Free sample chord sections available
2. Calculating generator efficiency
Given: The 3 phases are isolated and connected as 3 single phase outputs.  Each output is rectified to DC using a single phase bridge rectifier.
At 666 rpm, generator voltage Vs = 65 Volts.
Voltage across Rs = 65 - 48
Vs = 17 Volts
Ploss = V2/R
Power Lost = 172/5.6
Ploss= 51.6 watts per phase
Efficiency of generator = 144/(144+51.6)
Efficiency = 73.6%
The airfoil cross sections were cut out of 3 mm aluminium sheets. These sheets were bolted to a steel frame, spaced at appropriate distances and aligned.
The gaps between the airfoil sections were filled with aluminium tape and the back of the tape was fibre glassed in place. Wax and mould release was applied to it and two positive moulds were made.
A negative mould of the airfoil was created by covering the airfoil sections with aluminium tape. A positive mould of the wing is made by fibre glassing the negative mould. The positive moulds are sanded smooth, following the indentations made from the aluminium cross sections.
The moulds were sanded down using the aluminium impressions as a guide. Wax and mould release was applied to the positive moulds (in Figure 8) and new negative moulds were made out of fibreglass and carbon fibre (Figure 9).
The refined positive moulds are use to make two 'master' negative moulds for blade production.
Careful detailing of the positive mould produced a perfect negative mould. This final negative mould was waxed and mould release was applied. CSM fibreglass (220 g) with vinyl ester resin was applied to each mould. The two mould halves were clamped together after the resin had gelled and the blade was removed after curing.
Two carbon fibre blades were produced from the mould and then joined together using fibreglass mat followed by wrapping with carbon fibre around the join.
The blades were sanded and wrapped in carbon fibre, using an additional carbon fibre layer around the hub section. The finished blades are extremely light weight.
4. Testing the wind turbine
The wind turbine was bolted to a trailer and the rpm, voltage and tsr was measured by connecting the generator to a very high power multi-tap resistor. The turbine was allowed to speed up to an open circuit voltage of 65 V (666 rpm) before the resistor load was connected.
The carbon fibre blades attached to the permanent magnet generator on a test rig.
Measurement of results from the wind turbine
Note: Our method of turbine testing generated turbulent wind, affecting
efficiency. The results should be used as a guide only
Rs is the resistance of the generator windings plus the power cable; 5.75 ohms
Rl is the resistance of the load; 6.6, 10, 15, 21.5 and 25 ohms
Power generated by the blades was calculated by dividing measured power by the efficiency of the generator.
Once the blades have been characterized
a new generator will be designed.
Power generated by the blades is calculated using the following method:
Voltage across the resistor load was measured (Vl),
Vs = Vl x [(Rs + Rl) / Rl ]
Power produced by blades and lost in the generator, power cable and resistor load is given by;
P = V2/R
P = Vs2 / (Rs+Rl)
Rotational speed (rpm)
Power (watts)
Blade efficiency
Tip speed (km/h)
Tip speed ratio
Frequently asked questions about plan orders, blade design, electrical work and generator matching can be found on our Q&A pages.
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1 kW Wind Turbine (12.5 m/s)
2-Blades (Carbon fibre), 1.8 Metre Diameter
& Induction motor to PMA conversion
Download PDF Version of this Document
Abstract
A 1 kW @ 12.5 m/s (2 kW @ 17 m/s), 1.8 metre diameter wind turbine was designed and constructed using carbon fibre composites. The generator was built by converting an induction motor into a permanent magnet generator. Blade power and efficiency have been measured at different tip-speed-ratios and a maximum efficiency of 30% at a TSR of 11.6 was recorded. These results verify the accuracy of calculations from the blade calculator software. Total cost of the generator and blades was less than AU$200.
Keywords: Wind power, Permanent Magnet Generator, Induction motor to PMA conversion, 1kw wind turbine, carbon fibre wind turbine blades
Figure Page
1 40 Amp car alternator rotor with magnets attached 2
2 40 Amp car alternator rotor with magnets fibre glassed in place 2
3 40 Amp car alternator stator with shielding 3
4 Completed conversion of the 40 Amp car alternator 3
5 Completed conversion a 1/4 hp induction motor 3
6 Wind turbine airfoil cross-sections 5
7 Turbine airfoil cross-sections bolted to frame 5
8 Positive moulds of wind turbine blades 6
9 Negative moulds of wind turbine blades 6
10 1.8 m blade set 7
11 Turbine testing 7
12 Measured TSR vs efficiency 9
13 Measured Power 10
LIST OF FIGURES
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500 Watt Blade Construction
The rotor of the alternator was turned (ground away) on a lathe until it fit into the stator with the neodymium magnets attached.
The magnets are placed at an angle to reduce cogging and then fastened in place using a small amount of fibreglass and a layer of carbon fibre.
The alternators rotor was turned down on a lathe to accommodate
neodymium magnets.
Design of a permanent magnet generator was necessary to test and
characterise the blade set. Conversion of a 40 amp car alternator to a
permanent magnet generator was attempted.
1. Construction of the Permanent Magnet Generator
Figure 2. 40 Amp car alternator rotor with magnets fibre glassed in place
Figure 1. 40 Amp car alternator rotor with magnets attached
- Six magnets were carefully placed on a slight angle to reduce cogging of the generator.
- The magnets were fibre glassed in place with two strips of carbon fibre.
Sheet metal was placed inside the stator to shield the magnetic field from aluminium.

Without the sheet metal lining, significant power was lost in the aluminium.
We found this size of neodymium magnet to be too strong for this sized motor. The casing of the alternator was too close to the magnets and required sheilding with sheet metal plate. Too much inductive energy loss was encountered from the changing magnetic field in the aluminium.
Figure 3. 40 Amp car alternator stator with shielding
Design Your Custom Wind Turbine Blades
Figure 4. Completed conversion of the 40 Amp car alternator
The 40 Amp car alternator reassembled after conversion to a permanent magnet generator.
Power output was measured to be less than 500 watts at the rpm of the designed blades. The generator will not produce enough power for the 1.8m diameter blades, it is more suited to 1.0m diameter blades with a high tip-speed-ratio.
Figure 5. Completed conversion of a 1/4 hp induction motor
A 1/4 hp induction motor was converted to a permanent magnet generator with much better results.
Power output was measured to be more than 2000 watts at the rotational speed for the designed blades. This generator produces enough power for the 1.8 m diameter blades.
V = IR  rearranged to;
V/R = I
Current into battery = 17/5.6
I = 3 amps per phase
Calculate power using;     P = VI
The wind turbine blades were designed using the warlock engineering blade calculator program. The airfoil chosen was NACA2412 and a two bladed turbine was designed to have a tip-speed-ratio of 10.
Airfoil cross sectons are cut out of aluminium sheet. They are shown over-layed from smallest to largest in order of their position along the wing.
Microwave Chemistry Reactor
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Figure 6. Wind turbine airfoil cross-sections
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Figure 7. Wind turbine airfoil cross-sections bolted to a frame
Figure 8. Positive moulds of wind turbine blades
The wind turbine cross sections are bolted to a frame and aligned.
Figure 9. Negative moulds of wind turbine blades
Figure 10. 1.8 m blade set
Rs = resistance of each phase of the generator
Power into battery = 48 x 3
P = 144 watts per phase
(432 watts for all 3 phases)
3. Design and construction of the wind turbine blades
Figure 11. Turbine testing
Results from the turbine test are tabulated below.
Figure 12. Efficiency vs TSR
Figure 13. Measured Power. Power (Watts) vs Speed (m/s)
Conclusion
The carbon fibre blades maintained a peak efficiency of 27% for all TSR values between 10:1 and 14:1. The maximum power generated was 2.0 kW at 60 km/h wind speed.
Measured efficiency vs. TSR
Measured Power vs. Speed
Total cost $181
Two Blades $14
Moulds $72
Magnets $80
Induction motor $15
System cost (AUD)
6. Total cost of the
wind turbine
The same technique was used to convert a larger 1/4 hp induction motor into a 8 pole / 3 phase PMG.
Power output was measured to be less than 500 watts at the rpm of the designed blades. The generator will not produce enough power for the 1.8 m diameter blades, it is more suited to 1.0 m diameter blades with a high tip-speed-ratio.
25 ohm 21.5 ohm 15 ohm 10 ohm 6 ohm
30 km/h 208 205 300  
40 km/h 524 649 332 252  
50 km/h 950 981 1017 1008 940
60 km/h 1953 2019 1873 1990
The generator has zero cogging, this is due to the angled magnets and the 2 mm air gap between the rotor and stator. It is configured for 3 phase, each phase measuring 5.6 ohms. Output voltage is 130 Vrms at 1333 rpm, increasing linearly with rpm.
Free sample chord sections can be generated for 0.70 m to 0.80 m blades (550 Watts - 710 Watts).
Blade Calculator
Design custom blades for your generator and calculate power output at each wind speed.
Free plans for 500 W
blades with each purchase
Preview of bonus material included with every purchase
Custom Wind Turbine Blade Plans Available from $4.95
Blade Calculator
Chemistry Articles for Download
• Microwave Chemistry Reactor [PDF]
• Dielectric ‘Loss Factor’ (e’’) Measurement Over RF Frequencies Between 0.1 - 40.0 GHz for Common Organic Chemicals [PDF]
• Deconstruction of a 300 MHz Cryomagnet for NMR Spectroscopy [PDF]
25 ohm 21.5 ohm 15 ohm 10 ohm 6 ohm
30 km/h 820 766 809  
40 km/h 1302 1363 851 645  
50 km/h 1753 1676 1489 1291 1105
60 km/h 2365 2098 1744 1607
25 ohm 21.5 ohm 15 ohm 10 ohm 6 ohm
30 km/h 0.23 0.23 stalled  
40 km/h 0.24 0.30 0.15 stalled  
50 km/h 0.22 0.23 0.24 0.24 stalled
60 km/h 0.27 0.27 0.25 0.27
25 ohm 21.5 ohm 15 ohm 10 ohm 6 ohm
30 km/h 278 260 275  
40 km/h 441 463 289 218  
50 km/h 595 569 506 438 375
60 km/h 803 712 592 546
25 ohm 21.5 ohm 15 ohm 10 ohm 6 ohm
30 km/h 9.2 8.7 9.2  
40 km/h 11.0 11.6 7.2 5.5  
50 km/h 11.9 11.4 10.1 8.8 7.5
60 km/h 16.1 14.2 11.8 10.9
1.4 Metre Diameter 3-Blade Wind Turbine Construction  [HTML]
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By comparison, the typical TSR for wood carved blades is 7:1. Although they are cheaper to produce, wood blades rotate at half the RPM, reducing the generators power output to 25%
Rs = 5.6 Ohms
1.4 Metre Diameter 3-Blade Wind Turbine Construction
1.4 Metre Diameter 3-Blade Wind Turbine Construction
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