I'VE GOT THE POWER!
Jun. 13th, 2008 10:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pasitheaWOOT!!!! My scale model WORKS!!!!
Scale model, you ask?
http://circle.twu.net/animate/flash/playa_engine.html
My Electric Hula Hoop project!
This will be my first year at Burning Man and we're trying to go as green as possible. So there are three energy sources readily available at BM. Sun, Wind, and People. If I could figure out how to make a portable teeter totter or merry-go-round, I could use that 3rd energy source, but our space will be limited, leaving Sun and Wind as our primary sources of power.
It was with this in mind that I dreamed up the Electric Hula Hoop. A lightweight, portable wind-turbine. It's basically just a giant windsock. Strips of fabric are velcro'd around one hula hoop, given a 180 degree twist and velcro'd to the other hula hoop. A car alternator hangs from the bottom as the weight for the turbine. It hangs loosely between shock-absorber posts so it has about 120 degrees of movement.
The rotation space at the bottom gives it a little ramp-up time to get enough torque to turn start the motor turning in a gusty situation. I am going with a car alternator because they are cheap and plentiful and have built-in safety mechanisms to prevent overcharging the battery. Also, 12V inverters and other dohickeys are similarly cheap and plentiful.
Last night I began cutting and sewing the strips for the full-scale test. It'll be exciting to see how well it performs. :)
Scale model, you ask?
http://circle.twu.net/animate/flash/playa_engine.html
My Electric Hula Hoop project!
This will be my first year at Burning Man and we're trying to go as green as possible. So there are three energy sources readily available at BM. Sun, Wind, and People. If I could figure out how to make a portable teeter totter or merry-go-round, I could use that 3rd energy source, but our space will be limited, leaving Sun and Wind as our primary sources of power.
It was with this in mind that I dreamed up the Electric Hula Hoop. A lightweight, portable wind-turbine. It's basically just a giant windsock. Strips of fabric are velcro'd around one hula hoop, given a 180 degree twist and velcro'd to the other hula hoop. A car alternator hangs from the bottom as the weight for the turbine. It hangs loosely between shock-absorber posts so it has about 120 degrees of movement.
The rotation space at the bottom gives it a little ramp-up time to get enough torque to turn start the motor turning in a gusty situation. I am going with a car alternator because they are cheap and plentiful and have built-in safety mechanisms to prevent overcharging the battery. Also, 12V inverters and other dohickeys are similarly cheap and plentiful.
Last night I began cutting and sewing the strips for the full-scale test. It'll be exciting to see how well it performs. :)
