Introduction to Engineering and Technology

CCRI ENGR-1020

Fall 2007

 

Wind Turbine Project

 

Team Members

Karlia Kue

Curtis Chin

Alex Dimeo

 

Starting Wind Turbine –

(Photo)

Windmill Kit

 

 

Improved Wind Turbine

(Photo)

DSC00554.JPG

 

Turbine Construction Details

Turbine Costs

Turbine Test Procedures

Turbine Open Circuit Voltage Test Results

Turbine Power Curve

Conclusions

 

 

 

Turbine Construction Details

 

Detail description

 

Detail Photo

Our group constructed and successfully tested the Picoturbine in its original form. Our group was the only group with the best power curve from the data results.

 

IMG_0751

 

 

 

We decided to use the same structure-like design, but different blades as well as material. We used the same magnets and coils but we just doubled them for the improved turbine.

 

DSC00557.JPG

 

 

 

The base for our turbine is a wooden circular base. We used the seat of a stool for our base. The side supporters’ and the turner for our turbine were wooden as well. We decided to use wood for the side supporters’ because they are sturdier. The supporters’ were screwed into the side of the wooden circular base.

 

DSC00556.JPG

 

 

 

Our blades were made from poster board material and designed to look tornado-like when constructed and built. For the base for the blades, we used foam core material because it was light and sturdy.

 

DSC00558.JPG

 

 

 

For the magnets, we super-glued the 8 magnets on the foam core in a circular fashion, along the edge of the foam core base. We then wrapped electrical tape around the magnets to hold them in place so that they would not fly outwards.

 

DSC00555.JPG

 

 

 

We then taped the 8 coils to metal brackets. The metal brackets were then screwed onto the wooden base in a circular fashion.

 

 

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Turbine Costs

 

2 Picoturbine kits                                          $70.00

1 Poster Board                                              $02.00

2 Packs of metal brackets w/screws          $04.00

1 Roll of Double-Sided tape                        $06.00

1 Wooden Turner                                          $01.00

$83.00

 

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Turbine Test Procedures

 

1. Measure the generator resistance with the digital voltmeter (DVM).

2. Place a small piece of reflective tape to a dark surface of the turbine.

3. Connect the DVM to the turbine output leads.

4. Connect one side of the resistor load to the DVM common (black).

5. Start the fan and adjust the speed and position for the minimum turbine output (must have AC signal).

6. Record the minimum and maximum wind speed.

7. Record the average RPM, DVM voltage and DVM frequency for each load condition.

8. Increase the wind speed for the next target speed and record data.

9. Repeat the procedure until the maximum wind speed is obtained.

10. Turn in the Team data sheet to the instructor for copying.

 

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Turbine Open Circuit Voltage Test Results

 

Turbine Test Data

 

Team Members

Karlia Kue

 

 

 

Turbine Parameters

Nominal

 

 

 

 

 

Curtis Chin

 

 

 

N - Number of loops of wire

2400

 

 

 

 

 

Alex Dimeo

 

 

 

A - Area enclosed by Loop

0.001296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

P - Number of Magnetic Poles

8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

B - Magnetic pole strength (Tesla)

0.1

PT  = (VL2 / RL) (1 + RG / RL)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RG =

52.6

 

RL = open

RL1

=

200

RL2

=

100

calculated power

Target Wind
Speed mph

Low Wind
Speed mph
S
L

Low Wind
Speed mph
S
H

Avg Wind
Speed mph
S

Avg Tach
rpm
T
o

DVM volts
V
L0

DVM Freq
hz
F
0

Avg Tach
rpm
T
1

DVM volts
V
L1

DVM Freq
hz
F
1

Avg Tach
rpm
T
2

DVM volts
V
L2

DVM Freq
hz
F
2

DVM (mw)
 P
T1

DVM (mw)
 P
T2

2.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

8.0

8.4

8.9

8.65

91

0.6081

3.26

87

0.5392

3.3

80

0.4497

3.45

3.405048

6.862422

9.0

9

9.2

9.1

109

1.0733

5.03

89

0.5586

3.36

81

0.7106

5.15

3.527559

10.84376

10.0

9.9

10.3

10.1

112

1.5727

6.9

93

1.0829

6.09

85

0.7712

5.32

6.838514

11.76851