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How to Make Vertical Paper Wind Turbines

A vertical wind turbine is the simplest form of wind turbine. Unlike the common horizontal variety, vertical wind turbines do not need an extra apparatus to keep them pointed into the wind. They have fewer moving parts, and so require less maintenance. They are also capable of functioning effectively very close to the ground, whereas normal wind turbines need tall towers underneath. You can make a vertical wind turbine out of paper as a science fair project, or even just to test some of the principles of their operation.

Things You'll Need

Several sheets of thick construction paper or poster board
Scissors
Ruler or measuring tape
Round wooden dowel, 2 1/2 feet long
Duct tape
Square wooden dowel, 2 feet, 4 inches long
Screws
Screwdriver
1 foot square wooden board
6-inch square dowel 1 inch thick
3-inch stiff wire
4 1-inch-long, 1-inch-wide dowels
Glue
28-gauge magnet wire
Emery board
Black marker
5 wire connectors
LED
4 neodymium magnets

Instructions

- 1
  Cut out two strips of the thick paper that are each 1 foot by 32 inches. These will form the blades of the turbine. Cut out four circles that are each 1 foot in diameter.
- 2
  Cut a hole in the center of each of the circles, using the scissors. Make these holes exactly as wide as the long, round dowel. Insert the dowel through three of the circles so that one rests 1 inch from the top, the next 1 foot below it and the last 1 foot below that. Tape the circles to the dowel.
- 3
  Bend one of the strips of paper you cut into an ̶0;S̶1; shape and tape it between the upper and middle discs on the dowel. Tape it to the dowel itself as well as the discs. Bend the other strip into the same shape and tape it in place between the lower and middle discs. Offset this S by 90 degrees from the other one. This way, the wind will catch it no matter what direction it blows from. Push the last disc onto the dowel, beneath the blades.
- 4
  Screw the long, square dowel to the middle of one side of the square board. Screw the short square dowel to the other end of the long one, so that it forms an inverted ̶0;L̶1; shape.
- 5
  Bend the short piece of wire into a loop and tape it to the end of the short, square dowel. Make sure that the loop is just a little wider than the round dowel.
- 6
  Glue the four short, round dowels around the center of the board. Place them halfway between the center and the edges.
- 7
  Wind 200 turns of the magnet wire around each of the short dowels. Sand the ends of the wires from each coil using the emery board. Mark the end that you finish with the black marker.
- 8
  Attach the marked end of one coil to the unmarked end of the one beside it. Attach the marked end of the second coil to the unmarked end of the third. Attach the marked end of the third to the unmarked end of the fourth. Attach the remaining two ends to the LED. Use the wire connectors to make the connections.
- 9
  Drill a hole halfway through the center of the square board. Set the round dowel in it, and push the top of the round dowel through the wire loop.
- 10
  Glue the four magnets to the underside of the lowest disc. If the paper disc is not strong enough to hold them, cut out more discs until it is thick and rigid enough for the job.
- 11
  Adjust the height of the lowest disc so that the magnets just miss the tops of the coils when the dowel turns. Tape it into place. The wind turbine is now ready to use. When the wind turns the blades, the spinning magnets will induce an electric current in the coils, lighting the LED.

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