CAPSTON PROJECT REPORT ON WIND-MILL

SUMITTED IN PARTIAL FULLFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF BACHALOR OF TECHNOLOGY (MECHANICAL ENGINEERING)

PROJECT REPORT BY :SANJEEV KUMAR (10808474) LOK RAJ (10802048) ABDUL KARIM (10803691)

CERTIFICATE
This is to certify that SANJEEV KUMAR bearing Registration no. 10808474 has completed ... dissertation / capstone project titled, WIND MILL under my guidance andsupervision. To the best of my knowledge, the present work is the result of her original investigationand study. No part of the dissertation has ever been submitted for any other degree at anyUniversity. The dissertation is fit for submission and the partial fulfillment of the conditions for the award of .........................

Signature and Name of the Research Supervisor Designation School Lovely Professional University Phagwara, Punjab. Date :26-11-2011

DECLARATION
I,SANJEEV KUMAR , student of B.TECH (Program name) under Department ofMECHANICAL. of Lovely Professional University, Punjab, hereby declare that all the information furnished in this dissertation / capstone project report is based on my own intensive research and is genuine. This dissertation / report does not, to the best of my knowledge, contain part of my work which has been submitted for the award of my degree either of this university or any other university without proper citation. Date :

Signature and Name of the student Registration No. ..........

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First and foremost, we thank our teacher who has help us to bring out our creative capabilities. we express our gratitude to our parents for being a continuous source of encouragement and for all these financial aid given to us. we would like to acknowledge the assistance provided to us by our mentor MR . ANIL BALI RAM SIR to help us make this project more easier. Our heartfelt gratitude to our friend for helping me to complete my work in time.

SANJEEV KUMAR (10808474) LOK RAJ (10802048) ABDUL KARIM (10803691)

Mechanical Engineering Deptt. Final year

Abstract
Windmills convert the wind into either mechanical or electrical energy. If the efficiency of a windmill can be increased, then the need for expensive, polluting power generators will be reduced. The tip speed ratio of a windmill blade is directly proportional to the energy output. If the shape of a blade can be altered to increase the tip speed ratio, windmill performance increases. If the blade's surface can be coated to increase the tip speed ratio, windmill performance also increases. This project examined different blade shapes to determine the optimum shape for blades rotating on horizontal axes. Different blade shapes were also tested for blades rotated on a vertical axis. Finally, different surface treatments were tested to determine if surface treatment could enhance blade performance. Other areas were identified for additional research.

CONTNENTS INTRODUCTION WORKING PRINCIPLES CALCULATION DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS VARIABLES BEARING USED BLADE AND INCREASES IN BLADE EFFICIENCY EXPERIMENTAL VARIABLE DEPENDENT VARIABLES PROCEDURE TWO IMPORTANT PARAMETRE RESULT CONCLUSIONS RESEARCH PAPER OTHER METHODS OF INCREASE OF EFFICIENCY BIBLIOGRAPHY

TABLE OF FIGURE 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Major turbine component.fig (1) White metal bearing fig (2) White metal fig (3) Blades shapes fig (4) Magnetic bearing fig (5)

SYMBOLS USED K Actual shaft load Nkgf fw Load factor for electric purposeis from1-1.2 KcTheoretically calculated value Nkgf

INTRODUCTION
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called blades. Windmills used for generating electricity are commonly known as wind turbines.

WIND MILL COMPONENTS

Fig (1) Major turbine component.

HOW A WINDMILL/TURBINE WORKS

Wind machines come in two basic typeshorizontal axis or vertical axis machines. The illustration Fig. 1 shows a horizontal axis machine, the type most often seen. The blades and hub rotate by the air stream . The shape of the blades channels the air, and creates regions of higher and lower pressure that result in a net force being applied to the blade, which causes it to turn. This rotational motion represents mechanical energy that will eventually drive the generator to produce electricity. However, usually, the rotational speed of the turbine is less as to produce . Hz AC, so there is an arrangement of gears to enhance the speed. This axle, the gearbox, and generator arrangement is designated the drivetrain in Fig. 1

CALCULATION: Blade speed x driver teeth Driven teeth

As we know that gear box assembly in line gives a high mechanical output and this output shaft is coupled to the dynamo shaft which becomes load sharing attatchment too. As the wind stream keeps on varying so a special attatchment called P.I.V ( Partial infinite variable with fixed output rpm device with fine tuning is also mandatory to be provided between gear box and dynamo assembly.

Calculation of Load acting on shafts

There are many instances where the actual operational shaft load is much greater than the theoretically calculated load, due to machine vibration and/or shock. This actual shaft load can be found by using formula K fwKc where, K Actual shaft load Nkgf fw Load factor for electric purposeis from1-1.2 KcTheoretically calculated value Nkgf

Design specification
The design specification for a wind-turbine will contain a power curve and guaranteed availability. With the data from the wind resource assessment it is possible to calculate commercial viability. The typical operating temperature range is -20 to 40 C (-4 to 104 F). In areas with extreme climate (like Inner Mongolia or Rajasthan) specific cold and hot weather versions are required.Wind turbines can be designed and validated according to IEC 61400 standards.

Problem Statement
Windmills are actually, in a sense, transducers. They can convert the wind into either mechanical or electrical energy. If the efficiency of the windmill can be increased, then the need for expensive, polluting, power generators will be reduced. As a result, we would be helping the environment and economy at the same time.

Hypothesis
As the shape of windmill blades becomes more aerodynamically efficient, the tipspeed ratio will increase resulting in better performance. Surface treatment can affect the blade's performance.

Methodology
The purpose of this project is to increase the efficiency of the windmill. To do this it seems necessary to increase the tip speed ratio. Hopefully, the shape of the blades will positively affect the top speed ratio and/or overall efficiency of the windmill. Once the optimum blade shape has been determined, blades of the same shape will be treated with different coatings to determine if performance can be increased.

Variables Independent Variables:

1. Wind

Speed

This is very important to the productivity of a windmill. The wind turbine only generates power with the wind. The wind rotates the axis (horizontal or vertical) and causes the shaft on the generator to sweep past the magnetic coils creating an electric current.
2.

Type of Windmill
This is important because a different brand of windmill may be based on different principles than others. Some windmills may be designed for torque, while others are designed for tip speed ratio. A vertical axis windmill and a

horizontal axis windmill are very different and are used for different things. A vertical axis is mainly used for torque, and a horizontal is used for speed.

Variable Control This will be controlled by using the same constructed model for all measurements.

3. Blade Length
This is important because the length of the blade is directly proportional to the swept area. Larger blades have a greater swept area and thus catch more wind with each revolution. Because of this, they may also have more torque.

Variable Control
A single blade pattern will be used to prescribe the general size and shape of the blades. The length and width will remain constant, at 2.5 inches long and half an inch wide.
4. Tower

Height

The height of the tower [affects] the windmill immensely. The higher a windmill is, the more productive it will be due to the fact that as the altitude increases so does the wind speed.

Variable Control
The same tower will be used for all measurements. The model constructed was 14 inches tall.
5.

Tower Design
Some towers are stronger than others. Towers are important in the construction of the windmill because not only do they have to support the windmill, but they must also be subject to their own weight and the drag of

the wind. If a weak tower is subject to these elements, then it will surely collapse. Therefore, the towers must be identical so as to insure a fair comparison.

Variable Control
The tower was constructed using two reinforced cardboard model rocket fuselages. The base of the tower was constructed of balsa wood; the top platform supporting the generator was also constructed of balsa wood. The entire tower was painted with red enamel spray paint for appearance only.

7. Type of Generator
The type of generator is important because the amount and type of power generated may vary among different types. Some generators generate AC while others generate DC. To make them compatible for comparison a transducer must be used, wasting valuable money and quite possibly time.

Variable Control
Only one DC generator was used in the experiment.

BEARING USED
In this project of wind mill to produce electricity in order to increase the efficiency of wind turbine we use white metal bearing . Tin-lead & tin-copper alloys such as Babbitt metal have a low melting point that is ideal for use as solder. This white matel has following characterstics are: Material should be hard Wear resistance Low coefficient of friction It must be have shock resistance

 These are tough and sufficiently ductile to allow for slight misalignment prior to running-in.

% Sn 93 86 80

% Sb 3.5 10.5 11

% Cu 3.5 3.5 3.0

% Pb 6

Applications Light and medium IC engine big end bearings Light and medium IC engine main bearings General purpose heavy bearings (lead increases plasticity) Heavy duty marine engine bearings, electrical machines Low cost, general purpose, medium duty bearings

60 40

10 10

28.5 1.5

1.5 48.5

Fig (2) White metal bearing

fig (3) white metals

Matel resisting forces

INCREASES OF BLADE EFFICIENCY Blades Blade design

The ratio between the speed of the blade tips and the speed of the wind is called tip speed ratio. High efficiency 3-blade-turbines have tip speed/wind speed ratios of 6 to 7. Modern wind turbines are designed to spin at varying speeds . Use of aluminum and composite materials in their blades has contributed to low rotational inertia, which means that newer wind turbines can accelerate quickly if the winds pick up, keeping the tip speed ratio more nearly constant. Operating closer to their optimal tip speed ratio during energetic gusts of wind allows wind turbines to improve energy capture from sudden gusts that are typical in urban settings. In contrast, older style wind turbines were designed with heavier steel blades, which have higher inertia, and rotated at speeds governed by the AC frequency of the power lines. The high inertia buffered the changes in rotation speed and thus made power output more stable.

The speed and torque at which a wind turbine rotates must be controlled for several reasons:

To optimize the aerodynamic efficiency of the rotor in light winds. To keep the generator within its speed and torque limits. To keep the rotor and hub within their centrifugal force limits. The centrifugal force from the spinning rotors increases as the square of the rotation speed, which makes this structure sensitive to overspeed. To keep the rotor and tower within their strength limits. Because the power of the wind increases as the cube of the wind speed, turbines have to be built to survive much higher wind loads (such as gusts of wind) than those from

which they can practically generate power. Since the blades generate more torsional and vertical forces (putting far greater stress on the tower and nacelle due to the tendency of the rotor to precess and nutate) when they are producing torque, most wind turbines have ways of reducing torque in high winds. To enable maintenance. Since it is dangerous to have people working on a wind turbine while it is active, it is sometimes necessary to bring a turbine to a full stop. To reduce noise. As a rule of thumb, the noise from a wind turbine increases with the fifth power of the relative wind speed (as seen from the moving tip of the blades). In noise-sensitive environments, the tip speed can be limited to approximately 60 m/s (200 ft/s).

It is generally understood that noise increases with higher blade tip speeds. To increase tip speed without increasing noise would allow reduction the torque into the gearbox and generator and reduce overall structural loads, thereby reducing cost. The reduction of noise is linked to the detailed aerodynamics of the blades, especially factors that reduce abrupt stalling.

Experimental Variables: 1. Shape of Blade

This is important because if an optimum blade shape is discovered, then the overall productivity of a windmill can be increased.

Variable Control
The windmill will be the same size, type and brand, on the same type of tower. The same wind source will be used and the blade size will be kept constant. The blade shapes were as follows: #1. Flat, unmodified blade surface; #2. Wing shape, with one leading edge rounded with the other edge tapered to a thin line; #3. Both edges tapered to a thin line; and

#4. Both edges rounded like the leading edge of a conventional airplane wing.

A drawing of tested blade shapes is provided below:

Fig (4) 2. Surface Treatment This is important because if an optimum surface treatment can be determined, then the blades would not only be protected from the elements but also be more productive. Variable Control The blade shape, size, and composition remained constant. The blades were sanded to achieve a smooth surface. Only the surface coating was altered.

Dependent Variables
Tip Speed Ratio The tip speed ratio is very important. The tip speed ratio is directly proportional to the windmill's productivity. It is how many times the blades rotate greater than the wind speed.

System of Measurement
Each windmill blade will be attached to a generator. The one that generates the most voltage in the same wind speed is obviously more productive.

Procedure
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A tower was created. A windmill prototype was created. A generator was equipped to the windmill. The windmill was assembled. Several 2.5" x .5" blades were cut out of wood from a common pattern. The blades were then tapered at differing shapes. The first set of blades was then equipped to the windmill. The windmill was then placed in front of the wind source on a horizontal axis and a vertical axis. 9. The amount of energy generated was recorded for each blade operation (i.e., horizontal or vertical axes). 10.The windmill was then equipped with another set of blades of a different design. 11.Steps 8~10 are then repeated as necessary. 12.After testing all blade shapes, the most efficient shape was then replicated and treated with different coatings. Once blade was not treated. 13.The blades were tested again, on a horizontal axis, following the above steps.

Wind speed and areatwo important parameters

Local mean wind speed is the most important parameter to consider in siting a windmill, because the power transferred to the windmill grows as the cube of the wind speed. There are many regions in the world suitable as wind turbine sites. Generally, the wind at windmill height above the ground should be a few meters per second. When the wind speed is too low, the vanes do not turn at all; when it is too high, it could endanger the machine. Efficient windmills can produce 175 W per square meter of area swept by the propeller. This compares favorably to the total solar annual energy flux. Someone planning to erect a wind turbine would look for a region with steady, relatively fast winds, because the turbines delivered power grows as the cube of the speed. Windmills cannot extract all the power in the wind, because air must be able to move away from behind the blade and because conversion of mechanical energy involves losses. The maximum fraction of wind power extractable is only 16/27 0.6. This is known as the Betz limit. The limitation arises because, if the blades slow the wind too much, most wind will just flow around the blades, but if the blades do not slow the wind enough, the energy will be lost. Sites with mean wind speeds in excess of 7 m/s at 25 m height are prime wind energy resources. Windmills produce power at a rate that depends on the effective area swept by the windmill blades and on the speed of the wind. The area is basically the circle cut bythe windmill blades. Air entering this region pushes against the blades of the propeller. Since the kinetic energy of any air parcel having mass m is 1/2 mv2, the rate of mass flow through the blades effective area, A, determines the power transferred to the blades. The rate of mass flow past the blades is given by Av, where is the air density, since the mass flowing through area A in a small time Dt is the density times the volume A(vDt) of air having that mass. As a result, the winds power is the rate of energy flow, DE/Dt, which is 1/2 (the rate of mass flow)v2, P = 1/2 ( Av3). The power per unit area (power density) is

P/A = 1/2 ( v3). Because of the winds variability, we must average the power density over time. That average, or mean, is given by P/A = 1/2 (average of the factor v3 over time). We call the average of the factor v3 over time <v3>, and it is found by calculation toBe

<v3> = 6/p (<v>)3 2 (<v>)3. Therefore, the mean power density is almost twice as great as the power density at the average speed. To increase the power collected by the wind turbine, then, we must have a location having winds with mean speeds great enough, and then we need a large collecting area. So we would like to make the blades as large as possible. Wind shadows, or wakes, can be an important consideration as well. If machines arespaced too close to one another, the change in the flow pattern caused by the windmill in front or to the side can interfere with neighboring windmills. In the mountain passes in California, the machines are spaced 2.5 rotor diameters apart in a row perpendicular to the prevailing winds, and the rows are spaced 8 rotor diameters apart, which reduces wake problems. The rotor blades are very important to the windmill. They must be big in order to capture as much wind as possible, but not so big that they lose their structural integrity when subjected to large forces. As noted in the smaller machines represent reasonably well-known technology, but if we want to operate more cost-effectively, we would want to make the machines bigger. As of 1997, the average size of an installed new windmill was 600 to 750 Kw. By 2000, machines rated from 1 to 2 MW are being installed. Research is proceeding to scale the blades to even bigger sizes. ,

Why is research on old technologyimportant?

The first windmill used to generate electricity was built only a little over a century ago.Charles Brush built that wind machine in Cleveland, Ohio in 1888. It generated only12 kW. Developments came slowly, because the real work of windmills was smallscalepumping of water on farms, not for electricity for the grid.This is a two-bladed research turbine. Windmills seem such old technology, having been around for at least a millennium, itmight seem that there is nothing more to learn about the behavior of windmills. This is far from the truth. It is true that small windmills, such as the one in Fig. 4 are betterunderstood. Because of the immense amount of energy that could be produced by tapping the winds, even at 35% efficiency, the 1970s and 1980s saw many companies enter the wind turbine business. Immediately after the 1973 energy crisis, large wind units were designed and studied . They were found to be uneconomic at that time, and smaller units of size 50 to 70 kva were preferred. The technology of small wind units is now relatively mature, and reliable units are available up to 0.5 Mva. The 1990s saw tremendous growth in the size and output of wind generators.(18,30,35,41,42) has made real contributions to the efficiency and profitability of wind turbines. Problems were identified in research in the 1970s that were rectified in the wind turbines of the 1980s, but even those machines are not the most efficient. Nevertheless, the new technology was pushed and many investments made, and direct government research money dried up. Renewable energy research and development, which languished during the Reagan-Bush years, made a comeback after the election of President Clinton. So much progress was made in this newer round of research that the technology will probably withstand any decision of the George W. Bush administration to deemphasize renewable energy. One important change is that new wind units are being certified, which should prevent hidden problems from coming to light only after the purchase of the unit. DOEsNational Wind Technology Center is the only certification unit in the United Statesaccredited by the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation. Much 1990s research focused on mid-size turbines. Three sites were chosen by the

Department of Energy in 1993 for significant new wind energy feasibility tests: Texas,Vermont, and Maine. There are 150 windmills at the Maine site, producing 30 to 50 MW.The plan calls for 20 wind turbines at the Vermont site. The windmills were built by Kenetech-U.S. Windpower; they are a new design that can be used even when winds are gusty. The rotors are about 30 m in diameter; each mill, rotating 50 to 100 times perminute, will generate 300 kW. Texas is also interested in wind energy. Ft. Davis, Texas,will have at least 20 windmills (producing about 6 MW). The Department of Energy isputting up $6 million of a total of $40 million for tests, with the remainder coming fromlocal utilities. A different sort of wind energy system has been tested at RensselaerPolytechnic Institute in Troy, New York. It will give variable-frequency power, firstrectified, then transformed to 60 Hz. Compared to a decade ago, turbine blades are as much as 30% more efficient.(30) According to the Department of Energy, 40 m blade lengths as at present are very close to the size limit imposed by the strength of the materials. As discussed above, the larger the size of the blade, the greater the area swept out. The larger the area swept out, the greater the energy that can be coaxed from the wind on a piece of real estate. Research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) shows that size only helps so muchthat is, economy of scale is not a total panacea. However, the size of wind turbines has increased steadily, from the 50 kW machines installed in California windfarms in the early 1980s to the 1.5 MW turbines now being mounted. One of the many new things found recently is that intermittent energy output decreasein wind turbines arises because of the piling up of insect bodies on the turbines. Theinsects deposit on slow-moving blades and cause the long-observed apparentlyinexplicable decline in generator output. The output rose after every rain or manualcleaning. Clearly, this has implications for increasing efficiency of all sorts of windturbines.Variable speed turbines are more able to harvest wind energy than fixed speed machines.The ability to absorb energy from gusts can add significantly to the capacity factor of windmills, which has sometimes been very low. Electronic inverter circuits convert the energy into the 60 Hz used in the electricity grid. Variable speed turbines are more expensive to produce than fixedspeed versions. American companies generally are committed to variable speed turbines, while European companies have remained with fixed speed machines. Another area of research is rotor design. Should there be two or three rotors? It seems to depend. According to NREL,Configuration options include the number

of blades; the orientation upwind or downwind of the tower; the amount of movement or flexing allowed in the blades and the hub; and the way blades are used for speed and power control. For example, it had been found in German research in the 1960s that putting a bearing in the rotor hub allowed the rotor to move in response to wind gusts and stabilized the windmill, but this result was not widely known. The teetering hubs turned out to be crucial for reducing loads and are a feature of every advanced machine. The idea had to be rediscovered through laborious research. Another product of research was the nodding nacellea hinge was inserted between nacelle and tower to allow better dynamic response to turbulence. Seven different drivetrain combinations are also being studied. Surprisingly, except for the foundations, the cost of running a windfarm was found to be independent of the size of the turbine installed. Drivetrains are important for another reason: to change the much slower revolution frequency of the wind-caused rotation to 60 Hz, they have manymoving parts and must be serviced regularly. This is why a new Swedish design thatworks without a gearbox may be important. In another research project, it was found by examining data from Germany that havingwind farm turbines that are widely separated, rather than bunched, tends to even out the electricity production and make a better match to the load. This implies that tyingwindfarms in separated geographic areas together may be advantageous.Lightning strikes were found to be a problem at several windfarms due to a Department of Energy program for sharing experience among utilities. This led to installation of better grounding for the turbines. Finally, two Croatian researchers from Rijeka University found that by changing thecowling on the generator, they could increase the output by a factor of 3.5. Theirdevice works by shunting off air in high winds, stabilizing output in almost all windconditions. This approach holds promise, but it does cost a substantial amount more(perhaps an additional 75%) than conventional windmills. This configuration even gives electricity when the windspeed is below 5 m/s, the usual limit for wind machines itprovides electricity at windspeeds as low as 2 m/s. The International Energy Agency predicts that renewables (excluding hydroelectricity)will be only about 3% by 2020. Renewables are expected to continue to grow at over1% per year, higher than any other form of energy. Wind is expected to be a large part in this surge. Germany has installed windmills having a capacity of 4.5 MW. The larger the mill, the

more difficult repairs are and the more reliable the machine must be in order to be put into service. This development is a vote of confidence in these giant windmills (the machine stands 120 meters tall, and its wind vanes are 52 meters long). As of this writing, the Germans are working on the development of 5 MW windmills for offshore placement.

Statistical Treatment
The size of the blades was measured by length, width and thickness. The width and length were relatively constant. Voltage data was collected using a digital multi meter that would allow for greater accuracy and precision. Eleven sample readings were collected for analysis of optimum blade shapes and twenty-four readings were collected for each coating (or control) for the purpose of analyzing the influence of blade surface treatment.

Results
The shape of the blade has a great deal of influence on the performance of the windmill. The tip speed ratio increased dramatically as the shape of the blade was modified to become more aerodynamically efficient when the blade was rotated on a horizontal axis. Blade shapes appearing to produce more lift and less drag were more efficient. Some blades did not rotate at all. However, when the direction of the wind was changed to reflect the effects on blades oriented on a vertical axis, each shape rotated reasonably well. It would appear that the blade shapes producing more drag performed better on a vertical axis. Tables of test results and charts of relative blade shape performance follow.

Blade Shapes
Voltage #1 (mV) 0 #2 #3 #4

91.8 0 0 105.7 101.6

95.0 93.8 Horizontal Axis 100.2 113.7 102.9 118.6 118.3 105.8 Totals: 0 1147.4 0 0 Average: 0 104.31 0 0

Blade Shapes
Voltage (mV) #1 #2 #3 #4

296.6 198.3 148.0 180.7 276.8 230.4 109.0 179.2 288.3 219.7 134.0 227.6 265.2 244.3 133.0 246.3 260.7 223.6 123.3 268.0

Vertical 269.8 228.3 142.3 317.6

Axis

285.0 226.3 189.3 284.0 242.0 245.0 215.0 302.0 249.8 229.9 220.0 296.0 266.0 220.3 166.0 293.0 236.0 221.4 152.0 292.0

Totals:

2909. 2487. 1731. 2886. 2 5 9 4

Averag 264.4 226.1 157.4 262.4 e: 7 4 5 0

Surface treatment results were more surprising. The blade that was not treated with any coating appeared to perform the best. It is possible that the added weight of surface coatings adversely affected blade performance. However, the positive results of the painted blade in relation to the silicone blade would lead one to consider other research of optimal surface treatments; e.g., Teflon or other treatments. Results of the surface treatment data collection are provided below:

Blade Surface Treatment

Voltage (mV) #1 #2 #3

233.0 156.2 206.0 260.5 145.9 205.5 269.1 143.2 207.7

258.9 148.5 209.5 265.7 155.5 212.4 Horizonta 275.4 135.8 213.4 l Axis 273.0 164.8 217.8 283.1 132.8 208.5 289.9 166.5 205.5 290.8 167.8 225.4 300.1 168.8 219.9 298.6 159.8 222.2 301.8 159.7 223.2 301.2 161.5 234.5 269.3 156.3 229.9 287.9 167.8 220.8 307.8 175.8 223.0 299.7 176.5 224.4 290.3 169.5 223.4 309.5 173.7 225.2 308.6 167.8 226.5 301.8 158.0 226.4

285.2 164.5 226.3 293.5 167.8 227.7 Totals: 6854. 1685. 2332. 7 8 5 285.6 153.2 212.0 1 5 5

Average:

There were some other interesting results. First, I didn't realize how much wind force would be required to energize windmill blades. My first attempt at modeling blades used a wind source from a conventional room fan and a "wind tunnel" created out of tag board. The fan did not produce enough wind to turn the blades. I switched to a hair dryer that is a built-in wind source and combined wind tunnel. This worked but on fairly small, light windmill blades. This has led me to infer that windmills will only serve as an alternate energy source in areas that experience fairly constant and considerably forceful prevailing winds.

Conclusions 1. Summary
I have discovered the more aerodynamically efficient the blade shape is, the more efficient the windmill will be.

2. Resolution of Hypothesis
My hypothesis was correct in that the more aerodynamically efficient the blades are the more productive the windmill will be. My hypothesis about surface coatings was also supported. However, I originally thought that a surface coating might improve efficiency which was not supported.

3. Suggestions
This study has helped answer the problem of windmill efficiency, for now we know what to look for in creating a better windmill. However, the most efficient shape was the most commonly used shape on windmills already. In addition to surface coatings, two other areas emerged as candidates for further research: 1.) blade length and 2.) blade composition. The question still remains is: how can we further improve the efficiency of the windmill blade?

RESEARCH PAPER

Windmills
If the efficiency of a wind turbine is increased, then more power can be generated thus decreasing the need for expensive power generators that cause pollution. This would also reduce the cost of power for the common people. The wind is literally there for the taking and doesn't cost any money. Power can be generated and stored by a wind turbine with little or no pollution. If the efficiency of the common wind turbine is improved and widespread, the common people can cut back on their power costs immensely. Ever since the Seventh Century people have been utilizing the wind to make their lives easier. The whole concept of windmills originated in Persia. The Persians originally used th wind to irrigate farm land, crush grain and milling. This is probably where the term windmill came from. Since the widespread use of windmills in Europe, during the Twelfth Century, some areas such as the Netherlands have prospered from creating vast wind farms. The first windmills, however, were not very reliable or energy efficient. Only half the sail rotation was utilized. They were usually slow and had a low tip speed ratio but were useful for torque. Since its creation, man has constantly tried to improve the windmill. As a result, over the years, the number of blades on windmills have decreased. Most modern windmills have 2~3 blades while past windmills have had 4~8 blades. Past windmill also had to be manually directed into the wind, while modern windmills can be automatically turned into the wind. The sail design and materials used to create them have also changed over the years.

In most cases the altitude of the rotor is directly proportional to its efficiency. As a matter of fact, a modern wind turbine should be at least twenty feet above and three hundred feet away from an obstruction, though it is even more ideal for it to be thirty feet above and five hundred feet away from any obstruction. Different locations have various wind speeds. Some places, such as the British Isles, have few inhabitants because of high wind speeds, yet they are ideal for wind generation. Did you know that th world's largest wind farm is located in California, and the total wind power generated there exceeds 1,400 megawatts of electricity? (A typical nuclear power plant generates 1,000 megawatts.) Some geographic features such as mountains also have an influence upon wind. Mountains can create mountain breezes at night, because of the cooler air flowing down the mountain and being heated by the warmer valley air causing a convection current. Valleys are affected in much the same way. In the daytime, the cooler air is above the valleys and the hot air is above the mountains. The hot air above the mountain rises above the valleys and cools, thus creating a convection current in the opposite direction and creating a valley wind. The oceans create convection currents, as well as they mountains or valleys. In the day, the hotter air is above the same and the cooler air is above the ocean. The air heats up over the sand and rises above the ocean and then cools, creating the convection current. At night, the cooler air is above the sand and the warmer air is above the ocean, so the air heats up over the ocean and cools over the sand. As you can clearly see, the time of day also affects the wind. We know that for windmills to operate there must be wind, but how do they work? Actually there are two types of windmills -- the horizontal axis windmills and the vertical axis windmills. The horizontal axis windmills have a horizontal rotor much like the classic Dutch four-arm windmill. The horizontal axis windmills primarily rely on lift from the wind. As stated in Bernoulli's Principle, "a fluid will travel from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure." It also states, "as the velocity of a fluid increases, its density decreases." Based upon this principle, horizontal axis windmill blades have been designed much like the wings of an airplane, with a curved top. This design increases the velocity of the air on top of the blade thus decreasing its density and causing the air on the bottom of the blade

to go towards the top ... creating lift. The blades are angled on the axis as to utilize the lift in the rotation. The blades on modern wind turbines are designed for maximum lift and minimal drag. Vertical axis windmills, such as the Darrieus (built in 1930) use drag instead of lift. Drag is resistance to the wind, like a brick wall. The blades on vertical axis windmills are designed to give resistance to the wind and are as a result pushed by the wind. Windmills, both vertical and horizontal axis, have many uses. Some of them are: hydraulic pump, motor, air pump, oil pump, churning, creating friction, heat director, electric generator, Freon pump, and can also be used as a centrifugal pump. There are many types of windmills, such as: the tower mill, sock mill, sail windmill, water pump, spring mill, multi-blade, Darrieus, savonis, cyclo-turbine, and the classic four-arm windmill. All of the above windmills have their advantages. Some windmills, like the sail windmill, are relatively slow moving, have a low tip speed ratio and are not very energy efficient compared to the cycloturbine, but are much cheaper and money is the great equalizer. There have been many improvements to the windmill over the years. Windmills have been equipped with air breaks, to control speed in strong winds. Some vertical axis windmills have even been equipped with hinged blades to avoid the stresses at high wind speeds. Some windmills, like the cyclo-turbine, have been equipped with a vane that senses wind direction and causes the rotor to rotate into the wind. Wind turbine generators have been equipped with gearboxes to control [shaft] speeds. Wind turbines have also been equipped with generators which convert shaft power into electrical power. Many of the sails on windmills have also been replaced with propeller-like airfoils. Some windmills can also stall in the wind to control wind speed. But above all of these improvements, the most important improvement to the windmill was made in 1745 when the fantail was invented. The fantail automatically rotates the sails into the wind. Most wind turbines start to generate power at 12 miles per hour and shut down at speeds near 60 mph.

The tip speed ratio of a windmill is how many times the blades of a windmill turn for every mile an hour the wind speed is. A tip speed of 1:1 means that, in a 23 mph wind, the blades of he windmill will rotate 23 times. Modern wind turbines have rations of 5 to 10 times that of the wind speed. The tip speed ratio is calculated as speed of rotation of blade over the wind speed, or 2 timers pi times radius times rpm over 88 times the wind speed velocity. The rpm is the revolutions per minute. Another variable of the windmill's efficiency is its swept area. The swept area of a disk--shaped wind wheel is calculated as: Area equals pi times diameter squared divided by four (pi equals 3.14). Another variable in the productivity of a windmill is the wind speed. The wind speed is measured by an anemometer. A good anemometer would cost around $100. Another necessity for a windmill is the tower. There are many types of towers. Some towers have guy wire to support them and others don't. The towers without guy wires are called freestanding towers. Something to take into consideration about a tower is that it must support the weight of the windmill along with the weight of the tower. Towers are also subject to drag. Wind energy contributes very little pollution, toxic by-products or greenhouse gasses, it is still a sufficient supplement for non-renewable fuels, such as oil. There are still some questions that have not been answered by my research, such as: Can different materials decrease the solidity of the windmill blades? Do different designs (solid, hollow, tube spar, etc.) decrease the solidity of the windmill blades? Does temperature affect the solidity of the windmill blades? How does the length of the blade affect the tip speed ratio? Which is better: A high tip speed ratio or large swept area in electricity generation? Can an augmented diffuser and congengator increase the efficiency of a windmill? If these questions are answered, the windmill may become a great weapon in the quest for energy.

OTHER MATHOD TO INCRESES EFFICIENCY OF WIND MILL

We can increase the efficiency of wind mill by using magnetic bearing.magnatic bearing offer a host of advantage,including high speed capabilityand ability to operate in lubricating free in vaccum environment. They does not have friction,experience minimal wear. Magnetic bearing can easily control shaft bearing position, measure external force on shaft. Magnetic bearing elecromatically suspend shaft by electric current to bearings ferromagnetic materials.

Magnatic bearing fig (5)

Bibliography

Mc Guain, Dermot (1978) Harnessing the Wind for Home Energy Washington, DC: Garden Way Associates, Inc. Sterland, E. G. (1967) Energy into Power Garden City, NY: Natural History Press U. S. Department of Energy (1978) Home Wind Power Washington, DC: U. S. Department of Energy Microsoft Corporation (1993) Encarta Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation Non-conventional energy resources by B.H.KHAN 2ND EDITION