So, who wants to help me design a wind turbine?

[DaJe]

So I'm in an engineering class. Our project right now is to build a wind turbine. First we all got into groups and ordered kits for it. These are crappy little kits, but we were to build them and then test them out and then run a bunch of tests and record the results and information. Now soon though, we'll be building our own turbines. Now, we can use the coils and magnets and everything that came with the kits, would could buy mroe coils and magnets or whatever, or we could just use whatever materials we want. I already have all of the tools and materials needed to build it really, from having stuff for case building. I figure we can use some of the aluminum I have for my case.

I'd like you guys to help me though. The other guys in my group don't seem enthusiastic enough or anything like that. So if you guys have any sorts of ideas or information, that'd be great. We could all design it together and then I'll build it. But like, if you have any ideas on what to use, what materials to make it out of, what kind of magnets to get, how to position them, the overall design of the turbine, that would be great. Maybe some links to information about how it all works and stuff like that.


So, anyone here up to helping me out?

[BigJohnson]

I'd love to add what I can, as a former student of engineering. I didnt get far due to lack of funds, but whatever I can do to help. A little more information about it would be great. What the assignment fully entails and such.

[DaJe]

I'm not sure what kind of guidelines there are to it. I think it'll be measured on it's output and everything, and I think I can build it however I want. So I guess let's just think up the mose kick ass design we can.

[Airbozo]

Thoughts;

Ninja style blades with feather plucker's and a microwave dish for frying the birds that fly into the turbine. It could be setup to deposit the fryer fresh birds into some hot wings sauce ready for consumption. ;)

I know, I got a million of em...

I will brainstorm some ideas tonight.

[jdbnsn]

You'll probably learn more in life if you do your own homework.

[DaJe]

It's not homework though, it's the main project for the semester. I'll learn plenty while building it. I just need better people to work with rather than the ones I'm with.

[Spawn-Inc]

i will help you make a wind turbine, at least the power source...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v363/navig/IFX14/IFX14extreme.jpg

[Airbozo]

It's not homework though, it's the main project for the semester. I'll learn plenty while building it. I just need better people to work with rather than the ones I'm with.

That is also part of the assignment... Learning to work with and motivate others.

[DaJe]

Well I'm still going to listen to their ideas if they have any, and build it with them. I just wanted some input from you guys.

[jdbnsn]

Sorry if that sounded condescending, came out a bit snappier than intended. I'm certainly not trying to tell you what to do, I just think there are better ways to get through this assignment rather than asking for help before you have made an earnest attempt on your own. My point was judging from my experience, you'll get the most out of this assignment if you first try to get the group to work as a team, then if they don't care to think for themselves try to design it yourself. Struggle with it for a while and if you get stuck with it post what you have and see if someone can help you solve the particular problem at hand. Then keep working until you have the design nailed with you doing as much of it as possible. This assignment seems geared more towards design than construction. I would just rather see friends gain more knowledge and critical thinking skills. Just my thoughts.

[Ichbin]

If you going for efficiency? or power? Or both?

Whats the MAIN goal?

Is this just to make a turbine? lol

[DaJe]

Well wouldn't it being powerful equate to efficiency? If it's truly efficient, a high power output is a given. I'll see if I can find any information about what our overall goal is.

[Ichbin]

Well, look at smart cars. Energy efficient, not so much powerfull lol.

[Dilphat]

Well, look at smart cars. Energy efficient, not so much powerfull lol.
not to steal the topic. but i saw this one dude in a smart car, omg, it seemed as if he took up both seats of the front!

back to the topic.

well, wat jdbnsn said...is true, i mean it would be better to see and figure out how u want it to be like. then after that post pictures, and we're all here!

ideas:
1. Make it power a treadmill for a hamster! lol

[crenn]

Efficiency is in terms of how much power is used for the system versus the amount of power wasted (aka heat and noise)

[Ichbin]

Yay! now that we know what it is we can actually work with it!

I find it surprising that we, TBCS, didnt know the exact meaning of efficiency like, right away.

Maybe we've got a lil' Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor in all of us!

MORE POWA!

[crenn]

I'm an engineer in training.... you have to maximise efficiency to make sure your project does what it needs, but costing as little as possible. It's all about balance ;)

[DaJe]

Especially when the money for it will be coming from the people in the group.

[Drum Thumper]

Especially when the money for it will be coming from the people in the group.

I would imagine that there is a cap on the dollar amount, right?

Also, bear in mind that for wind turbines to work, they need a minimum amount of air movement. I believe that the turbines in Montana require steady 15 mph winds in order to operate, although some of the newer projects here require ~7 mph winds.

And for those of you who don't know, Montana has one of the largest wind farms in the US. (http://www.alternatives-magazine.com/Thinair.html) Montana is also the 'wind energy capital' of the US.

What I am getting at here is something you're going to hear a lot from all sorts of people in life: Location, Location, Location!