MILWAUKEE — Researchers with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee are trying to increase the efficiency of wind turbines.
They are using a wind tunnel that the university has had since 2009. Wind tunnels are used to study how stationary objects interact with moving air.
Saif Al Hamad is one of the researchers on this project. He is a PhD student in mechanical engineering.
After activating the wind tunnel, Al Hamad checks the data produced by a horizontal axis wind turbine inside. Al Hamad said he looks to see how much power their turbine design generates.
“From there, you can scale up to that residential scale because this is very small," said Al Hamad. "Before we scale it up, we make sure that the software is giving us reliable data based on the experimental data that we have.”
Depending on the outcome of these tests, the design of the wind turbine blades may need to be modified.
Omar Shaker is helping Al Hamad with this experiment. Shaker uses a 3D printer to create a test blade.
“Even if you have a small-sized wind turbine that you cannot upsize due to some type of restrictions in the area, like noise levels, we try to harness as much power as possible so it becomes more usable and it would make sense investing in one,” said Shaker.
Ryo Amano is the director of UW-Milwaukee’s Industrial Assessment Center. The center works with the U.S. Department of Energy.
Amano said the university’s wind tunnel was built during the Obama administration to promote electrification and decarbonization.
“We are trying to reduce the combustion and CO emissions so that’s why," said Amano. "Wind energy is one of the cleanest energies. That’s why we have been promoting this one and it is important for students to be engaged in the activity of updated technologies.”
Al Hamad and Shaker said the wind tunnel has proved to be a valuable resource in their research.
“I’m interested in renewable energy research and wind is one of the major energy resources and it has great potential as renewable energy,” said Al Hamad.
“It’s so reliable as long as you have continuous wind or if you place it offshore," said Shaker. "It is the future.”
They both said they believe they can discover that potential at UW-Milwaukee, a discovery that could not have been made in Wisconsin without the wind tunnel.