“Wind” It Up

Josh Baxter, John Castleman, John

Hungerford, Zach Pendergrass, and Matt

Shearon

Device Design

5 copper coils 5 copper coils connected together and connected together and attached to the inner attached to the inner wall of PVC Pipe.wall of PVC Pipe.

Fan powered by wind Fan powered by wind attached to magnets attached to magnets running through center running through center of pipe.of pipe.

External base made out External base made out of wood.of wood.

PICTUREPICTURE

Going Green

Windmills are used to create Windmills are used to create a cleaner way to create a cleaner way to create electricity that is electricity that is environmentally friendly.environmentally friendly.

In order to keep with this In order to keep with this theme we created our theme we created our project out of 100 percent project out of 100 percent recycled materials.recycled materials.

Everything from the copper Everything from the copper wire to the fan were taken wire to the fan were taken out of previously discarded out of previously discarded machines or scrap machines or scrap materials.materials.

What Makes a Windmill Work?

Kinetic energy is Kinetic energy is created when wind created when wind forces the fan to move.forces the fan to move.

This kinetic energy then This kinetic energy then uses the magnets uses the magnets spinning within the coils spinning within the coils to convert this kinetic to convert this kinetic energy into electricity.energy into electricity.

Efficiency CalculationsTheoretical:Theoretical:

.5ρAV^3(ρ-density of air, A-cross sectional area,v- wind speed).5ρAV^3(ρ-density of air, A-cross sectional area,v- wind speed)

(.5)(1.184)(.00323)(9.4)^3=1.586 Watts(.5)(1.184)(.00323)(9.4)^3=1.586 Watts

Actual:Actual:

P=IV(I-Current, V-Voltage)P=IV(I-Current, V-Voltage)

P=.047 wattsP=.047 watts

Efficiency:η=(A/T)*100 (η-Efficiency, A-Actual Power, T-Theoretical)Efficiency:η=(A/T)*100 (η-Efficiency, A-Actual Power, T-Theoretical)

=2.8% efficency=2.8% efficency

Design and Construction Issues

Our main problem with our Our main problem with our original device design was original device design was its inefficiency. It was its inefficiency. It was producing close to 10 volts producing close to 10 volts of AC current, but when of AC current, but when connected to the light bulb connected to the light bulb it would light it temporarily it would light it temporarily and then immediately lose and then immediately lose voltage and turn off the voltage and turn off the light.light.

The newer design had The newer design had several issues including several issues including creating the exact number creating the exact number of turns for each coil.of turns for each coil.

Another problem was Another problem was getting the magnets close getting the magnets close enough to the wire.enough to the wire.

The most difficult challenge The most difficult challenge was connecting the wires was connecting the wires without creating too much without creating too much resistance within them.resistance within them.

In conclusion, while seemingly simple, a generator can become a complex device when made without the help of machines. Precision and perseverance play a large role in creating a successful windmill.

It is amazing that the power of wind has been utilized for so long.

Conclusion