FABRICATION OF BLADLESS WIND TURBINE
ABSTRACT
The bladeless windmills uses a radically new approach for capturing both
intermittent wind energy pulses and constant wind flow under
specified wind velocity and pressure. The windmill utilizes the energy of vorticity,
an aerodynamic effect (vortex shedding).As wind strikes a fixed structure, its flow
changes and a cyclical pattern of eddies or vortices are formed in the vicinity of the
structure. As these forces go strong, the structure starts vibrating. Consequently,
these aerodynamic instabilities can be utilized to run a linear alternator or a
crankshaft. e natural frequency of the structure should not match with the
frequency of vibration, which is one of the design criteria, our design takes care of
this major criteria. e design of our windmill is entirely different from a traditional
windmill. Instead of the huge tower, nacelle and blades, this device has a conical
frustum mast made up of fiber-glass (pivoted at one-third length from bottom), a
crankshaft, a crank, a connecting rod and a hinge joint. The hollow and light
weight mast makes this device portable and user-friendly. Also, this low cost
components opens a way for low cost renewable source of energy.
INTRODUCTION
In the 21 century, secondary (usable) energy resources has become indispensable
part of societies' needs. Also, one of the major problem faced by many developing
countries like India and China, is that of pollution, air pollution being the major
one. The wide gap between supply and demand for energy resources is required to
be met in near future where the paucity of fossil fuels is imminent
In Bladeless windmill, mass of the 'mast' and the elasticity of the 'spring'
makes it a vibrating system. It is turbine harnesses vorticity, the spinning motion
of air or other fluids. When wind strikes the conical mast, flow of the wind
gets sheared off because of the obstruction and thus causing vortex or eddies
currents to form. It is vortex then exerts force on the mast, causing it to vibrate. e
kinetic energy of the oscillation can be converted to electrical energy via
linear alternator.
The construction of the bladeless windmill is quite simple. e conical mast is
pivoted vertically with the help of through cylindrical rod held within in a roller
bearing in such a way that it can vibrate in only one direction. e portion below
the point of pivot is covered with the help of a metal sheet so that the
necessary moment is generated by wind force striking the projected surface area
above the pivot. e upper section of the mast flutters in the wind while a crank
rod is connected at the lowermost point on the mast (100mm above the edge from
design) via hinged joint (rolling contact joint).
WORKING
The bladeless wind mills run on the principle that when wind is allowed to
strike the column mast, it tends to vibrate and this vibrational energy is
further converted to mechanical (crank shaft) or electrical energy (direct
connection to alternator). When the wind impinges on the projected surface area
of the mast from one specified direction, stream lines of the wind tend to depart
and get sheared off. Further passage results into the formation of wind currents
called vortices or eddies. When they are strong enough to overcome the internal
resistance offered by the mechanism (crank shaft or direct linear alternator), the
mast vibrates due to spring connected at outside surface of the mast. The then
spring is connected to the foundation seat. The connecting rod is bound to
transmit this vibration to the crank. The crank shaft can be connected to a
generator further. We can also connect the lower end of the mast with the linear
alternator directly
COMPONENTS USED
Mild steel
Stepper motor
Battery
Sheet
ADVANTAGES
The bladeless windmill does not have any sliding contact joints which
reduces the frictional losses in the system thereby reducing wear and tear. The
system does loose some electrical conversion capacity, but other pros nullifies
this factor.
DISADVANTAGES
The efficiency of the energy extraction for bladeless windmills from the wind is
40%, while that of conventional windmill is 59.3%.Thus, it cannot substitute
thermal and nuclear power plants, traditional windmills and hydroelectric power
plants. this technology is in development phase and requires huge stakes by
investors.
CONCLUSION
The bladeless windmills can offer promising results in near future
with respect to efficiency, capacity and productivity.This topic is a great area
for research and so far the results areencouraging.Further, developments can
be done in the mechanism which is converting vibrations to electricity.The
results above are based on 1 m prototype along with ANSYS analysis software
outcomes. He purpose of this paper is to form some basis for the research in the
field of renewable resources of energy in near future and be an
encouragement for generations to come
