Small-scale wind energy portable turbine (SWEPT)

This paper reports the design and characterization of a small-scale wind energy portable turbine (SWEPT) targeted to operate below 5 m/s wind speed. Aerodynamic performance characteristics of SWEPT were extensively examined using the wind tunnel experimentation and it was found that the maximum coefficient of performance of 14% occurred at the tip speed ratio of 2.9. SWEPT was found to have very low cut-in wind speed of 2.7 m/s and it produced 0.83 W of electrical power at the rated wind speed of 5 m/s. Further, we designed a diffuser structure for SWEPT using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. It was observed that the SWEPT having diffuser of almost same length as the diameter of SWEPT can produce 1.4 to 1.6 times higher electrical power. An alternative method for the mechanical power calculation is also discussed which does not require torque measurement device and thus is highly useful for common laboratory measurements.

► This study is an attempt to develop a small-scale wind energy portable turbine (SWEPT).
► The wind turbine has rotor diameter of 39.4 cm. It is reasonably efficient, portable and handy to use.
► SWEPT has very low cut-in wind speed of 2.7 m/s and power coefficient of 14%.
► It can produce electric power up to 0.83 W at the wind speed of 5 m/s.
► A diffuser was also designed which augments the electrical power of the wind turbine by 1.4 to 1.6 times.