Project Summary

One of PSU WEC’s previous activities was designing and manufacturing a fully-functional horizontal axis turbine comprising a passive blade pitch system and an axial flux generator. Full of engineering challenges, students were required to use their analytical, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to work within teams to develop the necessary components for the system.  The teams (listed below) involved in brainstorming, developing new ideas, prototyping, and machining/manufacturing the final component.

Teams

Generator Design/Machining

Suggested Majors: Electrical, Mechanical, and Industrial

Responsibilities: 

• Calculate the electrical properties of different-sized generators

• Set molds and wind coils

• Test different load resistances in the wind tunnel to maximize efficiency

• Minimize the moment of inertia of the previous year’s design

Turbine Structural Analysis/Manufacturing

Suggested Majors: Mechanical and Industrial

Responsibilities: 

• Design to comply with Simple Model 500 safety factors and load requirements

• Perform hand calculations and FEA in Solidworks to verify the loading of various wind conditions

• Design prototype for manufacturability at a cost-effective budget

• Communicate and incorporate subsystems into manufacturing practices

Electrical/Controls

Suggested Majors: Electrical and Computer Science

Responsibilities: 

• Develop an effective control system using software development and hardware design

• Work closely with the Structures and Aero team regarding the yaw system

• Ensure safe electrical practices with load dissipation and circuitry

• To perform sorcery and make the impossible work

Blade Design/Manufacturing

Suggested Majors: Aerospace, Mechanical, and Industrial

Responsibilities: 

• Generate and test efficient blade geometries to fit the specified design envelope

• Develop a yaw mechanism on the tailfin

• • Communicate with vendors regarding carbon-fiber blade manufacturing

SDG 7 – Exposure Badge
Sustainability Day Event, Oct 21, 2023

SDG 7 – Exposure Badge
Sustainability Day Event, Jan 28, 2023