Theoretical & Applied Fluid Dynamics Lab · 2025
Ocean Drone Wind Power
A compact VAWT for long-duration autonomous sailboats
Overview
End-to-end mechanical development of a compact vertical-axis wind turbine targeting reliable low-wind energy generation in marine environments.
01
Designed for the wind that is actually there
I modeled several rotor geometries around the low wind speeds common to coastal operation, turning aerodynamic considerations into blade, hub, shaft, and enclosure designs that could be printed, assembled, and maintained.
Rotor geometry and compact generator packaging iterations.
02
Close the loop with hardware
Full prototypes were 3D printed and post-processed, then tested with an industrial fan, generator, and RPM/power measurement circuit. Tolerance, material, and rotor-interface changes from each test informed the next build before marina deployment.
Fabricated turbine hardware during bench validation.
Project gallery
Tools & methods