VietNamNet Bridge - A wind power generator is one of 30 products related to climate change adaptation which may receive support from the World Bank.

The pumpkin-shaped power generator is invented by Tran Thanh Thanh, 38, a farmer in Binh Thoi Commune of Binh Dai District in the southern province of Ben Tre.

Thanh began thinking of developing a wind power generator for household use in 2011. At first, he experimented with bicycle’s wheels to create power enough to light a lamp.

Later, Thanh tried to make power from sea wind, an abundant energy source in his Ben Tre province. He believed that the strong wind could generate power thanks to the force of the rotating propellers. 

He decided to create a machine as he imagined with the available materials. Scrap iron and aluminum were needed to make propellers and rudders. Thanh then bought a used bicycle turbine to assemble a wind power generation machine.

His first-generation machine was completed with four propellers (each of which is 80 cm in length) and rudders. Propellers with width of 30 cm were connected with the turbine and battery with a transformer converting direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).

During daylight, the electricity current from Thanh’s power generator was enough to run a refrigerator. 

Thanh spent VND10 million and hundreds of working hours to make the machine. He received the 2011 Young Creation Award from the HCM City Youth Union Central Committee.

In 2013, VTV, the national Vietnam Television, gave Thanh the first prize as voted by viewers for his power generator.

Later, Thanh realized that some problems existed and decided to work out a new design to improve the use of the machine.

He found that the four propellers with rudders were cumbersome in strong wide and could not generate stable electricity.

If there is no wind or the wind direction changed, the propellers’ rotation rhythm was affected, which would cause the power source stop.

Finally, Thanh decided to create a 10-propeller power generator in the shape of a pumpkin. Each rotor is 30 cm long, and shaped like an oval spiral. This is a power generation machine that receives wind from all directions, so it can be used in areas with less wind.

As the axis can stand firmly, the machine can generate stable power. The new machine has the same operating principle, but with 10 multi-dimensional propellers, the generated electricity is double or triple the capacity of the first-generation machine.

Thanh’s new-generation power generation machine has better appearance and capacity, while the invention cost is just VND5 million higher than the cost of the old machine.

Tia Sang