For this portfolio activity, you will be collecting, organizing, and analyzing data on the function of different rotor designs of a wind turbine to draw conclusions and make predictions about how wind turbines generate electricity. You will begin by building your own wind turbine and three different rotor designs.
Here is a step-by-step guide on how to conduct this activity:
1. Building the wind turbine:
- Gather materials such as PVC pipes, wooden sticks, a small generator, and plastic sheets for the blades.
- Construct a simple wind turbine by attaching the blades to the PVC pipe and connecting it to the generator.
- Test the wind turbine in a windy area to ensure it is functioning properly.
2. Creating different rotor designs:
- Design and create three different rotor designs using different blade lengths, blade angles, and number of blades.
- Attach each rotor design to the wind turbine and test them in similar wind conditions.
3. Collecting data:
- Measure the wind speed and direction using a wind speed meter.
- Record the electricity generated by each rotor design using a multimeter.
- Collect data on the performance of each rotor design over a period of time.
4. Organizing and analyzing data:
- Organize the data collected into a table or spreadsheet for easy comparison.
- Analyze the data to determine which rotor design generated the most electricity and why.
- Calculate the efficiency of each rotor design based on the electricity generated and wind speed.
5. Drawing conclusions and making predictions:
- Based on your analysis, draw conclusions about the effectiveness of each rotor design in generating electricity.
- Make predictions about how different rotor designs could be optimized for maximum electricity generation in various wind conditions.
- Discuss potential real-world applications and implications of your findings for the design of commercial wind turbines.
By following these steps, you will be able to collect, organize, and analyze data on the function of different rotor designs of a wind turbine and gain valuable insights into how wind turbines generate electricity.