SBIR Phase II: Lowering Wind Power Costs Through Robust Vertical-Axis Turbines

小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目的更广泛影响/商业潜力是降低消费者电力成本，减轻电网压力，并提高能源安全。大型风力涡轮机的技术进步将使社区和企业能够以低于公用事业发电和屋顶太阳能的平均成本发电，以及竞争对手小型风力涡轮机平均成本的一半。这一过程不会像太阳能安装那样在时间上波动太大，从而减轻电网基础设施的压力。当地发电将缓解能源价格的波动，并防止电网故障。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目提出将小型风力涡轮机的风能成本降低至少60%，使低成本的分布式可再生能源成为社区和企业负担得起的现实。垂直轴风力涡轮机(VAWTs)机械结构简单，与传统的水平轴风力涡轮机相比，具有降低投资和维护成本的潜力。然而，低效率和结构故障一直困扰着以前的VAWT商业化努力。这个SBIR第二阶段项目将通过分析、台式测试和现场实验，在极端环境条件下优化传动系统和转子的几个子系统和组件，以提高效率、成本和稳健性。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a reduction in consumer electricity costs, reduced stress on the electricity grid, and increased energy security. Technological advances in large wind turbines will enable power generation for communities and businesses at less than the average cost of utility generation and roof-top solar, and half the average cost of competing small wind turbines. This process would not fluctuate in time as much as solar installations, decreasing stress on grid infrastructure. Locally-owned generation will alleviate fluctuating energy prices and protect against grid failure. This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project proposes to reduce the cost of wind energy from small wind turbines by at least 60%, making low-cost distributed renewable energy an affordable reality for communities and businesses. Vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have the potential for lower capital and maintenance costs than traditional horizontal-axis machines due to their mechanical simplicity. However, low efficiency and structural failure have plagued previous VAWT commercialization efforts. This SBIR Phase II project will optimize several subsystems and components of the drivetrain and rotor for efficiency, cost, and robustness in extreme environmental conditions through analysis, bench-top testing, and field experiments.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.