Transcript turbines - jehs

Title: Which type of blade shape
would produce the greatest amount
of energy for a wind turbine?
Nancy Pham
Physics
3rd period
Background Research
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In times like these, when society is solely
dependent on depleting non-renewable resources,
scientists must turn to a different way to produce
energy with easier renewable resources. Today,
there are many things that may replace energy
derived from non renewable resources. Today,
there are biofuel, geothermal energy,
hydroelectricity, solar energy, tidal power, wave
power, and wind power. Biofuel is fuel that is
made from biomass, rather than non renewable
resources such as fossil fuels. Standing as the
opponent against gasoline, biodiesel is produced
from various things such as animal fat or
vegetable oils.
Background Research cont.
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Bioethanol is also another component dealing
with biofuel. Bioethanol is produced with the
fermenting of sugars found in plants. Geothermal
energy is when heat in the form of steam is
collected and converted into energy.
Hydroelectricity, tidal power, and wave power all
deal with water and the power of the currents
that help produce energy. Another form is solar
energy. This is when the sun’s rays are captured
and turned into energy. The last is wind power.
This is when wind and the force it produces are
harnessed and is converted into energy. Wind
power shall be the main focus of the research.
Background Research cont.
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Dating when humans first used wind for their needs is more
difficult than imagined. People have used it ever since they
discovered that with sails, wind can take ships anywhere. This can
be dated back to the Egyptians. From then on, there are wind
powered machines whose purpose was to pump water and irrigate.
A major invention was the invention of the windmill. The Chinese
were said to be responsible for that momentous creation. The wind
mills were mainly used for farming purposes in the past. Starting in
the nineteenth century, wind mills were used for electricity.The
first person to use wind power for electricity was Jame Blyth of
Scotland, 1887. From then on, advancements with wind mills
happened. Wind mills turned into wind turbines with blades of
many shapes as to see which is more effective.
Background Research cont.
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Due to the decreasing supply of fossil fuels,
wind power as an alternative power source.
This is why the use of wind turbine
generators is increasing. “The reason for
focusing on wind as an alternative energy is
because this form of energy can be founded
in most areas around the country, and even
the world (Cross, 289)”. Wind speeds are
categorized on a scale of one to seven.
However, wind speeds considered as three
and up, are able to be converted into energy.
Introduction
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The experiment assesses the effect of
different blade shapes on the amount of
electricity measured, in voltages, that can be
produced. The purpose of this experiment is
to discover/test a blade shape that might
help produce electricity easier and more
efficient. This experiment is important
because it may improve the use of wind
power generators as an alternative to the
burning of depleting fossil fuels.
Experimental Design Diagram
IV: Shape of Blade
Levels:
Flat
Slightly Curved
Triangular
Trials:
3
3
3
DV: Amount of energy produced in
C: Built wind turbine,
voltages
materials used to make turbine,
&
hair dryer
Materials
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2 Clear plastic water bottle,
1.5L size
Voltage meter
Electrical tape
Washers
Magnets
Kabob skewer
Cardboard
Magnetic wire
Candle
Lighter
Hair blowdryer
Safety goggles
Heat resistance gloves
Procedures
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Cut the cardboard to form a box. The measurements will be 4x4, 1½ x 1½, 4x4, 1½ x
1½ , and 4x4.
Poke a hole through three sides of the box. Be sure to center the hole.
With the skewer or a pen, swirl it around to widen the hole. This is so the skewer can
turn easily.
Fold the cardboard to form a box.
Put the skewer through the holes.
Now to assemble the skewer. Attach two magnets to the skewer to where it
‘sandwiches’ the skewer and this is in the middle of the box.
Add washers to the middle of the magnets to support the magnets.
Now take the magnetic wire and tape it to a spot on the box.
Now wrap the wire around the box about 200 complete turns of wire.
Now make the blades by measuring it on the plastic bottles and cutting them out.
To make the slightly curved blade, light a candle and use the heat from the candle to
gradually melt the plastic a little bit to twist it.
Now attach the blade to the skewer.
Attach the voltage meter to the magnetic wire.
Observe and record the amount of voltages produced.
Data Table
Type of Design Amount of
electricity
produced in
voltages
Trial 1
Trial 2
Trial 3
Mean
Flat
6
7
6
6.3
Slightly Curved
6
6
7
6.7
Triangular
9
10
10
9.7
Data Analysis
The date provided on the graph above shows that the most voltages
produced from the triangular blade design. The flat blade design
produced the least voltages. In this experiment, the independent
variable is the various types of blade designs: the flat blade, the slightly
curved blade, and the triangular blade. The dependent variable is the
amount of voltages produced from each blade when wind was blown at
it. The central tendency of the graph is the mean or average of the three
trials.
Pictures
Conclusion
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The purpose of this experiment was to determine if
different types of blade designs would affect the
amount of electricity produced in voltages. The design
that proved to be the most effective in producing
voltages was the triangular blade. The average or
mean was used for each trial as a measurement of
central tendency. The flat blade received an average of
6.3. The slightly curved blade received an average of
6.7. The triangular blade received an average of 9.7.
The data supported the hypothesis in that the
triangular blade produced the most voltages. This
blade was the one that worked the best due to its
shape and light weight. A human error could have
occurred if the student made an incorrect
measurement. For another experiment, the student
can test how this were to apply to water.
Works Cited
Cross, Mike. Wind Power. New York City, NY:
Glouchester Press, 1985.
 Gipe, Paul. Wind Energy Basics. White River
Junction,VT: Chelsea Green Company, 1999.
 <http://www.awea.org/faq/rsdntq9.html>
<http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_win
d.shtml>
 <http://www.windea.org/home/images/stones/w
orldwindenerbyreport200...s.pdf>
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