1. Experimental Procedure Results
Carl Montgomery Jr., Anthony D. Truong and Sergio Mendez
Department of Chemical Engineering (CH E), California State University, Long Beach
Introduction:
Future Work:
•We plan to create a life size model of the Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT), to generate power.
•Create blades using different types of composites on a larger scale.
•Our vision is to create and maintain a superior track record for developing successful wind power
project.
Abstract:
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy
from the wind into electrical energy. In California, there
are a few wind farms each with hundreds of turbines that
provide sustainable and renewable electricity to the
state’s energy grid. To further make this a sustainable
source of energy, we aim to fabricate wind turbine blades
from renewable, plant-based materials.
In this research project, we used the hand lay-up
chemical process to fabricate hemp / resin composites
and carbon fibre wind turbine blades. Hemp and carbon
fibre fabrics were chosen because of their lightweight
and exceptional mechanical properties.
Acknowledgements:
•Dr. Bahr for providing all the materials.
•Mr. Minh for helping with the electric circuits.
•Daniel Bahr for guiding and helping with the
procedeure of making the green composite and
carbon fiber blades.
Objectives:
• Fabricate wind blades with green composites and
carbon fibre
• Compare power curves from plastic, hemp and carbon
fibre composites.
Conclusions:
• Carbon fiber blades generated the most power (according to the power curve) due to the strength to weight ratio.
• The cut-in speed, which is the minimal amount of wind speed that is required to generate usable power, for the
carbon fibre blades is the same as the plastic blades.
• With carbon fiber having nearly the same weight as the plastic blades, it produced more power due to its
strength.
A wind turbine is a device that essentially converts kinetic energy
from the wind into mechanical energy. Wind turbines have been
used for many centuries and millions of units have been put into
service. For the most part, wind turbines have performed their
intended purpose well. Today, wind turbines have to compete with
many other energy sources.
There are four primary wind turbine farms located in California:
Altamont Pass, Tehachapi, San Gorgonio, and Solano County
(Collinsville). Wind turbines can be separated into two types based
by the axis in which the turbine rotates. Turbines that rotate around a
horizontal axis are definitely more common. Vertical-axis turbines
are less frequently used.
Fabrication of Wind Turbine Blades from Green Composite Materials
and Carbon Fibers
Set up materials Resin and Hardener
Vacuum Pump Mold Release Agent
Tracing and Cutting out blades from
composites
Cutting Process
Final Product Place blades on model and take
measurements
Blade Weight
Plastic blade Hemp blade Carbon fibre blade
Average weight
(grams) 2.07 4.9 2.86
Cut-in speed
(m/s) 3.9 4.7 3.9
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0
P(mW)
U (m/s)
P(mW) vs. U(m/s)
Carbon Fibre Blades
Hemp Blades
Plastic Blades
0.00000
0.00200
0.00400
0.00600
0.00800
0.01000
0.01200
0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0
Cp(mW)
U(m/s)
Cp(mW) vs. U(m/s)
Carbon Fibre Blades
Hemp Blades
Plastic Blades