Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
- Keyword
-
- Renewable energy (4)
- Energy (3)
- Carbon (2)
- Solar (2)
- Solar energy (2)
-
- Sustainability (2)
- Able (1)
- Aero (1)
- Aircraft (1)
- Alternatives (1)
- B2B2C marketing (1)
- Batteries (1)
- Battery (1)
- Carbon offsetting (1)
- Charge (1)
- Clearloop (1)
- Competition (1)
- Complete (1)
- Construction (1)
- Design (1)
- Electricity (1)
- Energy Storage (1)
- Flashlight (1)
- Flywheels (1)
- Green marketing (1)
- Green technology (1)
- Infrastructure (1)
- Inverter (1)
- Iphone (1)
- Load Flow Analysis (1)
Articles 1 - 14 of 14
Full-Text Articles in Engineering
Evaluating Energy Storage Methods For The Stabilization Of Rural Microgrids, Colin Pennock
Evaluating Energy Storage Methods For The Stabilization Of Rural Microgrids, Colin Pennock
Honors Theses
Microgrids are a hot topic in industry at the moment due to their ability to help integrate renewables into the national grid. However, they are mainly used in urban settings, despite the stability benefits they could provide to rural communities. This research aims to help expand microgrids into a rural context by building a streamlined, phasor-domain model of a microgrid in MATLAB-Simulink’s toolbox Simscape Electrical and using it to evaluate three energy storage options: a national grid connection, battery, and flywheel. My capstone involved testing models of these three solutions by subjecting my overall microgrid to faults typical of a …
Effective Green Marketing Strategies On Social Media: Selling Companies And Their Consumers On Investing In Carbon Offsetting And Solar Energy In 2021, Melvin Richard Springer Iv
Effective Green Marketing Strategies On Social Media: Selling Companies And Their Consumers On Investing In Carbon Offsetting And Solar Energy In 2021, Melvin Richard Springer Iv
Honors Theses
In a digital world where consumers and businesses alike care significantly about sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR), the success of startup companies hinges on constant, clear, and thoughtful communication. Through my research into successfully marketing such concerns on social media as well as my internship at Clearloop, I discovered some of the best ways to convince both companies and consumers that preserving the planet should be a primary concern for every environmentally conscious company. Companies that ignore their impacts on the environment are synonymous with companies doomed to fail in the 21st century. Clearloop’s model of partnering with …
Three-Phase Pulse Width Modulated Ac/Dc Rectifier And Dc/Ac Inverter, Carmen Ngo
Three-Phase Pulse Width Modulated Ac/Dc Rectifier And Dc/Ac Inverter, Carmen Ngo
Honors Theses
Electric vehicles use inverter and rectifier circuits in order to convert power from one type to another. They run on direct current batteries, but their motors can run on direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). There is a need for both of these circuits if the motor runs on AC. The objective of this project is to successfully replicate driving and braking in an electric vehicle, and understand its power flow. Both systems should start to convert the input power as soon as the source is “on” and should continue this conversion without interruption. In the driving system, a …
Optimization Of Union College’S Microgrid To Meet All Load With A Least-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy Mix, Caitlin Mcmahon
Optimization Of Union College’S Microgrid To Meet All Load With A Least-Cost, Low-Carbon Energy Mix, Caitlin Mcmahon
Honors Theses
A microgrid is a localized electric grid that generates some or all of the power used to meet its load. Union College currently has a microgrid that meets 70 percent of the campus’ load and is connected to the main grid. It is made up of a cogeneration plant as well as solar photovoltaic panels and wind turbines, which are renewable energy sources. The goal of this project is to determine the least cost, low-carbon energy mix that meets 100 percent of the campus’ load. The issue with solar and wind power is that they are variable based on time …
Analysis Of The Properties Of Supercapacitors And Possible Applications For The Technology, Vincent Oliveto
Analysis Of The Properties Of Supercapacitors And Possible Applications For The Technology, Vincent Oliveto
Honors Theses
Supercapacitors have a lot of excellent qualities that would make them a great substitute for batteries when it comes to electrical energy storage systems. Supercapacitors can discharge and charge very rapidly, they have a lifespan in the realm of millions of cycles, and they are much more efficient than batteries. Unfortunately, they cannot hold nearly as much charge as batteries. This paper seeks to further investigate the properties of supercapacitor technology and the best way to exploit these properties with the purpose of integrating them into renewable energy systems. There is currently a lot of research occurring around the world …
Solid State Light Conversion, Jumana Turkistani
Solid State Light Conversion, Jumana Turkistani
Honors Theses
Demand for innovative and energy-efficient technology has increased as an environmentally sustainable society has become priority. Technological development of solid-state light plays a part in meeting that demand. Our research has revealed that LED (Light Emitting Diode) lighting uses less energy and is a more cost effective and environmentally responsible choice than incandescent and fluorescent lighting. Converting from incandescent and fluorescent dominated lighting to LED lighting may be cumbersome but can result in a classroom milieu that is attractive, cost/energy effective, easy to manipulate as well as facilitative to learning. For this project, a small-scale mockup of the light fixtures …
Solar Tracking And Lighting Design For A Multimedia Sculpture, Alexandra Ferguson
Solar Tracking And Lighting Design For A Multimedia Sculpture, Alexandra Ferguson
Honors Theses
A lighting system utilizing solar energy was built to illuminate a wireframe multimedia sculpture. Increased power generation from the solar cells was achieved using a solar tracking mechanism. Color-selectable light emitting diodes were used to provide the user with unlimited customization options. A digital control system was designed using an Arduino® microcontroller to configure the color of the lights and the positioning of the solar panel. The sculpture will create a sense of community and sustainability among students at the school.
Propulsion And P.I Control Systems For Sae Aircraft, Ervin Meneses
Propulsion And P.I Control Systems For Sae Aircraft, Ervin Meneses
Honors Theses
This thesis analyzes the integration and performance of a P.I control system within the SAE Aero Design Competition aircraft. This year the Union College Aero Design team will be competing in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Aero Design “Regular Class” Competition, which encompasses the design and production of a large‐scale remote controlled aircraft that must meet predetermined power and size constraints. The overall objective of the competition is to have the designed aircraft carry a maximum amount weight within a 200 feet runway while staying below a 1000W power limit. Each competitor must integrate a power limiter into their …
The Battery Charging Hand-Powered Washing Machine “Project Uwash”, Catherine Victoria Kennedy
The Battery Charging Hand-Powered Washing Machine “Project Uwash”, Catherine Victoria Kennedy
Honors Theses
Project UWash consists of converting the mechanical energy that goes into hand washing laundry into usable electricity. Our proof-of-concept system is composed of: an energy source (salad spinner), an energy harvester (AC generator), a regulating circuit (voltage regulator), a storage component (lithium ion batteries), and an application (charging an iPhone and USB based LED flashlight). The goal is to fully charge the LED flashlight after a one hour use and charge an iPhone to at least 50% after a 6 hour use. We were able to fully charge the flashlight in about 15 minutes but were only able to charge …
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Electrical Characterization Of Nanomaterials, Chase Martin
Honors Theses
Our dependence on energy sources and depleting fossil fuel reserves are forcing the world to look for efficient and renewable sources of energy. Current renewable technology lacks the efficiency and storage capability necessary to continue our heavy reliance on energy. This project focuses on understanding the physical and electrical properties of nanomaterials for their use as super capacitors and as photovoltaic cells. Using multiple microscopy techniques on the Cascade Probe Station and Veeco Dimension V Atomic Force Microscope, local and bulk conductivity measurements were performed on Laponite RD infused polyaniline (PANI) samples synthesized by Union College Chemistry Department Students. Four …
Application Of A High-Performance Optically Enhanced Solar Thermal Collector System, Timothy H. Cameron
Application Of A High-Performance Optically Enhanced Solar Thermal Collector System, Timothy H. Cameron
Honors Theses
In an effort to make Union College a more environmentally friendly campus, this research project focuses on the application of Union’s liquid-based solar thermal collector system. The motivation for this research project is due to the increasing demand for renewable energy sources in order to decrease our society’s dependence on fossil fuels. The system features nine, 16-tube, evacuated tube solar modules which absorb radiant solar energy from the sun. Through a two loop system, thermal energy is stored in water within two-80 gallon storage tanks. This research project involves the design, construction, and analysis of two applications in order to …
Modeling Biofuel Production In Southern Pine Forests: The Effects On Soil Properties, Brittany L. Oakes
Modeling Biofuel Production In Southern Pine Forests: The Effects On Soil Properties, Brittany L. Oakes
Honors Theses
From consuming energy alone in 2009, the United States ranked second as a carbon emitter at 5,425 million metric tons annually; China was the leader at 7,706 million metric tons and India placed third at 1,591 million metric tons (EIA, 2010). Yet in 2009, the U.S. consumed more electricity than both China and India and was the leading importer of electricity (EIA, 2010). Incorporating more domestic sources of renewable energy can simultaneously alleviate two issues: mitigating climate change catastrophes and significantly reduce our dependence on foreign markets for electricity and other forms of energy. Additionally, evidence of dwindling international oil …
Putting The Wind At Our Backs: Assessing U.S. Potential For 20% Wind Energy By 2030, Kevin T. Harnett
Putting The Wind At Our Backs: Assessing U.S. Potential For 20% Wind Energy By 2030, Kevin T. Harnett
Honors Theses
The discussion surrounding the future of energy, particularly in the United States, has gained significant momentum in recent years for an obvious reason — it’s daunting. Our dependence on fossil fuels has positioned our nation in an undesirable predicament with a questionable future. With the associated consequences, principally Climate Change, it is essential that energy be addressed as a primary national concern. Renewables need to flip the switch.
Investigating Potential Improvements To Enhance The Performance Of A Solar Thermal Collection System: Design Of The Dual Axis Tracking System, Eric Landry
Honors Theses
Due to the current energy crisis, there are a large number of opportunities in the applications of renewable energy technologies. Specifically, my partner and I have explored those associated with a solar thermal collection dish. The sun, being a virtually limitless supply of energy, ought to be used to its fullest potential. This technology is designed to do just that. Using a concave reflective surface, the sun’s thermal energy is concentrated to a central location where it is then collected by a working fluid. This type of approach achieves very high temperatures and maximizes the effectiveness of the thermal energy …