CDCA PresentationTiernan Garsys

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.

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)

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.

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.

“Backtracking” Effect

Proposed Change

Results

• Attachment of cover generated significant difference in performance of wind turbines.

• Some orientations increased turbine performance, while others reduced turbine performance.

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).

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.