Topic 3
Which renewable is 'best'? 1
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Learning aims
Learning aims
To consider the advantages and disadvantages of wind by by direct experimentation.
To consider the factors which affect wind turbine efficiency.
(Why am I doing this?)
(Why am I doing this?)
So that I can gain an appreciation of the challenges facing scientists and engineers when designing wind turbines.
So that I can understand how energy efficiency determines how successful a wind turbine is.
Watch the inspirational William Kamkwamba, the boy who harnessed the wind' give his TED talk. where he tells about his amazing inventive journey.
Lesson vocabulary
Lesson vocabulary
Hypothesis
Hypothesis
noun: hypothesis; plural noun: hypotheses
a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation.
Turbine
Turbine
noun: turbine; plural noun: turbines
a machine for producing continuous power in which a wheel or rotor, typically fitted with vanes, is made to revolve by a fast-moving, linear, inward flow of water, steam, gas, air, or other fluid.
Voltage
Voltage
noun: voltage; plural noun: voltages
an electromotive force or potential difference expressed in volts.
Activities
Activities
In-class you will be creating your own wind turbine using raw materials.
You will mark out, cut and shape wood & metal and assemble them together to make a working model.
When you are able to generate electricity successfully, use your turbine to carry out the investigation.
At the end, you can reverse the wires, add a power supply and use it as a desk fan.
Wind turbine components - Technical vocabulary used
1. Plan it!
1. Plan it!
What do we need to do to build a turbine?
What do we need to do to build a turbine?
3D CAD Model
3D CAD Model
Explore the CAD (Computer Aided Design) model of the wind turbine you are going to make in-class so that you can understand how it goes together.
Use the controls at the bottom of the applet window to 'explode' and 'orbit' the model further.
What are the different components (parts) of the turbine?
TASK
TASK
You will have several familiarisation (practise) lessons of practical work (in the workshop) before you will be asked to complete the plan on the right.
To complete the plan, click here to make an editable copy in your Google Drive which can later be attached to your Google Classroom as evidence.
2. Make it!
2. Make it!
Let's build one.
Let's build one.
Use the drawings attached to help manufacture your wind turbine.
TASK
TASK
Attempt the worksheet below to show your understanding of the purpose and safe use of the disc sander. Click here to make an editable copy for your own Google Drive / Classroom.
TASK
TASK
Attempt the worksheet below to show your understanding of the purpose and safe use of the battery drill. Click here to make an editable copy for your own Google Drive / Classroom.
3. Adapt it!
3. Adapt it!
Experiment with designing and making your own 'impeller'.
Experiment with designing and making your own 'impeller'.
Your teacher will show you how to do this in-class.
Click here to view some examples.
Look what happens to the wing root, when more blades are added. What effect do you think this has on the structure of the turbine?
One of these has a serious design flaw (problem).
Can you guess which one?
4. Experiment with it!
4. Experiment with it!
Test your propellor through experimentation.
Test your propellor through experimentation.
Attempt the tasks set in the worksheets below.
Click here if you need to make a copy in your Google Drive.
How well did your turbine fare?
How well did your turbine fare?
You should test each of your turbine blade designs by cutting them out and inserting them on top of the motor spindle. When you are happy they are secure (you may want to use a drop of hot-melt glue), you can test its output by connecting it to the 'DataHive'.
The user guide for the DataHive is on the right of this page.
When you've successfully added your blade design onto your turbine and tested it to see what it generates, record your results in the table below.
If you are having trouble viewing the spreadsheet on this page, try opening it full-screen here.
Datahive Guide.pdfClick to view the DataHive user guide full screen.
Compare your own turbine with those you see typically around...
Compare your own turbine with those you see typically around...
Compare your own design to that of a typical wind turbine. How do they compare?
What are their similarities and what are their differences?
Why do wind turbines have such a distinctive design?
Why do wind turbines have such a distinctive design?
Can you see what is happening to the shape of this turbine blade at each of the sections along its length? Why is this?
Why do you think they are so different to aircraft blades?
Diagram showing how airfoil profile, angle of attack and chord length change along the length of a wind turbine blade.
Having more blades makes the turbine very heavy.
As turbines have very large rotor diameters, they must also be lightweight or they might throw themselves apart, they have a high aspect ratio. That means they have a long span but have a short chord length. This means that the chord at the wing root can be quite short, reducing its stress forces.
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