10:40 - 11:10
Room: London
Submission 295
WATurbine Small Wind Turbine Design and Sustainability
WISO25-295
Presented by: Katherine Nguyen
Katherine NguyenSteven ArmstrongAlexandra HallAlan HuViolet HuChantel LeClercqJacob LeeLucy LeeRobert ListKatherine LiuJasmine MaoLaasya Rajgopal
University of Waterloo, Canada
The mobilization of household-level renewable energy systems is critical to integrating wind energy in regions with limited access to electricity. WATurbine describes a small wind turbine that produces power under low-wind conditions, uses recycled materials, and is optimized for serviceability. Presented are the design, power output, implementation plan, and lifecycle assessment for the WATurbine turbine. This design features an SG6043 airfoil operating at a tip-speed ratio of 3.1, with a simplifi ed variable pitch system based on a Scotch yoke mechanism. Laminated plywood is manufactured for structural components, and electronic systems are designed for replicability. Moreover, 3D-printed components from recycled fi berglass fi lament procured from FibeCycle and Voolt3D are introduced. Lab data from the University of Waterloo’s (UW) Fire Research Group crosswinds facility will be the basis for performance reports. The turbine is designed to be integrated in Nigerian states such as Kaduna and Bauchi, where there is both a suitable wind climate and a need for clean energy accessibility. This undergraduate research project, a subsect of the UW Engineers Without Borders Canada (EWB) chapter, aims to pilot the turbine in a host community through volunteer collaboration. Apart from the project’s association with EWB, partnerships with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and start-up companies in the renewable energy sector in Canada will support the turbine’s implementation and future development.