From team meeting:
Wind turbine characteristics (software of system); measurements like current and voltage; power and efficiency
While taking into consideration M2 rubric
Outline specifications
-LabView and DAQ given specific parameters
-How wind turbine system is connected to DAQ & LabVIEW; include circuit specifications (what varying possibilities are there? In terms of measuring specifications for all parameters)
-Brief overview of how it will generate final goal including equations (or 3rd criteria in M2 rubric): Power and Efficiency curves!
-Add competitor benchmarking
-specify customer requirments
-specify objectves to meet customer requirements (kinda already did)
System Software Components and Specifications
Terms & Definitions
DAQ/ Data Acquisition – DAQ is the process of measuring an electrical or physical phenomenon, such as voltage, current, temperature, pressure, or sound. A DAQ system consist of sensors, DAQ measurement hardware, and a computer with programmable software
Sensors – A device that detects the change in the environment and responds to some output on the other system. A sensor converts a physical phenomenon into a measurable analog voltage (or sometimes a digital signal) converted into a human-readable display or transmitted for reading or further processing
DAQ measurement hardware – products are divided into categories to meet consumer’s needs, these include the following: USB, Voltage, Current, Temperature, Sound & Vibration, Strain-Pressure-Force, Sensors
LabVIEW/Laboratory Virtual Instrument Engineering Workbench – programmable computer software available for our team to use and pair with DAQ
Circuit – a network consisting of a closed loop, giving a return path for the current
Example set up: A thermistor (sensor) wired on a voltage divider, connected to myDAQ (measurement hardware) by USB, connected and processed in LabVIEW (software).
The ultimate goal of the benchtop wind turbine experiment is for students to identify the systems relationship with power and efficiency. Students are required to collect data and form calculations to acquire power and efficiency curves. In this section of the paper, we will go over the possibilities for this process from start to finish, from collecting readings to gathering final results.
Wind Tunnel
If we want to measure power, we will need to measure the voltage and current going through the circuit. The benchtop wind turbine hardware system is to be placed in a wind tunnel. The wind tunnel is a AirTech Scout 2.0 [X] and has the ability to produce wind speeds ranging from 0 to 40 mph as well as an integrated manometer to measure the exact wind speed inside the testing chamber. The AirTech Scout 2.0 user guide suggests to always use the manometer reading rather than the Scout’s windspeed control setting to determine velocity as this ensures accurate comparisons among objects. The wind tunnel is an enclosed system, with an intake bell and exhaust taking the shape of a converging-diverging nozzle. Because the wind tunnel system is enclosed, it is important to find the proper solution for feeding the wind turbine performance readings (voltage and current) from inside the wind tunnel to outside the wind tunnel for further instrumentation set up. The following options are considered:
Option 1: As the motor generates power and current (acts as a generator), it’s power cable or wires will feed out of the wind tunnel, behind the turbine. Considering the wind tunnel is zipped or if wires are able to feed through the exhaust. Due to limited wind tunnel specifications, this will be proven possible once access to the wind tunnel model has been granted.
Option 2: Incase option 1 is not plausible, drilling and firmly sealing a hole in the testing chamber may be considered. The testing chamber has a top lid that can be easily removed and replaced, so inserting a hole in this area would ensure no permanent changes or effects to the entire wind tunnel.
Option 3: Considered but low priority.
Circuit
With cables feeding out of the wind tunnel it is time to complete the circuit. The generator is to be connected to the DAQ measurement hardware. To proceed with the set-up, it would be good to start building the circuit from the breadboard which connects the generator cables to the DAQ measurement device. A resistor will be placed on the breadboard, you can measure voltage with no load, but it is more realistic to place a resistor in the circuit and measure the voltage across the resistor. 10, 30, 50, 100 or 120-ohm resistors are commonly used [X]. After the resistor is placed on the breadboard with one end connecting to negative, the DAQ and positive terminal will connect to one side of the resistor, and the other terminal is grounded, completing the circuit.
[INSERT SCHEMATIC]
DAQ and LabVIEW
Although the circuit set up included the DAQ measurement hardware it is important to specify the hardware incase future changes are made or components are replaced. The measurement device is a Digital I/O Device, and it is connected to the computer with LabVIEW.
How does LabVIEW work from this point forward? What will students be able to see in the program? Will they transfer this data into a excel spreadsheet? Focusing on current and voltage make a guide for this process and familiarize yourself with DAQ and LabVIEW and I will do the same.
Laboratory Student Calculations
Look @ Delphinas tech memo for equations
Include example of power and efficiency curves?
Possible (more complicated) Alternatives:
SENSORS
- If we did use sensors, consider making the wind turbine only two blades because the sensors could be placed on the blades. Sensor could include a pressure transducer and then research others AND consider the different DAQ measurement devices that would be used
Look over rubric, anything were missing?
weekend goals: Check rubric
- Criteria 1: possibly elaborate on WHAT “customer requirements” and HOW they are being met
- Criteria 2: CHECK
- Criteria 3: pretty good, included setup, schematic and equations.
- Criteria 4: Do more competitor bench marking
Sample Solution
