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Online Wind Turbine Challenge

Overview
Submit Your Project
View Projects

Project Overview

Using your knowledge of how wind energy works, your team needs to build a small turbine to produce as much power as possible! Think about the best construction techniques and the most innovative design to make it operate. Entries will be evaluated based on performance as well as creativity, quality, and demonstrated knowledge. You can check for confirmation that you submitted your project by looking at the View Projects section of the Online Wind Challenge page.

While the Online Challenges have traditionally been monthly, evaluations will now be quarterly. After the end of each cycle, we will review the projects submitted and select a few of our favorites to feature on the website.

Submissions will be judged by the KidWind team and winners will be selected on a quarterly basis. Winners receive prizes and are invited to participate in the World KidWind Challenge, a large and prestigious in-person event, hosted at a conference center in a different state every year. Projects will be grouped for evaluation based on the following time frames:

  • Projects submitted by November 1st for Quarter 1
  • Projects submitted by February 1st for Quarter 2
  • Projects submitted by April 1st for Quarter 3
  • Projects submitted by August 1st for Quarter 4.

If your team is chosen as a winner, a KidWind staff member will contact the coach. Winners selected from Quarters 1-3 (August 1st through April 1st) will be invited to a World KidWind Challenge in 2025.

How Do I Participate?

  1. Get some gear: If you need some gear to start building your turbine we would start here.
  2. Download the detailed rules.
  3. Submit your project: Fill out the fields on the online submission form. Make sure to take pictures of your project and process!  We will ask you to submit a photo of your entire turbine taken straight on, featuring the blades and hub. Any other photos of blades close up, different angles, etc. can be added as well when you submit your project.

Resources

  • Anemometers: One of the most important variables we use to calculate your efficiency and performance is wind speed. While we have created the Wind Speed Cheat Sheet, as you can imagine this is pretty inaccurate! To make improve the data we get consider getting an inexpensive anemometer. This will greatly improve the data you provide!
  • Wind speed cheat sheet: Not sure what the wind speed of your fan is? Use this cheat sheet to find out the speeds of common household box fans.
  • Performance Calculator: Use this handy tool to test your device’s performance before you submit to the Online Challenge! The electrical output capability will be the most helpful for the Wind Turbine Design Challenge.

Submit Your Project

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This will be public in the View Projects section.
This will be public in the View Projects section.
This will be publicly shared.
Show off your project! Be sure we can see the whole thing, including any special or unique details. This image will be public in the View Projects section.
Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 5 MB.
In 3 short sentences describe the project. This will be public in the View Projects section.
These images will be public in the View Projects section.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 5 MB.

    Design Process and Reporting

    Share schematics for any 3-D printed parts if applicable.
    Accepted file types: pdf, txt, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.
    Documentation is important. This can be used to tell the origin story of the design idea by explaining why the team used certain materials and technologies. Explain why the team shaped, designed, and organized the blades the way they did. Documentation can also show design iterations and results throughout the project with the different variables and conditions the device was tested under and highlight aspects specific to the design. This can be done through a Powerpoint presentation, narrative, or design notebooks for example.
    Accepted file types: pdf, txt, doc, docx, Max. file size: 50 MB.
    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.
    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

    The Turbine, blades and all accessories must fit within a 4’’ width, 4’ length, 4’ height space.
    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 will be publicly shared.
    This value must be a whole number. Do not use decimals or spaces. Need help? Check out this guide. This will be publicly shared.
    Need help calculating voltage? Check out this guide. This will be publicly shared.
    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.

                Wind General Information

                1 image using a ruler to show the measurement from the tip of the blade to the center of the hub. This image will be used to check the Rotor Swept Area by showing the rotor dimension.
                Drop files here or
                Accepted file types: jpg, png, heic, jpeg, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 1.

                  Wind Narrative

                  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
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                      The Wind Gladiators

                      Stetson Middle School · Mr. Paris
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      490.625
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      255
                      Voltage
                      10.87
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      Our project consists of 3 cardboard turbines which are attached to the Kid Wind generator. We then use a fan and angle our blades to get the maximum output voltage.

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                      The blade cutters

                      WCASD · Mr.Paris
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      615
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      249
                      Voltage
                      5.61
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We were inspired by a fan. We engineered our blades like fan blades but added some of our own design into it too. We cooperated with each other.

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                      Susie’s team

                      WCASD · Mr. Paris
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      530
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      Voltage
                      3
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      My project is a wind blower. This creates win.

                      Coach Krysta

                      Cordova School District · Krysta Williams
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      455.8
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      This is a prototype created through a training program to familiarize coaches with Alaska's Clean Energy Olympics program.

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                      Diva’s

                      Logan High School · Lynette Ehm
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      2922.47
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      3.07
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      The team started out using a bunch of tiny blades which failed. Then the team switched to Swedish candy fish blades which worked better. The team experimented with different pitches and decided on 10 degrees.

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                      Gale force one

                      Benicia High School · Andreas Kaiser
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      12791
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      4.9
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      This project was very hard to complete. It required extraordinary dedication from my team, as well as a lot of outside research on airfoil design. In the end, we finalized our design and beefed up the components to handle the excess stress.

                      Project Images
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                      Teacher Project

                      HV Coffman Cove · Mackenzie Slayton
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      Voltage
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      This is a Kindwind windmill, built by the teacher for the class. I am super excited to have my students start building these and experimenting with all the aspects of the windmill! Thank you for the opportunity for my class to join this!

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                      Blossom

                      Bobby Duke Middle School · Edwin Detoya
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      7703
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      4.7
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      This is a wind turbine prototype that aims to combine proven research-based features with twists of innovation. The project used PVC blades that are airfoiled and spaced at 10 degree pitch The hub is custom-made using aluminum material. The base used PVC pipes and structured to attain optimum stability. The gearbox used a 32 to 1 compound gear ratio. Below is a video link:

                      Project Images
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                      Green Energy

                      Bobby Duke Middle School · Edwin Detoya
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      6933
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      5.69
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      The objective of the project is to design and build a wind turbine prototype that generates the most power. The turbine used PVC blinds for blades and PVC pipes for the base. The gear mechanism uses a compound gear ratio of 32 to 1, which means that as the driver gear spins, the final driven gear spins 32 times faster thereby generating more power. After a series of iterations, below is a video of the final project (copy paste to view):

                      Project Images
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