Environmental degradation from continuous use of fossil fuels and the attendant effects on human and animal environments demand sustainable, renewable energy alternatives to protect the environment from further deterioration. Wind energy offers a promising solution as it is available everywhere, inexhaustible, and can be accessed anytime for the continuous powering of electric vehicles while in motion. The present study aims to investigate the effects of wind speed, car speed, and altitude on power generation using a vehicle-mounted wind turbine (VMWT) on a moving vehicle. A VMWT was developed and tested at varying altitudes, wind and vehicle speeds across the northern and southern zones of Nigeria to assess its energy generation potential for use in powering electric vehicles. The Horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) utilised a dynamo rated at 12V 10 W at 325 rpm, a swept area of 0.159 m2 operating directly without a mechanical multiplier system, a cup anemometer and a data logger to capture real-time data. The data obtained was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) SPSS16 and Minitab software and Design Expert.v.18. The data obtained was grouped using six driving speed ranges (0-20km/hr,20- 40km/hr,40-60km/hr,60-80km/hr,80-100km/hr and 100-120km/hr), four altitude ranges (0- 100m,100-200m,200-300m, and 300-400m) and four wind speed ranges (0-50m/s,50-100m/s,200- 250m/s and above 250m/s). The lowest mean wind speed of 8.68m/s was recorded at a car driving speed range of 0-20km/hr and at an altitude range of 0-100m and the mean power generated was 266.476mW, while the highest mean wind speed of 108.47m/s occurred at a driving speed range of 100-120km/hr at altitude range of 100-200m with a peak electrical power of 6479.242mW. The peak power output of 6662.131mW for this research was recorded at the altitude range of 300-400m, driving speed range of 100-120km/hr and wind speed 570m/s. This output can be further enhanced by utilising both a mechanical multiplier and a buck-boost converter to efficiently charge the car battery, thereby extending the vehicle's driving range. The result of this Study shows that electrical power generation increased with higher vehicle speeds and wind speeds across all altitude ranges. Further studies are required to be carried out on the turbine blades for increased power generation.
Author(s) Details
B. Olajiga
Centre for Renewable Energy Technology (CRET), Federal University of
Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
O. J. Olukunle
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal
University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
J. Isa
Department of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, Federal
University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/ccert/v1/6995
