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      Hydraulic Wind Turbine Research

2nd Data Collection Results for Water Generator

3/28/2018

 
Picture
During our second water generator test, a smaller-voltage-output generator was used (5V), which enabled the generator to begin spinning independently by the movement of the water. This is a lot more practical for a system where autonomous processes are essential to maximize energy efficiency and minimize maintenance. The graph, pictured above, shows that the voltage output from the generator varies nearly directly with the level of the water tank over the span of a few minutes. After 6.5 minutes, the water reservoir ran out and voltage dropped sharply to zero, indicating a minimum voltage output for the generator.

Now that we have confirmed that the water generator functions with a 5-gallon water reservoir, the next step in the research process is to integrate this generator into the rest of the turbine-driven rope pump for full autonomous electricity production. As a quick review, the rope pump (featured in a previous post), driven by the spinning of the wind turbine, will deliver water to the upper reservoir of the water generator which will return it to the lower reservoir by passing through a small generator. The resultant product is electricity that will power a small lightbulb (the current utility chosen to prove the viability of a hydraulic wind turbine). 

Spinning Turbine Prototype

3/5/2018

 
We have now built –using recycled wood, a few nuts and bolts (and a threaded rod), and a repurposed sonotube (for cement pouring)– the first iteration of the actual vertical wind turbine. With a wind speed around 15 mph, the blades spun effortlessly without requiring an initial push. However, I noticed that the threaded rod did not spin uniformly, but rather wobbled above and below the mounted bearings. It's possible that the rod is not in fact straight, so the entire turbine will have to be dismantled to test the truth of that theory. This is a concern because any gears attached to the rod will not spin consistently and will thus cause problems later on with the water generator element of the project. 
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    Research Team

    Mattheus Carpenter
    Bill Shi 
    Robby Huang
    Trent Han

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Photo used under Creative Commons from WindEurope asbl/vzw
  • Home
  • Student Research
    • Eel Grass Studies
    • Aquaponics Blog
    • Wind Energy Research
    • Deep Learning for BCI
    • Cloud Chamber Blog
    • And much more.. >
      • Bioluminesence
  • Lab Visits
    • Novartis Cambridge
    • Greentown Labs
    • MASS CEC
    • MIT Plasma Physics Center
    • Histogenics
    • US GreenBuild - Boston
  • Physics Olympics
    • Paper Airplanes
    • Glider Competition
  • Internships + More
    • Histogenics 2017