what is the best way to construct a competition windmill?
438034
i have no clue, not sure what this competition would be anyways, might want to include the goal of what the windmil will do, what size is it going to be...\n\ni'd say research with like those windmill powerplants, they are shaped like HUGE propellers i think, i'm sure that would provide alot of torque and be efficent.\n\nthe companies making those windmill powerplants put LOTS of money into research to figure out how they can have their designs make the most electricy, so researching what they have found would probably help your project
941013
Hi. The most efficient way would be to bypass the power to the pump used to raise the water in the first place and use it directly. This would eliminate friction losses and generator losses.
416914
Try to make it at 3 feet.  It will probably be easier.  I'd probably use balsa wood.
755704
How Does the Windmill Work?\n\nWind Energy\nWind is an indirect source of solar energy. It is caused by the uneven heating of the earth by the sun and the resulting redistribution of air to equalize energy in the atmosphere moving air from areas of high pressure to areas of lower pressure. The energy of the wind is transferred to the windmill’s sails where it is harnessed to perform work.\n\nThe cap of the windmill is turned with the winch attached to the bottom of the tail pole until the sails face the direction of the wind. Depending on the wind speed, wind boards are installed on the leading edge of the sails and canvas sail-cloths are unfurled across the sail-frames. The Miller climbs the sail-frame using the sail-bars like rungs of a ladder attaching the canvas to the cleats on the whip. High winds require less open sail than low wind. The Miller determines the amount of sail surface required based on wind speed and partially furls (reefs) the sails as required. The sails catch the wind and turn the wind-shaft.\n\nThe wind-shaft which is connected to the brake-wheel can be stopped with the brake which consists of a band of friction blocks encircling the brake-wheel attached to the brake lever and controlled via a rope near the tail pole attached to the brake lever. The turning brake-wheel turns the wallower connected to the upright shaft on the fifth level. A wood wheel on the fourth level is used to adjust any irregular spinning of the upright shaft.\n\nThe upright shaft is connected to a large gear called the spur-wheel on the third level. Power to run many things in the windmill is drawn from this wheel. Two stone-nuts turned by the spur-wheel drive quant shafts in turn rotating the runner stones; the top stones of the grinding stone pairs. The lower stone of the grinder is the bedstone; it remains stationary. The spur-wheel also turns a third lantern gear (trundle) to drive power transfer belts, pulleys and shafts used to operate the grain elevators, sifters, grain separator, corn sheller and a vacuum system.\n\nHow is Grain Ground into Flour?\nGrain and flour move through the system using grain elevators and gravity. Grain is carried into the windmill and poured into first level hoppers. From there it is cleaned in the basement with the corn sheller and grain separator. Grain elevators carry cleaned grain to the third level hoppers which hold it until it is dropped into the second level grinders. Corn & oats are ground in the west grinder and dropped into a ceiling mounted sifter on the first level. Wheat & rye are ground in the east grinder. The flour drops into an elevator at the ceiling of the first level, is carried back up to a hopper on the third level and dropped into the sifter on the second level. The sifted flour is stored in hoppers suspended from the ceiling on the first level.\n\nInteresting Notes\nThe windmill contains two scales; a floor scale in the windmill and a wagon scale outside the north end of the windmill. The scale inside the windmill can weigh individual bags of grain. The scale outside is used for weighing loaded and unloaded wagons.
847606
A winmill does not generate energy.\nthe country of windmills is Holland
239219
There was a video of the Pink Windmill about 20 years ago, produced by Central Television in Birmingham.  The only thing I can suggest is trying charity shops and the like.  You could always try writing to \n\nITV Central\nDuty Office\nGas Street\nBirmingham\nB1 2JT \n\nor emailing dutyoffice@itv.com
930419
1. Increase the speed of the rotor\n2. Modify the generator by increasing the number of windings on the rotor.\n3. Modify the generator by using stronger fixed magnets.
301934
both ive seen competitions and build them myself
249772
Well first use have to design it. The design dictates the assembly. The first design thats come to my mind is a catameran configuration. It has low drag and a large surface area on the top to put the solar cells. BTW large solar cells = $$$. Anyway an electric trolling motor would probably be the easiest and best bet to convert the electricty generated by the cells to power/boat movement.
783713
the most sway in the heaviest winds is 15 cm\n\nit's designed with the wind in mind . . .
488987
A piece of 3/4 plywood might be a good place to start. Use bolts, u-bolts or dowels to hold the tubes in place long enough to tack the joints. You may be able to use something like B-line also. I used spare pieces of B-line (slotted angle steel) for a few bicycle choppers and sissy bars. Good Luck!
531310
As the diameter of a three-bladed wind turbine increases, its power generation increases exponentially.  The blade diameters are now approaching the length of a football field!  Although a cone (funnel) to concentrate the wind might help it might have to be huge and would have to rotate to always properly align with shifting wind directions.  Also the cone would exhibit some drag that offsets its concentrating effect.  It would be interesting to try it in a small experimental unit but you may need an oversized trailing vane to keep the cone from swinging around in the wind.  This would not be a problem where there is a strong prevailing wind and the cone position could be fixed.  It should be easy to check performance with and without your cone.  Good luck!
786312
Since you're dealing with a variable energy source (wind), you're best bet is to build a DC generator...\n\nIs this a science progect?\n\nA DC Generator is the same machine as a DC motor...  So if you're building something for your home, then just use a DC motor and a simple belt an pulley to reduce the rotational resistance (or load) on the blades, so a slower wind can be used...\n\nFor a Science project...  \nBuid three loops of wire and seperate them 60° on the rotor of the wind mill.  Place a magnet on either side. north to south\nSet up "brushes" (chunks of graphite like pencil lead) on either side so that as the rotor spins with the wind, the same side is going to the same terminal + or - no matter which side of the coil it is.\n\nHave fun with it...
761342
We did something like this in my physics lab with an Atwood machine.  It was a pully with weights hanging from it.  I can't exactly remember how it worked, but maybe this will inspire you.  We also did something with an air track and these two masses colliding and we'd see which one would go in which diretcion.  You need a nearly frictionless surface, like an air hockey table or ice slab.
350522
You'd probably be best off if you checked out the "Sailmakers Apprentice." It's not as simple as just a standard pattern. You'll need to size it to your mast and boom, allow room for the camber, and pay attention to the stress areas...
242556
Get a Small DC Motor with Two Wires, and an LED from Radio Shack, then, figure out a way to put a small fan blade on it, and put a small Electric Fan in front of it, blowing Air onto Your small Fan to turn the Motor to demonstrate how a Windmill could power a Generator, and produce Electricity.
753186
try wind mill its an easiest and coolest