TESTING
35% of the team’s score comes from testing their turbine in a wind tunnel.
Teams are ranked by their energy output and scored accordingly.
• Tested in a 48” x 48” wind tunnel at a wind speed of 3.5-5 m/s
• A trial testing period is available to students so they can tweak
their design before they’re officially tested
• Turbines are attached to a circuit with a 30 ohm resistor to
measure both voltage and amperage
• Energy output data is collected over 60 seconds using a Vernier
data-logging system
JUDGING
65% of the team’s score is attributed to their presentation to a panel of expert judges.
Teams must justify their turbine design, show documentation of their design process, and
demonstrate a knowledge of wind energy subject matter.
• Students must describe their turbine design and why they
chose that design
• Students must provide documentation that reflects their
design process
• Documentation can include video, PowerPoint, tri-fold poster
board display, engineer’s notebooks, reports, etc.
• Students will need to demonstrate a knowledge of concepts
related to wind energy such as the difference between wind
turbines and wind mills and vertical and horizontal turbines,
climate change and the role of wind, and community
controversies of wind