(5301) The Wind Scoop
Philip Watson
Lakefield District SS



Abstract


Introducing The Wind Scoop

Humans harnessing wind as a form of energy is hardly a new concept. Rough rafts fitted with sails have been unearthed in the Persian Gulf dating back thousands of years. The windmill was born in the Middle East in the 9th century and was used to grind corn or draw water from a well. Today it is the ancestor of modern wind turbines, an alternative energy source to fossil fuels or nuclear yet certainly not without flaws. The recent green push away from fossil fuels has increased demand for wind turbines, and many are now even found on residential properties. Efficiency is the major issue when it comes to wind turbines. Wind Energy is not ideal for power generation because it is very unreliable. Wind speed is constantly changing, and wind turbines must be enormous to turn powerful generators, creating usable electricity. To move such enormous blades, it takes a high wind speed. Otherwise, the wind turbine does not produce enough usable electricity and demand must be supplemented by higher output from fossil fuel or nuclear power plants, defeating the purpose of shifting to renewable energy.

The global demand for more electricity is very real. It may not be long before the internal combustion engine is obsolete in new cars and we are plugging our electric cars into the wall. Also, as the world population grows and developing countries like China and India experience a growing middle class, the demand on the power grid will increase.

My innovation is an improvement to the efficiency of the wind turbine. Much has been done already to the blade itself, but my innovation is an adaptation of the turbine environment. My project demonstrates Bernoulli s principle; by placing a large cone-shaped device in front of the blade, the initial wind speed increases as it moves into the smaller opening at the other end of the Wind Scoop. This results in the blade whirling faster and an increase in voltage and amperage. This also cuts down on surging power from turbulent fan-sourced wind. The increase in efficiency cuts down on the required materials in the turbine as well as the turbine blades to produce the same power output as a larger turbine. The issue of turning the unit is not a unique or new problem, existing wind turbines pivot to capitalize on the maximum difference in air pressure. An oversized weather vane easily solves the issue.

The purpose of this experiment is to determine the effects of the Wind Scoop on power generation of a wind turbine. How much more efficient is it, and is it cost effective if applied in real life? My hypothesis was that the Wind Scoop would enable the wind turbine to produce more power. Experimentation confirmed my hypothesis. I chose this topic because I am concerned about the human race s future energy needs. This investigation is important because it promotes sustainability through enhanced production of electricity from a renewable resource.