Silliman University

College of Engineering and Design

Department of Mechanical Engineering
Dumaguete City
MEE 38 Mechanical Engineering Literature

Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Using Bamboo as Turbine Blades

Submitted by:
Martin John Devela Balanag, BSME – III
Rodel Belotindos Catipay, BSME – III

Authors of this project:

Alex G. Gascon
Pol Gabriel J. Mercado

Submitted to:
Engr. Rufwin Pabu-aya
 A. What is the problem?
 The cost of a stock range wind turbine blades, made out of ceramic materials, can
cost a lot of money and it’ll too expensive to own it for a poverty, small, or even
an average communities.

Wind energy is a very abundant source of renewable energy, and it is efficient and environmental
friendly. Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine is most efficient type of wind turbine. Now the problem
is, “can a blade made out of Bamboo rotate when used as turbine blades”?

B. How to solve the problem?

 Building a portable yet operational bamboo horizontal axis wind turbine blade.
This research will help and shape the communities ideas, if bamboo can be
suitable and to be used as a cheap and durable turbine blades.

C. Engineering Principle

D. Methodology

Materials and Equipment

 Bamboos: used to build as a turbine blades
 One Length Steel Tube: base of the turbine and the tower
 One Length Flat Bar: to complement the arrow tail for directing the tower to the
wind.
 Electric Fan Generator: where electricity will be produced.
 One Length Angle Bar: used to support the tower.
 Bolts and Washers: holds the blades from the base.
 Screws: it’ll complement the bolts and washer in holding the blades from the base.
E. Input and Output
INPUT I/O OUTPUT

Bamboo Building of a Bamboo Wind

turbine blades Turbine Blades
from bamboo
Building the
base and the
tower for the
turbine
Assembling the
gearbox
Final assembly
of the wind
turbine parts

F. Concept Framework and Design

 Gathering and
Canvassing of
Materials

Cutting and
Forming of Bamboo

Designing the Welding and Connecting

base/foundation of the the Rotor
Turbine

Assembling and
connecting all the Parts of
the Turbine
Design
Turbine Design

Figure 1.1 Front and Side view of the Head of the Turbine

Figure 1.2 The Front and Side view of the Wind turbine
Body Design

Figure 1.3 Top view of the Body

Figure 1.4 Side view of the Body

Hub Design

Figure 1.5 Hub Design

Blade Design

Figure 1.5 Top view of the Turbine Blade

Figure 1.6 Side view of the Turbine Blade
G. Budget

Items Quantity Price

Bamboo 1 ₧100

Flat Bar (1 length) 1 ₧150

Angle Bar (1 length) 1 ₧450

One length Steel tube 1 ₧550

Electric Fan Generator 1 ₧600

Paint 1 ₧200

Plastic Varnish 1 ₧60

Bolts 8 ₧40

Nuts 8 ₧40

Transportation ___ ₧400

Labor ___ ₧3000

Total ₧5590
Gathering of the Materials

The Cutting of the Blades

The construction of the Tail, Base and, the Tower.

Assembling the Parts

The Final Assembly of the Wind turbine
H. Results

The testing was conducted at Escaño Beach, Piapi, Dumaguete City. At a wind speed of 8
kph which is the average wind speed in Dumaguete City at the month of February 2017.

 First Test (Without the Alternator)

The turbine rotated immediately without any trouble at a wind speed of 8 kph/hr.
 Second Test (With the Alternator)

The turbine did not rotate at a wind speed of 8 km/hr due to the friction created by the
alternator.
The turbine was put at the back of a pickup truck to test if how much wind speed will it take
to make the turbine rotate. The truck run at a speed of 20 km/hr when the turbine started to
rotate.
Minimum speed = speed of the truck + existing wind speed
= 20 km/hr + 8 km/hr
Minimum speed = 28 km/hr
* At a minimum speed of 28 km/hr the wind turbine started to rotate.
  Testing for the Power Output

* Power Output = 68.9 Volts

The Power output of the wind turbine will depend on how much wind energy it can harness.

I. Conclusion

The use of Bamboo blade on a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine has proven to be suitable

based on the experiment that was conducted. The Bamboo proved to be light enough to

rotate when subjected to the wind and durable to handle the energy of the wind.

J. Recommendation

 Increasing the height of the tower

 More powerful alternator to generate more electricity

 Increasing the length design of the bamboo blades