International Journal of Mechanical and Production

Engineering Research and Development (IJMPERD)

ISSN (P): 2249–6890; ISSN (E): 2249–8001
Vol. 10, Issue 3, Jun 2020, 97–104
© TJPR Pvt. Ltd.

EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATIONS OF HORIZONTAL AXIS SMALL SCALE

WIND MILL FOR DOMESTIC ELECTRIFICATION USING PIEZOELECTRIC
GENERATOR

MARDANALI CHAND SHAIKH1 & DR. GUNIRAM RAJARAM SELOKAR2

1
Assistant Professor, Mechanical Department, BMIT, Belati, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
2
Professor & Registrar, Sri Satya Sai University of Technology & Medical Sciences, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
ABSTRACT

It’s true that the conventional method in small scale windmill turbine generator presents daunting challenges. But these
can be solved by synergetic methods relating to basic design principle and by varying the operating principles. The
feasibility of using piezoelectric generator for just illumination was checked through experimental investigation. With the
advances in electronics such as introduction of LED, there is a scope to re-assess the power requirements for illumination
purpose. Even though it appears to be in nascent phase, it’s scope with proper technological developments cannot be
written off out-rightly.

Enough power for illumination purpose can be easily made available with this technology. Basically, in

Original Article
conventional windmill turbine generator, the cut-in wind velocity is around 5 m/s. But in this experiment, we got power
output at wind velocities much lower than 5 m/s. Scope of the experimental investigation was to just charge a battery, so as
to produce enough power for at least illumination purpose. Initial findings are encouraging and can be used as a basis for
further up-gradation.

KEYWORDS: Small Scale, Wind Turbine, Piezoelectric Module Generator, Cam Mechanism, Battery, LED Bulb & Low
Cut-in Speed

Received: Feb 28, 2020; Accepted: Mar 19, 2020; Published: Apr 24, 2020; Paper Id.: IJMPERDJUN20209

INTRODUCTION

A conventional wind mill turbine generator compromises of blades (horizontal axis or vertical axis), power
transmission system, gearing mechanism to increase the velocity ratio and alternator generator. The kinetic energy
of flowing wind rotates the turbine blades. The rotational motion of blades is transmitted to gearing mechanism
where the low rpm of blades is stepped up to the required alternator speed. It’s in the alternator that electric energy
is produced. All these transmissions and conversions of energy from one mechanism to another and one form to
another brings out lots of losses.

The power in the wind is given by P= (π / 8)(ρ) (D2)(V3). In order to increase the commercial viability of
the windmill generator, tendency is to increase the physical size of blade diameter or the intercept area. As the blade
diameter or the intercept area gets reduced the power obtained too gets reduced considerably and also the cut-in
speed increases. So down scaling the windmill turbine size is not a viable solution for designing low power
producing windmills and it’s also uneconomical.

Research and experiments have been carried out to minimize the size of windmill turbine generator, to

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98 Mardanali Chand Shaikh & Dr. Guniram Rajaram Selokar

make it viable, as a power source, for domestic purpose. But all attempts were only to reduce the size while keeping the
basic principal and associated technology same. So it’s necessary to explore new technology for producing power at low
wind velocities using small scale dimensions of the windmill turbine. Using piezoelectric crystals is one such method
which has to be researched.

India has set the target of achieving 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022. Out of which, 60 GW will be
contributed by wind energy. But the annual capacity addition of wind energy for last two years was below 2 GW. It is a
drastic 60% decrease from the financial year 2016-17. This reflects a rather grim future for this sector.

All the conventional windmills are installed (away from populated areas) on flat expenses or hills or on coastal
areas where high average wind velocities are available. So power produced at remote locations has to be transmitted to
urban areas. This entails transmission losses. There are lots of urban areas which are conducive for wind power generation.
But the obstructions of residential buildings are major setback for installation of a small scale windmill turbine generator as
the wind velocity reduces considerably in the wake of a building. So the need of the hour is to develop a technology which
can produce power even at low wind velocities. This will help to make use of urban land and thus enhance the chance of
fulfilling the target.

Power output from piezoelectric crystal output was studied and researched upon, but the electric charge produced
was of such miniscule level that expect for a few practical applications (such as gas stove lighter), it seemed an unviable
source of power. For example, even if we were supposed to use it for just illumination purpose, it was not possible to
collect enough electric power, because even a single fluorescent tube consumes around 40 W. But since the introduction of
LED bulbs, there is a revolution as far as illumination is concerned. Not only residential unit, but even commercial units,
government buildings, street lamps and even vehicle lamps are using them for illumination purpose. A 5 W LED bulb is
quite sufficient to illuminate a space of around 10 m2, whereas earlier a fluorescent tube of 40 W was required for the
same. So the power required nowadays is around 8 times less. This experimental study was undertaken wherein the low
speed wind was used to charge a battery using power output from piezoelectric generator, to power a 5 W LED bulb.

PROBLEM DEFINITION

The conventional windmill turbine generator has the inherent drawback of having a high cut-in speed of air before the
blades starts rotating and also a high alternator speed is required to start electric power production. These shortcomings
along with the high initial cost involved has been a detrimental factor in promoting a small scale windmill generator for
domestic electrification.

From technology or basic working principle point of view, there is hardly any difference between a large scale
and a small scale windmill turbine generator. So, it’s necessary to carry out research in order to develop a technique
specifically dedicated for producing sufficient power for domestic electrification purpose.

OBJECTIVE

 To design and develop a windmill system with a low cut-in speed.

 To develop a technology with the primary and dedicated focus to fulfill the basic domestic electrification needs of
illumination and ventilation.

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 To explore the possibility of increasing the efficiency and making it cost effective and economical

 To promote the production of clean energy in order to fulfill the ever increasing demands.

 To develop a completely self sustaining system where energy can be produced and utilized locally thereby
eliminating the necessity of energy transmissions over long distances.

 To decrease the pollution, global warming and carbon footprints with the use of ‘Greener Energy’.

METHODOLOGY

 A multi-bladed (12 blades) wheel of diameter 1.5m, was taken with an optimum design such that it has a very low
cut-in speed in unloaded condition. With proper bearing supports the cut-in speed was tested to be 0.7m/s

 In case of a small scale windmill generator, a permanent magnet is used in the alternator. The magnetic flux
coupled with the alternator coil increases the cut-in speed of the blades. Also the transmission and gearing
mechanisms used decreases the efficiency. By removing the magnet, the unloaded blades were free to rotate even
at low wind velocities.

 Instead of the alternator, a piezoelectric module was used.

 Also there was no need to use a gearing mechanism in order to increase the speed ratio.

 The rotational velocity of the blades was directly fed to the piezoelectric module.

 A stacked orientation of piezoelectric transducers was used to prepare the piezoelectric generator module.

 The piezoelectric module matrix was constructed taking into account the following factors-

o piezoelectric modules connected in parallel give greater current outputs and larger equivalent capacitance
which can be used for small load impedances

o piezoelectric modules in series give high voltage but with small equivalent capacitance which is better suited
for large load impedances. Taking into these factors, the piezoelectric module matrix was so connected and
constructed as to give optimum output required for the load.

 Total 30 such module were used in a matrix of 5*6 layout to obtain the power output.

 The rotational motion of the blades was transferred to the piezoelectric modules matrix through a specially
designed cam-follower mechanism.

 The contours of the cam help to produce reciprocating vibrations in the piezoelectric module matrix.

 A set of spring and the cam-follower mechanism helps to give a cyclic stress on the piezoelectric modules. This
loading and unloading action gives out electric pulses as an output from the piezoelectric matrix.

 The electrical output from the matrix was fed through an electronic circuit, comprising capacitors and rectifiers, to
get a constant output. The output thus obtained was used to charge the battery.

 The output from the battery was used to operate a 5W LED bulb.

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100 Mardanali Chand Shaikh & Dr. Guniram Rajaram Selokar

EXPERIMENTAL SET-UP

The prototype model consisted of

 A 12 bladed 1.5 meter diameter turbine wheel.

 A transmission shaft with proper support bearings

 A special contoured cam and follower mechanism

 A frame with proper springs and supports to load the piezoelectric module matrix

 Piezoelectric module with a stacked orientation of the piezoelectric transducers in a 5*6 matrix

 Electronic circuit board with the necessary capacitors and rectifiers

 A small 12V battery

 A 5W LED bulb

 Necessary electrical connections

Figure 1: Experimental Set up using Piezoelectric Module.

RESULTS

For charging of 10800J the time required is given at various wind velocities.

Table 1: Result Table for Charging Time and Power

Developed against Wind Velocity
Wind Velocity Charging Time Power Produced
S. No
(m/s) (hours) (W)
1 1 12.804 2.343
2 2 9.69 3.094
3 3 6.67 4.5
4 4 5.16 5.8125
5 5 4.26 7.031
6 6 3.81 7.875
7 8 3.0475 9.844

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Experimental Investigations of Horizontal Axis Small Scale Wind Mill 101
for Domestic Electrification Using Piezoelectric Generator

Graph 1: Wind Velocity vs Charging Time.

12

10
Power Produced (W)

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 8
Wind Velocity (m/s)

Graph 2: Wind Velocity vs Power Produced.

SAMPLE CALCULATIONS

 Capacity of Capacitor used = 400 µF

 Number of Piezoelectric modules used in a matrix of 5 × 6 = 30

 Output from each module = 2.5 V

 Reciprocating strokes obtained by the cam follower mechanism for each rotation of blades = 150

Energy stored in the capacitors

E = 1/2 V2 C

‫ ؞‬E = 1/2 (2.5) (400 × 10-6)

‫ ؞‬E = 0.00125 J/stroke/module

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102 Mardanali Chand Shaikh & Dr. Guniram Rajaram Selokar

For 30 module

E = 0.00125 × 30

‫ ؞‬E = 0.0375 J/stroke

When the wind velocity was 2 m/s, the rational speed of turbine wheel was 33 rpm.

Energy stored per second E = 0.0375 × (33/60) × (150)

‫ ؞‬E = 3.094 J/s

Energy needed by a 5 W LED bulb for 6 hours = 5 × 6 × 3600 = 1,08,000 J

Time required to produce 1,08,000 J = 108000/3.094 = 34906.2 s

‫ ؞‬Charging time = 34906.2 / 3600 = 9.69 hours

CONCLUSIONS

 In conventional windmill turbine generator normally the cut-in speed is around 5m/s and peaks at 20m/s. But the
windmill with piezoelectric generator has a cut-in speed as low as 1.1m/s and starts power production even in the
dead zone of conventional windmill turbine generator.

 As the wind velocity increases corresponding power produced increases and the time requires for charging the
battery decreases considerably.

 The amount of power produced is enough for illumination purpose at a reasonable cost.

 This technology along with other non-conventional energy sources will help in fulfilling the green energy needs in
the long run.

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