Any Ideas?

Posted by Anonymous

on Sun, Dec 18 2005 5:21 PM

Ok, here's the thing: We're doing science projects and I need help on an experiment. I'd like to do something on trains, and I was planning on doing something on the steam turbines, but I'm not sure if you can make one of those. No, not a turbine locomotive, a small turbine itself. Any ideas? It can involve model trains as well. thank you

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Posted by ndbprr

on Sun, Dec 18 2005 5:56 PM

I doubt your science teacher would allow suepr heated 300-750# steam in the school to do it properly. Since basically a turbine is a fan you could use a fan and generate electricity with it by blowing on it to light a small bulb.

Posted by rrandb

on Sun, Dec 18 2005 11:44 PM

If you have something like a pinwheel and blow thru a straw to spin it you have a basic example of the principal of the steam turbine. The air in the straw is the steam and the blades of the pinwheel are the turbine. You can make it as complicated as you want. Unfortunately none of the railroads really were able to perfect there steam turbines and the ones they built were all withdrawn long before they were wornout. [2c]

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Dec 19 2005 5:10 AM

You could do how a simple DC motor works... u could even use a model engine for it.

Posted by Anonymous

on Mon, Dec 19 2005 3:52 PM

Hey, that pinwheel thing sounds really, really cool. Do you guys know how I could hook it up to a lightbulb and make power from the wind it makes?

Posted by rrandb

on Tue, Dec 20 2005 12:14 AM

The problem is you are the wind blowing thru the straw. The pinwheel is turned by the wind and does not produce the wind. If you could connect the blabes to a small generator and connect it to a small bulb ( i. e. grain of wheet bulb) you might be able to power it with a blast of air from an airesol can of compressed air. They are used for cleaning computer keyboards etc, etc.. It may be possible to use a small compressor like for inflating a car tire in emergancies to make a steady supply of air.

Posted by ndbprr

on Tue, Dec 20 2005 8:29 AM

I would suggest an easier way since your pinwheel needs to turn a generator to develop electricity. Use two fans. Plug one in so it can generate the airflow. Blow it into a pipe to the other fan which should turn from the flow (they could be face to face with a shroud). The motor on the second fan will generate a small current that should be detectable by placing a voltemeter or a lightbulb attached to the two blades of the plug. You will need the shroud so the air from the first fan has to pass through the second one rather than deflect but something as simple as a piece of paper taped to the safety frames around the blades should suffice. Obviously oscilating fans won't work!