Small Scale Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Abstract

Micro scale power units pose a solution to allowing non grid connected households. Traditionally these units have been a generator that runs on some form of limited fuel, be it diesel or gasoline. In scenarios where access to these resources becomes restricted, such as in remote locations in the backcountry, or areas affected by natural disasters, Micro Vertical Axis Wind Turbines pose a viable candidate to provide power. Rapidly deployable and with a small footprint, these devices do not need hundred meter towers, nor fast wind speeds to start producing power. This project prototyped a Micro-VAWT through extensive design, build, and test methods. Construction of this rapidly deployable device involved airfoil design, composite fabrication, power transmission design, carpentry, and millwork. The inspiration of this project stems from a want to create a portable wind turbine to use during a backpacking trip. In its current form one may find it difficult to fit the 6ft steel shaft and robust wooden base into a pack, but it can easily fit into a reasonable stowage space to be deployed when other power systems fail.