Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Mechanical Engineering Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Articles 1 - 7 of 7

Full-Text Articles in Mechanical Engineering

Solar Tracking Sustainable Energy Education, Tara Hart, Donita Legonas Jan 2018

Solar Tracking Sustainable Energy Education, Tara Hart, Donita Legonas

ENERGY Research and Lesson Plans

Two middle school science teachers collaborated with Georgia Southern lab students to conduct research and experimentation on the benefits of utilizing a dual-axis solar tracking system to assess the amount of voltage received during various times of the day. A smaller similar dual-axis solar tracking system was designed and fabricated to utilize in the teachers’ middle school classrooms in the study of renewable energy and the engineering and design process.


Pico Grid-Smart Home Energy Management System, Kristina Istre, James E. Conaway Mr. Jan 2018

Pico Grid-Smart Home Energy Management System, Kristina Istre, James E. Conaway Mr.

ENERGY Research and Lesson Plans

No abstract provided.


Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Sydney Pilgrim, Skyler Smith Jan 2018

Hydrogen Fuel Cells, Sydney Pilgrim, Skyler Smith

ENERGY Research and Lesson Plans

Hydrogen fuel cells are hydrogen powered energy sources. They convert chemical energy into electrical energy by separating water molecules into the two elements that make up water, Hydrogen (2) and Oxygen (1). Hydrogen fuel cells are looking to become a paramount energy producer to avoid consuming fossil fuels for power. Along with the abundance of Hydrogen in the atmosphere being a benefit of using Hydrogen powered fuel cells, the only emission from these energy sources is water vapor. Many car engines only operate at a 20% fuel efficiency, whereas fuel cell powered cars utilize 60% of the energy produced. Although …


Principles Of Wind Energy Production, Willie Haynes, Dianne Lhotte, Johnetta Moore Jan 2018

Principles Of Wind Energy Production, Willie Haynes, Dianne Lhotte, Johnetta Moore

ENERGY Research and Lesson Plans

Three public school teachers designed basic wind turbine energy production tests to help them teach wind energy principles to middle and high school students. Variables affecting wind turbine energy production were identified (distance from wind tunnel, blade design, angle of attack, and wind speed), and experiments were conducted to test each variable. This research aligns with Georgia DOE curriculum standard STEM-FET-3.7: Apply STEM knowledge and skills through hands-on research and lab experiments that are focused upon recreating the inventions and social solutions that were realized in the past, present, and possible future. These experiments will be a part of an …


Designing And Testing 3-D Printed Wafer-Box With Embedded Pzt Sensors To Identify The Shape Effect On Energy Harvesting, Ahmad Jami Safayet Jan 2018

Designing And Testing 3-D Printed Wafer-Box With Embedded Pzt Sensors To Identify The Shape Effect On Energy Harvesting, Ahmad Jami Safayet

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Piezoelectric energy has been recently paid attention in the field of alternative energy. Day by day the traditional energy sources including Coal tar and oils are becoming scarce. People are heading to an alternative energy source to meet the future energy demand. Piezoelectric energy is one of the competitive energy sources compared to the conventional renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and geothermal power and so on. This energy production method bears enormous research potential because it can be used as the roadway for a new method of power generation. This research project aimed to identify which shaped wafer-box produced …


Geometric Optimization Of A Heaving Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter, Ian Riley Jan 2018

Geometric Optimization Of A Heaving Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter, Ian Riley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wave energy shows significant potential for development into a competitive renewable energy source. Non-renewable resources are finite and contribute to adverse effects on the environment. Development of wave energy conversion devices that use heave motion as the primary driver for converting wave energy into electrical potential is explored through optimizing the geometry of an axisymmetric partially submerged buoy in deep water. The governing equations of motion and hydrodynamic forces are solved for in one degree of freedom using ANSYS Aqwa. An external PTO device is simulated to induce power capture in the system. Four different geometric shapes are tested and …


Structural And Aerodynamic Design, Procedure And Analysis Of A Small V-Shaped Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Odari J. Whyte Jan 2018

Structural And Aerodynamic Design, Procedure And Analysis Of A Small V-Shaped Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, Odari J. Whyte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Over the last two decades there has been a renewed interest in Vertical Axis Wind Turbines. This turbine configuration though unpopular for large-scale generation has found a niche market in the way of offshore energy harvesting. However, offshore wind has its challenges. In this thesis a detailed comprehensive study of a proposed V-shaped vertical axis turbine rotor is performed in order to examine its structural and aerodynamic characteristics. The design met and exceeded the safety parameters establish for test bed operation, showing a factor of safety of 1.87 with regard to fatigue stress response. A satisfactory fatigue stress design life …