CDCA Presentation

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CDCA Presentation

• Tiernan Garsys

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Background

• Sophomore at AMHS (Provided with Rapid
  Prototyping Machine by CDCA in 2008)
• Required to complete Science Fair project chose
  to do project in field of engineering.
• Interested in alternative energy, especially wind
  power.

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Research

• Required to perform research on topic prior to
  experimentation.
• Interested in differences between Vertical Axis
  Wind Turbines (VAWTs) and Horizontal Axis Wind
  Turbines (HAWTs)

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HAWTs

• Generally capable of producing more energy than
  VAWTs, due both to tower height and lack of
  backtracking
• Direction and blade pitch can be changed for
  optimum efficiency.
• Relatively difficult to transport, install, and
  maintain.
• Require an additional yaw mechanism to
  consistently face wind.

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VAWTs

• Relatively simple to transport, install, and
  maintain.
• Generally more versatile in terms of placement,
  due both to smaller nature and ability to accept
  wind from any direction.
• Generally unable to produce as much energy as
  HAWTs, due to backtracking effect and lower
  placement to ground.

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Backtracking Effect
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Proposed Change
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Results

• Attachment of cover generated significant
  difference in performance of wind turbines.
• Some orientations increased turbine performance,
  while others reduced turbine performance.

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Conclusions

• Increases efficiency in a small spectrum of wind
  directions, while hindering efficiency in other
  orientations.
• Possibly viable for use in areas where wind
  direction is fairly certain (where VAWTs would
  otherwise be used).

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Contribution of Rapid Prototyping Machine

• Allowed for quick, precise construction of models
  for experimentation.
• Facilitated design on the computer, drastically
  reducing trial-and-error of fabrication process.