The Implementation of Low RPM Generator on Small Scale Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT)

Abstract

Fossil energy, especially petroleum, is the main energy source and a source of foreign exchange. Indonesia has a limited amount of fossil energy. Meanwhile, energy consumption continues to increase along with the economic and population growth. Thus natural resources such as oil, gas, and coal are becoming more depleted, because they are not renewable energy. Indonesia is a tropical country located on the equator, as an archipelago with varied geological contours, more than 100 mountains, and also beaches. One of the energies that might be utilized is wind energy with an affordable cost and free pollutant output. Wind Turbines have become one of the feasible power plants to replace fossil energy. The mechanism of wind turbine is that the wind blows against the blades of the wind turbine, and allows the blades to rotate as the axis and produces a valuable source of renewable energy by repetitive rotational motion. This research was focused on finding a suitable generator for Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) that can produce a high voltage at low RPM. In this research, to replicate the real wind blow, two different fans are used: a. 71 cm diameter industrial fan with range of wind speed from 1 to 6 m/s; b. 31 cm fan with a range of wind speed from 1 to 4,5 m/s. From the result, it can be concluded that the direction of the wind affects the rotation of the rotor, so it must be ensured that the wind touches the tip of the blade to maximize the rotational speed. The maximum voltage output produced by VAWT is 4,8 V at 67 RPM on wind speed 6 m/s using the 1st Generator. For further development, the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) have to be remodelled so the ratio between rotor radius and rotor height is 1,2.