Design, construction and study of small scale vertical axis wind turbine based on a magnetically levitated axial flux permanent magnet generator

• Published in: Renewable energy Vol. 101; pp. 286 - 292
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Ghulam, Amin, Uzma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2017
• Subjects: Permanent magnet axial flux generator; Wind energy; Vertical axis wind turbine; Magnetic levitation
• ISSN: 0960-1481; 1879-0682
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2016.08.027

A small scale vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) generator is designed and the magnetic levitation method is used to increase the efficiency of this type of wind turbine. Magnetic levitation is inserted by using rare earth permanent magnets, the repelling force of magnets are used to suspend the rotating part of both the turbine and generator. Moreover, this design of simple generator which can easily drive without a geared mechanism, lessen cost and the complexity of the system by reducing the quantity of driving components. Three phase output is obtained from the designed generator which is converted into direct current through a three-phase rectifier to charge the batteries. The performance of proposed prototype is also tested experimentally. From the results it is found that the designed wind turbine performs optimally and efficiently as predicted by the developed design process. •A wind turbine based on magnetic levitation method is designed and constructed.•Turbine performance is tested experimentally, it matches with mathematic model.•A direct drive generator is designed that not used the conventional gear mechanism.•The turbine efficiency is improved due to direct drive generator.•This design is cost effective because it reduces the maintenance cost.