Curriculum

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

CONTACT US  |  ND WEBSITE

University of Notre Dame

Prof. Abigail Mechtenberg  |  iseecamp@nd.edu  |  208 Jordan Hall of Science

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