Presentation by Matt Hardy at the Excellence in Elementary Engineering Education (E4) Conference, St. Paul, MN. January 28, 2010

1. Wind Turbinesin the Classroom Hands-On Alternative Energy Engineering Matt Hardy matth@edenpr.orgGrade 3 Teacher, Eden Prairie Schools Joe Rand joe@kidwind.org KidWindProject kidwind.org

2. Agenda Project Background Current state of wind energy (U.S. & Globally) Joe Rand, Kidwind.org Classroom Activities Build the Tower Engineer the Blades Turbines in Tandem (Wind Farm)

3. My Background BA, Computer Science, U of M, Morris Web Development M. Ed., U of M, Twin Cities 3rd Grade, Eden Prairie (6 yrs.)

4. Project Background Go Green/Impact Project “High-Tech Environmental Engineering” 2-3Weeks Hands-on, inquiry based, highly motivational Funded by a generous grant from the Foundation for Eden Prairie School (FEPS) Tied to Magnets and Electricity curriculum “Alternative” energy is becoming mainstream

5. Wind EnergyToday Joe Rand Kidwind Project kidwind.org

6. Energy

8. Where does energy come from?

9. Coal, Natural Gas, Solar, Wind

10. Sun (primary source)

11. Nuclear, geothermal

12. We can harness this energy

14. Electricity Production:Wind Turbines How to “catch” the wind? Blades! Spin a turbine Push electrons Generate electricity!

15. Daily Plan Build the base (tower) Free inquiry: cut/glue/test – does it spin? Controlled design: independent variable Discuss “ideal” designs “Turbines 2.0 ” Redesign, with advice from peers Other testing devices Day 1: Day 2: Day 3-5: Day 6: Day 7-10:

16. Part 1: Builda Tower (1) Generator (1) Hub (5) 90° Fitting (3) T-Fitting (1 Drilled!) (1) 24” Pipe (6) 6” Pipe (1) Coupler (1) 2” Pipe

17. Part 2: BladeDesign Students design blades out of various materials Try to make their rotor turn

18. Measuring Performance Multimeters (volts = speed) LEDs - “The Squid” (volts) Water Pump (power: volts x amps) The true test of a turbine’s utility

19. Test YourBlades Always uncrimp/recrimp hub Don’t press/pull dowels too hard Danger zone = sideways Wear safety goggles when testing Use multimeter to quantify speed

20. ImproveYourBlades SHORTEN THE BLADES - No bigger than fan CHANGE THE PITCH - Try flatter (Twist?) USE FEWER BLADES - 2, 3 or 4 blades. USE LIGHTER MATERIAL - balsa wood rules! SMOOTH SURFACES - watch tape & rough edges FIND MORE WIND - Use a utility fan BLADE SHAPE - Narrow tips

21. Don’tBeADrag

22. Part 3: Wind Farms

23. Polarity Determine positive/negative wires Red/Black don’t matter! Test turbine with multimeter: Red-RedBlack-Black If the voltage reading is positive (no “-” sign), then the red wire is positive Otherwise, the black wire is positive Put a piece of tape on the “+” wire to remember DO NOT CHANGE THE PITCH OF THE BLADES

24. Wait for the Wind Watch the weather forecast for a windy way Head out to the field! Hold onto those blades (hand on the hub)! Arrange the turbines in a line, facing the wind

25. Line Them Up…

26. Connect the Turbines Place a “jumper wire” between each turbine. Start at one end of the line Clip + to - , + to - , + to - , + to - … until you reach the last turbine. Connect a LONG wire from the last turbine’s free wire back toward the first turbine. Connect a multimeter to the first turbine’s free wire and the long wire from the last turbine. Release the hubs. Stand back and admire them!

27. Resources kidwind.org Detailed PVC Turbine Assembly Instructions Blade Design Lesson Plans