The Water Energy Harvester MQP provides design insight into a novel system that collects energy from flowing water. This project is a continuation of a previous MQP which initialized the basic design for a tidal turbine. The new design is comprised of a single neoprene fin. The fin and powertrain designs have been redeveloped for greater power transfer, energy collection efficiency, and manufacturability. The power efficiency of the device was not found, the unloaded cut-in speed was measured as 0.7 m/s. It was determined that a lighter, continuous fin is necessary for smoother motion and for reducing the torque needed during its sinusoidal motion. The crankshaft requires manufacturing that is exceptionally difficult on WPI’s campus and may also require use of a different material.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Curtis, Nathan Gruebel
• Bailey, Sarah Melissa
• Richard, Lauren Ann
• Chan, Andrea Yi

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-042716-223108

Advisor

• Savilonis, Brian James

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-04-27

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-02-02