MODELLING OF VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE

INTRODUCTION
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into more useful forms, usually electricity
using wind turbines. At the end of 2006, worldwide capacity of wind-powered generators
was 74,223 megawatts
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. In
windmills (a much older technology) wind energy is used to turn mechanical machinery
to do physical work, like crushing grain or pumping water.
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 ample, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and mitigates the greenhouse
effect if used to replace fossil-fuel-derived electricity.

PROBLEM STATEMENT

Power is extracted from the engine to propel and illuminate the ferry.
Accidentally if the engine fails during the night hours then there are no provisions to look
into the failure as there is no power source. Thus arises a need to provide an auxiliary
power source and this should not be coupled to the engine.

SOLUTION
The research work began with a very vague idea. The details required references
from many literatures. The aim was to get the information regarding the most suitable
design which could generate enough power and also rotate in one direction. The solution
could be found in one type of turbine design that was called the Savonious Turbine.
Though this turbine was used on ground but our interest was on the blade profile
configuration. It has two semicircular blades in phase opposition to each other making it
multi stage( 3 stage) with a phase shift of 60 degrees. This also served the purpose of
making it self starting. Blades and supporting discs were riveted together.
The following shows the diagram of blade and disc:

A hollow shaft (having good torsional strength) was used as the transmission shaft. To
this shaft , solid shaft of mild steel was force fitted. Two bearings were used to take up
the loads and provide free movement . One at the bottom is tapered roller bearing and the
one at the top is shielded roller bearing. Supporting structure is of mild steel angles of L
cross section.
The complete arrangement was based on estimation and trial and error method.
The materials were selected based on application, suitability and availability. The
concern was also there to use cheaper manufacturing processes so as to keep the cost of
fabrication low. With this aim complete fabrication was performed in the Mechanical
Engineering workshops only. Most of the operations were performed manually, though
cutting , turning and drilling operations were performed on the drilling machine, lathe
and power band saw. This had to be done because of complexity of shape. With end of
fabrication we had to look into the proper assembly of the components with proper
alignment. This brought the consideration of proper balancing of the complete system.
Mounting everything symmetrically easily solved this problem. Few tests, to ensure that
the system gives required results, were conducted based on varying wind speed. A
horizontal belt drive system has been incorporated to step up the speed upto the required
level which around 1000 RPM.
Now that the mechanical work was decided, it was time to consider about the
electrical part of it. The primary concern was to find a suitable low speed alternator(
synchronous generator). General speed of an alternator is 1500 RPM but to extract such a
high speed was a mechanical constraint and dependent upon erratic winds. After much
deliberation we narrowed down to car alternator ( maruti 800) but the low speed
operation was still a matter of concern as its idling speed was 2100 RPM. So we modified
the field resistance of the circuit .The output of which is rectified, regulated and fed to a
battery through a charging circuitry. The lightning and navigation system are to be fed
from the rectified output and the battery. Under favorable conditions the load is fed
directly from the rectified generator output. When the conditions are not so favorable the
microcontroller 8051 actuates the relay to conducting position and thus forms a
conducting path from battery to load also. Now the load is fed from both battery and the
rectified generator output.

The block diagram of the complete set up can be seen below:

BLOCK DIAGRAM

Rectifier
and Rechargeable
Alternator
Voltage Battery
Regulator

Relay Microcontroller Relay

Wind
Turbine

Load
 The most important factor that went behind the upcoming of such an idea was the
wastage of sufficient amount of fuel. Space utilization was also of prime importance
because these boats were used to carry fishes. In order to ensure unhindered operation
and not to reduce the payload , special consideration was made to keep the weight of the
equipment low and ensure stability. The total weight of the equipment is 45 kgs which is
less than the average weight of two Rohu fishes. Even the height is of 3 feet which
also makes it compact enough to be suitably accommodated.
Coming to the cost analysis, if this wind turbine was manufactured in house the
total cost would be not more than 10000 INR. This also involves the man hours and
labors costs. For mass production the cost would crash down by 20%. The material cost
is based on retailers price and not wholesale. During the idling hours in which the ferry
does not propel, the engine is kept in running condition to provide the light and use
navigation equipments. Fuel consumption of the engine is 12litre/hr, so if it is used for 4
hrs daily for idling it sums upto 48 liters. Keeping the cost of diesel as 36INR at an
average, the cost incurred is of 1728 INR. If this much amount of fuel is saved everyday
the total cost of the equipment can be recovered in less than 6 days. ( quite an amazing
data, but thats true) Above all life of many people can be saved if at all threat arises due
to engine breakdown in the middle of the ocean.
This was a genuine effort towards the effective utilization of non perishable or
precisely renewable energy resources . Wind strengths near the Earth's surface vary
and thus cannot guarantee continuous power unless combined with other energy sources
or storage systems. There is always a constraint of draught condition but natural
calamities and natures act can be minimized but not eliminated.