Design of a micro-wind turbine for implementation in low wind speed environments

Installed wind capacity has increased globally by an average of 23% over the past 18 years according to the Global Wind Energy Council. Despite the fact that wind energy is one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources today, there is limited literature on micro-wind turbine technology. Micro-wind turbines are generally characterized as small-scale turbines designed for use by individuals rather than for large scale energy production. Although the power output of micro-wind turbines is much less than small and large-scale wind turbines, micro-wind turbines are less costly, easier to install, and can power small electrical devices such as LED signs and cell phones. This paper describes the design and development of multiple blade designs that will be used on a modular micro-wind turbine for use in environments with wind speeds of 3-14 m/s. The turbine blades were designed to output 10 Watts to power small electronic devices. Considerations in designing this system involved airfoil shape, motor and electrical components, and nacelle housing. Testing involved the use of a wind tunnel and resulted in blade design iterations to enhance system performance. The final design includes 3D printed blades that are modular as the blades can easily be interchanged for use in a variety of applications, including educational demonstrations. With 3D printing technologies gaining ground, the reduced cost of printing micro-wind turbine blades is gaining popularity. This paper showcases the team's progress through system requirements, concept development, embodiment design and prototyping, testing and refinement, and detail design.