Design, Fabrication and Performance Evaluation of a Vertical Acrylic Blade Windmill for Sustainable Rural Power Generation

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable energy resources and the rapid depletion of fossil fuels have intensified the need for
economical and environmentally friendly renewable energy technologies. Among the available renewable resources, wind
energy has emerged as one of the most reliable and clean sources for decentralized power generation. The present study focuses
on the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a modern vertical acrylic blade windmill intended for small-scale rural
and agricultural applications. The proposed system utilizes lightweight acrylic blades mounted vertically around a central
rotating shaft to effectively capture wind energy from multiple directions under low wind-speed conditions.
The fabricated windmill consists of a vertical rotor assembly, shaft and bearing arrangement, support frame, pulley transmission
mechanism, V-belt drive, and a booster pump-based generator system for electrical energy conversion. The lightweight acrylic
material was selected due to its corrosion resistance, low cost, ease of fabrication, and improved aerodynamic performance.
Mechanical energy generated by the rotating blades was transferred through the pulley arrangement to the generator for
electricity production.
Experimental testing was conducted under varying environmental wind conditions to evaluate rotor performance, rotational
stability, and electrical output characteristics. The developed prototype demonstrated smooth rotational motion, low startup
resistance, and measurable electrical energy generation even under moderate wind velocities. The results indicate that the
proposed windmill can serve as a low-cost and eco-friendly renewable energy solution for rural electrification, battery charging,
LED lighting, and agricultural applications.
The study concludes that the integration of lightweight blade materials and simple mechanical transmission systems can
significantly improve the feasibility of decentralized wind energy systems. Future improvements may include optimized blade
aerodynamics, hybrid renewable integration, and energy storage implementation for enhanced operational efficiency.