Reliable and Efficient DIY Wind Turbine

Open-source DIY wind turbines have grown in popularity in recent years. These turbines are made using repurposed and recycled materials, following instructions found from a sustainable solutions site. They are a great way to introduce sustainable energy concepts, as well as supplemental energy in off-grid applications. The aim of this research is to provide a set of best practices for building these turbines by improving the reliability and efficiency of current designs. The first step of this project is to build a turbine using current open-source plans. Then this turbine will be tested under a range of operating conditions to make a baseline of performance for the existing plans, with the main objective being the creation of a power curve for a range of wind speeds. Data will be collected using LabView VI to determine the power output of the turbine. It will then be compared to the theoretical results from Blade Element Momentum (BEM) analysis of the blades in MatLab. From this baseline, areas of improvements will be identified with specific focus on optimization of efficiency and reliability, and minimizing cost. Then, a re-design of the turbine based on identified areas of improvement will be made. These changes will likely include different blade geometry and the addition of a gearbox. After making considerable improvements to our design, the redesigned turbine will be tested and compared to the baseline turbine. The project will conclude with releasing an open-source, easy to follow set of instructions so that DIY enthusiasts can build the improved wind turbine themselves.