Each tower is built slightly different, but there are some general guidelines each one follows.
First of all is safety. No student is allowed off the ground. The towers are lifted off the ground to an upright position using a gin pole and any work needing to be done above the ground is done by adults. The best wind resource is high off the ground. Obstructions, such as buildings and trees, disrupt the flow of wind making it less consistent. Smaller towers do not allow turbines to reach a sufficient enough wind resource to justify an investment. We build tall towers in order to access the best wind resource.
Our tall towers are kept stable by guy wires. Guyed towers can be less than half the cost of shorter monopole towers. They are also easier to raise and drop when needed.
Materials, when possible, are found locally in order to minimize costs and utilize the resources in the area. Solar photovolatic (PV) systems can be installed on frames as opposed to roof top racks. This offers an opportunity
for local manufacturing and can also lower costs. We only use horizontal axis wind turbines. Horizontal axis turbines are more efficient than vertical axis turbines.
Student working on a piece of a tower at MCCTC.
MCCTC students carrying part of a tower.
Guy wire connection at the base of the wind tower at MCCTC.
Watch the video below to hear Ronnie Trout, Rick Carson, and Dr. David Gao discuss the tower design and technical support for the project.
