Construction and numerical analysis of a collapsible vertical axis wind turbine

• Published in: Energy conversion and management Vol. 151; pp. 400 - 413
• Main Authors: Abu-Hamdeh, Nidal H., Almitani, Khalid H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes; Carbon-epoxy composites; Collapsible turbine; Computer simulation; Epoxy resins; Field tests; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical modeling; Mathematical models; Matlab; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Numerical analysis; Relocation; Simulation analysis; Structure of the turbine; Tensile strength; Turbines; Vertical axis wind turbines; Wind power; Wind turbine; Wind turbines; Mathematical modeling; Collapsible turbine; Wind turbine; Structure of the turbine
• ISSN: 0196-8904; 1879-2227
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2017.09.015

•A collapsible vertical axis wind turbine was successfully designed.•The blades were manufactured from epoxy polymer reinforced with carbon nanotubes.•The device survives conditions up to 15m/s winds and raised/lowered in few minutes.•ANSYS and MATLAB were used for components’ modeling and mathematical simulations.•Field experiments were carried out and compared with the simulation results. This study presents a design of an efficient mobile vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) that is collapsible for relocation purposes. The wings of the turbine retract into the base shaft via a device described here within this article. The device does survive conditions up to 15m/s winds and the unit can be raised/lowered in few minutes time. One of the main accomplishments of this research article was the manufacture of the blades from epoxy polymer reinforced with carbon nanotubes. About 7.8% enhancement on tensile strength was obtained by adding 0.75 (wt%) of CNT to epoxy resin. Mathematical simulations were conducted through MATLAB. Two working models were created of the turbine system. The first model was for tracking the forces on the hinges of the turbine assembly as the device rotates. Hydraulic forces acting on the shaft were calculated with the second MATLAB model. ANSYS was used to model the majority of the structural components. Data from the mathematical models were used to verify the structure of the turbine and shaft were within acceptable stress and strain limits. Field experiments were carried out and compared with the simulation results. The result of the experiments verified the mathematical simulation analysis.