Vacuum Turbine

LOG · WHAT IT IS AND WHAT IT DOES

A turbine concept built on the idea of the Crookes radiometer, whose vanes spin in a partial vacuum when light falls on them. The design puts low-friction vanes inside a vacuum chamber to turn by sunlight during the day; at night the chamber's cover rolls open so the wind can turn them instead.

WHY

In my biology class, next to my seat, sat a radiometer that I would always look at, wondering how it worked. I eventually asked my teacher about it and found it fascinating, and then I had an idea: could it work as a turbine? I pictured a low-friction solar flange turbine in a vacuum that would rotate using photon discharge during the day, and wind during the night, to generate energy.

WHAT I WORKED ON

I did a full CAD model and a demo video. However, after much research, I concluded that it would be very inefficient.

WHAT CAME OF IT

It was meant to be sent to a competition at Tulane, but since it ended up being more of a learning experience for me than a functioning concept, I didn't send it.