Design and Computational Analysis of Tensegrity-Based Mini Wind Energy Harvester

Cheon, Shao Yuan (2026) Design and Computational Analysis of Tensegrity-Based Mini Wind Energy Harvester. Final Year Project (Bachelor), Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.

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Abstract

The rapid acceleration of Internet of Things (IoT) integration within the agricultural sectors of Malaysia, particularly in remote regions of Kedah, Sabah, and Sarawak is increasingly constrained by the absence of reliable, decentralized power sources. While wind energy offers a sustainable solution, conventional Savonius vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs) are often hindered by high rotational inertia and startup thresholds of 4 to 7 m/s, which significantly exceed the 2 to 4 m/s breeze-level winds typical of these tropical environments. In alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 9, this research presents a novel, lightweight tensegrity-based Savonius turbine designed to maximize aerodynamic sensitivity in low-wind conditions. The rotor geometry was developed using the Force Density Method (FDM) in a computational form-finding environment to establish global equilibrium between a technical fabric membrane and a minimal rigid framework, effectively reducing structural weight without compromising integrity. Performance characterization was executed via high-fidelity transient Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using the SST