REPORT ON

WIND ENERGY VEHICLE

Submitted by:
VIBHUTI KUMAR
(1109020105)
Branch: EE

CONTENTS
CHAPTER

PAGES

1. Introduction

2. Wind Powered Mechanical Vehicles

3. Objective

4. Principle

5. Design

5.1 Frontal Area

5.2 Vane Size

5.3 Cars size

5.4 Wheels

5.5 Gear

5.6 Wind Direction

5.7 Brakes

6. Some Used Wind Powered Vehicles Mechanisms

6.1 On Land

6.2 Vento mobile

6.3 Spirit Of Amsterdam

6.4 Mercedes Benz Formula Zero

6.5 Green Bird

6.6 Black Bird

11

7. Future Aspects

12

8. Advantages

12

9. Disadvantages

13

10. References

14

1. INTRODUCTION
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as
using wind turbines to make electrical power, windmills for mechanical power, wind
pumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
Large wind farms consist of hundreds of individual wind turbines which are connected to
the electric power transmission network. For new constructions, onshore wind is an
inexpensive source of electricity, competitive with or in many places cheaper than fossil fuel
plants. Small onshore wind farms provide electricity to isolated locations. Utility companies
increasingly buy surplus electricity produced by small domestic wind turbines. Offshore wind
is steadier and stronger than on land, and offshore farms have less visual impact, but
construction and maintenance costs are considerably higher.
Wind power, as an alternative to fossil fuels, is plentiful, renewable, widely
distributed, clean, produces no greenhouse gas emissions during operation and uses little
land. The effects on the environment are generally less problematic than those from other
power sources. As of 2011, Denmark is generating more than a quarter of its electricity from
wind and 83 countries around the world are using wind power to supply the electricity
grid. In 2010 wind energy production was over 2.5% of total worldwide electricity usage, and
growing rapidly at more than 25% per annum.
Wind power is very consistent from year to year but has significant variation over shorter
time scales. As the proportion of wind power in a region increases, a need to upgrade the
grid, and a lowered ability to supplant conventional production can occur. Power
management techniques such as having excess capacity storage, geographically distributed
turbines, dispatch able backing sources, storage such as pumped-storage hydroelectricity,
exporting and importing power to neighbouring areas or reducing demand when wind
production is low, can greatly mitigate these problems. In addition, weather forecasting
permits the electricity network to be readied for the predictable variations in production that
occur.

2. WIND POWERED MECHANICAL VEHICLES

Wind-powered vehicles have traditionally been associated with seafaring vehicles that, until
the advent of steam engines, relied primarily upon winds which were used to drive
the sails of such vehicles to their destinations. In the Western world, such sail-based
wind propulsion on water persists in the modern day within primarily leisurely activities,
such as sailing boats, sailing ships, yachting, and windsurfing. A special case is ice
yachting on ice-covered water.
Terrestrial sail-based wind propulsion in the form of land sailing and land windsurfing are
also popular recreational activities.
Wind-powered mechanical vehicles primarily use wind turbines installed at a strategic point
of the vehicle. The wind power, which is converted into mechanical energy through gears,
belts or chains, causes the vehicle to propel forward. While they are not in mainstream use
yet, many schools have begun building the new technology and research into their curricula
to teach students and to get them active in the subject.

3. OBJECTIVE
In this problem we are supposed to construct a car, which can be able to drive
straight into the wind. The car has to be propelled just by wind energy, which
means that we cannot use others energy sources to move the car. The problem
also asks us to determine the cars efficiency. In this part of the resolution
(calculating efficiency) we have to establish the cars performance. The
experimental section of this problem is extremely necessary (indispensable). We
have to construct a prototype that respect the problems limitation, in order to
make the necessary measurements to explain the car functionality and to
determine its efficiency.

4. PRINCIPLE
The principle of the electric car is to transform the kinetic energy into electric energy (using a
dynamo moved by a weather vane). Then, it would transform, with an electric engine, this
electric energy into mechanical energy that would make the car walk.

Using a weather vane (twirled by the wind) and pairs of gears, we would make the mechanic
car move by energy transmission. Loss in this car: friction in the axes (energy dissipation),
gears heating (another example of energy dissipation) and tendency to slide in the wind
direction (as the wind is blowing against the car (opposite to the problems direction).
Considering this three models, and the energy loss of each one, we chose the third one
(mechanic car) to develop the prototype. Below, an initial idea of the mechanic car.
Our mechanic car consists in a base (with four wheels) that support all the car structure, the
gears structure and its welters
The car inner working is simple: basically the wind will twirl the weather vane, which, by
gears transmission, will roll a pair of wheels, making the car move. The transmission of
momentum (wind blowing and twirling the weather vane) will be made by gears and axes.

5. DESIGN

5.1 FRONTAL AREA

It is important to have the smallest frontal area (not considering the weather vane area). Air
resistance force depends on the frontal area of the car. Smaller frontal area have smaller
resistance (wind buoyancy), which is capable to reduces the car final speed and,
consequently, the car efficiency.

5.2 VANE SIZE

The total torque on the weather vane determines the driving speed of the car. A bigger vane
will have a larger torque on it, and, consequently, the car will drive faster into the wind.
However, a larger weather vane has more contact surface area, thus it will have more
resistance force, which tends to push back the car. So, we need to find an optimum size that
delivers a maximum torque and a minimum resistance force.

5.3 CARS WEIGHT

The car cannot be too heavy, because the friction force increases directly proportional to the
weight, given by the equation: .FN at = ; where N is the compression (Normal) force
between the surface and the car, which is also the weight force reaction pair; is the static
friction coefficient between the wheel material and the surface material. With a heavier car,
we will have a bigger Normal force, thus more attrition. However, the car weight is limited
by the fact that too little friction increases the chance of wheels skidding (not a good
interaction between the plan and the wheels).

5.4 WHEELS
There are four wheels in our mechanic car: Two are moved, indirectly, by the wind (motored
wheels) and two wheels (not motored) have the function of equilibrating the car (this wheels
are located at the back of the car). Below we show a drawing of the wheels arrangement.

5.5 GEARS
For a better performance, we have to put the smaller gear in the same axis of the weather
vane and then, we need to increase the gears size, until the wheels axis. (When we have the
gears in the same axis, the gears can have the same size, because there are no force raise in
the same axis). In this way we give a bigger torque to the wheel (responsible for moving
the car).
.

5.6 WIND DIRECTION

The efficiency depends on the direction that the wind blows at the car frontal area. For a
better performance, we used a step to put the fan, so we had a better wind utilization (picture)

5.7 BRAKES
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. The rest of this article is dedicated to
various types of vehicular brakes.
Most commonly brakes use friction to convert kinetic energy into heat, though other methods
of energy conversion may be employed. For example regenerative braking converts much of
the energy to electrical energy, which may be stored for later use. Other methods
convert kinetic energy into potential energy in such stored forms as pressurized air or
pressurized oil. Eddy current brakes use magnetic fields to convert kinetic energy into electric
current in the brake disc, fin, or rail, which is converted into heat. Still other braking methods
even transform kinetic energy into different forms, for example by transferring the energy to
a rotating flywheel.
Brakes are generally applied to rotating axles or wheels, but may also take other forms such
as the surface of a moving fluid (flaps deployed into water or air). Some vehicles use a
combination of braking mechanisms, such as drag racing cars with both wheel brakes and a
parachute, or airplanes with both wheel brakes and drag flaps raised into the air during
landing.

6. SOME USED WIND POWERED VEHICLES MECHANISMS

Wind-powered mechanical vehicles primarily use wind turbines installed at a strategic point
of the vehicle. The wind power, which is converted into mechanical energy through gears,
belts or chains, causes the vehicle to propel forward. While they are not in mainstream use
yet, many schools have begun building the new technology and research into their curricula
to teach students and to get them active in the subject. Seagoing electric propulsion where the
electricity is derived from the kite subassembly.

6.1 ON LAND
Terrestrial wind-powered mechanicals includes Vento mobile, and Spirit of Amsterdam (1 &
2). The Mercedes-Benz Formula Zero uses solar cells, batteries, and a sail. The Green bird,
which currently holds a world record for fastest wind powered vehicle, is sail powered.

6.2 VENTO MOBILE

The Vento mobile is a solely wind powered lightweight three-wheeler designed by University
of Stuttgart students. It won the first prize at the Racing Aeolus held at Den
Holder, Netherlands, in August 2008. At the Aeolus race, several universities from all over
the world participate in race to build the best and fastest wind powered vehicle.
Matthias Schubert, Chief Technical Officer of the teams main sponsor Repower Systems
AG, applauded the integration of the Invents Vento mobile project into the coursework of the
students: The achievement of managing a big team over many months, and even making
select construction tasks part of undergraduate teaching cannot be estimated highly enough!
The enthusiasm the students show in renewable energies and the development of innovative
solutions should serve the industry as an example for the development of new technologies.

The Invents Vento mobile racing at the Aeolus Race 2008

6.3 SPIRIT OF AMSTERDAM

The Wind-powered vehicle "Spirit of Amsterdam 1" and "Spirit of Amsterdam 2" is, just like
the Vento mobile, a WPV build by the Home-school van Amsterdam (University of Applied
Science Amsterdam). In 2009 & 2010 the Spirit of Amsterdam 1 and 2 won first prize at
the Racing Aeolus held in Denmark.
The Spirit of Amsterdam 2 is the second vehicle built by the Home-school van Amsterdam. It
uses a wind turbine to capture the wind velocity and uses mechanical power to propel the
vehicle against the wind. This vehicle is capable of driving 6.6 meters per second with a 10
meter per second wind. Next to its reduced weight, the main advantage is the on-board
computer with its sophisticated control system. This specially designed computer is capable
of automatically shifting gear in a fraction of a second, and by this the gears are always
shifted to their most efficient position.

6.4 MERCEDES BENZ FORMULA ZERO

Unlike traditional racing, which focuses merely on the order of finish, Mercedes' new concept
introduces energy efficiency as an integral part of the competition. The Formula Zero Racer
is loaded with technology designed to extract the maximum thrust from the electric hub
motors, aero-efficient solar skin and high-tech rigid sail.

6.5 GREEN BIRD

Eccentricitys Green bird vehicle, designed and piloted by Richard Jenkins, broke the land
speed world record for a wind-powered vehicle in 2009.]Green bird recorded a top speed of
126.4 mph (203.4 km/h), and sustained a speed of 126.2 mph (203.1 km/h) for the required
time of three seconds, beating the previous, American held, record of 116 mph (186.7 km/h),
set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck in March 1999 at the same location.
Green bird is a glimpse into the future. A vehicle with no engine, no fuel and no pollution
and the world record holding, fastest wind powered vehicle on the planet.
On March 26 2009, on the dry Lake. The Eccentricity Green bird driven by British engineer
Richard Jenkins smashed the world land speed record for wind powered vehicles.
The Green bird clocked 126.1 mph (202.9 km/h), eclipsing the American record of 116 mph
set by Bob Schumacher in the Iron Duck 10 years earlier at the same location.
Green bird uses a combination of technology usually found on aircraft and Formula 1 cars to
achieve staggering speeds with no engine.
The name is a nod to Donald Campbell's all-conquering Bluebird.

Campbell made his record attempts in what historians will look back on as the golden age of
fossil fuels when they were abundant, cheap and powerful and nobody dreamt they might
run out one day.
He achieved incredible speeds in that golden age. Using energy stores laid down by nature
over millions of years. Fast-forward 80 years and we're coming to the end of the fossil fuel
age. Now we're at the dawn of the age of renewables nothing less than a second industrial
revolution.
Cars of the future won't run on fossil fuels: they'll run on renewable sources of energy like the
wind. With today's technology we can achieve incredible speeds, using only wind power.
Campbell had massive cubic capacity engines and energy dense fossil fuels we have just
the wind the wind that will still be with us in 100 years and more.
.

6.6 BLACK BIRD

The Blackbird is an experimental land yacht, built to demonstrate that it is possible to sail
directly downwind faster than the wind (DDWFTTW).
In 2006, following a viral internet debate started as a brain teaser, a propeller-driven land
yacht was built and filmed, showing it was possible topsail by the power of the available
wind only.
In 2009, a MIT professor had worked out the equations for such a device and concluded that
one could be built in practice "without too much difficulty". Other researchers arrived at
similar conclusions.
In the same year, after being challenged that the video was a hoax, team members Rick
Caballero and John Burton of Sport vision, sponsored by Google and in association with
the San Jose State University aeronautics department, built a test vehicle
nicknamed Blackbird. A year later, in 2010 Caballero successfully tested the vehicle,
achieving more than 2 times the speed of wind, definitively demonstrating that it is possible
to build a vehicle which can achieve the claim.
A second test with an improved vehicle in 2011 reached close to 3 times the speed of wind.

Blackbird (land yacht)

the streamers on the yacht and on the ground point in opposite directions

7. FUTURE ASPECTS
In the future, civilization will be forced to research and develop alternative energy sources.
Our current rate of fossil fuel usage will lead to an energy crisis this century. In order to
survive the energy crisis many companies in the energy industry are inventing new ways to
extract energy from renewable sources. While the rate of development is slow, mainstream
awareness and government pressures are growing. This page contains articles about the future
of energy technologies

8. ADVANTAGES

9. DISADVANTAGES

The strength of the wind is not constant and it varies from zero to storm force. This
means that wind turbines do not produce the same amount of electricity all the time.
There will be times when they produce no electricity at all.

Many people feel that the countryside should be left untouched, without these large
structures being built. The landscape should left in its natural form for everyone to
enjoy.

Wind turbines are noisy. Each one can generate the same level of noise as a family car
travelling
at
70
mph.

Many people see large wind turbines as unsightly structures and not pleasant or
interesting to look at. They disfigure the countryside and are generally ugly.

When wind turbines are being manufactured some pollution is produced. Therefore
wind
power
does
produce
some
pollution.

Large wind farms are needed to provide entire communities with enough electricity.

10. REFERENCES

[Link]
[Link]
#q=wind+energy+vehicle
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