Design and Fabrication of a Stand Mounted Vertical Axis Wind Turbine

Nigeria’s persistent fuel crisis and unreliable grid electricity have intensified dependence on petrol and diesel generator resulting in high operating cost and environmental pollution. This publication presents the design, fabrication and performance evaluation of a stand mounted vertical wind turbine integrated with a 600mm bicycle wheel transmission system automotive alternator, 100Ah battery storage, charge controller and 1.2 KVA inverter. The project was motivated by recurring fuel scarcity in Nigeria and aims to provide a low-cost locally fabricated renewable energy alternative. The turbine combines wind energy into mechanical rotation, amplified by a bicycle wheel drive system to power a car alternator. Generated DC power charges a DC 12V 100ah battery through a regulated charge controller. A 1.2 KVA inverter converts stored energy to 220 – 240V AC output for household application. Experimental evaluation under moderate wind condition demonstrated effective battery charging and reliable AC load operation.