Pasco Scientific SE-8763 User manual

© 2000 PASCO scientific
Instruction Manual and
Experiment Guide for
the PASCO scientific
Model SE-8763
012-07732A
Turbine Generator
SE-8763
Includes
Teacher's Notes
and
Typical
Experiment Results

Copyright Notice
The PASCO scientific 012-07732A Turbine
Generator Manual is copyrighted and all rights
reserved. However, permission is granted to non-
profit educational institutions for reproduction of
any part of the manual, providing the
reproductions are used only for their laboratories
and are not sold for profit. Reproduction under
any other circumstances, without the written
consent of PASCO scientific, is prohibited.
Limited Warranty
PASCO scientific warrants the product to be free
from defects in materials and workmanship for a
period of one year from the date of shipment to the
customer. PASCO will repair or replace at its
option any part of the product which is deemed to
be defective in material or workmanship. The
warranty does not cover damage to the product
caused by abuse or improper use. Determination of
whether a product failure is the result of a
manufacturing defect or improper use by the
customer shall be made solely by PASCO
scientific. Responsibility for the return of
equipment for warranty repair belongs to the
customer. Equipment must be properly packed to
prevent damage and shipped postage or freight
prepaid. (Damage caused by improper packing of
the equipment for return shipment will not be
covered by the warranty.) Shipping costs for
returning the equipment after repair will be paid by
PASCO scientific.
Copyright,Warranty, and Equipment Return
Please—Feel free to duplicate this manual
subject to the copyright restrictions below.
Credits
Author: Mr. Jim Housley
Equipment Return
If the product needs to be returned to PASCO
scientific for any reason, notify PASCO scientific
by letter, phone, or fax BEFORE returning the
product. Upon notification, the return authorization
and shipping instructions will be promptly issued.
➤➤
➤➤
➤ NOTE: NO EQUIPMENT WILL BE
ACCEPTED FOR RETURN WITHOUT AN
AUTHORIZATION FROM PASCO.
When returning equipment for repair, the units must
be packed properly. Carriers will not accept
responsibility for damage caused by improper packing.
To be certain the unit will not be damaged in
shipment, observe the following rules:
➀The packing carton must be strong enough for the item
shipped.
➁Make certain there are at least two inches of packing
material between any point on the apparatus and the
inside walls of the carton.
➂Make certain that the packing material cannot shift in
the box or become compressed, allowing the
instrument come in contact with the packing carton.
Address: PASCO scientific
10101 Foothills Blvd.
Roseville, CA 95747-7100
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
email: [email protected]
web: www.pasco.com
i

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
1
Table of Contents
Section ................................................................................................................... Page
Copyright and Warranty, Equipment Return .............................................................. i
Equipment ................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................... 3
Apparatus Setup ....................................................................................................... 4
Assembly/Setup for Using the Turbine Generator with Water ............................. 4
Assembly/Setup for Using the Turbine Generator with Air ................................. 5
Experiments:
Experiment 1: Using Moving Water to Generate Electrical Energy ................... 6-7
Experiment 2: Using Compressed Air to Store Energy and Drive a Turbine ..... 8-9
Teacher's Guide ................................................................................................. 10-11
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................... 12
Technical Support .......................................................................... Inside Back Cover

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
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Equipment
(g)
(h)
The SE-8763 Turbine Generator includes the
following equipment:
a) Basic Turbine Generator unit with pelton
wheel, housing, rotating magnet and coil
b) Light emitting diode (LED)
c) Hose assembly with two check valves, a tee,
and two quick-connect fittings
d) Hose assembly with a tee, a flow control
pinch valve, and three quick-connect fittings
e) Hose assembly with two quick-connect
fittings
f) Bottle cap with attached quick-connect fitting
(fits a plastic soda bottle, which is not in-
cluded)
g) A 60 cc syringe
h) Short hose assembly with tee for connecting a
pressure sensor
(a)
(b)
Additional Equipment Recommended (for
experiments):
•DataStudio® or ScienceWorkshop® software
•Voltage Sensor (CI-6503) or multimeter or AC
voltmeter (0-10 volts)
•Current Sensor (CI-6556)
•Pressure Sensor (CI-6532A or CI-6533A)
•Calculator
•Banana plugs (SE-9415 or SE-9750/SE-9751)
Additional Equipment Required:
• Plastic soda bottles
• A tray or drain board
• Beaker for water
Equipment Included:
(c)
(d)
(e)
(f)

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
3
Introduction
Description
The SE-8763 Turbine Generator Set includes a
pelton wheel turbine in a transparent housing.
An attached rotating neodymium magnet,
together with a fixed coil, constitute an electric
generator. A hand-held pump mechanism and
other items are also included and are listed on
page 2 of this manual.
Items that will increase the range of possible
experiments include a plastic soda bottle, a
multimeter, or a computer-based lab setup with a
voltage sensor.
Purpose
This set makes possible a number of teacher
demonstrations and student experiments involv-
ing energy conversion, the action of an electric
generator, pump or turbine (using water or
compressed air), and the storage of energy in
compressed air.
Safety
Please teach and expect safe behavior in your
classroom and lab. Safety considerations
require constant supervision of students at all
times. Remind students of such precautions as
wearing safety glasses, avoiding horseplay, and
immediately reporting accidents or broken
glassware to the instructor.
Storage and Maintenance
Some simple precautions will help ensure that this
set provides years of use:
•If the syringes require lubrication, use
only glycerine or silicone oil. Do not use
petroleum-based lubricants, as this will
quickly damage the seals.
•Do not use organic solvents. If the unit
needs cleaning, clean the unit only with
a damp rag, moistened with a mild,
non-abrasive cleaner.
•Use only light, finger pressure on the
quick-connect fittings. Do not over-
tighten.
•Do not apply force to the rotating magnet
assembly.
•Do not attempt to disassemble the turbine/
coil/magnet unit. If necessary, contact
PASCO technical support.
•To dry the inside of the plastic housing,
shake out the excess water and store in dry
atmospheric conditions. For rapid drying,
use a cotton tip swab to wipe off the inside
of the plastic housing.
This apparatus is designed for intermittent use, as
described in the experiments in this manual. With
continuous use, wear to the bearings may occur.
Plastic items may degrade if stored in direct
sunlight. If parts become lost or damaged, re-
placement parts are available. To order replace-
ments parts, contact PASCO scientific. For
contact information, see the back inside cover of
this manual.
WARNING!: To prevent equipment
damage, keep water away from your
computer, interfaces, keyboards, and
any power sources or electrical wiring.
To avoid the risk of shock or injury, do not allow
the copper coil or leads on the Turbine Generator
to become wet and do not immerse the generator
housing in water. If the copper coil or leads
become wet, do not touch them while either the
interface and/or power supply are turned on.
When using the Turbine Generator with water,
place the base of the apparatus over a tray or other
large basin, such that it can contain the volume of
water exiting the internal housing. The size of the
container must be large enough to hold the volume
of water expelled from the syringe or bottle.

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
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Apparatus Setup
Figure 3: Setup for Pumping Water
into the Turbine Generator Unit
Basic Setup Instructions
Assembly/Setup for Using the Turbine
Generator with Water
1. Place the Turbine Generator unit in the tray to
catch water that leaves the turbine (Figure 1).
2. If using a PASCO Voltage Sensor, insert the
banana plugs into the coil bobbin; then plug the
light-emitting diode (LED) into the openings in
the lead ends of the Voltage Sensor. (Otherwise,
plug the LED directly into the coil bobbin or
connect the banana plug leads to a multimeter or
AC voltmeter.)
3. If you have a computer and interface, plug the
DIN connector from the Voltage Sensor to an
analog channel on the ScienceWorkshop®
interface.
3. Connect the hose (part (e) on page 2) to the
syringe (see Figure 2). Place the other end of the
hose into the beaker of water, and pull the piston
to draw in 60 cubic centimeters of water.
4. Connect the loose end of the hose on the syringe
to the nozzle on the side of the Turbine Genera-
tor (see Figure 3).
WARNING!: To prevent equipment
damage, keep water away from your
computer, interfaces, keyboards, and
any power sources or electrical wiring.
To avoid the risk of shock or injury, do not allow
the copper coil or leads on the Turbine Generator
to become wet and do not immerse the generator
housing in water. If the copper coil or leads
become wet, do not touch them while either the
interface and/or power supply are turned on.
Figure 2: Filling the Syringe
When using the Turbine Generator with
water, place the base of the apparatus over a
tray or other large basin, such that it can
contain the volume of water exiting the
internal housing. The size of the container
must be large enough to hold the volume of
water expelled from the syringe or bottle.
Figure 1: Turbine Generator Unit in Tray

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Apparatus Setup
Figure 4: Setup for experiments using
the Turbine Generator with Air
Assembly/Setup for Using the Turbine
Generator with Air
1. If using a PASCO Voltage Sensor, insert the
banana plugs into the coil bobbin and plug the
LED into the openings in the Voltage Sensor lead
ends. (Otherwise, plug the LED directly into the
coil bobbin.)
2. Connect the fitting nearest the flow control pinch
valve to the nozzle in the side of the Turbine
Generator unit. (The opposite end of the hose
assembly attaches to the bottle cap, and the side
arm attaches to one end of the other hose assem-
bly. See Figure 4.)
3. Attach the syringe to the tee side arm between the
two check valves.
4. Attach the plastic soda bottle to the bottle cap. If
using a PASCO Pressure Sensor, disconnect the
bottle cap from the tubing and install the small
tubing tee assembly [part (h)] at that point. (For
connection instructions, see "Using the Pressure
Sensor with the Turbine Generator Unit or the
instructions that came with your Pressure Sensor.)
Note: Arrange the apparatus, such that there are
no kinks in the tubing. Any kinks will prevent
the rapid release of air into the turbine housing
when you open the pinch valve.
CAUTION: If using a Pressure Sensor, adhere
to the following precautions:
Connecting a Pressure Sensor with the
Turbine Generator Unit
•Elevate the Pressure Sensor above the Turbine
Generator unit.
•Do not leave the Pressure Sensor connected to
the unit for extended periods.
•Before storing the sensor, disconnect the
hose from the sensor.
•Avoid using a Pressure Sensor while there is
water in the tubing.
1. Find a quick-release connector provided
with your PASCO Pressure Sensor. Push the
quick-release connector onto the port of the
Pressure Sensor and turn the connector
clockwise until it "clicks" into place (less
than 1/8 turn).
2. Connect part (h) to the connector on the top
of the bottle cap. Connect the other end of
part (h) to the tubing with tee [part (d)]. (See
Figure 5.)
3. Find the clear, polyurethane tubing provided
with your Pressure Sensor. Attach one end of
the polyurethane tubing over the barb on the
connector attached to your Pressure Sensor.
Attach the other end of the tubing to the
sidearm tee of part (h).
4. Plug the DIN connector from the Pressure Sensor
to an analog channel on a ScienceWorkshop®
interface.
to interface
Figure 5: Setup with a Pressure Sensor
to Turbine
Generator
entry port
(h)
(d)

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
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Experiment 1: Using Moving Water to Generate
Electrical Energy
Equipment Required:
*Indicates equipment that is recommended, but not required
for this experiment.
This experiment shows students how a hydroelectric
generator operates.
Procedure
1. Follow the setup procedure for using the Turbine
Generator with water (described on pages 4-5 of this
manual). Fill the syringe with 60 cc of water.
Note: If using computer software, open the Experi-
ment Setup window and associate the Voltage
Sensor icon to an analog channel. Double click on
the Voltage Sensor icon. The recommended sample
rate is 200 or 500 Hertz.
WARNING: To prevent equipment damage, keep water away from your com-
puter, interfaces, keyboards, and any power sources or electrical wiring. To
avoid the risk of shock or injury, do not allow the copper coil or leads on the
Turbine Generator to become wet and do not immerse the generator housing in
water. If the copper coil or leads become wet, do not touch them while either
the interface and/or power supply are turned on.
2. If using sensors, prepare to take data (Open a graph display and click the Start button.)
3. Place the end of the syringe piston on the table. Check to ensure there are no kinks or leaks
in the tubing.
4. Grasp the body of the syringe with both hands. Press down forcefully and rapidly to push
water from the syringe. The LED should light. If using a Voltage Sensor, you should see a
voltage signal in your data acquisition software.
•Voltage Sensor (CI-6503)*
• Pressure Sensor (CI-6532 or CI-6533)
with connectors and tubing*
•Turbine Generator Unit (SE-8763)
• Tray (to catch water)
• Beaker of water
Figure 1.1: Setup with water in the
syringe

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
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Questions:
1. Identify the energy transformations that occurred.
2. What was the source of energy that generated the electric current after the water stopped flowing?
3. If a Voltage Sensor for a computer or calculator was used, what was the greatest voltage recorded?
4. Zoom in on the region of the graph with the highest voltage. What aspect of the graph shows that
alternating voltage was generated?
5. In your data acquisition software (i.e. DataStudio or ScienceWorkshop), use the crosshairs feature to
read the times of two positive voltage peaks several cycles apart. Use this information to calculate
the frequency of the AC voltage.
6. What was the greatest rotational speed of the Turbine Generator in revolutions per minute (RPM)?
Experiment 1 (Continued):

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
8
Experiment 2: Using Compressed Air to
Store Energy and Drive a Turbine
Equipment Required:
•Turbine Generator Unit (SE-8763)
•One or more sizes of plastic soda bottles (l liter)
•A tray or drain board (if using water)
•1-2 Voltage Sensors (CI-6503) with 1-ohm resistor*
•Calculator*
*Indicates equipment that is recommended, but not required for this
experiment.
In the previous experiment, the energy of your muscles
gave energy to the water. In this experiment, the energy is
first stored as the energy of compressed air and then re-
leased, when desired. The compressed air can be used to
give water energy to drive the turbine or alternately, the
compressed air may directly drive the turbine.
Procedure
1. Follow the basic setup procedure for using the Turbine
Generator with air, as described on pages 4-5 of this
manual. (See Figure 2.1).
Note: If using computer software, open the Experiment Setup window and associate the appropriate
sensor icons to analog channels. Double click on the Voltage Sensor icon and set the sample rate.
The recommended setting is 500 Hertz.
2. Have your lab partner hold the coil in the position shown in Figure 2.1, close to the rotating mag-
net, but not touching it.
3. If using water, half-fill the soda bottle and screw the cap back on to the bottle. Prop the bottle so
that the cap is lower than the rest of the bottle (See Figure 2.1). One lab partner can hold it in
this position, if desired.
4. Pull the syringe piston out to the 60 cubic centimeter mark and then push it all the way in to the
syringe. (This constitutes one stroke.) Repeat for 10-20 strokes, until you notice substantial resis-
tance to the pumping process.
5. Prepare to take data in your computer software (if available). In your data acquisition software, open
a Graph display and click the Start button.
6. Completely release the pinch valve, so that there are no kinks in the tubing. The LED will light. If
using a Voltage Sensor, you will notice a voltage signal in your data acquisition software.
Figure 2.1: Experiment Setup
• DataStudio or ScienceWorkshop software*
• Pressure Sensor (CI-6532 or 6533)*
•Current Sensor (CI-6556)*
•Multimeter or AC Voltmeter (0-10 volts)*

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
9
Questions:
1. Identify the energy transformations that occurred.
2. What was the source of energy that generated the electric current after the air stopped flowing?
3. If a voltage sensor for a computer or calculator was used, what was the greatest voltage recorded?
4. Zoom in on the region of the graph with the highest voltage. What aspect of the graph shows that
alternating voltage was generated?
5. In your data acquisition software (i.e. DataStudio or ScienceWorkshop), use the crosshairs feature to
read the times of two positive voltage peaks several cycles apart. Use this information to calculate
the frequency of the AC voltage.
6. What was the greatest rotational speed of the Turbine Generator in revolutions per minute (RPM)?
Experiment 2 (Continued)

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
10
Teacher's Guide
1. Chemical energy in your muscles gave kinetic energy to water. The water slowed as it hit the
turbine blades, giving kinetic energy to the turbine. The turbine spun the magnet, generating
electrical energy in the coil. (The magnet and coil as a unit are also called an electric generator.)
The electrical energy from the generator was transformed into light by the LED (light emitting
diode).
2. After the water stopped flowing, the turbine still had kinetic energy, which continued to be trans-
formed into electrical energy, until the kinetic energy was gone and the turbine stopped.
3. The voltage will vary with experimental conditions. The greated voltage recorded at our lab was
2.0 volts.
4. The area of the graph that shows the generation of alternating voltage corresponded with the period
during which the turbine was rotating. Each cycle on the graph corresponds to one rotation cycle
of the turbine.
5-6. With your Smart Tool, read the coordinates between the first and last positive voltage peak.
Count the number of complete cycles in the time period between the first and last positive
voltage peak.
Experiment 1: Results
Sample Data
Example: 2.226 seconds, 0.225 volts
4.476 seconds, 0.210 volts
Total cycles (revolutions) = 12 cycles/2.25 seconds = 5.33 cycles/sec or 5.33 hertz.
Multiplying this fraction by 60 reveals 320 revolutions/minute.
Answers to Questions

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
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Experiment 2: (Results)
Answers to Questions
Sample Data
Teacher's Guide
1. Chemical energy in your muscles was transformed into potential energy of the compressed
air in the soda bottle. Potential energy is also called "stored energy." The energy was
stored in the soda bottle until the valve was released. After the valve was released, the air
lost potential energy and gained kinetic energy. The rapidly moving air slowed as it hit the
turbine blades, giving kinetic energy to the turbine. The turbine spun the magnet, generat-
ing electrical energy in the coil. (The magnet and coil as a unit are called an electric gen-
erator.) The electrical energy from the generator was transformed into light by the LED
(light-emitting diode).
2. After the water stopped flowing, the turbine still had kinetic energy, which continued to be
transformed into electrical energy, until the kinetic energy was gone (and the turbine
stopped).
3. The largest voltage recorded will vary with experimental conditions. In our lab, the largest
voltage was 3 volts.
4. The area of the graph that shows the generation of alternating voltage corresponded with the
period during which the turbine was rotating. Each cycle on the graph corresponds to one
rotation cycle of the turbine.
5-6. With your Smart Tool, read the coordinates between the first and last positive voltage
peak. Count the number of complete cycles in the time period between the first and last
positive voltage peak.
Example: 2.0120 seconds, 2.998 volts
2.0765 seconds, 3.881 volts
Total cycles (revolutions) = 4 cycles/.0645 seconds = 62 cycles/sec or 62 hertz.
Multiplying this fraction by 60 reveals 3720 revolutions/minute.

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
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Troubleshooting
Problem: The turbine does not move when I pump compressed air through it.
Solution(s): a) Check to ensure that the fitting to the bottle cap and all fittings in the tubing are tight
to prevent air leaks. If you have any air leaks, the system may not work. Gently touching the
magnet with your little finger should be sufficient to rotate the turbine. If the turbine still appears to
resist turning, look closely for foreign objects wedged in the housing. b) Check to ensure that you
have properly connected the tubing. See the setup instructions on pages 4-5. c) Keep the pinch
control valve completely closed during the syringe pumping process. Then completely open the
valve to allow all stored air to enter the turbine housing. (Note: If you release the valve slowly, the
pressure difference may not be enough to cause the turbine to rotate.) d) Fill the soda bottle half full
with water to reduce the amount of pumping required and to force air through the system more
rapidly when you open the pinch control valve.
Problem: The LED does not light when the turbine moves.
Solution(s): a) Check that you have properly connected the clip leads to the holes in the back of the
copper coil. b) If you are using a PASCO Voltage Sensor, first plug the red and black leads of the
Voltage Sensor into the back of the coil, then plug the LED leads into the same colored leads (red to
red and black to black) for the Voltage Sensor.
Problem: The turbine does not move when I pump water through it.
Solution(s): a) Check your tubing and valve connections. For instructions, see the "Basic Setup" on
pages 4-5 of this manual. b) To ensure a pressure difference, refill the syringe with 60 cc of water
and pump the syringe quickly and forcefully. Always use two hands. (Note: The amount of water
has no bearing on the pressure, but 60 cc allows a stream of longer duration, and therefore greater
total energy.
Problem: When the turbine moves, there is no voltage signal in my data acquisition software.
Solution(s): a) Check to ensure you have properly connected the DIN connector from the Voltage
Sensor to the ScienceWorkshop® interface. b) In your data acquisition software, check the sample
rate for the Voltage Sensor. (Example: In DataStudio, open the Experiment Setup window and
double click on the Voltage Sensor icon to open the Sensor Properties dialog. In the General tab,
select Fast and reset the sample rate.) c) Before collecting data, have your software setup to record
voltage signals. If you are using DataStudio, associate the Voltage Sensor icon to a channel in the
Experiment Setup window. For more information, see the DataStudio online help. d) If necessary,
calibrate the Voltage Sensor in your data acquisition software.
Problem: I have a Pressure Sensor attached, but there is no pressure reading in my data acquisi-
tion software.
Solution(s): The normal output of the Pressure Sensor is around 100 kPa (absolute) before pump-
ing. A pressure of 300 kPa is attainable with reasonable effort. a) Check to ensure you have prop-
erly attached the quick-release connector to the Pressure Sensor. Check for tight tubing connections
from the sensor to the sidearn of part h. For tubing connections, see the "Basic Setup" on pages 4-5
of this manual. b) If necessary, calibrate the Pressure Sensor. For more information, see the
DataStudio online help or the instruction sheet provided with your PASCO Pressure Sensor.

012-07732A Turbine Generator Manual
13
Notes

Turbine Generator Manual 012-07732A
14
Technical Support
Feedback
If you have any comments about the product or
manual, please let us know. If you have any sugges-
tions on alternate experiments or find a problem in the
manual, please tell us. PASCO appreciates any
customer feedback. Your input helps us evaluate
and improve our product.
To Reach PASCO
For technical support, call us at 1-800-772-8700
(toll-free within the U.S.) or [phone].
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.pasco.com
Contacting Technical Support
Before you call the PASCO Technical Support staff, it
would be helpful to prepare the following information:
➤ If your problem is with the PASCO apparatus, note:
-Title and model number (usually listed on the
label);
-Approximate age of apparatus;
-A detailed description of the problem/sequence of
events (in case you can’t call PASCO right away,
you won’t lose valuable data);
-If possible, have the apparatus within reach when
calling to facilitate description of individual parts.
➤ If your problem relates to the instruction manual,
note:
-Part number and revision (listed by month and
year on the front cover);
-Have the manual at hand to discuss your
questions.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user of
important operating and safety instructions
that will help prevent damage to the
equipment or injury to the user.