Wind Turbine Design and Implementation

Team Members

Members:Luke DonneyLindsay ShortNick RiesDario VazquezChris Loots

Advisor:Dr. Venkataramana Ajjarapu

Client:Dr. Dionysios Aliprantis

OverviewProject Scope

• Problem Statement & Proposed Solution• Requirements & Considerations

Components• Design• Implementation• Testing

Conclusion• Lessons Learned• Project Cost & Effort

Problem StatementOur goal was to design, implement, and then install a small-scale 500 to 2000 Watts wind turbine generator on the roof of Coover Hall. The turbine is an upwind, fixed-speed turbine that will provide 3-phase AC power to Coover Hall. We collaborated with mechanical engineering students to complete the project. Team members gained experience in wind energy and power system design, as well as learned how to design and build a control systems and gained experience in safe engineering.

Proposed Solution• Fixed speed, upwind, AC turbine• 3 blade design, each 4.6ft long• Rotor shaft transfers rotational energy to gearbox• Gearbox has a 10:1 ratio to rotate motor at 1800RPM.

Concept Sketch & Block Diagram

Functional Requirements• Generate an AC current• Supply an output of 500 to 2000 Watts• Supply power to the Coover Hall grid• Turn off in high wind speeds• Protect internal components from power

surge• Controls connect to a display to display data

Non-Functional Requirements• Enough space below the blades for a person

to stand under them safely• Comply with building code weight and

height limits• Components comply with federal and state

electrical regulations• Turbine type is fixed speed and upwind

Deliverables

Wind Turbine and Mounting TowerPower Protection and Control SystemsUser’s Manual

Risks & Considerations• The wind turbine was designed and built to

withstand the outdoors (temperature and

precipitation).

• The tower was built to withstand wind speeds up

to 120 MPH.

• The wind turbine was designed to be safe by

having multiple ways of controlling speed in order

to prevent damage and harm to humans.

Design (Methodology)

Our main objective in designing the turbine was for it tobe safe.

• Tower height• Furling tail• Brake• Protection circuit

Our second objective was to provide 500 to 2000 Watts of power. We chose 9.2 foot diameter blades.

Implementation (Methodology)

• Outdoor environment exposed to the elements• Nacelle housing provide shielding and ventilation• ¼ inch steel construction• Tower designed to support weight and torque applied from the nacelle

Testing (Methodology)To help with testing the entire system and to ensure it worked properly we first tested everything individually.

• Brake• Motor• Gearbox• Couplings• Controls• Electrical Protection

After we had proven these worked correctly we assembled the nacelle and blades to make sure all the parts fit and worked together correctly.

Nacelle Design

Nacelle Implementation

Nacelle TestingIn testing the nacelle, it is important to test it’s components. Therefore, before testing the nacelle as a whole, the following had to be tested• Brake• Blades• Gearbox• Motor

Motor Testing (Part 1)

Motor Testing (Part 2)

Controls Design

Controls Implementation (HW)

Controller Circuit Prototype

Hall Effect Switch

Disc with Magnets

Controls Implementation (SW)

Controls Testing

Protection Circuit DesignU 1

1 2

U 2

12

U 3

12

U 4

12

U 51 2

U 61 2

L 1

1

2

L 21 2

L 31 2

U 71 2

V 1

1 2 0 V a c

Thermal Magnetic Circuit Breakers

To Grid

Motor

Microcontroller

Motor ThermalSwitch

Motor Thermal Protection Relay

To Grid

Contactor

Under VoltageRelay

GeneratorSpeed Relay

Single Phasefrom Grid

V 3

1 2 0 V a c

Single Phasefrom Grid

Tower Design

Furling Tail Design

Rotate the nacelle out of wind at desired wind speed.

Work BreakdownLuke Donney - nacelle, brake

Lindsay Short - protection circuit

Nick Ries - testing and documentation

Dario Vazquez – microcontroller

Chris Loots – nacelle

Dustin Dalluge – tower, nacelle

Project Cost and Effort

Lessons Learned• To avoid confusion and unnecessary work, agree on one design early on.• Create a structured work plan, assign tasks to group members.• Break group into subgroups to get more work done faster.• Never assume you will get funding. Create a plan for the resources you already have.

Conclusion

Implemented and tested the nacelle and control systems.

Designed the tower, furling tail, and protection system for a future team to implement.

Left power measurement capability for a future team to implement.