0.188
0.187
0.184
0.176
0.245
0.182
0.158

Figure 2 Speed vs Voltage Graph

Figure 3 Speed vs Current Graph

Figure 4 Speed vs Output Power Graph

Figure 5 Speed Vs. Torque

OBSERVATION
The group have observed that when enough wind force passes through the blades of the wind
turbine which causes it to move in a circular motion, it also rotates a shaft connected to a motor causing the
rotor to rotate generating electric power. Since the turbine needs a large amount of wind not yet available in
the school venue, we simulated the wind by rotating the bladesWe verified that by using a digital multimeter to measure how much voltage is the motor generating and the amount of electric power it can
generate. Observing the readings in the multi-meter, we have seen that the voltage increases when the
speed of the blades rotation (corresponding to strong wind) increases.
INTERPRETATION OF DATA
We can interpret the data gathered as we observe the relationship between the speed of the
rotating shaft connected to the blades of the wind turbine and the electrical power it generates. From this
experiment we can see that as the speed of the rotating shaft increases, indicating a strong wind dragging
the blades of the wind turbine to turn, the voltage, current and generated electric power also increases with

the changing speed. Decreasing the speed for weaker wind forces correspond to a much lower generated
electric power.
CONCLUSION
The group therefore conclude that by doing this experiment, one can learn how a wind turbine
generates electric power by observing the mechanism of how the wind turbine used in the experiment is
being operated. We have therefore concluded that the wind energy coming from the environment is
translated to mechanical energy as it passes through the blades of the wind turbine and initiates it to spin in
a circular motion simultaneously rotating a shaft connected to a motor which converts mechanical energy to
electrical energy that we use in our daily lives.
RECOMMENDATION
The group recommends the use of other types of generators that may be used as a wind turbine. It
is also recommended that before a heavy-duty equipment is used for the experiment, those who wish to
experiment may try a smaller generator that generates smaller voltage, following the objective of imitating
the behavior and theories working around a wind turbine. This is the ideal experiment since observers get
to understand deeper how the wind turbine works in the smallest and most understood method of
demonstration.

Bibliography
(http://goldpower.net/news/how-does-a-wind-turbine-generate-electricity/)
(http://fwee.org/nw-hydro-tours/how-wind-turbines-generate-electricity/)
(https://www.wind-watch.org/faq-output.php)
(http://windeis.anl.gov/guide/basics/)
(http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/technology/wind-power/wind-turbines/)