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Forum Index : Windmills : I WON A MEDAL!!!!

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gabymuino

Newbie

Joined: 25/02/2010
Location: United States
Posts: 26
Posted: 02:24pm 12 Apr 2010
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Hello everybody, I’m so happy because on Saturday I won a medal at the Florida Science Olympiad in Orlando Florida USA. My team won First place! So we’re going to represent Florida at The National tournament in Chicago Illinois.

I want to thank to everybody that helped me in this project! Especially to Pete who took his time to teach and explain me how to build a windmill, all the concepts and definitions, all the terms and vocabulary, all the tricks, measurements and good ideas.
Also thanks to Gizmo for creating and maintaining this wonderful website. I love you guys!

Now I’m in “big trouble” I have to design a better blade for Nationals. At Nationals the competition is harder. I don’t have so much time, the competition is going to be on May 22, 2010 and I have to fix everything not only in this event (windmill) but in the other 3 that I’m competing in.

Thanks again everybody
Love you!
Gaby


Working for the medal

Me, my buddy Keyan, & "YOUR MEDAL GUYS"

My team

Another Medal!

Working on another project
Gaby Muino
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 02:34pm 12 Apr 2010
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Hi Gaby,

Congratulations on you win.
I never doubted you wouldnt win with all the hard work and effort you put into this.
It is truly a credit to you of your dedication and just rewards is well deserved.

Whats the criteria for the next mill? (dare i ask)

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
gabymuino

Newbie

Joined: 25/02/2010
Location: United States
Posts: 26
Posted: 02:55pm 12 Apr 2010
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Hehe!!!
You asked...You are on it!!!
Gaby Muino
 
imsmooth

Senior Member

Joined: 07/02/2008
Location: United States
Posts: 214
Posted: 06:06pm 12 Apr 2010
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If you need to design a blade you can check out
Ed Lenz's blade design calculator.

Go to EdLenz

Not that you will carve blades with a chainsaw, but you can check out
blade carving and design

There is some TSR theory in there that might be useful.

Edited by imsmooth 2010-04-14
 
GreenD88

Senior Member

Joined: 19/05/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 104
Posted: 11:02pm 12 Apr 2010
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Congrats.
Licensed Master Plumber / EPA 608 Universal License / 410a Safety Certified / Medical Gas Brazer/Installer
 
Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5124
Posted: 11:13pm 12 Apr 2010
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Well done Gaby.

Make sure you put that medal somewhere safe. Be proud of it. 25 years ago I won a gold medal for my region in Industrial Electronics in the Work Skills Australia competitions. I keep it safe, it reminds me of the fun times I had at the competition.

You will have to post some pictures of the finished project when you can, it will be interresting to see how it looked.

Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
JAQ
 
GreenD88

Senior Member

Joined: 19/05/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 104
Posted: 11:54pm 12 Apr 2010
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Several Years ago In Middle School, I won several First Places in TSA (Technology Student Association). Electrical Applications, Website Design, Problem Solving, And I got a 3rd place in Graphics Design.
Licensed Master Plumber / EPA 608 Universal License / 410a Safety Certified / Medical Gas Brazer/Installer
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 02:01am 13 Apr 2010
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I will clarifire what Gaby needs for a blade design.

The max dia is 250mm (10") it needs to be mounted onto a CD and the hole must not be modified but the rest can.
There is no metal allowed to be used.
The most important part is it will need to work well, in turbulent air as it is tested in front of a fan.

The turbulent air is the killer here as it messes everything up.

Do any of you have ideas for turbulent air blades.

The quest here is for the highest rpm possiable but starting up in turbulent air is a problem.

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
GreenD88

Senior Member

Joined: 19/05/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 104
Posted: 02:59am 13 Apr 2010
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What about something like a paper windmill? Just some images I found on google.

Licensed Master Plumber / EPA 608 Universal License / 410a Safety Certified / Medical Gas Brazer/Installer
 
gabymuino

Newbie

Joined: 25/02/2010
Location: United States
Posts: 26
Posted: 04:04am 13 Apr 2010
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Here you have some pictures of my minimill, to have a better idea as Pete said.
Turbulence is my problem ... When the windmill raise a 1000 mV the blades start to fold. I already tried with some plastic materials but these materials increase the weight and reduce the velocity.



Back

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Gaby Muino
 
9c12m
Newbie

Joined: 04/09/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 28
Posted: 05:09am 13 Apr 2010
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Try smearing cheap superglue on both sides of the paper (1 side at a time and allow for drying) of the area that requires the extra rigidity. But take care as superglue produces dangerous fumes and plastic gloves would be handy as well for skin protection. Experiment first to see how it works for you.
 
KarlJ

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Joined: 19/05/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 1178
Posted: 06:42am 13 Apr 2010
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well done everyone
A gold medal for Pete too perhaps

Karl
Luck favours the well prepared
 
gabymuino

Newbie

Joined: 25/02/2010
Location: United States
Posts: 26
Posted: 12:59am 16 Apr 2010
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Anyone have more ideas... I'm stuck and scare! This is such a big responsability
Gaby Muino
 
Perry

Senior Member

Joined: 19/11/2009
Location:
Posts: 190
Posted: 01:13am 16 Apr 2010
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Hi Gaby,
This is just a thought but it looks like you are testing pretty close to the fan. Turbulence takes on many forms. It may be that this close to the fan there is an angular component to the airflow.
You might want to try to build a rotor that spins the other way. Do a little testing and see if you get better performance if your turbine spins the same direction as the fan or in opposite direction. An easy test with materials you already have.

Perry
 
GreenD88

Senior Member

Joined: 19/05/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 104
Posted: 01:43am 16 Apr 2010
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What you guys think about a wind tunnel for testing instead of just a fan. Mythbusters made one out of a fan and a bunch of straws cut up to make a honeycomb pattern in front of the fan.
Licensed Master Plumber / EPA 608 Universal License / 410a Safety Certified / Medical Gas Brazer/Installer
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 04:15am 16 Apr 2010
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GreenD88

The rules are set and Gaby cant change them.
The choice of fan etc is not hers to make and is all supplied by the judges.

She needs ideas on blade designs to suit the conditions as she cant change the conditions to suit the blades.


Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
grub
Senior Member

Joined: 27/11/2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 169
Posted: 09:56pm 16 Apr 2010
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Fit a shroud (like between a car fan and radiator) with the straws held by the shroud in front of the generator. That may remove the turbulance and concentrate the air flow to the generator blades. Have the shroud larger than the blades. The venturi effect may give a boost to power output.
 
turnymf
Regular Member

Joined: 04/10/2008
Location: Australia
Posts: 84
Posted: 04:35am 20 Apr 2010
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Blade rotation direction may have a part to play if driven by a fan
Did you have a nose cone?
 
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