Technology in action
This week the class is working on building a larger model of a wind turbine, which was on display at the convention. This model will stand approximately five feet high. In addition, the students are using the smaller wind turbine model to test their blade designs to ascertain which design is the most efficient. Then the design will be upsized so we can install it on the larger model.
After the students complete their design they are required to prepare a spreadsheet and graph of the test results. The blades are tested at zero, 15, 30, 45 and 90 degrees from the vertical axis in the clockwise and counter clockwise direction. During the test, the fan is placed at a given distance from the test blades with the test speed of the fan cycling through low, medium and high. This method will provide the students with enough data to create a good spreadsheet and chart.
The energy for the model will be supplied by the solar panels array we are going to construct. Yes, you will have to stay tuned to find out what happens next. Will the experiment crash and burn? Will the train run off the track? Or will the great panel in the sky save the day? STAY TUNE!!!!!
