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Electricity generation Big Picture Challenge

Students can build a simple generator of the type used in many wind turbines. Construction is simple, although it may be useful to provide some pre-wound coils for younger or less practically able students. It will also be useful to provide a small piece of wood for students to use as a winding jig. The activity could be extended by building some suitably sized rotor blades, attaching them to the rotor and seeing how the device performs in a windy environment.

After completing this activity students will:

• Understand the basic principal of a generator.
• Understand how the output of a generator can be increased.

Answers for Big picture challenge: Electricity generation

Note: Students can get help by clicking on  or going to the Help manual.

Optimum components for the wind turbine:

• Generator – Beaufort series 1 (sixth one down)
• Rotor – 3 blade, 90 meters (sixth one down))
• Mast – Steel self-erecting hydraulic, 56 meters (fifth one down))

Power output assuming load factor of 35%:

• 805,000 (To calculate, divide the maximum power output per unit (2,300,000) by 100 then multiply by 35. For more information on load factors, see the integrated Help manual.)

Number of units needed to generate 20 MW:

• 25 (To calculate, work out that 20 MW is 20,000,000 W, divide that by your answer to the last question (805,000) then round up to the nearest whole number.