This is the strangest competition they've devised.
The teams of the Techno Teachers & the Manic Mechanics must build a
windmill to grind coffee beans. The show has provided the coffee grinders
and the beans and Mother Nature will supply the power. They will have one
hour to grind as much coffee as possible. The teams that grinds the heavier
lot of coffee will advance in the tournament.
Two teams, two different designs. The Manic Mechanics
will be building a conventional windmill. Fan blades, mounted to a central
hub will spin, driving a shaft which has the grinder attached at the other
end. The problem is that this will only work if the wind blows in one direction.
Otherwise, they have to move the whole assembly which will cost them grind
time.
The Techno Teachers will make a horizontally spinning
windmill. Two aerofoils (Ie wings) attached to a frame will spin in a circle
instead to taking off. Remember aerofoils? Air flows faster over the curved
surface and the change in air pressure creates lift, or in this case rotation.
The benefit is that this will work if the wind blows from any direction.
