IoT based highway wind turbines for electricity generation
The demand of electricity is increasing day by day as population increasing. Electricity can be generated using one of two methods: conventional or nonconventional energy sources. The use of conventional energy sources such as diesel, nuclear power plants, coal, and other fossil fuels has a negative
2025-06-28 16:28:05 - Adil Khan
IoT based highway wind turbines for electricity generation
Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject SummaryThe demand of electricity is increasing day by day as population increasing. Electricity can be generated using one of two methods: conventional or nonconventional energy sources. The use of conventional energy sources such as diesel, nuclear power plants, coal, and other fossil fuels has a negative impact on the environment. It pollutes the air, degrades the soil, and so on. These traditional resources are extremely expensive. Nuclear waste is dangerous and has a severe impact on the human body. As time passes, conventional resources may become scarce, necessitating the development of alternate methods for electricity generation. Non-conventional resources provide an alternative source of electricity generation. There are different types of non-conventional resources mainly wind, solar, tidal, etc. We are utilizing wind to generate electricity in our project because it is readily available.
Due to the rapid movement of vehicles, the wind turbine in the proposed construction is designed to use wind energy from the highway. Wind energy is produced in large quantities on underused roadways as a result of vehicle movement. The kinetic energy of the wind is captured by wind turbine blades. Wind creates lift on the blades, which causes the blade to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that drives an electric generator to generate electricity.As a result, we use this energy to generate electricity and solve some electrical problems. Now, we can put a windmill or wind turbine in the middle of the highway to create energy while the vehicles pass by on both sides. The electricity generated is utilized to power nearby streetlights and other electrical devices. All of these factors are monitored and managed via the internet of things (IoT) from the base station on numerous roadway networks. IoT integration is a new functionality that has been added to this system. If a fault is detected in the system, the system will send an alert message to the user.
Project Objectives- To reduce pollutants caused by fossil fuel combustion
- Propose a low-cost method of producing electricity from wind generated by highway traffic.
- To perform a review of the literature
- To understand designing of wind turbine for highway vehicles
- To learn programming of Arduino
- To develop a better understanding of how a microcontroller (Arduino) and a Wi-Fi module work.
- To learn interfacing of wind turbine with Arduino
- To learn internet of things(IoT)
- To use the Internet of Things to monitor and regulate numerous power producing systems depending on highway traffic.
- To utilize the maximum amount of wind energy
- To create a functioning working model of a wind turbine
Wind turbines are divided into two types: horizontal wind axis turbines and vertical wind axis turbines (VAWT). The drag force is the sole source of power for vertical wind axis turbines. Lift and drag forces, on the other hand, play a role in the operation of horizontal wind axis turbines. A vertical wind axis turbine is a type of windmill that is used for a specific purpose. The vertical axis wind turbine is implemented in this project to transform kinetic energy into mechanical energy.
These turbines have fewer parts than those that orient the rotary mechanism and blades horizontally. That means fewer components to wear out and break down. Also, the supporting strength of the tower doesn’t need to be as much, because the gearbox and generator are near the ground. Parts for controlling pitch and yaw aren’t needed either.The turbine doesn’t have to be facing the right wind direction either. In a vertical system, air flowing from any direction or speed can rotate the blades. Therefore, the system can be used to generate power in gusty winds and when they’re blowing steadily.VAWTs are turn at comparatively lower revolutions per minute, thus producing less vibration and noise. VAWTs are typically more compact and operate at lower elevations, making them less visually intrusive.
The vertical axis wind turbine is made of low weight blade materials and is built in such a way that vehicles travelling on both sides of the highway can cut the blades of the VAWT. When pressured air strikes the blade of the vertical axis wind turbine, the turbine rotates. With the help of a gear mechanism, the vertical axis wind turbine's shaft is connected to the generator. It generates dc power. The battery is used to store the dc power. The inverter, which converts DC electricity to AC power, is included. We can use this AC electricity in our home appliances.
The system is controlled by a microcontroller, which sends out alerts when any faults occur. Also, send a text message to the operator. The rapid development of information technology (IT) has brought forward a hyper connected society in which objects are connected to mobile devices and the Internet and communicate with one another. As a result, in this project, combine IoT with a microcontroller and connect it to an LCD to display the results of the various essential parameters.
Benefits of the ProjectThe Benefits of the Proposed System are
- Safe for the environment.
- The most effective fossil fuel substitute for energy generation.
- A reduction in manpower is required.
- Energy conservation.
- It is more efficient.
- It's appropriate for both rural and urban settings.
- Power generating that is efficient.
- Produces power at a lower cost than horizontal axis turbines.
- Easier to install than other types of wind turbines.
- 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.
- They are quieter to operate, causing less disruption in residential areas.
1. Omni directional Natural of the Rotor
Vertical axis wind turbines are equipped with rotor blades that can pick up wind coming from any direction. Due to this difference in operation mechanism, vertical axis wind turbines can be used to generate power even in unstable weather conditions such as turbulent, gusty wind.
2. Closer Spacing
Closer spacing would allow a wind power plant to capture more energy per square meter of land. A group of closely-spaced vertical axis wind turbines have the potential to generate as much as 10 times more power per unit of land compared to a group of widely-spaced horizontal axis wind turbines.
3. Lower Starting Wind Speed
Vertical axis wind turbines have a lower starting wind speed compared to the horizontal axis models. The necessary starting wind speed for a typical vertical axis wind turbine is 2 to 3 m/s.
4. Lower Environmental Harm
Generally smaller, the size of vertical axis wind turbines has low environmental harm. Because they are built closely around the shaft, the rotor blades of vertical axis wind turbines do not create huge extend drop shadows. The vertical axis wind turbines operate with quieter noise emission, so they do not disturb people in residential neighborhoods.
5. Easier Installation and Maintenance
The smaller size of vertical axis wind turbines are easier to transport, set up, and maintain.
6. Less Restricted Installation
Another advantage coming with its size is that vertical axis wind turbines are more permissible where taller structures are prohibited.
7. Striking Representation
The modern geometrical designs of vertical axis wind turbines allow them to operate with elegance and create smooth visual flow.
Technical Details of Final DeliverableThe components used in the project are given below:
- Vertical Axis Wind turbine (VAWT)
- DC-Generator
- 2 LCD Display(2x16)
- 3 Buck Converters
- 4-Relay module
- ATMEGA 328P(Microcontroller)
- 2 Voltage sensors
- 16MHz Resonator
- Shunt resistor
- WifiModule
Vertical Axis Wind Turbine
To transform kinetic energy into mechanical energy, a vertical axis wind turbine is used.The vertical axis wind turbine is made of light weight blade materials (light Steel). The entire turbine is put together with a collar, pole support, and blades that are fastened together with nut bolts. The wind direction is automatically adjusted.
DC GeneratorA dc generator is an electrical machine which converts mechanical energy into direct current electricity. This energy conversion is based on the principle of production of dynamically induced emf.
The four most important component of a DC generator are:- Stator
- Rotor
- Commutator
- Brushes
Battery
A valve regulated lead acid battery sometimes called sealed lead-acid (SLA), gel cell, or maintenance
free battery. They are widely used in large electrical devices, off-grid power systems and similar roles, where large amounts of storage are needed at a lower cost than other low-maintenance technologies like lithium-ion.
Internet Of Things (IOT)
The Internet Of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices mechanical and digital
machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to
transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
Working:-
An IoT system consists of sensor/devices which “talk” to the cloud through some kind of
connectivity. Once the data gets to the cloud, software processes it and then might decide to perform
an action, such as sending an alert or automatically adjusting thesensor/devices without the need for
the user.A complete IoT system integrates fourdistinct components: sensor/devices, connectivity, dataprocessing, and a user interface
ATMEGA 328P(Microcontroller)
we used this type of microcontroller to control the components of an IoT circuit using basic arduino code, which can be controlled via a smartphone's hotspot using a wifi module.
Voltage sensor
We deployed two voltage sensors: one for the input battery voltage, which supplies power to the IoT circuit, and the other for the output voltage, which is generated by wind.
4-Relay module
We used a Relay for Switching, which allows us to turn on or off the load using a Smartphone's hotspot, which is connected to the microcontroller via a wifi module.
Wifi Module(NODEMCU)
This wifi module was used to keep track of the turbine's and generator's measurable parameters.
Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemCore Industry Energy Other IndustriesCore Technology Internet of Things (IoT)Other TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Affordable and Clean Energy, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate ActionRequired Resources| Item Name | Type | No. of Units | Per Unit Cost (in Rs) | Total (in Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total in (Rs) | 70000 | |||
| Turbine Blade | Equipment | 2 | 14500 | 29000 |
| DC Generator | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Buck Convertor | Equipment | 3 | 2000 | 6000 |
| Wifi Module | Equipment | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
| 4-Relay Module | Equipment | 2 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Microcontroller | Equipment | 2 | 2000 | 4000 |
| Stationary | Miscellaneous | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
| Supporting Stand | Equipment | 1 | 5000 | 5000 |
| Printing | Miscellaneous | 3 | 1000 | 3000 |
| LCD | Equipment | 3 | 2000 | 6000 |
| welding | Miscellaneous | 2 | 2000 | 4000 |