The design and testing of a wind turbine for electrical power generation in Malaysian wind conditions

Abstract

Malaysia is situated in the equatorial zone and experiences low and unsteady wind speed. As a result, most of the existing wind turbines are not suitable for Malaysian application. High capital cost, low regional wind speed, incorrect matching between existing wind turbines and available wind speed as well as the level of technology are barriers to the use of wind energy conversion system. This project is a study on low cost, medium rotational speed, small scale stand-alone wind turbine for electrical power generation in low wind speed region. It involves designing, fabricating, testing and determining (blade and rotor configuration) a suitable wind turbine. A study on wind resources in Malaysia and the feasibility of its application showed that there is a possibility to utilise wind energy especially in the coastal areas and islands. The conceptual design of the wind turbine prototype was developed by considering the aspects of application requirements, configuration, functions and performance. The rotor blades were the most critical parts and they were analysed using aerodynamic theory. Wind turbine rotor models were fabricated and tested in a wind tunnel. The components and mechanisms were designed, built and analysed through computer-aided-design (CAD) modeling, theoretical calculation and computer software simulation. Various loads on the wind turbine structures were also examined. An indoor test rig was built for the testing of the wind turbine prototype, in order to obtain the power and torque coefficient at various tip speed ratio (CPmax = 36.8%). The prototype was also field tested to verify its start-up speed and feasibility of power generation. It has demonstrated good strength, component integrity and yaw response in the field test. The findings suggested that the optimum performance of this innovative wind turbine (TSR = 2.7 - 4.0) falls in the operating range that matched with the available wind speed (V8 = 2.2 - 7.0 m/s) if the load matching is properly done. The work developed is sufficient for further investigation into the refinement of every sub-assembly of the system.