MICROCONTROLLER-BASED DATA LOGGING INSTRUMENTATION SYSTEM FOR WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION MEASUREMENTS

Abstract

In this study, a microcontroller based data logger for measuring wind speed and wind direction has been designed. The designed system uses the Atmel microcontroller family which consists of sensor inputs, a microcontroller and a data storage device. The system was designed and developed to measure the wind speed and direction with the help of anemometer and wind vane sensors respectively. The results were stored in an Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) for post process analysis. The collected data were transmitted to a PC through an RS-232 serial interface, and were processed using the 208W Data logger support software. Wind speed and direction measured by the microcontroller-based data logging system were analyzed using line graphs, scatter correlation charts and wind roses. Wind speeds were measured at 9.00 a.m, 12.00 noon and 5.00 p.m using fabricated sensors and also at JKUAT meteorological station. The correlation indices of microcontroller–based data logger instrumentation system data and JKUAT meteorological data were determined. The correlation indices for the corresponding three times were calculated as 0.997, 0,997 and 0.999 respectively. Thus the wind speed measured by the fabricated sensor was found to correlate strongly to the to the JKUAT Meteorological datasheet. Wind rose analysis revealed that the wind direction was fairly consistent from between 1800 and 1700 which is generally from South to South-east for the months of August and September.