Hands-On Alternative Energy Engineering: Wind Turbines, Hydrogen, and Fuel Cells Go Green Hands-On Alternative Energy Engineering: Wind Turbines, Hydrogen, and Fuel Cells Matt Hardy Grade 4 Teacher Eden Prairie Schools Joe Rand Kidwind Project kidwind.org

Agenda Project Background Current state of wind energy (U.S. & Globally) Joe Rand, Kidwind.org Classroom Activities Energy Production: Wind Turbines Energy Storage: Hydrogen Energy Applications: Fuel Cell Cars

Project Background

Current state of wind energy (U.S. & Globally)

Joe Rand, Kidwind.org

Classroom Activities

Energy Production: Wind Turbines

Energy Storage: Hydrogen

Energy Applications: Fuel Cell Cars

My Background BA, Computer Science, U of M, Morris Web Development M. Ed., U of M, Twin Cities 4th Grade in Eden Prairie (5 yrs.)

BA, Computer Science, U of M, Morris

Web Development

M. Ed., U of M, Twin Cities

4th Grade in Eden Prairie (5 yrs.)

Project Background Go Green Project “ High-Tech Environmental Engineering” 6-8 Weeks 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

Go Green Project

“ High-Tech Environmental Engineering”

6-8 Weeks

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

Wind Energy Today Joe Rand Kidwind Project kidwind.org

Joe Rand

Kidwind Project

kidwind.org

Energy

Energy What is energy ? Where does energy come from? Coal, Natural Gas, Solar, Wind Sun (primary source) Nuclear, geothermal We can harness this energy We can transform it so it’s useful to people

What is energy ?

Where does energy come from?

Coal, Natural Gas, Solar, Wind

Sun (primary source)

Nuclear, geothermal

We can harness this energy

We can transform it so it’s useful to people

Electricity Where does electricity come from? Capture/release energy to make electrons move

Where does electricity come from?

Capture/release energy to make electrons move

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

How to “catch” the wind? Blades!

Spin a turbine

Push electrons

Generate electricity!

Part 1: Blade Design Students design blades out of various materials Try to make their rotor turn

Students design blades out of various materials

Try to make their rotor turn

Daily Plan Free inquiry: cut/glue/test – does it spin? Controlled design: independent variable Discuss “ideal” designs Turbines 2.0 - Redesign, advice from peers Day 1: Day 2: Day 3: Day 4/5:

Free inquiry: cut/glue/test – does it spin?

Controlled design: independent variable

Discuss “ideal” designs

Turbines 2.0 - Redesign, advice from peers

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

Multimeters (volts = speed)

LEDs - “The Squid” (volts)

Water Pump (power: volts x amps)

The true test of a turbine’s utility

Build a Tower! (1) Generator (1) Hub (5) 90° Fitting (3) T-Fitting ( 1 Drilled! ) (1) 24” Pipe (6) 6” Pipe (1) Coupler (1) 2” Pipe

(1) Generator

(1) Hub

(5) 90° Fitting

(3) T-Fitting ( 1 Drilled! )

(1) 24” Pipe

(6) 6” Pipe

(1) Coupler

(1) 2” Pipe

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

Always uncrimp/recrimp hub

Don’t press/pull dowels hard

Danger zone = sideways

Wear safety goggles when testing

Use multimeter to quantify speed

Improve Your Blades 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

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

Don’t Be A Drag

Wind Farms

Part 2: Hydrogen What happens if the wind isn’t blowing? How can we hold on to the energy we harness?

What happens if the wind isn’t blowing?

How can we hold on to the energy we harness?

Electrolysis: Bottling Up Electricity Role play: scientist in the 1800s Scientists try things, see what happens Danger Day: Mix water and electricity… Predictions Procedure Use distilled water Immerse battery leads in water Nothing happens – expectations lowered… Add more “water” – bubbles form!

Role play: scientist in the 1800s

Scientists try things, see what happens

Danger Day: Mix water and electricity…

Predictions

Procedure

Use distilled water

Immerse battery leads in water

Nothing happens – expectations lowered…

Add more “water” – bubbles form!

Electrolysis: Bottling Up Electricity Added “water” containing an electrolyte salt, baking soda, vinegar, etc Was the water boiling? Bathtub scenario  We were splitting H 2 0 apart H 2 and O 2 gas! These gases now store the energy from the electricity. And we can unlock this energy wherever and whenever we want! Even if the wind isn’t blowing.

Added “water” containing an electrolyte

salt, baking soda, vinegar, etc

Was the water boiling?

Bathtub scenario 

We were splitting H 2 0 apart

H 2 and O 2 gas!

These gases now store the energy from the electricity. And we can unlock this energy wherever and whenever we want! Even if the wind isn’t blowing.

Part 3: Fuel Cells Hydrogen stores energy, just like gasoline BMW Liquid Hydrogen V-12 H-Tec Double Reversible Fuel Cell

Hydrogen stores energy, just like gasoline

Fuel Cell Cars Fuel cells don’t burn hydrogen Take in H 2 and O 2 gas from the water that we split apart with electricity Recombines the gases and generates electricity and water This electricity can spin a motor and make a car move!

Fuel cells don’t burn hydrogen

Take in H 2 and O 2 gas from the water that we split apart with electricity

Recombines the gases and generates electricity and water

This electricity can spin a motor and make a car move!

Pollution? The only waste from a fuel cell is pure water You could safely drink the exhaust from a car powered by a fuel cell! Students work with commercial car kits to see fuel cells in action

The only waste from a fuel cell is pure water

You could safely drink the exhaust from a car powered by a fuel cell!

Students work with commercial car kits to see fuel cells in action

Part 4: Automobile Engineering LEGO Cars - Students design their own chassis Powered by “double” fuel cell

LEGO Cars - Students design their own chassis

Powered by “double” fuel cell

Go Green Expo Students participate in LEGO fuel cell car race

Students participate in LEGO fuel cell car race

The Big Picture

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

kidwind.org

Detailed PVC Turbine Assembly Instructions

Blade Design Lesson Plans

fuelcellstore.com