Update on the Turbines

So a few days ago I had the idea of possibly making a column that was filled with different size and oriented turbines that would allow visitors of all sizes a look at the inner working of a turbine.
This entire column, or at least most of it would produce power that supplied some object in the exhibit. That object has yet to be decided on.
I will try to upload some pictures later of what I want this to look like as of now.

Beyond that a few touches I thought would be nice would be to have a protective case around the turbines that served two purposes: 1) it would keep the unfiltered water off of the visitors and 2) it would make sure no one could damage the turbine.

We plan on supplying this column through a hand pump system my group partner, Gustavo, thought would be a cool addition. The system would run through a hollow canopy that is still in the works, and eventually shoot out over the head of the visitors like a waterfall effect through the column of turbines and back into the river.

Steps for me to take as of now is to learn how to make an efficient hand pump so users are not discourage from non-immediate satisfaction. And to also work on the design of the turbines. I have yet to make much progress on this since I have focused more on the conceptual design of the exhibit overall.

Here are some videos I found on youtube on how to make a handpump or some cool videos that gave me some ideas on how to make a handpump for our purposes.


http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4920388_hand-water-pump-work.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-10UKzKolY


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgR3cE9MRBs&feature=related


More to come...