Wind Energy Stored In Gravity
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About this print
A mechanical demonstration model designed for STEM education, showing how wind energy can be captured by a fan or turbine and stored as gravitational potential energy through a gear system. It is suited to high school and university classrooms as a hands-on illustration of energy conversion principles. PLA is a practical choice for this type of educational model, as it prints reliably and provides enough rigidity for gears and moving parts.
From the original design page
Original maker's notes
By mikeblakemore on Thingiverse · CC-BY-SA
### Check out some of our other models:
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[ - Animated Humanoid Robot Head](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1037311)
[ - Mini Vertical Wind Turbine](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:971564)
[ - Mike's Spool Holder](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1085724)
[ - The Catfish - A fully working submarine](http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:920376)
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# Wind Energy Stored In Gravity
## The challenge
Design a 3D model that harnesses the power of the wind.
##Technology connections
Energy transfer, movable assemblies.
## The idea
This model demonstrates a fairly new idea that is being used in the field of renewable energy:
**Storing energy from wind and solar in gravity.** This simple solution eliminates the need for expensive and environmentally unfriendly batteries.
We can use generated energy to lift heavy objects and later retrieve the energy using the weight of the lifted object to turn gears on its way back down. A gravity battery is considered full when the heavy object is lifted all the way up.
Real world implementations of this concept usually involve weights that are either lowered into deep holes in the ground or held in above ground silos.
## How it works
Energy is generated using a vertical wind turbine on the lefthand side. There is a movable battery section in the middle that can be adjusted left or right to charge or expend the gravity battery. On the right side, there is a fan that can be used to reproduce the summer breeze after it is caught and stored in the battery.
Multiple copies of the rack gear can be glued together to increase the storage capacity of the battery indefinitely. There is a small release lever on the top left of the movable battery area that keeps the gears moving in one direction.
I’m using 8x7x22mm ball bearings to make all of the parts turn smoothly: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BBGTK6
Video: http://youtu.be/l1YajkmqFpw and https://youtu.be/9IRc9xG2ers
Here is a video of Bill Gates talking about gravity energy storage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH5Lgv-4te8
Check out http://www.gravitybattery.info/ for a great illustration of a proposed home use solution.
**Mini version of the vertical wind turbine:**
http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:971564
Formatting may have been simplified. These are the independent maker's instructions and fitment claims; Hark Tech has not independently verified them.
Printing Wind Energy Stored In Gravity
For Wind Energy Stored In Gravity we would normally reach for PETG — it is tougher and more heat-resistant than PLA, ideal for parts that take load or live somewhere warm. We set the layer height, wall count, infill and supports to suit the model and how you will use it, and those choices are already priced into your instant quote. Want a specific colour or material? Tell us and we will match it where we can.
Model details
| Downloads at source | 46,976 |
|---|---|
| Likes at source | 9,458 |
| Original model | View on Thingiverse |
| Designer | mikeblakemore |
| Licence | CC-BY-SA |
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