Group 1 (2007)

Student Members:
Gary Albert
Kyle Fournier
Aleksander Groshev
Makia Powell
Phillip Smith

Faculty Advisor:
Dr. Paul Fortier

Project Title:
Aerial Wind Turbine Control System

Project Description:
The aerial wind turbine project has several aspects that need to be considered and several components that need to be designed. One major component of a wind turbine is the control system. The system is responsible for connecting and disconnecting a generator from a utility line, shutting down the turbine in high winds and controlling the orientation of the blades. Without proper timing a wind turbine will not be efficient and will not deliver power. Without protection from harmful winds the turbine generator would destroy itself. It is our goal "to design and test a control system that will automatically connect and disconnect the generator to the utility line, shut down the turbine in case of an equipment malfunction or in high winds. It must also enable a person to shut down the system, and place the system in readiness mode. In addition a web interface must be designed for the turbine to control, collect, store and display data relating to power output and important turbine functions."