Design, Rapid Prototyping and Testing of the Wells Turbine

This project is to design, manufacture and testing the Wells turbine. In order to know the
performance of the Wells turbine, a prototype is developed. Computer Aided Three
Dimensional Interactive Application (CATIA) is used in the 3D solid modelling design
for Wells turbine prototype components. Design is carried out to suit the testing
requirements. A scale model is designed based on the actual dimension of Wells turbine.
Study is focus on the variations and manipulations of the testing parameters of Wind
Tunnel on the designed rotor and the effect on the rotation of the rotor as well as on the
workability of the material used to fabricate the rotor. Rapid Prototyping (RP) machine
is used to manufacture the rotor by using the 3D solid modelling data from CATIA.
Rapid Prototyping process will shorter the manufacturing time before testing. Rapid
Prototyping process has the limitation; therefore, the 3D solid model design must be
suitable with the machining capability. Wind Tunnel is used to test the Wells turbine
prototype with different parameter settings. Testing is carried out on the prototype to
determine the minimum velocity of air that will rotates the rotor and the maximum
rotational speed in revolution per minute (rpm) of the rotor.