CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION

1.1 PROJECT DEFINITION

This project is about designing and manufacturing of Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) to a
useful energy. The current power demanding in India is very high compared to power
consumption world average, as reported by Indian news; India consume three times more
electricity than the world average [1]. This high demanding should take the focus of attention in
thinking in different sources of energy. One of the best sources of energy that can apply the
concept of sustainability is renewable energy such as sun, wind, and rivers. The positive point of
wind energy is that unlike solar energy that only used with sunlight, wind turbine can be useful
all the 24 hours all the year. Another concept of sustainability is the way that we should use in
utilizing this renewable energy efficiently, and environmentally friendly. This, in turn will
eliminate the environment hazard and improve INDIA communities’ health and life style.
Streets, public parks, schools, and public facilities are consider as main power consumers, these
consumers should be vulnerable to wind from time to time. The idea of this project is to convert
this wind by using Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) to a useful energy by using it as a
power source that can serve these consumers.

1.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES

The main objective of this project is gaining power from wind. Therefore, this project is green
source of energy and has no effect on the life of earth. These wind energy turbines are small and
can produce up to 30 watts for each turbine. Another objective of this project is gaining and
exercising some engineering concepts such as:

➢ Learn about wind energy and different ways of convert it to a useful power.

➢ Learn the different between Vertical Axis Wind Turbines (VAWT) & Horizontal Axis Wind
Turbines (HAWT).

➢ Learn the impact of energy & our rules as engineering students to provide alternatives. Learn
about wind energy and different ways of convert it to a useful power.

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1.3 PROJECT SPECIFICATIONS

This project is 4 feet high , it is expected to produce total of up to 30 watts. The material that is
made of is galvanized carbon steel and the turbine blades are made of aluminum alloy. The
turbines can start working under low wind speed and can cut-off if the speed is too high.

1.4 PRODUCT ARCHITECTURE AND COMPONENTS

The project main components are a turbine which include (blades, shaft bearings) for each
turbine, electrical generator attached to the end of the shaft for each generator. The generators
are connecting through wires to the control banal, which include (converter, controller and
battery connected from and to the banal for the popups of changing from and to DC & AC).
Below figure1.1, identifying the initial functional diagram that shows the expected project
outlook. And initial real photo of the project is in the below figure

1.5 Wind Basics

History of Wind Power

Since ancient times, people have harnessed the wind's energy. Over 5,000 years ago, the ancient
Egyptians used wind to sail ships on the Nile River. Later, people-built windmills to grind wheat
and other grains. The earliest known windmills were in Persia (now called Iran). These early
windmills looked like large paddle wheels. Centuries later, the people of Holland improved the
basic design of the windmill. They gave it propeller-type blades, still made with sails. Holland's
windmills are world renowned.

American colonists used windmills to grind wheat and corn, to pump water, and to cut wood at
sawmills. As late as the 1920s, Americans used small windmills to generate electricity in rural
areas without electric service. When power lines began to transport electricity to rural areas in
the 1930s, local windmills were used less and less, though they can still be seen on some
Western ranches.

WIND POWER UTILIZATION TODAY

By the end of 1996 a total of 6200 MW grid connected wind turbine capacity was
installed around the world. In 1996 1200 MW were added. With an approximate cost of 1 MECU
per MW of installed wind power, the world market in 1995 has a value of 1300 million ECU.
The world-wide annually added capacity of wind turbines (the world market) is rapidly
increasing; and is expected to increase to 2000 MW/year by year 2000.
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 Present world-wide annual installation of small battery chargers is probably in the order
of 30 to 50,000 units per year of which 90% (in number) are under 100 W rated powers. The
main producers of small battery chargers are in the UK (marine and caravan leisure markets) and
China (for semi-nomadic cattle breeders in the Mongolian region).
The main application for mechanical farm wind pumps is drinking water supply. The markets for
this type of machines include USA, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand.
The present annual installation of wind pumps is probably in the range of 5,000 to 10,000 units.

Fig 1.1 wind power

Reasons for Wind Power Utilization Today

International organizations such as the International Energy Agency 's CADDET organization
and the International Atomic Energy Association, expect wind energy to be economically fully
competitive to fossil and nuclear based power production within the next 10 to 15 years. Wind
energy is clean and safe. Wind turbines do not produce greenhouse gases, as fossil fueled
electricity production. Wind energy has very low external and social costs. Wind energy has no
liabilities related to decommissioning of obsolete plants, such as nuclear power. The energy
invested in the production of a typical wind turbine has a "pay back" time (energy balance) of
less than half a year of operation. The environmental impact of wind energy on the environment
has been investigated thoroughly in both Europe and America. First of all the noise emission has
been discussed, and especially in the late 1980's noise became a crucial issue. Also the sun's
reflection in the fiberglass blades has been an important issue, but that has been solved in the
early year. Still, wind turbines must be designed and constructed to fit into the landscape. Wind
turbines disturbance of birds has been investigated carefully during the recent years. Studies in
the United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and the UK conclude that wind turbines
do not pose any substantial threat to birds. Wind energy is a domestic source of energy. Wind
energy and other renewable energy sources can improve a nation’s degree of self-sufficiency.

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 Wind turbines can be installed fast. Wind power plants of, e.g. 50 MW, can be in
operation in less than a year from signing the contract. Wind turbines can be used competitively
as a dispersed energy production technology in areas with dispersed electricity consumption.
Wind energy is a popular source of energy. Opinion surveys indicate that the majority of citizens
in most European countries in general favor renewable energy sources such as wind power.
Opinion surveys in areas of Denmark and UK with wind farms indicate that 70 to 80 % of the
population is "general supportive" or "unconcerned" with respect to the turbines.

Wind power is not only applicable in the industrialized areas and countries, but is an ideal
technology for the electrification of rapidly industrializing countries. Wind power application
can include all types of systems: grid connected wind farms, hybrid energy systems, and stand-
alone applications such as battery chargers. Wind power has proved to be a reliable technology
adequate both to fuel, and small remote grids and special applications such as desalination as
well as large grids. It is modular, more power can be added quickly as the demand increases and
it is a cost effective technology in many developing areas and nations. Finally, the technological
complexity of operating and maintaining wind turbines do not differ from that of other electrical
machines in rural, developing communities: desalination plants, water pumps, etc. Consequently,
today wind power is being included in the energy planning of the rapidly industrializing nations
in, e.g. Asia.

1.6 Home turbines

Home wind turbines are a relatively new field that companies are looking to examine, Currently
home turbines that can be mounted on the roof of a house are too expensive and do not generate
enough electricity to break even over the machines expected lifetime. What many companies are
currently researching is a way to reduce the price of personal wind turbines to make it
marketable to the average citizen who is on the grid and is not willing to lose money on a wind
turbine just to benefit the environment.

An example of a home wind turbine is the Bergey 1KW system that has an initial cost of about
$6,000 and a 20 year lifespan. An independent study concluded that this system will on average
generate 100KW hours a month. At this rate the citizen using the system is essentially paying 26
cents a KW over the course of the 20 years of the system which is more expensive than just
purchasing electricity from the grid. The average household uses about 11,500 KWh a month, so
this system would only generate 1/12 of the average household system.

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Even Bergeys 10 KW system with wind speeds at 10mph only generates about 30,000 KWh a
year at a much higher initial cost. There are personal wind turbines that can be attached to a
tower in a yard that are cost effective, but they require land space and permits. In many towns
and urban communities land space and permits are not an option. (Popular Mechanics, 2009)
Placing 4 wind turbines on roofs is the solution to most permit and space issues. However, like
the Berkey described above, they are not cost efficient and have other issues, this is why only
19% of personal wind turbines have been mounted on roofs. Some of the non-cost related issues
of turbines mounted on roofs are vibrations leading to structural damage of the roof and noise
that bothers occupants in the house. Solving these issues is the future goal for personal home
wind turbine designs