PERFORMANCE INVESTIGATION OF SMALL WIND TURBINE INSTALLED OVER A PICK UP VEHICLE TO CHARGE AN ELECTRIC VEHICLES BATTERY

Abstract

Wind energy is a vital energy free from pollution and freely available energy in our world. The amount of this free energy differs from place to place due to altitude difference. But approximately a constant amount of free energy can be determined by installing small (micro) wind turbine over a vehicle by using this free energy we can generate a power and use it for the purpose of charging electric vehicles battery. The improvement of electric vehicles has been quickened in numerous nations, to reduce the dependence on oil and environmental pollution. The implementation of electric vehicles, particularly battery electric vehicles, is viewed as an answer to the energy crisis and environmental issues. The objective of this thesis work is performance investigation of small wind turbine installed at the top of a pickup vehicle and the power generated from this wind turbine is used to charge the batteries of the electric driving vehicles. Methods used to complete this paper were theoretical analysis and experimental analysis. The experiment was done by using automotive alternator and generator using wind tunnel. The maximum powers determined from the experimental and theoretical analysis are 334 W and 437 W at reaction wind speed of 28.6 ⁄ respectively at the maximum vehicle speed of 25 ⁄ and using generator. Generator is selected for final use of the experiment. The blade is NACA 4412 and its angle of attack is

. The angle of attack is determined by using at the maximum lift to drag ratio of NACA 4412 airfoil. The blades of wind turbine are fabricated from wood because wood have excellent fatigue properties. The comparison between analytical analysis and experimental test is done based on the reaction wind speed, in order to achieve good matching between analytical analysis and experimental test. Finally the power output from the wind turbine is used for charging the vehicle battery and the charging process is controlled by regulator. Rectifier is used to convert AC to D