CSU Unveils Experimental Wind Turbine System
Majid Rashidi, chair of the Engineering Technology department at CSU, developed this patented wind amplification turbine system to generate energy at the university.
At Cleveland State University’s Fenn College of Engineering, Majid Rashidi, the Betty L. Gordon Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Engineering Technology department, believes there is a better way to harness the power of the wind, especially in areas with lower wind speeds. Rashidi’s research has focused on the potential of wind amplification structures capable of increasing the velocity of wind. Through grants from the State of Ohio and the U.S. Department of Energy, Rashidi has developed a patented “wind amplification turbine system” that he believes is both cost-effective and commercially viable.
The first prototype was recently unveiled at CSU and is prominently displayed on the rooftop of the Plant Services Building at 1802 East 25th St. The system, which resembles a water tower, consists of a 25-foot diameter cylindrical wind-deflecting structure mounted on a 30-foot tall base. Four 7-foot diameter turbines, two on opposite sides of the cylinder, are suspended from a rotating support structure mounted to the top of the cylinder. The mounting structure employs an automated motor control system to position the turbines to be facing into the prevailing wind at all times. In addition, a stand-alone turbine serves as a control to measure the difference in power capacity of the traditionally mounted turbine versus Rashidi’s system.
“Wind amplification structures result in higher power output and reduce the minimum wind speed required to begin spinning a turbine,” Rashidi said. “Our research shows that by placing a turbine next to the cylinder, the wind energy output can be up to three to four times greater than a stand-alone turbine of the same size.” Kiosks on CSU’s campus display the output of the experimental turbines versus the control turbine, as will CSU’s website.
Over the next two years, Rashidi will work with fellow faculty, students and industry partners to monitor the system’s energy output and optimize its controls and design. Plans are also underway to install additional prototypes that will vary in size and structure. “The system is flexible by design so it can be retrofitted on existing structures such as farm silos or water towers, making it possible for commercial use in rural and urban areas,” Rashidi said.
When his experimental research proves to be successful, Rashidi said he believes his turbine system can become an economic driver for Northeast Ohio, creating jobs and helping make Cleveland a hub for the renewable energy industry. “The next steps will be making the system economically feasible, commercially viable and locally built,” said Rashidi. “Not only is it designed to be a low-cost and easy-to-install product, but all the parts and labor needed to mass produce the turbine system are available in Northeast Ohio.”
For more information on this wind amplification turbine, visit www.csuohio.edu/engineering/wind.