Team: 50
School: Melrose High
Area of Science: Environment
Interim: Our Project:
Our project deals with one of the major iconic images of the American West: The old fashioned windmill pumping water out upon the dusty plains and grasslands. This symbol of the West was and IS vitally important to the agricultural industry of the United States, and is responsible for making some of the most arid and formerly unusable lands able to provide some economic productivity and a livelihood for many ranching families.
However, over the years, there has been a shift in the way that we think about things, and this relic of former years needs some thought given to it as well. More than just with its original design of being able to constantly pump water based upon the whims of the winds, we now need to think about the ecological impacts of water usage, and the economic needs of ranchers who depend upon this machine.
Specifically, our project deals with a means of automatically controlling the operation of a windmill, to be able to start and stop its operation based upon water needs and wind availability. While these may seem of small consequence, they are important in two ways:
1) Continuous operation of a windmill results in the waste of water as overflow after the tank is already filled to capacity. This water is lost from the aquafer and is hard to resupply or replace. Also, the overflow lagoon can be a pest haven or eye-sore.
2) Constant operation of the windmill machinery results in more repair and service work upon the equipment than might be necessary. This is hard and skilled labor that must be provided, so any means of lessening this operational cost is very beneficial.
We intend to study the possible impacts of having a device that automatically shuts a windmill down when its operation is not needed. This will result in the twin returns of less water usage, and lower operating and maintenance costs.
Computational Model:
Our model will be able to incorporate the information we have gathered in our research, and allow us to provide a simulation of a windmill’s operation and resulting workload. While this simulation will need no fancy programming, it will instead be able to help ‘pencil in’ the economic feasibility of the costs of the automated mechanical device.
Several of the variables that we would be having to factor in include: windmill pumping strokes per units of time, water amounts pumped per stroke, wind value effects on both of those factors, the frequency of maintenance, and water overflow values saved.
Progress:
Our team has compiled most of the research and numbers we need in order to complete our model and calculate its estimates. This we obtained mainly from several interviews with local windmill users and experts in the field.
We will now be developing a computer program to help us determine the values involved in our project.
Results Expected:
We expect to determine the tipping point where the economic advantage of the cost of such a machine would make it beneficial for producers to incorporate into their day to day practices. We will be able to show the amount of water saved within the aquifer, and the amount of money saved on maintenance and repair of a rancher’s windmills.
References:
1 – Shattuck Oklahoma Windmill Museum - Information sheets and facts on windmill history in the US.
2 – Interview: Jim Daugherty – Rancher and windmill operator.
3 – Interview: Michael Jacobs – Windmill Repair Service Provider.
4 – NM Wind Charts – NM Wind Energy Council.
5 – Service manual: Aermotor Windmill Company.
Team Members:
Sponsoring Teacher: Alan Daugherty