Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 1: Mechanical and CAD Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Leah Hope Sirkis, University of Pittsburgh; Tony Lee Kerzmann, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

renewableenergy technologies are explored to expand the portfolio of renewable energy, ocean renewableenergy is becoming an increasingly researched topic. The ocean is still a largely untapped sourceof energy. One type of ocean renewable energy, Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC),can produce up to 10 TW of power (almost 4 times the power used by the world) withoutnegatively affecting the ocean environment [1],[2]. Additionally, this power source is stable andpredictable. Research on this technology is especially helpful for students to learn and applythermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer concepts.OTEC is an energy technology that harnesses the difference in temperature between the cold ofthe deep ocean and the warmth of the ocean surface

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 1: Mechanical and CAD Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Robert J. Kerestes, University of Pittsburgh; Anthony M. Popovski, University of Pittsburgh; Feng Xiong, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

semiconductordevice theory course and a senior level applications of fields and waves course. These courseshave traditionally given students’ difficulties due to the abstract and “hard to visualize” nature ofthe course. The implementation of COMSOL into these courses is discussed.IntroductionDesign should be at the forefront of the educational process for electrical engineeringundergraduate students. Design has been defined as “a process by which human intellect,creativity, and passion are translated to useful artifacts” [1]. The National Academy ofEngineering has stated several times that design is essential to improving student learning [2],[3], [4].The EE program at the University of Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has traditionally beencentered around

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 1: Mechanical and CAD Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Hayrettin Bora Karayaka, Western Carolina University; Chip W. Ferguson, Western Carolina University; Amber C. Thompson, Western Carolina University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. Contact Hours: 2 Lecture, 2 Lab. ENGR 400 - Engineering Capstone I - Senior engineering project selection, planning, and development. Emphasis will be placed on defining project requirements, developing project work breakdown structure, conceptual designs, and working prototypes. 1 Lecture, 4 Lab. ENGR 450 - Engineering Capstone II - Senior engineering project design, development, fabrication, and testing. Emphasis will be placed on iterative design processes, project management and execution, fabrication and testing. 1 Lecture, 4 Lab.The PBL sequence of courses provided the participants with an opportunity to learn projectmanagement, technical communication, teaming, and problem-solving skills while

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 1: Mechanical and CAD Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Nina T. Jones, University of Florida; Sean R. Niemi, University of Florida; Matthew J. Traum, Engineer Inc.

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

, 2021 A Hands-On Learning Module Pipe Flow Velocity Profile Interrogator Laboratory Kit For Remote Online Fluid Mechanics InstructionIntroductionNearly all undergraduate engineering courses, including laboratories, were moved online in thefall of 2020 due to COVID-19. As no fully-online ABET-accredited mechanical engineeringbachelor’s degree programs exist, a key challenge was porting applied hands-on laboratoryexperiences to the remote learning environment while providing students with experiences aspragmatic and engaging as those found in standard brick-and-mortar laboratories [1]. Oneapproach engineering faculty employed to maintain experiential learning was sending kits by mailto

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 2: Solar Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Tessa Veurink, University of Pittsburgh; Bradley G. Fox, University of Pittsburgh; Sabrina R. Helbig, University of Pittsburgh; Duncan Penizotto, University of Pittsburgh; Robert J. Kerestes, University of Pittsburgh; Brandon M. Grainger, University of Pittsburgh

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

. Power grids need to provide power continuously withhigh reliability. Currently, the US grid is very reliable; the grid remains down for less than0.04% of the year on average for the nation [1]. However, the rise in global temperaturescorrelates to a rise in frequency of natural disasters [2]. Heavier and more frequent rainfalls willonly increase the importance of grid reliability. Reliability represents the ability of the grid towithstand abnormal operating conditions [3]. During these potential outage conditions, whethernatural or man-made, the largest failures happen in the distribution system, not the generationlayer [3]. This was recently seen on a very large scale in Texas. While common solutions, suchas relaying or burying wires

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 2: Solar Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Edmund Huminski, United States Coast Guard Academy; Salena Marie Bantz; Joseph Roth, United States Coast Guard Academy; Liam Scott Caro; Tooran Emami Ph. D., United States Coast Guard Academy; David Fournier, United States Coast Guard Academy

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

suited as the primary power source. While hydrogen fuel cells areefficient, they cannot provide instantaneous increase in power, say if a vehicle needed toaccelerate, whereas battery power can. This group of students, in the development of FCHEV,explore these problems and determine how battery configuration, management, and switchingsystem can provide solutions. A key component to any FCHEV is the Battery Management System (BMS). A capableBMS will be able to monitor the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) of batteriesconnected to it. SOC describes the amount of potential energy the battery has remaining in asingle discharge [1], like the gas gauge on a car describing the amount of fuel left. SOHdescribes the ability of the

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 3: Education Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Lihong Heidi Jiao, Grand Valley State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

-Circuit Voltage (FractionalOCV). The response of PV output power to the changes inenvironmental factors like solar irradiance and temperature was also examined.1. IntroductionSolar energy is clean, free, and abundant. It holds the potential to support a clean, reliable, andmore sustainable energy future. From the years 2000 to 2019, global cumulative installedphotovoltaic (PV) capacity has increased by 632.4 GW [1]. In 2019 alone, 116.9 GW of new PVwas installed. It was estimated that global solar PV installation in 2020 would increaseapproximately 132 GW from 2019. Despite the impact of pandemic on the economy, the UnitedStates installed 11.1 GW of solar PV in the first 9 months of 2020 which is the largest first 9-month total ever [2]. With the

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 3: Education Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Herbert L. Hess, University of Idaho

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

theUniversity of Idaho, electrical engineering undergraduates learn these power electronic systemsin a hands-on, creative environment. The sequence was reported in an ASEE paper in 2004 [1]. Ithas been taught within the same framework since. This paper presents the power electronicstrack within this sequence of courses after an innovative project was added. The goals of thepower electronics track are stated in the cover letter to the syllabi. They are Gain a propensity to use first principles to solve problems. We take a physical approach and use our circuit theory and electromechanical energy conversion fundamentals. A solid foundation in these will serve us well here. Improve our communications and problem solving skills. This means a

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 3: Education Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Ahmed Cherif Megri, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Sameer Hamoush, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Taher M. Abu-Lebdeh P.E., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

specific application, without too much mathand theory. Once the student has reached a certain level of confidence in their knowledge, wemove on to other stages where more theoretical concepts are introduced. Our methodology isbased on three tasks: (1) field visits; (2) literature; (3) computer applications; (4) mathematicsand science. In this work, we used the existing campus facilities to introduce students to the systemsused to heat the campus. Our aim is to expose the early college students to the installation of thepower plant, without focusing on theoretical aspects, thermodynamic cycles, and properties offluids, but focusing on understanding the functionality of systems, as it comes from the driverswho take care of the power plant

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 3: Education Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Jan DeWaters P.E., Clarkson University; Stefan J. Grimberg, Clarkson University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

to reduce FW.Introduction and BackgroundEvery year approximately 40% of the food produced in the United States [1] (approximately onethird, globally [2]) is wasted rather than eaten. Food is wasted or discarded throughout the foodsupply chain, creating significant economic, societal, and environmental impacts. The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 63.1 million tons of food waste (FW)were generated from commercial, institutional, and residential sectors in the United States in2018, with an additional 40 million tons generated from industries [3], [4]. Along with thatwasted food is the wasted farm land, water, labor and energy resources required to grow,process, package and transport it. According to the NRDC, food waste

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 3: Education Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Radian G. Belu, Southern University; Alexandru Belu; Zhengmao Ye, Southern University

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

, 2021 1. Power Engineering Education StatusEmerging trends in STEM education have continued to call for quality education that is fosteringthe ability of graduates to meet the challenges of the 21st century industry, while encouragingtheir participation in sustainable development. Energy and power industries are the cornerstoneof prosperous society, while all the critical and crucial socio-economic functions depend on thesecure, sustainable and reliable power and energy infrastructures. There are recent recognitionsand acknowledgements of the needs to improve, restructure or rebuild curriculum and revitalizedand reform energy and power engineering education. Equipping students with the skills andknowledge required to be successful engineers

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 2: Solar Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Reg Pecen, Sam Houston State University; Keith L. Coogler, Sam Houston State University; Faruk Yildiz, Sam Houston State University; Ulan Dakeev, Sam Houston State University; Lance David Sebesta

Tagged Topics

Diversity

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

undergraduate studentswith multidisciplinary engineering technology majors in Fall 2019, then extended to Spring 2020due to the scope of the project, and finally completed in August 2020 by two different seniorstudents due to the graduations and Covid-19 pandemic related challenges. The funding for theproject was provided by the City of Huntsville. The students and faculty members involved inthe senior design project have served for the community outreach purposes.There are two objectives of this senior design project; (1) to provide more shading for guests andstaff members in the aquatic center since the area is missing satisfactory shading, (2) to help thecity for improving its sustainability efforts by providing renewable energy-based

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 2: Solar Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Danielle S. Washington, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University; Tony D. Martin Jr.; Evelyn Sowells-Boone, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

LEDrate We believe by associating the practices and Emergency Bag Lighttechnicalities of renewable energy with fun, The Smart Solar LED Emergency Bag Light willinteresting hands-on projects, and resources, we are store energy from sunlight gathered during the dayprovided the ability to educate these generations on and assist the user in finding items they need fromone of the most essential and beneficial skills that their bags or purses when in a dimly lit room or darkwill most assuredly be sought after in future years. area. This model requires the following parts: When we embarked upon this journey we had no • (1) 5-volt/220-mA solar panelidea what challenges and/or learning experienceswe

Conference Session

Energy Conversion and Conservation Division Technical Session 2: Solar Track

Collection

2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access

Authors

Matt Aldeman, Illinois State University; Jin Ho Jo, Illinois State University

Tagged Divisions

Energy Conversion and Conservation

energy technologies (especially focusing on solarenergy and wind energy), a student project assignment has been developed wherein studentsdesign, build, and test a model passive solar home. Following an in-class lesson on passive solardesign strategies, students choose a location on Earth where their model home will be “located.”Next, the students must design their passive solar home so that it incorporates good passive solardesign principles and includes, at minimum: 1) roof overhangs that are long enough to shademore than 2/3 of the home’s south-facing windows at solar noon on the summer solstice, butshort enough that they shade no more than 1/3 of the home’s south-facing windows at solar noonon the winter solstice, and 2) at least one other