Image

Ohio Energy Project Secondary STEM Design Challenge

Overview
Submit Your Project
View Projects

Project Overview

In this STEM Design Challenge, students are tasked with designing and constructing their own blades using any available or provided materials. To evaluate their creations, all students will use a fan or wind tunnel as a consistent power source, with everyone standing the same distance from it and using the fan set to the same setting. Throughout the challenge, students will conduct multiple trials to test their blades’ performance and will have the chance to redesign their blades based on their findings.

Student Award

1. Engineering Award- For the best Re-design 2. Master Architect- For the best blade design 3. Innovation Award- For the most innovative design.

Submit Your Project

Hidden
Hidden
Show off your project! Be sure we can see the whole thing, including any special or unique details.
Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 5 MB.
Describe your project in about 3 short sentences
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 5 MB.

    Design Process and Reporting

    Accepted file types: pdf, txt, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.
    Accepted file types: pdf, txt, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.
    Accepted file types: pdf, txt, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.
    Accepted file types: pdf, pptx, Max. file size: 50 MB.

    Turbine Performance Fields

    Need help? See common fans (on the highest setting) and corresponding wind velocities on this cheat sheet.
    Need help? Check out this calculation guide. The typical range for this value is 1000 cm2 - 8000 cm2.
    This value must be a whole number. Do not use decimals or spaces. Need help? Check out this guide.
    Need help calculating voltage? Check out this guide.
    Wind Load Chart
    Load
    Qty
    Notes
     

    Solar Home General Information

    1 image of the surrounding environment
    Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 1.

      Solar Home Narrative

      The Solar Home and all accessories must fit within a 2’ width, 2’ length, 1’ height space.
      Describe in two sentences or less what the solar home is (that could be its name, materials, shape, general purpose) what inhabits it, the environment it’s in, and its general purpose.

      For example: The LoneStar Space Garden provides astronauts in space an Earth-like sanctuary and food garden with plants, waterfalls, insects, and animals, all made possible by solar power.
      Set the stage by briefly describing the environment and why the selected environment was a good place for the solar home. Introduce the inhabitants and their wants and needs. Talk about the solar powered features and how those features address the wants and needs of the inhabitants.
      1 image of the surrounding environment
      Drop files here or
      Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 1.
        1 image that shows the inhabitants
        Drop files here or
        Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 1.
          1-3 images that zoom in on the solar powered features.
          Drop files here or
          Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 3.
            Tell the origin story of the design idea by explaining why the team used certain materials and technologies. How does the team think the solar home they created is inspired by real world problems? Explain why the team shaped, designed, and organized the solar home in response to its environmental factors. Describe how the needs, health, entertainment, and comfort of the inhabitants were considered.
            1-3 images that highlight the solar home design
            Drop files here or
            Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 3.
              Explain how the team considered the social and cultural connections of the inhabitants when making the solar home. Describe how the solar home is “green,” and how it has a low impact on its environment.
              1-3 images that focus on how the solar home is “green,” optional photo of how the design considers social and cultural connections.
              Drop files here or
              Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 3.
                Team members describe their roles and how they worked within the team. Each team member lists some part of the process, design, or build of the solar home that they really enjoyed doing.

                Additional Files

                In the solar panel schematic, include each solar powered circuit's configuration (parallel/series), and a label to what the terminals connect to. Label each panel's rated voltage and current, the length, width, and area of each solar panel, and each configurations voltage/current/wattage total. This Schematic is different from the wiring diagram because it only includes the solar panel arrangement, not the rest of the circuit. For example, if the team has up to three circuits that are powered by solar, they will need to provide three solar panel schematics.
                Drop files here or
                Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.
                  Each circuit requires a separate wiring diagram. Teams must provide a wiring diagram for no more than three circuits. Each wiring diagram must include a symbols key. The wiring diagram should have the symbols labeled for all the electrical parts of a circuit, and every emergency switch clearly labeled as such in the diagram. If using power storage, teams will label how the solar panels are charging the power storage and how the storage is powering the loads on the device. Solar Home Elementary 4th-5th Division can create a hand drawn wiring diagram. For Solar Home 6th-8th and Solar Smart Home 9th-12th a printout is required and using a wiring diagram application is optional. If the wiring diagram is complicated, there is no need to fit it into a 8.5” x 11” paper size. The team can expand their diagram onto other pages as long as the continuation is clearly labeled.
                  Drop files here or
                  Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 10.
                    Documentation is important, please provide where your code was sourced from and describe how each resource was used. You do not need to include the code.
                    Materials Used
                    Material
                    How was the material used in the build?
                    Is the material recycled, found, or purchased?
                    If purchased, how much did it cost? If free, put a zero
                     
                    Project Submissions
                    Image

                    Team Riding With the Wind

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    5679
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.43
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Kristen, Miley, and Jenna are Riding the Wind with their project. This tri-blade square design is ready to cook the competition. Did their numbers help them bring home the win?

                    Image

                    La Ciudad de Viento

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    1661.9
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.65
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Cainan and Olivia are seen here showing off 'La Ciudad de Viento" [The City of Wind]. Their project features an offset square design pitched to perfection. Compact and powerful, their design is changing the game.

                    Image

                    The Solo Windmill

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    10737.1
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.42
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Introducing Eric and The Solo Windmill. This dual blade design had maximum surface area in mind when constructed. The numbers don't lie, see for yourself…………

                    Image

                    The Wind Eaters

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    3117.25
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.31
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Nate, Nolan, and Reese, founding members of Team The Wind Eaters, brought their wind turbine to the testing table looking for big numbers! Their tri-blade, knife design was stylish and ready to wield some fast speeds. Were they able to chop up the competition?

                    Project Images
                    Image
                    Image

                    The Clouds

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    10747
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.40
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Addisyn and Paige [Team The Clouds] were focused on testing how the number of blades affected the wind turbine's performance. They decided to go with your 'Classic Corn Dog' blade shape for their experimental trials. Did their design hit the mark, or did it just leave us hungry for more?

                    Project Images
                    Image
                    Image

                    The Wacky Whirrigigs

                    Ansonia High School · Mr. Wright
                    Key Metrics
                    Wind Speed (m/s)
                    6
                    Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                    1963.4
                    Resistor Value (ohms)
                    30
                    Voltage
                    0.63
                    See the Project Solo
                    Read more here

                    Project Overview

                    Introducing the team of Matt and Maecy and the Wacky Whirrigigs! For their project, they decided to create fan blades mimicking their favorite food……..pizza slices! Check out their data to see how pizza shaped blades might be the key to unlocking more power for the future!