Brian Kirke

Bio: Brian Kirke is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Wind power. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 5 citations.

Optimized design of a straight blade urban roof top vertical axis wind turbine

Abstract: Depletion of fossil fuels and increasing concerns of global warming has forced the society to think about environmental friendly energy resources. Wind energy is a viable option in this regard. Vertical axis wind turbines offer promising solution and hence relieving the society from the integrated grid systems. Small scale urban roof top vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is one of the simplest forms with its wide spread applications necessitating its design and development in a cost-effective manner. A study is undertaken on a three straight bladed VAWT. The design is formulated using available empirical formulas and sophisticated software's leading to a fabricated scaled down prototype. A detailed CFD and stress analysis is done on multiple struts configurations, central column assemblies, blade profiles to optimize the performance of the turbine. A comparison is also made between the analytical, software based and experimental results.

Enhancement of wind turbine acceleration using magnetic accelerating unit

Abstract: The utilization of wind energy is not a new technology but draws on the rediscovery of a long tradition of wind power technology. Today, while energy production based on the burning of coal and oil or on the splitting of the uranium atom is meeting with increasing resistance, regardless of the various reasons, the re-emergence of wind power is an almost inevitable consequence. The work describes the methodology followed for the design and development of a new Magnetic Accelerated Wind Turbine. The set-up will overcome most of the conventional Wind Turbine problems. Conventional wind turbines rely on wind velocity only for its driving power requirement. No external force is applied for acceleration of wind turbines; it purely depends on wind velocity or wind cut. Thus there is need for a power source which is substantially pollution-free to operate, requiring no external power and is simple to maintain. The Magnetic Accelerated unit helps us to overcome the problem of low wind speed in several areas. It will generate the electrical power from low wind speed, thus enhancing the overall efficiency of windmill. After getting the initial torque to rotate, magnetic accelerated unit will start to accelerate the windmill for desired output.

Design and field testing of a Savonius wind pump’s rotor blade for pumping water in rural areas

Abstract: Studies indicate that vertical axis wind turbines provide a more reliable energy conversion technology, as compared to horizontal axis wind turbines, especially in areas of lowly rated and/or uncertain wind speeds. The challenge however is the development of an efficient Savonius rotor blade which is affordable to low income earners in Kenya. The author researched on different technical design solutions and their advantages in terms of noise, shadows and impacts on birds and wildlife. The objectives of this research were thus to design and develop a Savonius rotor blade locally and compare its performance and production cost with the existing blades. From the developed blade, a laboratory test was conducted using a domestic fan and a torque of 15.46NM at a wind speed of 6.94 m/s was obtained which led to a conclusion that it was possible to locally develop a wind conversion technology that is affordable, efficient and adaptable for Kenya’s average wind speed of 4m/s.

A novel approach to recharge electric vehicle using wind energy

Abstract: An integrated topology, fed by wind sources suitable for recharging the batteries of the electrical vehicle is proposed. It works as an uninterruptible power source that is able to feed the load continuously under all conditions.The proposed renewable green energy scheme has four key subsystems and components to recharge the batteries. The first subsystem includes the wind turbine. The second is the gear wheel which translates the rotary motion of the turbine to the generator. The third device is the generator which converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. The fourth system comprises the battery which stores the electrical energy later which is retrieved by the motor for propelling the vehicle. The system is modelled as prototype and it is to be tested on the vehicle.

A Review on Vertical Axis Wind Turbine Used for Household Applications

Abstract: In this paper an overview of a vertical axis wind turbine is specified. The performance of the Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT), current scientific status and new result during modeling work and future course of VAWTs were reviewed. It was observed that VAWT plays a critical role in the present power crisis. Wind energy has been recognized as a capable renewable option even though the full life cycle accounting shows VAWTs are profitable on a cost base or materials base over horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWTs), Currently the VAWTs do not generate sufficient electricity owing to some challenges which discussed in this paper. Lift driven VAWT ( Darrieus type), Drag driven VAWT (Savonius type) and hybrid of both (D+S) turbine efficiencies can be improved by adding the deflector arrangement that guides the wind towards the turbine blades. At current level a lot of researchers are going on. From the vast survey of the current scientific states of VAWT, it was observed that in India, Tamilnadu provide their place in this research area.