A Suggestion for the Placement of a Wind Farm in Indiana

By: Eric Cale and Derek Lewis

RationaleQuestion: How can we generate electricity

using a “greener” method?Why?

It provides CLEAN energy Climate change and pollution are ongoing and

upcoming problems We should use our natural, renewable resources to

provide cleaner energy

Basic Generators

• All generators the same• Except solar and fuel

cell

• Parts• Rotor• Magnets• Wires

• Source: turbines• Fuel burning• Water flowing• Nuclear heating• Wind coursing

• Non-generator sources• Fuel cell• Photovoltaic cells

• Choose your favorite!Let’s choose wind

power….

Types of Turbine Blades

• Two basic types• Vertical• Horizontal

• Horizontal• More efficient• Taller• Needs adjustment

to direction• More reliable

• Vertical• Easier

maintenance on generator

• Smaller• Slower blades

Horizontal Vertical

Power Generation

Efficiency depends on construction, about 20-40%

Wind SpeedLooking at Indiana….

• Decent wind speed in northern

half

• Largest areas of highest wind

speed are circled.

Wind Speed…

• Is very important for windmills

to work.

Units in Meters per Second

Wind PowerUnits in Watts per Square Meter

Again,

• Decent wind power in northern

half

• Largest areas of highest wind

power are circled.

Wind Power…

• Actually, more important than

speed for the function of

windmills

TerrainLand cover is important: • Developed Land=Bad• Forest=Bad• Crop areas=Less bad

• Programs in place for farmers to use their land

The previously circled areas are circled again to show that land cover-wise, they should work!

PopulationWind farms…

• Take a decent chunk of space

• Are seen as “ugly” by a large population

• Should be placed in largely unpopulated areas.

Current LocationsThese dots represent current wind turbine locations.

It is important not to put them too close together.

It’s also nice to have it a city nearby to send the generated power to.

Proposed Location

Units in Watts per Square Meter

Why here?

Low population

density

High wind

power/speed

Flat/

undeveloped

terrain

No forests

Close to

Frankfort

Workflow/Standards/ObjectivesWorkflow:

Brainstorm energy sources Research energy sources Choose one based on our likings Use research and data to determine best location for a new one

Standards (NGSS) MS-PS 3-1 Energy HS-PS 2-5 Electromagnetism HS-ETS 1-1 Analyze global challenge, design/evaluate a solution

Stanadards (ISTE) 3. Research and information fluency: Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information.

Objectives: Students will be able to:

Use ArcGIS software Identify sources of energy Propose an idea for a new electric generator location.

Referenceshttp

://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/other/23-wind-turbine

http://web.mit.edu/windenergy/windweek/Presentations/Wind%20Energy%20101.pdf

All data from IndianaMap.org