Specifications

Some of the disadvantages that were observed from the horizontal axis wind turbine

was the fact that much of the time horizontal axis wind turbines are mounted high up on

poles to be available to higher unimpeded wind speeds. However because of the design

specifications of the project the turbine will need to be closer to the ground and will not

have access to the higher wind speeds if it were elevated. Another disadvantage is that

the horizontal axis wind turbine is most efficient when its‟ axis of rotation is orientated

perpendicular to the incoming wind direction. If the wind direction changes the turbine

will lose efficiency and not capture as much of the wind energy unless it is able to

change its‟ orientation depending on the incoming wind direction.

Figure 18 – HAWT Wind Direction

Permission Pending

From the research it was concluded that a horizontal axis wind turbine would best meet

the design specification criteria for this project. All of the factors were taken into account

and an intelligent decision was made as to why it would be best to implement a

horizontal axis wind turbine.

The largest deciding factor came from the cost after looking at potential parts buying a

horizontal axis wind turbine would save a lot more money and since the design did not

call out that the environment that this generator was to be used in would need to

facilitate a vertical axis generator it was decided that the extra expense in a vertical

design was not needed.

The next big factor of choosing what type of turbine to use came from the orientation of

the wind. The vertical axis wind turbine can harness wind coming from any direction but

it was discovered that a horizontal axis wind turbine the size of the one specified in the

design could be easily re-oriented autonomously to adapt to a change in wind direction.

This could be facilitated with the use of pivots and slip rings around the base of the

turbine to allow for rotation and a wind foil located on the aft of the turbine to catch the

changing wind direction. All of these modifications combined would allow the turbine to

move and rotate with the wind to always allow the horizontal axis wind turbine to be

oriented perpendicular to the wind.

Next it was decided where best to deploy such a generator since the design resources

specified Waseda University in Shinjuku-ku, Japan it was determined what the average

wind resources were in that location of the world and if at a later date other locations