Blade Variables and Power Output
Experiment #10 from Renewable Energy with Vernier
- Education Level
- High School
Introduction
The blades of a wind turbine are what capture the kinetic energy of the wind so it can be converted into electrical energy, and therefore, blade design and engineering is one of the most complicated and important aspects of wind turbine technology. Today, engineers are trying to design blades that extract as much energy from the wind as possible throughout a range of wind speeds. They also focus on designing blades that are durable, quiet, and affordable.
Over time, engineers have experimented with many different shapes, designs, materials, and number of blades to find what works best. In this experiment, you will experiment with different blade designs to maximize power output.
Objectives
- Test blade design variables.
- Understand how blade design variables affect power output.
- Evaluate data to determine which blade design is best at generating power.
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment features the following sensors and equipment. Additional equipment may be required.
Ready to Experiment?
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Purchase the Lab Book
This experiment is #10 of Renewable Energy with Vernier. The experiment in the book includes student instructions as well as instructor information for set up, helpful hints, and sample graphs and data.
