MASTER OF ENGINEERING

UTILITIES ENGINEERING

ELECTRICAL

RENEWABLE GREEN ENERGY SYSTEMS

RGES 410M

LAB REPORT #1

DR. ADEL ELGAMMAL

VASHIK BEDASIE

107000417

DATE
21-10-2010
Aim:

To generation electricity by means of a wind turbine using a wind tunnel. The wind
tunnel will allow the observation of the effect of the wind velocity on the turbine’s voltage and
current. It will also show the effect on the wind front on the turbine’s output.

Description:

A wind tunnel with all the necessary components for generating a laminar air flow and
projecting it toward a wind turbine is provided. Complementary component for varying wind
speed and the angle of the wind turbine blades, and for measuring electrical parameters make it
possible to experiment with the wind turbines operational conditions.

Apparatus:

Wind Energy Trainer Module consisting of:

1. A single-phase industrial fan with electronic speed regulator;

2. A 12V, 40W wind turbine with a mechanism for a ± 30° change with
respect to the source of the wind;
3. An anemometer;
4. Instruments for measuring speed, voltage and current;
5. Resistive load

Diagram:

The connection is set up for direct current (DC) voltage, for monitoring purposes
and is illustrated below

Anemometer

Wind
Ammeter Voltmeter Speed
Load

Figure #.1 Connection Scheme for Wind Tunnel.

Practice 1: Identifying Components

1. Air Movement

The element that causes air movement is a single-phase industrial fan with an
electronic speed regulator that produces a maximum flow of 20km/hr. Its blades are 60
cm in diameter and consume on average 800W of energy. The necessary air flow is
generated through this single phase fan and its honeycomb screen located in front of the
blades. It converts the wind generated into kinetic energy, which the wind turbine then
converts to mechanical energy and finally into DC electricity (12V, 40W). It includes an
electric speed regulator for experimenting with the wind variation and the electricity
generated.

2. Flow Laminator

To generate a laminar flow with a low turbulence rate, a honey comb screen is
placed between the flow generator and the experimental zone. The screen makes it
possible to suppress the lack of transversal uniformity in the flow introduced by the fan
blades. In this way the flow is channelled in a certain direction.

3. Experimental Zone

This zone is located at the extreme opposite of where the fan is located, and since
there is a laminar flow the density of which can vary, according to the velocity of the
motor associated with the fan blades.

4. Wind Turbine

The wind turbine is located in the experimental zone of the trainer. The wind
turbine is placed in a mechanism that allows for varying its position in a range from 0 - ±
30° with respect to the front of the air flow, thus simulating the aerodynamic effects from
the direction of the blades.

5. Anemometer

This three-cup external instrument is installed on a metal stand, for the purpose of
experimenting with velocity on the sides of the fan and the output from the wind turbine.
It provides electric voltage of a value that is directly proportional to the wind velocity.
The voltage is applied to an analogy meter on a scale in km/hr that is located on the front
of the trainer. The purpose is to associate the reading on this instrument with that of the
generated electric current.

6. Control

This section corresponds to the horizontal bar located on the wind tunnel, in
which the following components have been installed:
 a. Voltage and Current Control

Two analogue instruments provide information on the voltage generated

by the wind turbine and the current supplied when an internal or external load has
been introduced.

b. Wind Speed

The external three-cup anemometer provides an analogy instrument with

the electrical information necessary to quantify its velocity in Km/h. The external
anemometer is connected to the panel where the measuring instrument is located.

c. Resistive Load

A 10 W load has been incorporated with a switch to generate

consumption, to be able to experiment with the repercussions in the wind turbine.
The load consists of a 12V, 10W electric lamp.

d. Auxiliary Output

This section corresponds to the 4mm security sockets for the wind
turbine’s direct output voltage, thus allowing external applications, for example to
set up a hybrid system with a photovoltaic solar energy system.

e. Fan Speed Variation

The power supply for the fan passes through an auto-transformer, in order
to vary the air flow generated, and therefore, the electricity supplied by the wind
turbine. Included is a linear control mechanism for adjusting velocity on a scale
from 0 to 100%.

f. Power Supply

Located on the back of the control bar is the mains inlet, where the power
supply will be connected. It has a general switch.

Practice 2: Placing Trainer into Operation

After turning on the trainer, it was verified that a voltage is generated from the wind
turbine, by observing the corresponding meter on the control bar.
Practice 3: Establishing Wind Velocity

The air flow provided by the fan was measured. This air flow can be varied through its
auto transformer.

Result Set #1:

Control Speed Wind Velocity (km/hr) Voltage (V)

50% 2 6
100% 20 28

Table 1. Wind Speed and Velocity.

Note: The wind turbine’s output voltage has a value that depends on the state of the
charge. It will be at its maximum level in no load conditions and this level will
diminish when a current load is introduced.

At Vmin, the wind speed developed is sufficient to turn the blades of the turbine. At this
wind speed, the voltage developed by the turbine is 6V. At Vmax, the maximum voltage that can
be generated is 28V.

Therefore the range of wind speeds that can be achieved is given by 2  V  20 and the
range of voltages that can be achieved is 6  U  28 .

Practice 4: Measuring Wind Turbine’s Voltage and Current

The wind turbine’s output has a value that depends on the state of the charge. It will be at
its maximum level in no load conditions and this level will diminish when a current load is
introduced.

Result Set #2
Wind Speed (km/hr) Voltage (V) Current (A)
5 0.13 0
10 5.0 0.5
15 11.20 0.8
20 29.0 0 (no load added)
Table 2. Wind Speed, Voltage and Current.

Speed Control Voltage (V) Current (A) Wind Speed (km/hr) Power Developed (W)
70% 8.20 0.7 14 5.74
80% 11.23 0.8 15 8.98
90% 12.35 0.9 18 11.12
100% 14 0.9 20 12.60
Table 3. Power Developed.
 Note: Verify that the lamp turns on, however it may be that within a short period of time
it begins to turn off this is due to the fact that the wind turbine cannot compensate
for wind front insufficient pressure.

It may also be possible to verify that the voltage has been reduced and that there
is now current circulation.

Practice 5: Measuring Wind Turbine’s Voltage and Current

Changing the position of the blades affects the turbines performance. To simulate this
situation the turbine blades were adjusted from right to left as illustrated in the table below.

Result Set #3

Angular Change (θ) Developed Voltage (V)

0 28
5 28.7
10 28.75
15 28.6
20 28.2
25 27.7
30 27.2
Table 4. Positive Angular change and Corresponding Voltage.

Angular Change (θ) Developed Voltage (V)

0 28
-5 28.5
-10 28.8
-15 28.5
-20 28.5
-25 27.5
-30 26.2
Table 5. Negative Angular change and Corresponding Voltage.

Note: The wind speed remained constant during this section of the experiment.

The change in voltage is a consequence of the wind turbine being turned away from the
wind front and of the change in velocity produced by the wind break itself.
Results:

Power Developed vs Wind Speed

14

12
Power Developed (W)

10

0
0 5 10 15 20 25
Wind Speed (km/hr)

Figure 2. Graph of Developed Power against Wind Speed.

Angular Change vs Voltage

29
28.8
28.6
28.4
Voltage (DC V)

28.2
28
27.8
27.6
27.4
27.2
27
-35 -30 -25 -20 -15 -10 -5 0
Angular Change

Figure 2. Graph of Negative Angular Change against Voltage.

 Angular Change vs Voltage
29

28.5

28
Voltage (DC V)

27.5

27

26.5

26
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
Angular Change

Figure 2. Graph of Positive Angular Change against Voltage.