DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A 130W WIND-POWERED AIR COMPRESSOR SYSTEM FOR OPERATION IN ZARIA, NIGERIA

📄 Project Abstract

A wind rotor system to power a rotary air compressor of maximum discharge pressure of 3.53 barg, a free air delivery (FAD) of 0.001179 m3/s at maximum pressure, and a nominal power requirement of 130W was designed, constructed and tested. The wind air compressor system included a wind rotor, a transmission mechanism, an air compressor and a storage reservoir. The wind rotor was coupled to a selected air compressor and tested at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria. The compressor discharge pressure and flow rate increased with an increase in the wind velocity. A discharge pressure of 1.0barg was obtained during the testing period at the rated wind velocity of 5.10 m/s. A maximum compressor capacity of 0.000833 m3/s at a discharge pressure of 2.0 barg and a wind velocity of 7.90 m/s was obtained. At the rated wind velocity of 5.10 m/s, the power output was calculated as 98.56 W. The overall efficiency increased as the wind velocity increased until it reached a maximum o...