VISVESVARAYA TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

JNANA SANGAMA, BELAGAVI-590018, KARNATAKA

A Seminar
Report On

“MAGNETICALLY LEVITATED VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE”

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering
In the academic year 2021-2022

Submitted by

NAME:KARTHIK.N

USN:1RN17ME041

Under the Guidance of

CHETANA SB
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Department of Mechanical Engineering

RNS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

(AICTE Approved, VTU Affiliated & NAAC ‘A’ Grade Accredited)
UG Programs - CSE, ECE, ISE, EIE and EEE have been accredited by NBA for the
Academic years 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-2021
Dr. Vishnuvardhan Road, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Channasandra, Bengaluru-560098

2021-2022
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar presentation titled ‘Magnetically levitated

vertical axis wind turbine’ has been successfully completed by
KRTHIK.N (1RN17ME041), a bonafied student of RNS Institute of
Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirements of Bachelor of
Mechanical Engineering of Visvesvaraya Technological University,
Belagavi during academic year 2021-2022. It is certified that all
corrections/suggestions have been incorporated in the report deposited in the
departmental library. The seminar report has been approved as it satisfies the
academic requirements in respect of said course.

Mrs. CHETANA SB Dr. T SREENIVASAN Dr.M.K.VENKATESHA

Assistant professor Professor &HOD Principal
 DECLARATION

I, KARTHIK.N (1RN17ME041), student of VIII semester B.E,

Mechanical Engineering, RNS Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, hereby
declare that the seminar presentation titled ‘Magnetically levitated vertical
axis wind turbine’ has been carried out by me and submitted in partial
fulfillment of the requirement for the VIII semester degree of Bachelor of
Engineering in Mechanical Engineering of Visvesvaraya Technological
University, Belagavi, during academic year 2021-22.

NAME: KARTHIK.N

USN: 1RN17ME041
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The satisfaction and euphoria that accompany the successful completion

of any task would be incomplete without the mention of the people who
made it possible, whose constant guidance and encouragement crowned
the efforts with success. I would like to thank the Management of RNS
Institute of Technology for providing such an opportunity to complete
the seminar presentation. I would like to express our thanks to the
Principal Dr. M K Venkatesha for their encouragement that motivated us
to successfully complete the seminar. It gives me immense pleasure to
thank Dr. T Sreenivasan, Professor and Head of Department, Mechanical
Engineering for his constant support and encouragement. I wish to
express my deepest sense of gratitude to my guide CHETANA.SB for
her/his constant support and guidance throughout the seminar
presentation. Last, but not the least, we would like to hereby acknowledge
and thank our parents who have been a source of inspiration and also
instrumental in the successful completion of the seminar.

NAME: KARTHIK.N

USN: 1RN17ME041
 ABSTRACT

Renewable energy sources like wind turbines are gaining the more importance in
recent years because of increase in the environmental pollution caused by other
energy resources. Many developments have taken place to utilize solar and wind
energy. Wind is present everywhere at all the time but wind turbines are present in
only places to generate the power. This concept is an attempt to make use of wind
even from the small region by developing a prototype of “Magnetically levitated
vertical axis wind turbine””using a maglev suspension to harness the power. A
new approach of having placed the magnets (double ended arrangement) has been
experimented in this work. The voltage generated in double ended arrangement for
different wind speeds was twice the voltage as that of single ended arrangement.
The aim is to use simple low density material as wind turbine blade and generate
power by magnetically levitated system. A new way of placing the neodymium
permanent magnet and coils were deployed on the wind turbine plates and
experimented in this work. On rotation of the wind turbine the magnetic arrangement
would create axial flux while passing over copper coil arrangement.

NAME: KARTHIK.N

USN : 1RN17ME041

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 5

 CONTENTS

1. CHAPTER1:INTRODUCTION

2. CHAPTER 2: METHODOLOGY

3. CHAPTER 3:CONSTRUCTION OF SIMPLE MAGLEV VERTICAL AXIS

WIND TURBINE

4. CHAPTER 4:WORKING OF MAGLEV VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE

5. CHAPTER 5:ADVANTAGES

6. CHAPTER 6:LIMITATIONS AND DISADVANTAGES

7. CHAPTER 7: CALCLUATION

8. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

9. REFERENCE

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 6

 INTRODUCTION:

Wind power technology has played a significant role in power production. The wind
turbines are used for converting the kinetic energy of wind into the electrical energy.
The maglev vertical axis wind turbines is designed in such way that it reduces the
friction. The main advantages are that it is frictionless and it uses magnetic
levitation and it does not need a vast space like conventional wind turbines.
The unique operating principle behind this design is through magnetic levitation
which is an extremely efficient system for wind energy. The aim of this concept is to
design and implement a maglev vertical axis wind turbine system that as an ability
to work in both low and high wind speed or velocity conditions. This new model of
wind turbine uses magnetic levitation to reduce the internal friction and this
magnetic levitating frictionless vertical wind turbine produces more energy than a
conventional turbine, at the same time decreasing operational costs by 50% over the
traditional wind turbine. Hence this technology provides an extreme efficient,
versatile and elegant method of producing power from wind with nearly zero
pollution.

Principle of magnetic levitation:

Magnetic levitation (Maglev) is a method by which an object is suspended without

any support with the help of the strong magnetic field. The repulsive force of
magnets for reduction of effect of gravitational force significantly. Magnetic force is
used for reducing of gravitational force and to lift up the objects in air. By this
technique implementation of this vertical axis wind turbine is used for having
negligible friction and there by the wind turbine starts rotating at lower wind speeds.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 7

 METHODOLOGY:
The exploration of renewable energy is an approach to reduce our dependence on
fossil fuels. The concept focuses on the utilization of wind energy as renewable
source which produces clean and safe source of electricity. Many designs have been
proposed in order to create high efficiency wind turbine. The aim of this project is to
design and implement a magnetic levitated vertical axis frictionless wind turbine.
The main advantage is to make this prototype is, it can be implemented undermost
working environmental conditions on any place or buildings and can be work in less
wind. In this project Power generation is directly proportional to size of assembly
which majorly includes number of blades, number of magnets and number of coils.
The basic prototype can be made as per the calculations by using the components
available in local market. The solid stable shaft is mounted on the base. The lower
acrylic plate consists of copper coils fixed above on it. Another hollow oriented shaft
is put through the fixed solid shaft over which upper acrylic plate is mounted. Two
big permanent ring magnets were attached between the two plates. The vertically
oriented blades were attached to the rotating hollow shaft. The wind turbine blades
will be rotated due to the force produced by wind, which leads to the rotation of the
wind turbine and shaft assembly which consist of neodymium magnets. Due to this,
magnetic lines were cut by generator coils, through which magnetic flux get
generated and produce EMF (Electromotive force). The generated output EMF is
measured by multi-meter.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 8

 CONSTRUCTION OF SIMPLE MAGLEV VERTICAL
AXIS TURBINE:

The implementation of this project consist of heavy base stand in which the
generator coil is internally fixed on which a shaft is placed. There are two
magnets (neodymium) used in this project. One magnet is fixed on base
stand is known as lower magnet over which another magnet is arranged in
such a way that the principle of magnetic levitation is accomplished. The
shaft is inserted into the two magnets and connected to the generator coil.
Blade holder plates are used to hold the blades, the unit is known as wind
turbine and this wind turbine is mounted on upper magnet when the turbine
rotates by the wind sources upper magnet also rotates.

WORKING OF MAGLEV VERTICAL AXIS WIND

TURBINE:
By the principle of Maglev, the vertically oriented blades of wind turbine suspended
in air above the base by permanent magnets which produces magnetic force to lift
up the blades. This system does not require ball bearing. When wind with high
velocity impacts on the turbine blades, the turbine rotates by which upper magnet
also rotates. Due to rotation of the plate flux generates due to set up and cuts the
magnetic field. Since EMF is generated in the coil. There are two wires extended from
the coil or generator which is in series for external connection for use power.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 9

 ADVANTAGES:

 Cheaper to produce than horizontal axis turbines.

 More easily installed compared to other wind turbine types.
 Transportable from one location to another.
 Equipped with low-speed blades, lessening the risk to people and
birds.
 Function in extreme weather, with variable winds and even mountain
conditions.
 Permissible where taller structures are prohibited.
 Quieter to operate, so they don’t disturb people in residential
neighborhoods.

BENEFITS OVER HORIZONTAL AXIS TURBINE:

The vertical design allows engineers to place the turbines closer together. Groups of
them don’t have to be spaced far apart, so a wind farm does not have to take up as
much ground area. The proximity of horizontal wind turbines to one another can
create turbulence and reductions in wind speed that affects the output of
neighboring units.

While they produce less energy than horizontal turbines, vertical axis wind turbines
still produce power and can be a better option depending on the application. They’re
more suitable where space is limited and come with fewer challenges and risks to
maintain. This design has remained popular as engineers have addressed the
challenges and have found applications in small-scale installations, particularly in
urban areas. Over time, there is the potential for engineering innovations to improve
the energy producing efficiency of VAWTs, and increase the advantages they can
offer in various applications.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 10

 LIMITATIONS AND DISADVANTAGE:

Not all of the blades produce torque at the same time, which limits the efficiency of
vertical systems in producing energy. Other blades are simply pushed along. There is
also more drag on the blades when they rotate. Although a turbine can work in gusty
winds that is not always the case; the low starting torque and dynamic stability
problems can limit functionality.

Since the wind turbines are lower to the ground, they do not harness the higher wind
speeds often found at higher levels If installers prefer to erect the structure on a
tower, these are more difficult to install in such a way. However, it is more practical
to install a vertical system on a level base, such as the ground or the top of a
building.

Vibration can be an issue at times, and even increase the noise produced by the
turbine. Air flow at ground level can increase turbulence, thereby increasing
vibration. This can wear out the bearing. At times, this can result in more
maintenance and therefore more costs associated with it. In earlier models, blades
were prone to bending and cracking, causing the turbine to fail. Small units atop
buildings or other structures may be subject to jostling forces, which add lateral
stress that warrants ongoing maintenance and the use of stronger, more sturdy
materials.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 11

 CALCULATIONS:

The power from the turbine is related to the kinetic energy produced.

Kinetic Energy=0.5MV2

The volume V flowing in unit time through an area A, with speed v is denoted by AV
and mass M is the product of volume V and density ρ so:
M = ρAV
Putting the M in equation of kinetic energy we get:
3
Kinetic energy =0.5ρAV
But power is nothing but the kinetic energy generated by the turbine.
Hence:
3
Power=0.5ρAV
Where:
Air density (𝜌) = 1.225 kg/m3
Area(A) =Swept area of the turbine blades
Velocity(V) = wind speed in m/s

Output when loaded:

Sr.no Speed of the OUTPUT ANGULAR Power in
turbine (in VOLTAGE (IN VELOCITY watts
rpm) VOLT) (RAD/SEC)
1. 25 1.72 2.57 0.51
2. 50 3.49 5.2 4.59
3. 75 5.26 7.81 15.65
4. 100 7.0 10.4 37.2
5. 120 8.4 12.5 64

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 12

 RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS:

By making this project we come to know that the output of wind turbine will vary
according to the wind speeds or wing velocities. If the wind velocity increases then
the output voltage also increases and vice versa. The voltage that can be generated
is used to drive the loads like bulb, fan etc.

Measurement of the angular speed of wind turbine is done by using the non contact
pipe tachometer to measure the rpm of wind turbine. With help of this measurement
we can measure output voltage by using voltmeter.

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 13

 REFERENCES:

[1] Shubham Patil, Pratik Kumbhar, Oslaniya Siddharth, Patil Rohit, C.S.Wagle,
“Magnetic Vertical Axis Wind Turbine” IRJETInternational Research Journal of
Engineering and Technology , Volume.4, Issue 05, 2017

[2]. Vishal D Dhareppagol, Maheshwari M Konagutti, “Regenedyne Maglev Wind Power

Generation”, International Journal of Electrical, Electronics and Data Communication,
ISSN 2320-2084, volume-1, Issue6

[3].Joshua Earnest and Tore Wizelius, “WIND POWER PLANTS AND PROJECT
DEVELOPMENT”, Second Edition, 2015 [4] Amit D. Patil, Amit W. Chake, Manoj I. Helonde,
Pravin M. Gupta, “Vertical Axis Wind Turbine with Maglev Technology”, IJSRD -
International Journal for Scientific Research & Development , Vol. 2, Issue 12, 2015

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, RNSIT Page 14