Squeezing Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine Model

This model demonstrates that the surface of the Twisted Savonius wind turbine's blades are geometrically squeezed as the twist angle is increased and the parametric position is moved up and down the turbine. Learn more about the squeeze. Learn more about the Geometry of the Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine project. Note: the calculated radius in this particular example cannot be accurate because the model is a 2d geometric approximation of the real 3d shape. Accurate calculations are made from the top view model, which is visually more difficult to comprehend. The calculation here still varies accurately as the twist angle is changed and the position is moved up and down the turbine, but it also varies as the rotation is changed (which shouldn't happen).

Tags: Twisted-Savonius, Wind-Turbine, Pseudo-3d, Model, Squeeze, Geometric, Real-World, Ellipses, Arcs, Loci, Parametric/Proportional

Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine Full Geometric Model (without traces/surfaces)

The Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine has promising applications for rooftop usage, but its high cost has kept it unfeasible for widespread adoption. The Twisted Savonius Geometric Modeling project explored the geometric properties of the turbine's shape, and proposed a more efficient method of construction and geometric design as a result. This is the complete side view "3d" model of the turbine. It models an extremely 3-dimensional shape by using ellipses to represent tilted circles. Changing X changes the rotation of the turbine (in operation). Theta represents the twist angle between the top and the bottom of the turbine. T controls the parametric location of the vertical surface - tracing it "fills in" the blade's surface. Learn more about this side view model. Visit the Geometry of the Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine website.

Tags: Twisted-Savonius, Wind-Turbine, Pseudo-3d, Model, Geometric, Real-World, Ellipses, Arcs, Loci

Geometric Top View Model of the Twisted Savonius Wind Turbine (Interactive)

This app models the top view of the Twisted Savonius Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT). The various inputs and draggable points allow you to see how the model can trace the blades' surfaces. You can also control the twist angle, radius, and rotation - which makes the whole thing spin! Learn more about the Twisted Savonius Modeling Project here.

Tags: Twisted-Savonius, Top-View, Model, Geometric, Real-World, Circles, Arcs, Loci

Rotating Ellipses

Two ellipses rotate within a third such that the two smaller ellipses are always tangent to each other and the larger ellipse. Adjusting the variable X demonstrates this rotation. All three ellipses are constrained only by their implicit equations, and the moving ellipses' equations include functions of X that allow them to rotate. Can you figure out what the equations are (the other constants in the equations are a, b, h, and k)?

Tags: Ellipses, conics, puzzler