Bicycle Wheel Windmill
Here is something that's fast, easy, and cheap and still works surprisingly well. A few years ago I learned about this while reading a research paper and decided to make one of my own. The video got quite popular, and now after way too long, I've finally gotten around to including it here!
Materials:
- A bicycle wheel that still has spokes (and maybe the hub and bearings)
- Tape
Make It!
If you would like to check out the original research I found, please go here: Bicyle Wheel: A Surprising Wind Turbine
The idea is simple: You use tape, metal strips, fabric etc. in between the spokes of a bike wheel to create blades which will catch the wind. Then you put it somewhere where it will spin! Watch the video for a look at it in action. I'm still looking for peoples ideas on how to use this setup to generate power. I have a few ideas of my own that I haven't had time to fully test. Feel free to message me or comment with any questions or if you have any thoughts about improvements or small scale power generation.
Thats it! Check out the video!