User:1eagbai/Project3

Project Preference

 * Wind Turbine
 * Mobile Robot Hallway Navigation

Problem Statement
For the next 4 weeks, my group will be focusing on the Wind Turbine Project. Our task primarily will be to complete the design phase of the project from where the last group left off, and also come up with a step by step procedure for the next group to follow through when testing and implementing the process on the design.

For this design, we will be modelling our task for the next 4 weeks based on Wind Turbine Report Design B CDIO report. We will also be referring back to the initial CDIO Wind Turbine Report A from the past group for ideas that we will either implement or modify.

We will be completing the Requirements and Alternatives in design section of the CDIO report

Project Plan

 * Week 1: Brain storm on different shroud design and how they will fit onto the turbine system, have drawing of design of hardware, work on software and find out the output current of the fan.
 * Week 2: The fan and the coding are the two important things, so two people will focus on that part of the project and 3D drawing and schematic of the hardware and software final design will made
 * Week 3: The software will be tested to make sure its functional and then the hardware will be joined with the software of the design and test will be made to see if it work
 * Week 4: Finish testing and writing up a detailed step-by-step procedure for the implementing stage of this project

Week 1 Narrative
Work on making the fan compatible and also a new board for the shroud This week, my task was to work on the fan to make sure if would be compatible. What this means is, making sure that it generates the right current (DC) for the circuit and also I was tasked at partly working on a new shroud design. There was confusion because the group wasn't sure on the current (DC or AC) that was generated by the fan when the blade spins. So after research and trying to figure out ways to check it, the lab technician John gave us an idea to use the oscilloscope; which when set on the right settings, will tell us with certainty what output current is being generated. Now, this changed my work this week but by a lot. To use the oscilloscope in the lab, (Hitachi V-212) i had to research on it to have a basic knowledge of its purpose and also how that particular one work.

An oscilloscope is a graph is a graph displaying device. It draws the graph of how signals (Voltage) change over time on the Y and X axis. During my research, I learned about the main functions of the machine which is drawing the graph of Voltage (Y axis) over time (X axis).

I found the [operating manual] for the oscilloscope several [youtube] clips that helped me become conversant with the machine. I have a link to one of them. With the help of John (lab technician) anf these resources, i was able to figure out how to the oscilloscope works.

The mains setting for the oscilloscope
 * The lead channel must be the same as the channel line used (e.g. lead in CH 1; Knob in CH 1 as seen in Fig 1.1)
 * The TIME/DIV determines how long (time) it will take for the spot to screen
 * The INTENSITY knob helps with visuals
 * FOCUS setting helps with sharp quality visual
 * The POSITIONS knobs helps align the graph on the X and Y axis. (the middle line is advice, as also seen on Fig 1.1)
 * VOLT/DIV setting helps set the Y axis to enable visible peak-to-peak variation of the graph

With the knowledge of the graph out of the way, I went ahead to turn on the oscilloscope

TIME/DIV: 10ms (meaning that the spot/graph will take 10milliseconds to screen) VOLT/DIV: 0.2 Volt (the display on the screen maxes out at 0.2 Volts)

Results The first result (Fig 1.2a) shows what happens to the graph on the oscilloscope when the blade of the fan is spun. The graph on the oscilloscope shows the fan is a pulsating DC electric circuit. To show that the fan is not an AC fan, the same test was done with the setting set to AC as seen on Fig 1.1 and the results are as follows This youtube clip shows the oscilloscope reading the current generated from the fan

This week, as the expected plan for last week was completed, it means we are on track with our plan. So we will work on the fan and the coding this week. A couple of us will focus on the fan and coding part of the project to make it is running well when out together and 3D drawing and schematic of the hardware and software final design will made by the other two members.

Week 2 Narrative
The project is taking a good shape and this week was productive. Our team had the opportunity to present on Friday at the Projects Day. It was a successful day because we managed to get the circuit wiring and code to read an output wattage on the LCD though it still requires work. This [video] is a test run to show our progress.

This week however, my task was to work on the hardware part of the design. This basically involved making sure that the plexiglass is cut to specification.

Two pieces of circular plexi-glass cut out are required to hold the fan intact and on thursday, i cut of one of the circular plexi glasses. The two of them joined together with the fan will look like this.



This [youtube clip] shows me smoothening the edges of the circular glass holder.

Next, I went on to work on the stand for the design. The stand holds the fan and it will be attached to the fan by a bolt. In order to reduced movement of the Wind Turbine when air is being exerted, our design specification required our plexi-g;ass material stand to be able to allow air go through it rather than hit the wall of the plexi glass which will cause the circuit to shake and that might cause a few wired to move, affecting the reading on the LCD.



To reduce this problem, we decide to cut a hole on the stand and this videos shows the cutting.

[Cutting the inside hexagonal out]

[Successfully cutting the stand]

The next thing I did was figure out how to cut out a circular metal plate that will be attached onto the circular plexi-glass that I cut out. This took a lot of research work as advised by John on saturday. I found a few ways, which i will list, explanation on how they are all used is on my note book. Plasma cutting water-jet cutting
 * Oxy-fuel torch cutting
 * Laser cutting

However, these methods are not feasible as the lab don't have the required machinery to successfully carryout any of this procedures. So I resorted to using [compound-action snips]. This [video] shows how i cut the metal sheet with a snip. I din't have time on Saturday to cut the inside diameter before time to close the lab approached so this is my goal tuesday. Another useful [site] i found showed other ways to cut circular holes on metal sheets

I also put together a performance matrix for the choosing of the best material of our final design



Next Step: On tuesday, after successfully cutting the last piece of metal that will make the cutting for the hardware over, I plan to glue the plexi glass to the stand, find a bolt (>5cm) long enough to go through the plexi glass stand, the fan and the 2 plexi glass circles.

Week 3 Narrative
This week, my task was to redesign the circuit box that will house the main components for the Wind Turbine namely,
 * Arduino
 * Breadboard
 * LCD Screen
 * Wires that connect to the fan and all the aforementioned

The box was ordered but wouldn't arrive on time due to the holiday so went to a Radio Shack store outside town to purchase it because the one at the mall didn't have it. This delayed my project as I didn't have all the necessary tools to fully complete my task. However, I marked the box, and will cut it out with a cutting tool at the lab on Tuesday. This task should take more than half hours because of the thinness of the box.

These are pictures of the box

As seen on the Fig 3.0, the line shows where the box will be cut. This will be cut in such way the the LCD screen will have enough space to attach its pins onto the Arduino and still be the only component visible on top on the top.

Fig 3.1 are the cut out spaces for the Arduino power if needed and the USB connector.

For this week, after cutting this box, all that is left is to assemble all the cut out pieces and make it into one complete design. Also, by Thursday, we plan to finish on the Final Design product which will give is time to work on producing a good CDIO report.

Week 4 Narrative
Between or last presentation on Thursday and now has been spent cutting out final pieces of the frame work. For my part, i cut out the rest of the steel steel and made holes on them. On Saturday, I came in the Anthony and we finished off the hardware part of the project.



Its been fun working with this group of guys, motivation and dedication doesn't do justice to their commitment and thank you Professor Edelen for all your contribution, its been a pleasure.