Sustainable Energy Design Project:The Aeroelastic Wind Generator

Mongolia is especially suited to utilize wind power

The combination of Mongolia’s terrain and altitude make 10% of Mongolia windy enough for utility-scale wind turbines and almost 40% of Mongolia windy enough to power for rural power wind turbines.

Our project is designed to take advantage of the 40% of Mongolia that is windy enough for rural power turbines.

Wind Power

Uses the phenomenon of aeroelastic flutter to generate electricity which can be used to charge a battery.

Our Design

When wind passes over the strip of fabric it begins to flutter, causing the magnets to move up and down between the coils of magnet wire. This generates an AC current.

To charge a battery DC current is required. The AC current is passed through a bridge rectifier, which changes current to DC.

We looked at the area we were targeting and certain needs of the people who live there

Mongolia has particularly cold climate, so we thought that a heater powered by a wind belt or a set of wind belts greatly would benefit the people in small villages

We also thought that powering radios or lighting with wind in the small villages could help out the civilians.

Our Solution

Aeroelastic flutter Faraday’s law of induction (magnetic

induction) Bridge rectifier to transform alternating

current into direct current

Key Concepts

Small Cheap A new approach to harnessing energy

Unique Features

Suspending the coils was our biggest challenge to overcome

The coils had to be oriented in a very specific position

We could not use our original idea of using metal brackets to orient the coils correctly because of the magnets

To overcome this challenge, we used an inane amount of scotch tape

A Challenge

Doyle, Alistor. "More of Third World Fit for Wind Power: UN Study". CommonDreams.org. 8 October 2008 <http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1205-07.htm>.

Elliot, D., M. Schwartz, and G. Scott. Wind Energy Resource Atlas of Mongolia. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 2001. (PDF version of document downloaded 8 October 2008).

"Energy Sector in Mongolia". Mongolia Investors Forum. 8 October 2008 <http://www.investmongolia.com/forum/t4a.htm>.

Lkhagvadorj, Iderbat, and Batbayar Tseesuren. Geothermal Energy Resources, Present Utilization and Future Developments in Mongolia. Antalya, Turkey: 2005. (PDF version of document downloaded 8 October 2008).

"Mongolia". CIA- The World Factbook. 8 October 2008 <https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mg.html>.

"Mongolian Birds". 8 October 2008 <http://www.geocities.com/mongoliabird/>.

Sagrillo, Mick. "Putting Wind Power's Effect On Birds in Perspective". American Wind Energy Asscoiation. 8 October 2008 <http://www.awea.org/faq/sagrillo/swbirds.html>

References