Disaster Resilient Wind Turbine Project Goal
Disaster Resilient Wind Turbine Project Details
Our proposed wind turbine assembly process will enable one (1) or two (2) individuals to construct a wind turbine out of common items within three (3) days and with an optional product kit filled with quality items including but not limited to the generator and electrical system. The modularity of the design allows products to be constructed in a variety of conditions, especially after natural disasters. Following assembly, the wind turbine will reliably generate power to charge at least small electronic devices, such as cell phones. This will allow the user to contact emergency services or loved ones when the electrical grid cannot supply residents with power.
This preliminary design proposal for the Green Roof Team includes research, simulation data, and prototype designs to propose the feasibility of using readily available common household items to construct a small wind turbine for powering small electronics. The proposed design achieves the goals of being constructed within 3 days and generating power with wind speeds of at least three meters per second which is the standard starting speed for off-the-shelf generators for small wind turbines. Moving forward, we will use the lessons learned from our initial low-cost iterations to decide on ways of incorporating additive manufacturing and key components selected off-the-shelf for ensuring the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electrical system, including the generator, which may be included in a product starter kit.