A Simple Mechanical Pitch To Stall Speed Control Mechanism For A Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)

International Journal of Mechanical Engineering

© 2020 by SSRG - IJME Journal

Volume 7 Issue 11

Year of Publication : 2020

Authors : Abdulmalik Musa Gusau, Abdussalam Mamoon, Sulaiman Musa

10.14445/23488360/IJME-V7I11P103

How to Cite?

Abdulmalik Musa Gusau, Abdussalam Mamoon, Sulaiman Musa, "A Simple Mechanical Pitch To Stall Speed Control Mechanism For A Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT)," SSRG International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 7,  no. 11, pp. 22-29, 2020. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V7I11P103

Abstract:

A mechanism that generates a centrifugal force to mechanically pitch to stall a horizontal axis wind turbine was designed and manufactured. It comprises a projected mass that swivels in a ball joint which is fixed to the turbine rotor. The projected mass carries a sliding block that transverses along its length as it swivels, and has a slotted part which transfers the swivel action of the projected mass to the base of a rotor blade through a blade link, such that a rotary motion of the blade about its axis is achieved to stall the turbine by increasing the angle of attack of the airfoil through decreasing the pitch angle from its optimal value. The mechanism was mounted to each blade of a prototype two-blade HAWT for a performance test below and above the rated wind speed of 11 m/s in a laboratory wind tunnel. The incoming wind speed, rotor speed, generator output current, and voltage were measured during the test. The pitch to stall power curve plotted from the experimental data showed that the turbine stalled at about 11 m/s wind speed with a maximum rotor speed of 271 rpm as against 300 rpm when tested without the control mechanism. The pitch angle at the stall point as indicated in the SolidWorks motion analysis simulation result has changed from the optimal value of 35º to 15º. This simple speed control mechanism has therefore limited the rotational speed of the HAWT thereby capable of preventing it from catastrophic failure during extremely high wind conditions.

Keywords:

Angle of Attack, Centrifugal Force, HAWT, Rotor Blade, Pitch to Stall

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