Our project focuses on investigating the feasibility of wind power solutions for a variety of applications in refugee camp settings, in particular the Cox’s Bazar area in Bangladesh. We have explored small scale wind turbines to power LED lights or charge cell phones, as well as community level wind turbines to power submersible pumps. Through our work we have assembled and ran tests on an inexpensive, small wind turbine at the Brackenridge Field Lab and have collected wind speed and power output from this turbine.
Criteria for Acceptance:
- Show power over time (weeks) for the Happybuy wind turbine as installed at BFL.
- Determine if the Happy Buy wind turbine could ever light an LED
- Record windspeed over many weeks for the turbine location at BFL
- Calculate the required power to run a submersible water pump and identify corresponding wind turbine(s) needed. Show how much lighting this set-up could alternatively supply.
- What would be the minimum wind conditions needed to run the above wind turbine(s)
Brendan Warner, Thomas Farner, and Aly Hirani disassembling turbine to investigate the rotor and stator mechanisms
Megan Nguyen working on assembling the Arduino power meter
“This course does a wonderful job exposing students to real-world engineering issues while challenging them to solve them in a team setting.
– Thomas Farner
“I really enjoyed the hands-on aspect of this course. I felt as if our team’s efforts made a direct impact on real life problems.”
– Megan Nguyen
“This course has given me the chance to use what I’ve learned from the courses I’ve taken and test out my problem-solving skills.”
– Andrew Bacon
Areej Ahmad preparing the turbine for testing
Andrew Bacon and Megan Nguyen installing the Arduino power meter at Brackenridge Field Lab
Voltage and Wind Speed vs. Time plot from testing of Happybuy turbine at Brackenridge Field Lab
Instantaneous Power vs. Time plot from testing of Happybuy turbine at Brackenridge Field Lab