User:Amiller99/enes100/windturbine

Write problem/project Goal
In the beginning I would like to complete what the previous group was unable to complete, which involves editing the arduino code and have it complete where it can tell the appropriate readings on the computer screen. After that is complete, the plan is to see how much impact the wind turbine can take by connecting it to a car and having the wind blow through it. Then at the end, the major goal is to see if we can use the wind turbine to charge AA batteries.

My First Task
was to make the wind turbine stronger so it wont break again

Summary of actual work over first weekend
i worked on ideas for sources of ways to power the turbine as well as other future uses for the turbine and rebuilt the turbine to be stronger.

Week1 Narrative
i worked on ideas for sources of ways to power the turbine as well as other future uses for the turbine. ideas generated
 * attaching the windturbine to a skateboard and using potential energy of a hill to generate energy through wind power.


 * attach the windturbine to a car and power the fan not only to generate electricity but also if we drive at a steady rate we can use the information gathered to figure out mph (an odometer) of the skateboard.

After these ideas i got ahead of myself and modified the windturbine to fit on my skateboard with how checking how sturdy it was and went out to test it. the vibrations cause the craft to break apart. after that i went back to class with all the pieces and started rebuilding but with my own modifications. i glued Styrofoam to the fan to put space between the fan and cone i noticed during the field test that the fan didnt spin until the cone fell off telling me that the cone was preventing the fan from spinning.

My Second Task
By this week, I plan to have the arduino code ready for demonstration. Also have the modified and stronger wind turbine ready for study. Have the wind turbine strong enough to take power from a skateboard and the damage from a moving car going atleast 20 mph.

Summary of actual work over second weekend
i looked for flaws in my rebuild to make sure its effective.



Week2 Narrative
I looked for flaws in the design i found that -i need to put something that grabs the the structure a holds it against the skateboard. -put more space in between -tap the rim to have a snugger fit cut excess off with a box cutter
 * the turbine bounces to much do to the way its attached to the skateboard.
 * the styrofoam slightly touched the fan as it spins.
 * the cone can easily fall out.
 * the foam blocks some air flow.

My Third task
fix the flaws

Summary of actual work over third weekend
I worked on Issues i found the week before and worked with my team and professor edelen to fix our code.

Week3 Narrative
'Problems we had and i fixed them. -i cut the excess out with a box cutter -I duct taped the rim making it bigger and fit better Fixing the bouncing was not relevant because time restraints making testing on a skateboard irrelevant
 * the styrofoam slightly touched the fan as it spins and the foam blocks some air flow.
 * the cone can easily fall out.
 * the foam blocks some air flow.

My Fourth task
Gather Data

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend
My group and i tested the reading from the turbine and leaf blower and we found problems.

Week4 Narrative
The plan to gather data was simple we place the turbine on the ground, mark distances from the fan in meters then from various distances record the data. When we started to gather data we saw that the numbers jumped around a lot possible problems were the fan bouncing from the fan to much, the air flow wasn't consistant, or there was a back draft that interfered with the data. We moved the turbine to a more open area held it down and tried again. the gaps dropped some but not much. the only time the gaps got significantly smaller was when the distance from the turbine was increased. I think the forces from the leaf blower was to intense and the turbine isnt structurally strong enough to handle the forces on it.