Disciplines Covered
Energy is a multidisciplinary field calling on expertise in physics, many types of engineering, chemistry, and biology,
The camp’s professors and counsellors have a range of interests in physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and medicine. The types of energy covered range is first grouped into four categories: Mechanical to Electrical, Solar to Electrical, Thermal to Chemical to Electrical, and Biological and Chemical to Electrical. The first week students choose one of these groups. Then in the second week, one student from each group combines with three other students from the other groups. They then create a minigrid with one energy source from each of the groups (for example, wind turbine, solar panel, biodiesel generator, and hydrogen fuel cell storage). The second week begins with a systems approach using Homer Energy software to simulate their minigrid which they then learn to program into Raspberry PI to measure and control their minigrid (see pictures).
In addition, there is a role interested in social, environmental and economical metrics which are crucial to any grid design [Local minigrid social values, CO2 (tons/kWh),LCOE ($/kWh)]
Energy Topics Covered
During the first week, the students will focus on a specific energy sub-system. These will include broadly: Mechanical to Electrical Energy, Bio-Physics and Chemical Energy, Thermal and Chemical Energy, and Solar to Electrical Energy. The second week will focus on combining the sub-systems to design a grid in multidisciplinary teams. More specific lectures and topics within the subsystems are listed below.
Week 1: Energy Component Pathways
Week 1 – Group 1:
MECHANICAL TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Hand-crank | Modeling Turbine Blades | Compare Wind to Hydro | Testing Wind MPP | Group 1+2 Collaborate |
| Vertical Wind Turbine | 3D Printing Turbine Blades | Ardunio Minigrid Coding | Testing Hydro MPP | Group 1+3 Collaborate |
| Horizontal Wind Turbine | Testing New Turbine Blades | Powerload coding | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Group 1+4 Collaborate |
| Hydroelectric Turbine | Printing/Testing NewBlades | Testing Ardunio | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Final Presentation in 101 and On-Line for family to see |
Week 1 – Group 2:
SOLAR TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Design Tetrix PV Farm | Design CSP | Compare CSP to PV | Testing CSP MPP | Group 2+1 Collaborate |
| Testing PV Farm 2 House | Test CSP thermal | Ardunio Minigrid Coding | Testing PV MPP | Group 2+4 Collaborate |
| Steam Engine | Test CSP electrical | Powerload coding | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Group 2+3 Collaborate |
| Steam Engine Testing | Power House with CSP | Testing Ardunio | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Final Presentation in 101 and On-Line for family to see |
Week 1 – Group 3:
THERMAL AND CHEMICAL TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY (sources: Biodiesel and Biogas)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Diesel Engine | Otto Engine | Compare Diesel/Otto | Testing Diesel MPP | Group 3+4 Collaborate |
| Mechanical vs Electrical | Propane/Butane Engine | Ardunio Minigrid Coding | Testing Otto MPP | Group 3+1 Collaborate |
| Biodiesel Processing | Biogas Production | Powerload coding | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Group 3+2 Collaborate |
| Biodiesel Engine | Biogas Engine | Testing Ardunio | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Final Presentation in 101 and On-Line for family to see |
Week 1 – Group 4:
BIOPHYSICS AND CHEMICAL ENERGY TO ELECTRIC ENERGY (sources: Algae2Diesel & MudWatt)
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| MudWatt Energy | Algae Light Testing | Compare Mud to Algae | Testing MudWatt MPP | Group 4+3 Collaborate |
| Testing soil types | Algae Oil Processing | Ardunio Minigrid Coding | Testing Biodiesel MPP | Group 4+2 Collaborate |
| Algae Growing | Diesel Engine | Powerload coding | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Group 4+1 Collaborate |
| Pesticides/Fertilizers | Biodiesel Engine | Testing Ardunio | Ardunio coding for MPPT | Final Presentation in 101 and On-Line for family to see |
Week 2 – Group 1 + 2 + 3 + 4:
Energy Team Combinations for Minigrid and Energy Systems
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Design Minigrid Homer Energy |
Storage – Battery | Testing MPP | Test Minigrid with MPPT | Group 1+ 2 Collaboration |
| Choose Energy Sources | Storage – Capacitors | Design Minigrid with MPPT | Test Minigrid with MPPT | Group 1+ 3 Collaboration |
| Choose Team Managers | Storage – Hydrogen Fuel Cell | Design Minigrid with MPPT | Test Minigrid with MPPT | Group 1+ 4
Collaboration |
| Test Minigrid Simulation – Social – Economics – Environmental |
MPPT Algorithm Designs | Design Minigrid with MPPT | Test Minigrid with MPPT | Final Presentation in 101 and On-Line for family to see |