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Simulation Online Wind Challenge

Overview
Submit Your Project
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Project Overview

Due to technical issues we’re extending submissions to the Online Challenge through midnight Pacific on Wednesday, April 2nd.

    Every category on this form provides a chance to earn points for the design. Be sure to read the form carefully to prepare before submitting.

    How Do I Participate?

    1. Complete the Simulation Challenge using WhiteBox Learning’s simulation software.
    2. Get some gear: If you need some gear to start building your turbine we would start here.
    3. Download the detailed guidelines.
    4. Submit your physical 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.
    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

                      Hobbits of the Wind

                      Exeter West Green Which, High School Rhode Island · Amy Biagioni
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      Voltage
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      My turbine is a combination of aluminum and 3D printed material. It’s been welded and utilizes 3D constructed parts to support the base! The nacelle was constructed with PLA( 3D) material, and my generator was made with SCH 40 PVC pipe, bar magnets and more 3D material. My 3 blades were designed in White-Box and made from 3D printed material to and are perfectly symmetrical to each other with a twist of 33.50 degrees!

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                      Dawg Lovers

                      The Hockaday School · Kelsey Barnes
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      706.5
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      6
                      Voltage
                      1.49
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      Our project was to see which number of blades would create the most energy. We test two, three, and four blades, with constants of pitch and resistance.

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                      Hockaday- Miller 1

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      1962.5
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      1.567
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We decided that we were going to vary the pitch of our blades. This was in order to see which blade angle was the most efficient for generating power. We found that a lower pitch was best.

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                      Hockaday – Miller 5

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      3018
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      1.8343
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      we decided that we are going to test our independent variable, the number of blades, vs. the dependent variable, power. We realized that the more blades on the hub, the more power it has.

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                      the tater-tot

                      Hockaday · Kelsey Barnes
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      1963.495408
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      6
                      Voltage
                      2.064
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      This is a six-blade turbine, with curved blades. I built this out of chipboard and cardboard. I made it to test the changes in energy production by changing the number of blades.

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                      Hockaday-Miller 11

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      2461.76
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      1.09
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      Our project has wide angular blades. They are not that long, but they generate energy. The blades have a unique shape and angle that allows them to glide through the wind.

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                      Hockaday- Miller 7

                      The Hockaday School · Ms. Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      3846.5
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      0.9303
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      In our experiment we tested number of blades and power. Our best amount of blades is 6 and 3 also worked well. Our blades were very heavy so if we could go back we would make them less heavy.

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                      the mangos

                      The Hockaday School · Mrs. Barnes
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      1385
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      6
                      Voltage
                      2.232
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We built a wind turbine and collected data changing the amount of blades. We used and measured how much energy we produced. We found out that 3 blades works the best.

                      Image

                      Broken Pencils

                      The Hockaday School · Kelsey Barnes
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      452.4
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      6
                      Voltage
                      0.804
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We made a wind turbine rotor, and we were testing energy and blades.
                      This project required us to dig deeper into the understanding of how wind would hit the blades, and how we can react to different wind directions. This project has also allowed our group to understand how wind can create high amounts of energy.

                      Revenge of the Soup

                      Exeter-West Greenwich Senior High School · Amy Biagioni-Chmura
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      2.0
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      5809.93
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      39.87
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We’re Revenge of the Soup! We have a direct drive homemade axial flux generator, an RC helicopter rotor for easy blade angle adjustment, and electrical boxes for our turbine to perform as best it can. We hope to compete in the Collegiate Wind Competition next year, when we’re high school seniors.

                      Project Images
                      ImageImageImageImageImage
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                      Manchester Shorebots

                      Manchester Township Middle School · Maura Simister
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      8
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      4537
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      130
                      Voltage
                      58
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      The blade profile of my design can yield nearly 800 kilowatt hours annually! The design, in fact, helped my team score 2 more points in the actual competition.

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                      Hockaday – Miller 4

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      4300.84
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      1.0347
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      Our wind turbine Gustavo is 10 inches long, with blades with perimeters of 25 inches. We decided to test our independent variable, number of blades (2, 3, and 4) to get our dependent variable, energy in joules.

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                      Hockaday – Miller 10

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      11863.9
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      0.987
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      Our turbine is made with cardboard and glued through hot glue and wooden sticks. It employs a pitch of 30 on each blade and is thoughtfully cut out with a rounded top. There are 6 blades in total, each symmetrical with each other.

                      Project Images
                      ImageImage
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                      Hockaday – Miller 12

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      2461.76
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      11
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We experimented measuring the amount of energy produced while changing the number of blades. We learned that four blades is most beneficial to making the most energy.

                      Image

                      Hockaday – Miller 8

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      2640.74
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      2
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      In our KidWind wind turbine design we worked through adversity to tweak our project depending on the obstacles we went through. Our independent variable was pitch and our dependent variable was energy, this mattered because it would affect the rest of our project. Pitch plays a big part in the efficiency of a wind turbine because adjusting the pitch would effect the energy produced.

                      Image

                      Hockaday – Miller 2

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      2
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      3215.36
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      0.188
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      In the Wind turbine KidKind project me and my partner created wind turbine blades. We then tested different pitches on our blades. After that we recorded our data and graphed it.

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                      Hockaday – Miller 3

                      The Hockaday School · Ms. Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      2826
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      0.142
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      The independent variable of this experiment is the pitch. The dependent variable is the power. We tried 10, 20, and 30 degrees.

                      Image

                      Hockaday – Miller 5

                      The Hockaday School · Mackenzie Miller
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      3
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      3018
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      30
                      Voltage
                      1.8343
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      we decided that we are going to test our independent variable, the number of blades, vs. the dependent variable, power. We realized that the more blades on the hub, the more power it has.

                      Image

                      Broken Pencils

                      The Hockaday School · Kelsey Barnes
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      452.4
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      6
                      Voltage
                      0.804
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview

                      We made a wind turbine rotor, and we were testing energy and blades.
                      This project required us to dig deeper into the understanding of how wind would hit the blades, and how we can react to different wind directions. This project has also allowed our group to understand how wind can create high amounts of energy.

                      Winders

                      Exeter West Green Which, High School Rhode Island · Amy Biagioni
                      Key Metrics
                      Wind Speed (m/s)
                      Rotor Swept Area (cm2)
                      Resistor Value (ohms)
                      Voltage
                      See the Project Solo
                      Read more here

                      Project Overview