...and more: Nothing other than hot air?
The sun can heat up air and water, which you already know from the previous sections. Of course, making camping showers and solar balloons won't solve the world's energy problems. If we only could take better advantage of these principles....
3.1 Task:
In the sections "invent" and "explore" you constructed a solar wind turbine. Turbines turn generators for producing electricity. How could a large solar wind turbine be constructed in order to provide an entire city with power?
Create a sketch of this power plant on a learning poster! Explain how it works and which challenges and difficulties that such a project pose to the engineer!
Sources:
Wikipedia: Solar updraft tower
Youtube: djpole76; Solar Tower Energy
... and more: Sun, wind and electricity, how do they come together?
Brigitte passes a wind farm on her vacation. These are built in very windy locations, so that they produce as much energy as possible. The rotors rotate at the same speed and a windsock shows the strength of the wind. Brigitte gazes out the window of the car, until suddenly, she has a crazy idea.
3.2 Task:
Brigitte starts discussing with her father. Before the vacation they had examined solar energy at school. Among other topics they looked at solar updraft towers.
Brigitte explains, "A windfarm is really a solar power plant!". Her father glances back at her with scepticism.
Answer the following questions and attempt to prove Brigitte's theory.
- How is wind created?
- How does a wind turbine work?
- How does a solar updraft power plant work?
- How is Brigitte's claim in some ways true?
Make a poster with the answers!
Sources:
Weatherwizkids.com: Wind
Energy.gov.: How do wind turbines work?
Brynmawr.edu: Elizabeth Gruenstein; Solar Tower Technology
Youtube: FOX 10 Phoenix; Solar tower project could be boost to Arizona border town
Youtube: GrandadIsAnOldMan; Can I build a Solar Updraft Tower?
