Design of Double-Deck Household Vertical-Axis Wind Generator

Abstract

Wind power has been recognized as one of the important green energy resources in Taiwan. However, installing large-capacity wind generators needs to meet many environmental regulations, limiting the penetration of wind power to households/communities. In this paper, the design of a novel double-deck vertical-axis wind generator for households is presented, hoping “many a little makes a mickle” and making better use of green energy to reduce carbon emission. The proposed wind generator is an axial-flux permanent-magnet (PM) synchronous generator, which design is different from other existing wind generators in several aspects: (1) double decks for double wind turbines vs. single turbine, (2) silicon-steel-lamination-cored vs. air-cored for armature coils, and (3) axial-flux PM generator vs. conventional PM generator. The performance of the proposed design is simulated with the aid of a finite element software package. The experimental results are consistent with the simulation. The prototype of the proposed wind generator is also compared with a commercial mini wind generator on the market. The proposed wind generator produces satisfactory results.