Back row: Alex Dell, Zachary Weber, Aaron Troyer, Cabe Bonner, Jeremy Webb. Front row: Katherine Rooney, Jyotsana Gandhi, Kevin Tan, Kelsey Wokasch. Photo from Colorado School of Mines.

Project Description

Named after the Greek god of the west wind, Team Zephyrus from the Colorado School of Mines created a marketable and functional wind turbine as part of the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition. The turbine design incorporated ease of use, safety, and consumer appeal to make it an effective, portable device for generating power on the go. Team Zephyrus was comprised of engineering students interested in making wind energy more appealing to the general public. See the entire project portfolio below or on the team's website.

Team Strategy

Zephyrus created multiple prototypes of its small-scale wind turbine to gain valuable manufacturing experience in advance of the competition. By performing tests in the on-campus wind tunnel, the Colorado School of Mines students were able to optimize turbine performance. Through the iterative process, the team optimized the materials and design of their turbine by minimizing weight and cost while maximizing efficiency.

Design Features

  • Portable and lightweight
  • Capable of charging small electronic devices with a 5V USB port
  • Quick and easy to assemble
  • Comes in multiple colors
  • Capable of stopping quickly
  • Safety-conscious with easy-to-see reflective tape

Team Portfolio