Kaeo Kekumano

Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
BladeDesign

Background:Thepurposeofthisinvestigationistofindthefastestblademodelthatwill
producethehighestamountofelectricity.Thisisconnectedtorenewableenergybecause
weareexperimentingwithwindtomakeenergy,andsincethereisanalmostaninfinite
supplyofwind,itisthereforeaformofrenewableenergy.Thistypeofenergysimply
meansenergythatiscollectedfromresources,whicharenaturallyreplenished,ona
humantimescale,thatwhenused,willneverdeplete.Therearevariousdifferenttypesof
renewableenergy,suchassunlight,wind,tides,waves,andgeothermalheat.Scientists
havefiguredouthowtoharnesstheirenergythroughmachinesandtoolsmadetotapinto
tothisinfinitesupplyofenergy.Hawaiicanrelatetorenewableenergybecauseweuseit
somuchonourislands.Someexamplesarelikethewindturbinespoweredbyourstrong
tradewindsandthegeothermalactivityaroundvolcanicareaslikebigislandthatare
beingharnessed.Also,solarpanelsthathavebeeninstalledontomanyhomeownersroof
topsinHawaiitotapintosolarenergy,whichisfueledwithourscorchinghotsun.My
hypothesisformyblademodelisthatifweusetheleafshapethatis10cmlongandis
tiltedata10degreeangle,thenitwillproducethehighestamountofelectricity,because
thesemeasurementshavebeenproventobethebestinachievingthehighestamountsof
electricitythroughprevioustrails.Thehistoryofrenewableenergydatesalthoughway
backto5,000BC,wherewindwasusedtopropelboatsdowntheNileRiverandhelped
Persianpumpwaterandgrindgrain.Asdifferentnationsstartedtoharnessthistypeof
energyitbecamemorepopularasitspreadtoEnglandin200BC.TheEuropeans
discoveredhowtoharnesswaterenergythroughwatermills.Thewatermillsdidnot

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
produceelectricity,butinsteadtheywereusedtocompletinglaborioustaskssuchas
crushgrain,tanleather,smeltandshapeiron,sawwood,andmanyotherindustrialjobs.
Toady,renewableenergyhasgonethroughdrasticchangesinadvancementsand
improvementstocreatemoreenergyasefficientlyaspossible.Whiletherearemany
obviousadvantagestothisalternativeformofenergytherealsomanydisadvantages.
Utilizingrenewablecomeswithvariousproblems,andalthoughwemayhavesolved
manyofthem,therearesillnumerousotherobstaclesandquestionsthatpuzzlescientists
tothisday.Someproblemsarethatitisdifficultforrenewableenergytogenerateenough
tosupplythedemandingamountdepletedbyhumans.Also,renewableenergygreatly
reliesonweather,andweathercanbeveryinconsistent,unpredictable,andunreliable.
Forexample,solarpanelswontbeabletomakeasufficientamountofenergyiftheres
nosunorifitsreallycloudy.

Design:
Hypothesis:Myhypothesisformyblademodelisthatifweusetheleaf
shapethatis10cmlongandistiltedata10degreeangle,thenitwill
producethehighestamountofelectricity,becausethesemeasurementshave
beenproventobethebestinachievingthehighestamountsofelectricity
throughprevioustrails.

Materials:
1Windturbine

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
1Fan

Kekumano #56

1Metricstick
1Multimeter
1Protractor
1Dowelthatisaboutfourinchesandtwoofthefourinchesmustbesticking
out.(Premeasured)
1Gluegun
1Gluestick
1Stopwatch
1Safetygoggles
1boxcutter
1Foamboard
1pencil
Crateorboxtostandfanon

Procedure:
1.Gathermaterials
2.Placefanontextbooks/crate.
3.Measure100cmfromthefrontoffantothefrontofthebladehub.Place
tapeondesktoassuredistancedoesnotchange.

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
4.Attachthemultimetertothewindturbinebytakingthewiresthatare
hanging.Assemblebyattachingtheclipstothemultimeter.Turnonmulti
meterswitchbyturningthedialtotheleftlineitupto20volts.
5.Nextselecttheleafshapeand10cmlongbladeandattachtheportionof
thedoweltothehubbyfirstlooseningthescrewonthefrontofthehubthen
placingthedowelintothehole.
6.Usetheprotractortomeasurethatbladeisat10degrees.
7.2Repeatsteps45untilallbladesareattachedthentightenthescrewonthe
frontofthehubbyturningclockwise(donotovertighten).
8.Doublecheckthatyouvekeptthe100cmdistancefromthefrontofthe
screwonthehubtothefrontofthefanandadjustifnecessary.
9.Switchonthemultimeter,checkthatthemultimeterisreadingzero.
10.Turnonthefansettospeedthree.
11.Timewindforoneminutewithstopwatch,thenasyourtimingforone
minuteobservebylookingatthemultimeterandrecordthehighestelectrical
output.

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
Modifications:Iwouldliketosuggestafewmodificationstotheprocedure.
Thefirstmodificationistohaveallthewindmillsworkthesame,because
someofthemareslowerthanothersduetothegearsbeingbumpyand
unplaced.Iwouldalsoliketosuggestusingnewwindhubsfordifferentlab
testsbecausesomehubswouldfalloffduringthetrials.LastlyIwouldlike
tosuggesttomodifythepositioningofthefans,becausethefansindifferent
trialscouldinterferewithanothergroupstest.

DataCollection:
Thethreeindependentvariablesthatarebeingtestedarethelength,angle,
andshapeoftheblade.Forlengthwetesteddifferent3lengths,7.5,15,and30cm.For
ourgroupthelengththatworkedthebestwas7.5cm.Ithinkthatthislengthworkedthe
bestbecauseitwasthelightestduetoitssmallsize,whichmadethewindturbinetospin
easier.
Fortheanglewetested3differentangles,10,25,and60degrees.Forour
grouptheanglethatworkedthebestwas10degrees,becauseitcaughtthewindata
perfectanglewhereitproducedthemostelectricity.Fortheshapewealsotested3

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
differentshapes,leaf,rectangle,andtriangle.Forourgrouptheshapethatworkedbest
wastheleaf,becauseitshapeworkedbestaerodynamicallyincreatingthemostvoltage.

Ifweweretochangeoneoftheindependentvariablesitwouldtheneither

positivelyornegativelyaffecttheelectricaloutput.Thedependentvariableisthevoltage
thatisbeingmeasuredthroughthemultimeter.Thisisthequantitativedatathatshould
bemeasuredandcollectedasevidence.
Somealternativedatathatwecouldexperimentwithisthelengthofthe
dowels.Thedowelsarethesticksthataregluedontoourblades,asatooltohelpthe
bladesconnecttothehubofthewindmill.Ifweweretochangethelengthofthedowel,I
wouldthinkthatthelongerdowelswouldgeneratethemostvoltagebecausetheywould
catchthemostwind,whichwouldpinthewindturbinefaster.

Length
of
Dowels
(cm)

Shap
e of
Blad
e

Electric
al
output
in Volts

Lengt Test
h
duration
Of
(Minute)
blade
(cm)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
setting 1,
2, 3)

Distance
from Hub
(source)
(cm)

Angle
Observations *note
of blade any adjustments,
(degree concerns, or
s)
anything pertaining
to the lab here.

10

leaf

2.40

10

1 minute

100

10

Took 3 sec. to spin

spun clockwise,
common voltage
range was between
2.20 2.30

15

leaf

1.17

10

1 minute

100

10

Took 5 sec. to spin

spun counter
clockwise, common
voltage range was
between 0.50 1.1

20

leaf

0.78

10

1 minute

100

10

Took 4 sec. to spin

spun clockwise,

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56

common voltage
range was between
0.50 0.60
LengthofDowelTest

DataAnalysis:
LengthTest
Shape Electrical Length Test
of
outputin Of
duration
Blade Volts
blade
(Minute)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
setting
1,2,3)

Distance Angleof
fromHub blade
(source)
(degrees)
(cm)

Observations*note
anyadjustments,
concerns,or
anythingpertaining
tothelabhere.

Recta
ngle

7.5

1minute

100cm

45degrees Didntmoveatall,
twitchedalittle,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween0
0

Recta
ngle

1.66

7.5

1minute

100cm

45degrees Didnotmovein
beginning,moved
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
1.301.45

Recta
ngle

1.98

7.5

1minute

100cm

45degrees Took3secondsto
start,spun
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
1.201.50

15

1minute

100cm

45degrees Took3secondsto
start,spun
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
0.300.60

Avera 1.82
ge
Recta
ngle

0.68

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56

Recta
ngle

1.05

15

1minute

100cm

45degrees Took2secondsto
start,spun
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
0.801

Recta
ngle

1.17

15

1minute

100cm

45degrees Startedimmediately,
spunclockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
0.901.10

Avera 0.96
ge
Recta
ngle

0.41

30

1minute

100cm

45degrees Took5secondsto
start,spun
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewas
between0.200.39

Recta
ngle

0.51

30

1minute

100cm

45degrees Took2secondsto
start,spun
clockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
0.300.49

Recta
ngle

0.86

30

1minute

100cm

45degrees Startedimmediately,
spunclockwise,the
commonvoltage
rangewasbetween
0.600.70

Avera 0.593
ge
LengthAnalysis:

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
Whilewetestedourdifferentlengthstherecouldvebeensomeerrorswithinthetrials.
Onepossibleerroristhatallthebladesmightvenotbeenallthesamelength.Atrend
withinthetrialisthatthe7.5cmlongbladeproducedthemostvoltageonaverage.
StatisticalAnalysis:
Inourdatatableitshowsusthattheaveragevoltageofthe7.5cmbladewas1.82,the15
cmbladewas0.96,andthe30cmbladewas0.593.Therangeinthistrialis1.227,and
themedianis0.96.
ShapeTest
Shape
of
Blade

Electrica
loutput
inVolts

Test
duration
(minute
)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
settin
g1,2,
3)

Distanc
efrom
Hub
(source)
(cm)

Angleof
blade
(degrees
)

Observations*noteany
adjustments,concerns,
oranythingpertaining
tothelabhere.

Triangl
e

1.43

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Itdidntstarttoturn
immediately,the
turbinewasshaky,the
commonvoltagelevel
stayedwithintherange
of0.901.20

Triangl
e

1.67

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Theturbinestarted
movingimmediately
butwasntmovingfast,
thecommonvoltage
levelstayedwithinthe
rangeof1.321.50

Triangl
e

2.05

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Itstartedmoving
immediatelyandwas
fastthroughoutthe
trial,thecommon
voltagelevelstayed
withintherangeof1.82
1.90

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Itstartedmoving
slowerthanthetriangle
blade,thecommon
voltagelevelstayed

1.717
Averag
e
Leaf

1.32

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
withintherangeof0.70
0.90,itwasntas
bumpyasthelasttrial

Leaf

2.05

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Startedtomove
immediatelybutwasat
anintermediatespeed
throughoutthetrial,
thecommonvoltage
levelstayedwithinthe
rangeof1.701.80

Leaf

2.07

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Averag
e

1.813

Startedmovingfastand
immediately,wasntas
bumpyastriangle,the
commonvoltagelevel
stayedwithintherange
of1.801.90

Popsicl
e

0.93

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Inthebeginningthe
turbinedidntmovefor
about5sec.,itwas
significantlyslower
thantheotherblades,
morefluidthanthe
othertrials,the
commonvoltagelevel
stayedwithintherange
of0.800.90

Popsicl
e

1.34

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Startedoffmovinga
littlefasterthantrail
onebutwasstillata
slowlevelofspeed,it
wasmorebumpythan
thelasttrial,the
commonvoltagelevel
stayedwithintherange
of0.851

Popsicl
e

1.59

1
minute

100cm

45
degrees

Startedmoving
immediatelyanthe
levelofspeedwasfast,

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
itwasntasbumpyas
thelasttwotrials,the
commonvoltagelevel
stayedwithintherange
of1.301.45

1.287
Averag
e

ShapeAnalysis:
Whilewetestedourdifferentshapestherecouldvebeensomeerrorswithinthetrials.
Onepossibleerroristhatalltheshapesmightvenotbeenallthesamelength.Atrend
withinthetrialisthattheleafshapedbladeproducedthemostvoltageonaverage.
StatisticalAnalysis:
Inourdatatableitshowsusthattheaveragevoltageoftheleafbladewas1.813,the
trianglebladewas1.717,andtherectanglebladewas1.287.Therangeinthistrialis
0.526,andthemedianis1.717.
AngleofBladeTest
Shapeof
Blade

Electrical Test
output
duration
(minute
)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
setting
1,2,3)

Distance Angleof
from
blade
Hub
(degrees)
(source)
(cm)

Oval

2.54

1
minute

100cm

10
degrees

Oval

2.51

1
minute

100cm

25
degrees

Observations
*noteany
adjustments,
concerns,or
anything
pertainingtothe
labhere.

Ittookabout20
sec.fortheblades
tostartmoving,
thecommon
voltagerangeis
Average: between
2.525
2.202.50,spun
counterclockwise
Tookabout2sec
untiltheblades
startedtospin,the
commonvoltage
rangeisbetween
Average: 2.202.50,spun

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
2.353

clockwise

Oval

0.85

1
minute

100cm

60
degrees

Startedtospin
immediately,the
commonvoltage
rangeisbetween
Average: 0.752.50,spun
0.973
counterclockwise

Triangle

1
minute

100cm

10
degrees

Itdidntspinat
all,thecommon
voltagerangeis
between00,
onlynudged
slightlybutnever
fullyrotated

Triangle

2.23

1
minute

100cm

25
degrees

Tookabout2sec
forbladestospin,
thecommon
voltagerangeis
between1.502,
spunclockwise

Triangle

1.06

1
minute

100cm

60
degrees

Startedtospin
immediately,the
commonvoltage
rangeisbetween
0.400.70,spun
counterclockwise

Rectangle

2.51

1
minute

100cm

10
degrees

Ittookabout20
sec.fortheblade
tospin,the
commonvoltage
rangeisbetween
0.751,spun
counterclockwise

Rectangle

2.32

1
minute

100cm

25
degrees

Ittookaround4
secuntilitstarted
tospin,the
commonvoltage
rangeisbetween2

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
2.20

Rectangle
s

1.01

1
minute

100cm

60
degrees

Theblades
immediately,the
commonvoltage
rangeis
between0.751,
spuncounterclock
wise

AngleAnalysis:
Whilewetestedourdifferentshapestherecouldvebeensomeerrorswithinthetrials.
Onepossibleerroristhatalltheanglesmightvenotbeenallthesameangle.Atrend
withinthetrialisthatthe10degreetiltedbladeproducedthemostvoltageonaverage.
StatisticalAnalysis:
Inourdatatableitshowsusthattheaveragevoltageofthe10degreebladewas2.525,
the15degreebladewas2.353,andthe30degreebladewas0.973.Therangeinthistrial
is1.999,andthemedianis2.353.
PrototypeBladeTest
Shap Electrical Length Test
e of
output in Of
duration
Blade Volts
blade (Minute)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
setting
1, 2, 3)

Distance Angle of
from
blade
Hub
(degrees)
(source)
(cm)

Observations
*note any
adjustments,
concerns, or
anything
pertaining to the
lab here.

Leaf

1.57

10

1 minute

100 cm

20
degrees

Took 4 seconds to
spin, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 1.25
1.56

Leaf

1.31

10

1 minute

100 cm

25
degrees

Took 2 seconds to
spin, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 1.15
1.22

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Leaf

0.72

Aver
age

1.82

Leaf

Kekumano #56
10

1 minute

100 cm

35
degrees

Took 3 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 0.60
0.75

2.95

17.5

1 minute

100 cm

20
degrees

Took 1 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 2.50
2.70

Leaf

1.26

17.5

1 minute

100 cm

25
degrees

Took 2 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 1.90
2.11

Leaf

1.43

17.5

1 minute

100 cm

35
degrees

Took 3 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 1 1.20

Aver
age

0.96

Leaf

1.51

20

1 minute

100 cm

20
degrees

Took 3 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 1.30
1.49

Leaf

0.69

20

1 minute

100 cm

25
degrees

Took 2 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16

Kekumano #56
between 0.60
0.70

Leaf

0.50

Aver
age

0.593

20

1 minute

100 cm

35
degrees

Took 2 seconds to
start, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 0.30
0.45

FinalBladeTest
Shap Electrical Length Test
e of
output in Of
duration
Blade Volts
blade (Minute)

Wind
Speed
(Fan
setting
1, 2, 3)

Distance Angle of
from
blade
Hub
(degrees)
(source)
(cm)

Observations
*note any
adjustments,
concerns, or
anything
pertaining to the
lab here.

Leaf

100 cm

Took 4 seconds to
spin, spun
clockwise, the
common voltage
range was
between 2.60
1.90

3.29

10

1 minute

10
degrees

Conclusion:
Myhypothesiswasthatifwemakethebladeintoaleafshape,withthelengthof20cm,
andtheangleof20degrees,thenitwouldproducethehighestelectricaloutputbecause
thesewerethemostsuccessfulmeasurementsinachievingthemostvoltagewhentrialed

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
inpreviousexperiments.Myhypothesiswaswrongbecauseourdatatableshowedusthat
thehighestvoltageproducedwasbythebladethatwasleafedshapeat17.5cmlong,
insteadof20cminlength,at20degrees.Howevertherewererevisionsmadetomy
hypothesis,myrevisedhypothesiswasthat if we use the leaf shape that is 10 cm
long and is tilted at a 10-degree angle, then it will produce the highest
amount of electricity, because these measurements have been proven to be
the best in achieving the highest amounts of electricity through previous
trials. We revised our hypothesis because we noticed not only that our
hypothesis was wrong but also most of our blade prototypes were not
producing an enough amount of significant electricity. If this experiment
were to be continued I would suggest using a different a length of dowels. If
we were to use a longer dowel I would think that it would negatively affect
the voltage because it will slow down the blades due to the excessive weight.
I would also suggest using a different type of material to cut out the final
blade products. If we were to use wood as another material to cut out our
blades, it will decrease the electrical output because the wood would also
slow down the blades. Lastly I would suggest using a different brand of fan,
or type such as a table, pedestal, tower, or floor fan. If we were to use a
pedestal fan I would think it would have a positive affect on the voltage
because the fan is up higher which increases the chance of other resources

Kaeo Kekumano
Olopua #56
Au Koi 3-18-16
Kekumano #56
of wind adding an extra push toward the blades. The information we
collected in this lab is relevant to the real world because other business,
companies, or incoperations that make wind mills for wind farms could use
this information as a guidline, bases, or even as heplful information. For
example, the company Goldwind based in China, could construct their blades
off of our fastest blade model which was the leaf shaped, 10 cm long, and at
a 10 degree angle blade. This could help them make renewable energy more
efficientluy and productively and also make other wind farms or companies
want to but their wind mills, meaing they would get paid more.