23 ~ 27 April 2012 (Week 14)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

• Presentation and demo the Development of Hybrid Solar Heat and Wind as Electricity Generator.

Engineer's Day

16 ~ 20 April 2012 (Week 13)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

• Analyze the output produce.
• Design a FYP poster.

Objective:

• Analyze the output from solar panel, thermoelectric module and wind turbine.
• Combine all and analysis the output result.
• Design a poster for the Engineering Day.

Content/Procedure:

• Measure the Solar panel output and analyze the output.
• Measure the Thermoelectric module output and analyze the output.
• Measure the Wind turbine output and analyze the output.

Result and Analysis:

As a result, when combining the 3 input (solar, thermoelectric and wind turbine) in series, there have a problems. The voltage will drop and this problem will affected the hybrid system to produce a electricity. When the outputs are measure, the voltage value is dropped to a small value.  And to counter this problem, there are some method to use for make sure the voltage will not drop so hugely. The input for the each part will connect with a diode (1N4007) in series, and after that the output for the each of the part will combine together.

This problems are happen because, the output from the combining circuit will returned back to the each of the part and that why the voltage are dropped to a small value. by using the diode, the output will not returning back to the each of the part. And the outputs for the combining circuit are produce in a huge amount.

The video below will show the output result after using the diode:

Conclusions:
           As a conclusion, the diode component is important to prevent the output to returning back. And the diode will connected in series for make sure the output voltage will not drop to many amount of it. 

Poster for the Hybrid Solar 

9 ~ 13 April 2012 (Week 12)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

Development of the Project Casing (Part 2)

Objective:

Construct the casing for the project.

Combine all the parts together.

Analysis the result for the each part.

Content/Procedure:

Picture of the 8 coils for the stator part

Use Hot Glue to Attach the coils on the base board

Make sure the coils arrangement are correct

Glue the wire neatly

Combine the Wind Turbine together with casing

 Screw the casing tightly

Combine the acrylic together with the casing

Soldering the Hybrid Circuit

Arrange the Hybrid Circuit neatly

Attach the Solar Controller and Hybrid Circuit to the Acrylic

Drilling the Base Board

Attach the aluminium on Base Board  

Installed the Battery on Base Board

Result and Analysis:

Picture of the Wind Turbine Output Indicator is ON

Picture of the Wind Turbine Output (1.1 Volt)

Conclusions:

9 ~ 13 April 2012 (Week 12)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

ü  Development of the Project Casing (Part 1)

Objective:

• Construct the casing for the project.
• Combine all the parts together.
• Analysis result for the each part.

Content/Procedure:

Picture of the material used to construct the casing
(measuring the height of the pillar)

Cut the aluminium using the metal saw

Picture of the finished Pillar for the casing

Drilling the Base Board to attach the T-joint (metal)

Picture of the finished drilled base board

Attach the T-joint (metal) and screw it on the base board

Picture of the finished all of the T-joint on the base board

Drilled the pillar for the screw holes

Picture of the finished Pillar join on the base board  

Construction process for the casing 

Picture of the finished Casing

Picture of the Casing (Part 1)

Result and Analysis:

As a result, this week the progress are to make sure the casing is constructed completely. And the casing part will be combining together with the Solar Panel, Thermoelectric module and Wind Turbine.

Conclusions:

            As a conclusion, the casings parts have been constructed using are common material. And all this material is used to construct the casing. And by the end of this week this part will be finished by combining all of the hybrid part and try to analysis the output result. 

2 ~ 6 April 2012 (Week 11)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

ü  Analysis the output of the Wind Turbine and the Thermoelectric module

Objective:

• Determine the problem and improve the output of the Wind Turbine
• Analysis the Thermoelectric module output

Content/Procedure:

• Try to improve the output of the Wind Turbine by changing the value of coils.
• Change the magnet by using the rare earth magnet (neodymium).
• For the thermoelectric module, use the dry ice and the hair dryer (to get a huge temperature different).

Picture of the Dry Ice

Picture show the Thermoelectric module gain the output using the dry ice and with hot air

Picture of the Thermoelectric module output is 1.07V

Picture of the Thermoelectric module output is 153.9mA

Picture of the Thermoelectric module output is up to 0.21A

Result and Analysis:

The output of the Wind Turbine showed in the video below:

As a result, the wind turbine has gained the output that can operate the L.E.D on. The output have been gained more by upgrading the stator part (add the coils from 4 up to 8 coils), and changing the magnet by using the rare earth magnet (neodymium). As we can see from the video, the L.E.D begins to light on when the output are above 0.6V. This process begins from a dim L.E.D and then the L.E.D becomes brighter when the rotations of the wind turbine are faster and the higher output is gained. If the output voltage are below 0.6V, the L.E.D will be turn off.

And for the thermoelectric module, the output has been gained more higher when we apply the higher different temperature. In this week, we have tried to use the dry ice and the hot air from the hair dryer. As a result, the output voltages that have been gained are 1.07V (showed in picture above). And the output current is around 153.9mA to 0.21A and this result is also showed in the picture above. 

Conclusions:

As a conclusion, the outputs for the wind turbine have been improved by changing their number of coils in the stator parts. And the arrangement for the coils is also had been corrected. All these have improved the output result for this week.

Receipt for the Charge Battery 12V

Receipt for the Component

Receipt for the Rare Earth Magnet

26 ~ 30 March 2012 (Week 10)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

ü  Development of Windmill as Electricity Generator (The stator and base part)

Objective:

• Construct the base part for wind turbine.
• Attach the coils at the base part.
• Construct the stator part for wind turbine.

Content/Procedure:

• There have to make 4 coils that will be attached on the base board. This requires using a sketched dimension with a circle section.
• Arrange the coils on the base board according to the template scheme (their windings have to alternate between clockwise and counter clockwise). It must be sure that an electron would follow the path shown by the arrows in the template, beginning from the left counter clockwise coil.
• Connect the ends of coils and use insulation tape to prevent any errors.

Picture of the base part materials

Picture of the measured the stator placement space

Picture of the Drilling the center point for the Wind Turbine placement

Result and Analysis:

     As a result, choosing the suitable material for the base part are really important. The parts for the base should be the insulator material to make sure the coils that attach on it are not affected by the material. And make sure the arrangement of the coils on the base board should be that winding alternate between clockwise and counter clockwise.

     For the stator part, if we didn't follow the basic stator path (beginning from the left counter clockwise coil), it will be gained as a small output result. That why it important for make sure the arrangement of the coils are followed the basic theory of the wind turbine stator parts.

Conclusions:
     As a conclusion, for this week the result for the wind turbine is not successful as the expectation. From the result, the outputs that are gained from the wind turbine are very small. That why it very important to arrange the coils very carefully and make sure the coils are follow the path to make sure that an electron would follow the path and gained the output.

19 ~ 23 March 2012 (Week 9)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

ü  Development of Windmill as Electricity Generator (The rotor part)

Objective:

• Construct the rotor part for windmill.
• Combine the rotor with the turbine part.
• Tested rotor part as a wind turbine.

Content/Procedure:

• Using the compact disc, make it as a base part of the rotor. Use the plastic tap washer as a holder and glue it at the centre of the compact disc.
• Take a ruler and mark one side of the rotor disk with perpendicular dot marking. Be sure the two lines are 90 degrees apart. Use geometry square or the corner of a piece of paper to help locate the second line.
• Hot glue the 4 fender washers to the disk, centre them over the dot mark and bringing their edges up to the edge of the disk. And be sure the washers are clean and free of all grease and dirt.
• Carefully separate the magnets by sliding them off the stack, one at a time. And place a magnet on each washer with the same pole facing up (north or south). To unsure the polarity of the magnets, we can use a magnetic compass to confirm that all the magnets are either north or south.

Result and Analysis:

Tools and Materials are used to make this turbine part are:

• Scissors & Utility knife
• Hot glue gun
• Compact disc
• Washer
• Magnets (1” diam. Rare earth, 4)

            When finishing this rotor part, this part has been tested together with the turbine and the coil parts. As a result, the wind turbine has generated some voltage. But there have some problem, the output voltage are too small. For improvement, I should re-check coil orientation. Following the wire through the circuit, it should spiral through the first coil in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, and should go the same direction in each of the other coils. I also should re-check the gap between magnets and coils is not too large and the rotor is stable.

Conclusions:

            As a conclusion, the rotor part is the important part because the magnet that is used should be more powerful and the rotor also should be rotate in a stable rotation. And this rotor part also should be able to combine with the other part and can generate the electricity. And for the problems that occur for this part also have been resolved with some discussion and research.

12 ~ 16 March 2012 (Week 8)

Title of Activity:

Project Progress.

ü  Development of Windmill as Electricity Generator (The Turbine part)

Objective:

• Construct the turbine part for windmill.
• Choose the suitable magnet for turbine.

Content/Procedure:

• Using scissors or a utility knife, cut the top and bottom off the water bottle, and then cut the cylinder into two equal halves.
• Use the sand paper to buff the inside edges of each bottle half where they will attach to the end pieces. Sanding allows the hot glue to adhere better.
• Apply hot glue to one of the curved edges of one of the turbine end pieces. Quickly position a plastic bottle half on this edge, holding it steady for about 20 seconds while the glue cools and hardens.

Picture of bottle that are used for the turbine part

Picture of the turbine part that are insulated with the PVA glue

Picture of designed end pieces for turbine

Picture of end pieces for turbine 

Picture of Cardboard that are using with end pieces for turbine 

Picture of completely turbine 

Picture of designed turbine 

Result and Analysis:

Tools and Materials are used to make this turbine part are:

• Scissors & Utility knife
• Hot glue gun
• Nail & Sand paper
• 1.5L water bottle

            As a result, the turbine part has been completely made. This turbine will be combined together with the other part of the windmill. And there also have some type of the magnet that should be choose for the turbine. The type of this magnet should be suitable for the turbine.

Picture of a small donut or ring ceramic magnet

Picture of a medium donut or ring magnet

Picture of a medium disk NIB magnet

Picture of Neodymium magnet, disc type

Picture of all the type of the magnet

Conclusions:

            As a conclusion, the turbine part is constructed using light and elastic materials. This material should be light for make sure the turbine can easily rotate. And it also should be elastic for make sure it can stand for a fast wind force. And video below show the finished wind turbine movement.