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[[File:MEOWphotopainted.jpg|thumb|left|CAPTION TEXT]]
[[File:Screenshot 2019-05-16 at 10.07.50 AM.png|thumb|left|Pedaling for power. ]]
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{{305inprogress|May 23, 2019}}
==Abstract==
The MEOW, the powerhouse of CCAT is in disrepair. Years of not being used properly have caused the batteries to die without a chance of revival. Follow the Seismic Strategies teams journey on bringing back the MEOW into the community.
 
==Background==  
==Background==  
The Mobile Energy Operations Wagon’s (MEOW),an icon of CCAT, history is extensive and somewhat a mystery. The story of the MEOW begins in 2003. The most quintessential part of CCAT from its history is pedal power bikes. You can look at pictures of CCAT decades ago and find hundreds of students pedaling bikes for power. Ben Scurfield in 2003 was one of the original people that banded together and took the communal power idea and put it on wheels making it the MEOW. Concerts, Maydays, Speeches the MEOW was used to power all of these events and more. Until 2010, the MEOW was being used at a Danco construction site and was stolen. All that was left was just the trailer frame itself. In 2012 thanks to students David Katz, and Solar Roger the MEOW was brought back to life with an entirely new system. Although, once again now 2019 the MEOW has fallen into disrepair and is no longer used to power the heartbeat of CCAT.
The history of the MEOW in CCAT is extensive and somewhat a mystery. The story of the MEOW begins in 2003. The most quintessential part of CCAT from its history is pedal power bikes. You can look at pictures of CCAT decades ago and find hundreds of students pedaling bikes for power. In 2003, Ben Scurfield and others banded together to create the communal power idea of putting wheels making it the MEOW. The MEOW has used to power the concerts, Maydays, speeches, and other events. Until 2010, the MEOW was being used at a Danco construction site and was stolen. All that was left was just the trailer frame itself. In 2012 thanks to students David Katz and Solar Roger, the MEOW was brought back to life with an entirely new system. Although, once again, now 2019 the MEOW has fallen into disrepair and is no longer used to power the heartbeat of CCAT. Karina Coronado, Bryce Baker, Colton Evans, and Cassidy Fosdick took on this project in fixing the MEOW.
Karina Coronado, Bryce Baker, Colton Evans,and Cassidy Fosdick will be taking on the project.


==Problem statement==
==Problem statement==
Upon receiving the MEOW as a project we found out from Anh Bui that the MEOW has not reliably worked in months. The following are the issues that Anh presented: does not work after the morning or at night, the MEOW is not holding charge, they think that possibly the inverter is not working, and only 2 out of the 4 bikes are in working order. Our objective and priority for this project is to get the MEOW working and functioning. Also, bringing the MEOW back into the community will be important and a goal for our group to accomplish.
Upon receiving the MEOW as a project we found out from Anh Bui that the MEOW has not reliably worked in months. The following are the issues that Anh presented: does not work after the morning or at night, the MEOW is not holding a charge, they think that possibly the inverter is not working, and only 2 out of the 4 bikes are in working order. Our objective and priority for this project are to get the MEOW working and functioning. Also, bringing the MEOW back into the community will be important and a goal for our group to accomplish.


==Project Evaluation Criteria==
==Project Evaluation Criteria==
The following criteria will be used by our team to follow in order to ensure that we meet our goals for our client and remind us what is most important to them to ensure that we achieve a successful project. The criteria below is based upon the clients stern direction and requests for their idea of what they want for the MEOW. The scale (1-10) represents the importance level of meeting the constraint of each listed criteria.
The following criteria will be used by our team to follow in order to ensure that we meet our goals for our client and remind us what is most important to them to ensure that we achieve a successful project. The criteria below are based upon the client's stern direction and requests for their idea of what they want for the MEOW. The scale (1-10) represents the importance level of meeting the constraint of each listed criteria, 1 being the least important and 10 being the most important.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
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|-
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| Maintainability  
| Maintainability  
| An easy to understand operations and maintenance manual with in depth details is required.
| An easy to understand operations and maintenance manual with in-depth details is required.
| <center>9</center>
| <center>9</center>
|-
|-
| Aesthetics
| Aesthetics
| More signage and the MEOW must be more eye catching.
| More signage and the MEOW must be more eye-catching.
|<center>7</center>
|<center>7</center>
|-
|-
| Educational Aspect
| Educational Aspect
| Must be able to educate the public about solar and pedal powered energy without someone being present.  
| Must be able to educate the public about solar and pedal-powered energy without someone being present.  
|<center>6</center>
|<center>6</center>
|-
|-
| Safety & Placement
| Safety & Placement
| Batteries should be properly covered and through instructions on how to handle MEOW technology will be provided.  
| Batteries should be properly covered and thorough instructions on how to handle MEOW technology will be provided.  
|<center>8</center>
|<center>8</center>
|-
|-
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==Literature Review==
===The Basics of a PV System===
A photovoltaic system is relatively simple. All it requires is a little know-how and ability to build the system. The necessities of PV systems are the following: solar panels, a battery(or batteries), solar energy. Although, to make the system more efficient additional technology should be added such as a charge controller an inverter, and a surge protector. The MEOW has 4 solar panels aligned in series to increase voltage. The solar panels energy that gets produced is then connected to batteries in series where the energy can either be stored or connected to the inverter. The inverters purpose is to alter the current from DC to AC which is used in most households. A charge controller is used for the MEOW’s system to prevent overloading the batteries with a charge or allowing the batteries to be drained too quickly. <ref>Balfour, John, Michael Shaw, and Nicole Nash. Photovoltaic System Design. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2013, pp. 1-45.
</ref>
===The Benefits of Solar===
One of the solutions to the energy issue is solar energy. Solar energy provides many benefits not only for the environment but also medically. For example, in Ohio, a 1-kW panel provides 105$ in health benefits just because it displaces enough greenhouse gas emissions it saves people money from having to go to the doctor. In states where coal is the main energy source which causes a large assortment of illnesses; this technology could potentially be life-saving. The Air Pollution Emission Experiments and Policy (APEEP) values that GHG’s cause about 6 million dollars worth of mortality. <ref>Evans, Kyle, Ines Azevedo, and M. Morgan. "Regional variations in the health, environmental, and climate benefits of wind and solar generation." Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences 110, no. 29 (July 16, 2013): 11768-73.</ref>
===An Economic Analysis===
Not only does solar power make sense for a person medically but also is great for the wallet. The sun’s energy luckily for everyone is free. However, the equipment needed to harvest and use that its energy is not. Usually, when thinking about buying a solar system some terms that come to mind are- expensive and unaffordable. There are some calculations you should consider before purchasing the system such as the life cycle costs, life cycle savings, payback time, and return on investing. In order to decide if a PV system is right for your household, you should perform these calculations and make the decision best for you. <ref>Kalogirou, Soteris. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. 2nd ed., Elsevier Science and Technology, 2013, pp. 701-32.</ref>


==The Problem==
==The Problem==
===Finding the Problem===
===Finding the Problem===
One of the most difficult parts of the MEOW is the learning curve. It took our group about a month of intense research and networking with community members to figure out how the MEOW works and what could be the source of the issues. The current systems batteries are 12 Volts (V) each and after testing them with a multi meter we discovered that two of the 4 batteries were at 8V. We spoke to Scott Toyama of Schatz Energy Resource Center and he confirmed that these two batteries are dead and need to replaced. Two other components our group thought might be causing the MEOW to not work are the charge controller and the inverter (if you don't know what these are please scroll down to the literature review). Our group had solar Roger come to the MEOW and assess these two components. After some testing by looking at the controls of charge controller there were no issues found with it. Furthermore, Roger stated that the inverter was not putting out an AC current because there was not enough DC charge to pull from in the batteries. The inverter does work when there is enough charge, but stops pulling out charge to avoid damaging the batteries.
One of the most difficult parts of the MEOW is the understanding what it is and how it works. It took our group about a month of intense research and networking with community members to figure out how the MEOW works and what could be the source of the issues. The current system's batteries are 12 Volts (V) each and after testing them with a multimeter we discovered that two of the 4 batteries were at 8V. We spoke to Scott Toyama of Schatz Energy Resource Center and he confirmed that these two batteries are dead and need to be replaced. Two other components our group thought might be causing the MEOW to not work are the charge controller and the inverter. Our group had solar Roger come to the MEOW and assess these two components. After some testing, by looking at the controls of charge controller there were no issues found with it. Furthermore, Roger stated that the inverter was not putting out an AC current because there was not enough DC charge to pull from the batteries. The inverter does work when there is enough charge, but stops pulling out charge to avoid damaging the batteries.


===What Caused the issue===
===What Caused the issue===
As I wrote earlier some of the history of the MEOW is a mystery. There's a loss between the MEOW V2 to the version of the MEOW we have now. In MEOW V2 there was Trojan batteries instead of Interstate batteries that we have presently and there is no documentation of the switch and this has led us to believe that someone had done work on the MEOW without letting many people know. Whoever had done the work is likely the source for why the batteries are damaged. There is an AC bypass switch and the inverter switch and both of these cannot be on at the same time because it would create an endless loop cycle that would constantly pull charge out of the batteries. This occurs because even after the inverter stopped working the AC bypass switch would be pulling out the DC current causing the system to over discharge. There typically is a cover over these switches, but was lost at some point once again most likely when the unknown update occurred. Although, this can be mitigated with proper signage and an easily accessible O&M.
As I wrote earlier some of the history of the MEOW is a mystery. There's a loss between the MEOW V2 to the version of the MEOW we have now. In MEOW V2 there were Trojan batteries instead of Interstate batteries that we have presently and there is no documentation of the switch and this has led us to believe that someone had done work on the MEOW without letting many people know. Whoever had done the work is likely the source for why the batteries are damaged. There is an AC bypass switch and the inverter switch and both of these cannot be on at the same time because it would create an endless loop cycle that would constantly pull charge out of the batteries. This occurs because even after the inverter stopped working the AC bypass switch would be pulling out the DC current causing the system to over discharge. There typically is a cover over these switches but was lost at some point once again most likely when the unknown update occurred. Although, this can be mitigated with proper signage and an easily accessible O&M.
 
 
==Construction==
 
In this section, we will be visually going over the construction of the project. This will include some of the design stage, the prototypes that were created and thought of, and assembling/ constructing the components for the MEOW.
 
===Building a Battery Enclosure===
The component the MEOW needed the most to be fixed was the batteries to ensure its capability to be operational. After, procuring the batteries we soon realized that the batteries we ordered were too long for the current battery enclosure. Immediately we began to make a makeshift battery enclosure. A new battery enclosure is important because its purpose serves as a barrier between the user and the battery and maintains temperature of the batteries to inhibit freezing. The batteries are 15.5" by 6.75". We sized the frame of the box to be 48" long, 18" in width and 14" tall. We cut the the box out of plywood because it was available and all of the designs we found of wood battery enclosures were made of plywood.
 
<gallery>
Image:Batenclosurebox.jpg|The box is 6 pieces of plywood cut to size with redwood dividers between the batteries.
</gallery>
 
===Painting the MEOW===
One important criteria for the MEOW is to bring it back into the community. Although, the MEOW is dark and after speaking to students we found that people are scared to even go inside the MEOW.To change this we decided to paint the inside. Our group worked with some HSU art students and developed a painting event in the MEOW on May day to get it done.
<gallery>
Image:20190427 170326.jpg|The MEOW originally was painted all white and extremely dark on the inside and very unappealing.
Image:20190427 170337.jpg|The MEOW is meant for the Community and the community can't use it if they're scared of it, so we painted it!
Image:20190427 170354.jpg|Droh, an awesome art student here at HSU helped facilitate painting the MEOW. Huge thanks to Droh to making it possible.
Image:20190427 175427.jpg|Painting the MEOW was a May Day event and lots of CCATers came out to give a helping hand
Image:20190427 195318.jpg| Here's a lovely CCATer in action riding the bike to power the activities going on while the MEOW is being painted.
</gallery>


==Budget==
===Crafting the Bike===
To improve the functionality of the MEOW our group decided to add on a third bike to the system to add more power. First, our group acquired a washing machine generator. To attach this to the bike we had to weld on a rectangular metal tube onto the bike and then weld on a large rectangular metal bracket with a bolt for the generator to be placed on.
<gallery>
Image:20190414 160403.jpg|In order to add another generator to the bike we have to add a bracket for it to be attached. Here's Bryce adding a bolt to the bracket for the generator to be attached to.
Image:20190414 163439.jpg|Bryce using an angle grinder to cut the metal bracket to size.
Image:20190414 160257.jpg|Ben Scurfield explaining the history of the MEOW
Image:20190414 171322.jpg|Bryce and Colton welding the bracket onto the bike.
Image:20190430 191225.jpg|Karina checking out the groove in the wheel to see how it would fit with a belt.
</gallery>
 
===Budget===
This is a proposed budget for our group. The items listed, excluding the painting materials, were recommended as necessary in order to make the MEOW functioning by professionals in the community such as solar Roger, Lonny Grafman, and Scott Toyama.  
This is a proposed budget for our group. The items listed, excluding the painting materials, were recommended as necessary in order to make the MEOW functioning by professionals in the community such as solar Roger, Lonny Grafman, and Scott Toyama.  
{| class="wikitable sortable"
{| class="wikitable sortable"
Line 91: Line 138:
|align="right"| 250.00
|align="right"| 250.00
|align="right"| 250.00
|align="right"| 250.00
|-
| - ||Soldering wire  || CCAT
|align="right"| -10.84
|align="right"| -10.84
|-
| - || Bolt || CCAT
|align="right"| -29.28
|align="right"| -29.28
|-
| - || Diodes and heat-shrink tube || CCAT
|align="right"| -6.50
|align="right"| -6.50
|-
| - || Soldering iron || CCAT
|align="right"| -23.85
|align="right"| -23.85
|-
|-
| - || IRA Grant || HSU
| - || IRA Grant || HSU
Line 97: Line 160:
|-class="sortbottom"
|-class="sortbottom"
|colspan="4" align="right" | '''Total Surplus or Deficit'''  
|colspan="4" align="right" | '''Total Surplus or Deficit'''  
|align="right"| '''$70.00'''  
|align="right"| '''-$0.47'''  
|}
|}


To supplement the budget we had available to us. One of the teammates, Cassidy, applied for a grant through IRA in order to purchase the needed supplies for the MEOW.
To supplement the budget we had available to us. One of the teammates, Cassidy, applied for a grant through IRA in order to purchase the needed supplies for the MEOW.


 
===Project Timeline===
==Proposed Timeline==


{| class="wikitable sortable"
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|}


==Construction==
==Operation and Maintenance==
Due to the MEOW immense technical learning curve we developed an entire page for the O&m please refer to this link for details on how to operate and maintain the MEOW [https://www.appropedia.org/CCAT_MEOW_2019/OM#Schedule]


In this section, we will be visually going over the construction of the project. This will include some of the design stage, the prototypes that were created and thought of, and assembling/ constructing the components for the MEOW.  
==Conclusion==
===Testing Results===
Due to timing issues and lack of sunshine we were unable to test the new components we added to the MEOW. One of the batteries we ordered was broken when we opened the box. Additionally, after we installed 3 out of the 4 batteries in series they were drained and could not be charged due to no sun.


== LITerature Review ==
===Lessons Learned===
There is a racking system we purchased was smaller than the size of the panels. However, it is definitely more than possible to make the racking system work for the MEOW. Our group did not have the time it would take to build the racking system. Our group was cut short on time because it took a while to receive funding and also by the time the racks got shipped to us there were only a couple weeks left in the semester. Our basic design to attach the racks is to attach them to the brackets on top of the MEOW and set up a car jack to lift or lower the racks by hand.
<gallery>
Image:Screenshot 2019-05-16 at 10.04.01 AM.png|This is a picture of our basic design.
</gallery>


=== The basics of a PV system ===
Additionally, there are three currently working bicycles that are wired together. The bike that has a frame similar to the fourth bike has a diode installed that has not been tested to ensure its viability. The fourth bike which we worked on all semester has a generator attached to a belt and also has an untested diode. This fourth bike is in need of a rail system on the larger wheel that is attached to the belt/ generator. Thus, the bike with a rubber wheel is still in need of a guide to ensure the belt does not slide off the large wheel.


A photovoltaic system is relatively simple. All it requires is a little know how and ability to build the system. The necessities of PV systems are the following: solar panels, a battery(or batteries), and solar energy. Although, to make the system more efficient additional technology should be added such as a charge controller, an inverter, and a surge protector. The MEOW has 4 solar panels aligned in series to increase voltage. The solar panels energy that gets produced is then connected to batteries in series where the energy can either be stored or connected to the inverter. The inverters purpose is to alter the current from DC to AC which makes  the energy usable in most households. A charge controller is used for the MEOW’s system to prevent overloading the batteries with charge or allowing the batteries to be drained too quickly. <ref>Balfour, John, Michael Shaw, and Nicole Nash. Photovoltaic System Design. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2013, pp. 1-45.
===What's Next===
. </ref>
Due to the MEOW's high learning curve, our group recommends for the next students that take on the MEOW to immediately reach out to community members and to do research in order to fully understand the MEOW and make the rest of the project easier. Additionally, it's important that everything gets properly sized when purchasing items. For both the racking system and batteries were not the right size and made the project more difficult. For example, we had to build an entirely new battery enclosure to put the batteries we ordered in.


=== The Benefits of Solar ===
==Update September 2019==
As of today MEOW was last known to be used for CCAT's Mayday in 2019 and it was a success. Some of its most recent updates include new batteries, a new battery enclosure, an extra bike for producing more energy, and a fresh new coat of paint. Although MEOW sits in the driveway there is still some components that work. The rig itself stopped properly functioning some time in June, but it’s thought to just be a problem with one of the batteries. It’s currently undergoing aesthetic modifications, with a mural on the inside of the trailer, and one planned for the outside.
<gallery>
Image: Meowmural1.JPG| The newest addition to MEOW
Image: Meowmural3.JPG| The MEOW stores four bikes which are hooked onto a battery charging said battery
Image: Meowmural2.JPG| The mural was done on CCAT mayday while pedalers were powering the event.
</gallery>


==== Medical ====
==Team==
As we all know the earth is in a state of crisis. Climate change is setting the entire world on a catastrophic path. One of the solutions to this global issue is solar energy. Solar energy provides many benefits not only for the environment but also medically. For example, in Ohio a 1-kW panel provides 105$ in health benefits just because it displaces enough greenhouse gas emissions it saves people money from having to go to the doctor. In states where coal is the main energy source which causes a large assortment of illnesses; this technology could potentially be life saving. The Air Pollution Emission Experiments and Policy (APEEP) values that GHG’s cause about 6 million dollars worth of mortality. <ref>Evans, Kyle, Ines Azevedo, and M. Morgan. "Regional variations in the health, environmental, and climate benefits of wind and solar generation." Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences 110, no. 29, 2013, pp. 11768-73. </ref>
*Karina Coronado
 
*Bryce Baker
=== Are Solar Panels Economical for you ===
*Cassidy Fosdick
Not only does solar power make sense for a person medically and environmentally but also is great for the wallet. The sun’s energy luckily for everyone is free. However, the equipment needed to harvest and use that energy is not. Usually when thinking about buying a solar system some terms that come to mind are- expensive, unaffordable. There are some calculations you should consider before purchasing the system such as the life cycle costs, life cycle savings, payback time, and return on investing. In order to decide if a PV system is right for your household you should perform the calculations and make the decision best for you. <ref>Kalogirou, Soteris. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. 2nd ed., Elsevier Science and Technology, 2013, pp. 701-32. </ref>
*Colton Evans
 
The average cost of electricity in Arcata is 19.53cents per kilowatt hour <ref> "Solar Power in Arcata, CA." https://solarenergylocal.com/states/california/arcata/#positioning. </ref>. Solar power without federal subsidies costs between 13cents to 17 cents per kwh. Although, with federal subsidies it can cost between 8cents to 11cents per kwh <ref> Meehan, Chris. "How are Solar Panels Changing America?." https://www.solar-estimate.org/news/2018-03-08-how-are-solar-panels-changing-america. </ref>. The contrast is pretty sharp between the prices and should be taken into consideration when debating if solar panels are cost effective.
 
=== How to Position the Solar Panels ===
It's very important in a PV system that the solar panels are positioned in the most optimal place to receive the most solar irradiation. At Arcatas positon on the planet the best positon for the MEOW's solar panels are to be tilted towards the equator at an angle equal to the latitude and this will produce the maximum solar energy output. <ref> "Solar Power in Arcata, CA." https://solarenergylocal.com/states/california/arcata/#positioning.</ref>
 
===Difficulties Pertaining to Bicycles===
 
“Representations of utilitarian cycling are now all but absent from mass media in the United States, and it is particularly rare for television and film audiences to see and adult character using a bicycle as a normal, everyday mode of transportation. In the few cases where adult bicyclists are featured in U.S. entertainment media, they are generally portrayed as being for outside the mainstream; most are depicted as childish men, eccentrics, sexually odd characters, geeks and/or financial failures. Negative perceptions of cycling are one of the many reasons why bicycles are widely considered a forgotten mode of transportation in the United States but they serve an ideological function often ignored or overlooked” <ref>FURNESS, Z. (2010). Two-Wheeled Terrors and Forty-Year-Old Virgins: Mass Media and the Representation of Bicycling. In One Less Car: Bicycling and the Politics of Automobility (pp. 108-139). Temple University Press. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.humboldt.edu/stable/j.ctt14bs7fb.8</ref>
 
“There is a vital difference between pedaling a stationary device and pedaling a bicycle at the same power output. On a bicycle, much of the pedaling energy goes into overcoming wind resistance; this wind resistance, however, provides an important benefit: cooling. Because of the wind, even in hot, humid climates, so long as the bicyclist drinks enough liquids, dehydration and heat stroke are unlikely to occur. On the other hand, when pedaling a stationary device on a hot or humid day at more than about half the maximum possible power output, there is a considerable danger of the pedaler's collapsing because of an excessive rise in body temperature.” <ref>Wilson, D. G. (2011). Technical Paper # 51, Understanding Pedal Power. Retrieved February 17, 2019, from https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/edgerton-center/ec-711-d-lab-energy-spring-2011/intro-energy-basics-human-power/lab-1-human-power-homework/MITEC_711S11_lab1_pedal.pdf
</ref>
 
===Riding a bike is not just about producing/ exerting energy===
 
“A large set of experimental data led exercise and cognitive neuroscientists to consider that acute aerobic exercise acts like an psychostimulant drug via brain noradrenergic and dopaminergic pathways.” <ref>Exercise and Cognitive Function, edited by Terry McMorris, et al., John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated, 2009. ProQuest Ebook Central, http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/humboldt/detail.action?docID=427932.
Created from humboldt on 2019-02-18 21:20:14. </ref>
 
“Furthermore, exercising with someone resulted in more calmness but also more tiredness than when exercising alone. Results suggest that exercise with someone may be calming but more tiring due to a potential increased competition or workload.” <ref>Plante, T. G., Coscarelli, L., & Ford, M. (n.d.). Does Exercising with Another Enhance the Stress-Reducing Benefits of Exercise? Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1011339025532</ref>
 
===Optimizing the MEOW===
 
The MEOW’s application is limited by the size of the storage capacity and its intended use for a an event. A limitation of the MEOW is that humans on the bicycles become tired after a period of time cycling. The average person can produce 75 watts over a sustained amount of time, 150 watts for a few hours, or 225 watts for about 30 minutes. The multiple stationary bicycles stored in the MEOW allows individuals to cancel their aspirations at the gym and turn to burning calories to generate electricity for latter use. <ref>"Pedal Powered Farms and Factories: The Forgotten Future of the Stationary Bicycle." LOW-TECH MAGAZINE. May 25, 2011. Accessed February 21, 2019.
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/05/pedal-powered-farms-and-factories.html</ref>
 
Another way to optimize the MEOW is to add a flywheel to the stationary bicycles to rotate independently when the user is cycling at a slower speed or stops due to exhaustion to continue the generation of electricity. Charging the battery in this manner will depend on the motor speed, the users ability to exercise, and the battery size. <ref>"Bike Powered Electricity Generators Are Not Sustainable." LOW-TECH MAGAZINE. March 11, 2011. Accessed February 21, 2019.
https://www.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/05/bike-powered-electricity-generators.html</ref>
 
===Exposing the awesome power of the MEOW!===
 
The MEOW can be towed to events, universities, grade schools, or music festivals for example. This allows the public to see, interact, or hear from educators about the multiple applications of the MEOW. It can power lights, speakers, and cell phones and demonstrating this can inspire people to look at technology that they can incorporate into their lives and hopefully build and prompt the local area to look at new ways to power their TVs, refrigerator, washers, and lights. <ref>Thacher, Eric F.. 2011. A Solar Car Primer. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers, Incorporated. Accessed February 20, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central.</ref>
 
===Go hard or go home, bring the MEOW to the internet!===
 
The best way to give the MEOW exposure to a large audience is to make use of social media outlets. Creating accounts in Facebook or twitter for example can possibly open the flood gates of showing the world the capabilities behind the MEOW. Creating videos of this system in action performing at music events will draw more interest to social media. Making use of known marketing schemes that have little to no cost for individuals interested. This adds another component to optimize the use of the MEOW for demonstrations at other communities. <ref>Belew, Shannon. 2014. The Art of Social Selling : Finding and Engaging Customers on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Other Social Networks. Saranac Lake: AMACOM. Accessed February 20, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central.</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Engr305 Appropriate Technology]]




[[Category:Engr305 Appropriate Technology]]
[[Category:Engr305 Appropriate Technology]]
[[Category:CCAT]]
[[Category:CCAT]]
[[Category:CCAT active project|M]]
[[Category:CCAT active project|M]]
[[Category:CCAT MEOW]]
[[Category:Photovoltaics]]
[[Category:CCAT MEOW 2015]]
[[Category:Pedal power]]
[[Category:CCAT MEOW history]]
[[Category:CCAT MEOW rack]]
[[Category:CCAT Mobile Energy Operations Wagon (MEOW) energy analysis]]
[[Category:CCAT pedal powered innovations]]

Revision as of 00:21, 9 February 2020

Pedaling for power.

Abstract

The MEOW, the powerhouse of CCAT is in disrepair. Years of not being used properly have caused the batteries to die without a chance of revival. Follow the Seismic Strategies teams journey on bringing back the MEOW into the community.

Background

The history of the MEOW in CCAT is extensive and somewhat a mystery. The story of the MEOW begins in 2003. The most quintessential part of CCAT from its history is pedal power bikes. You can look at pictures of CCAT decades ago and find hundreds of students pedaling bikes for power. In 2003, Ben Scurfield and others banded together to create the communal power idea of putting wheels making it the MEOW. The MEOW has used to power the concerts, Maydays, speeches, and other events. Until 2010, the MEOW was being used at a Danco construction site and was stolen. All that was left was just the trailer frame itself. In 2012 thanks to students David Katz and Solar Roger, the MEOW was brought back to life with an entirely new system. Although, once again, now 2019 the MEOW has fallen into disrepair and is no longer used to power the heartbeat of CCAT. Karina Coronado, Bryce Baker, Colton Evans, and Cassidy Fosdick took on this project in fixing the MEOW.

Problem statement

Upon receiving the MEOW as a project we found out from Anh Bui that the MEOW has not reliably worked in months. The following are the issues that Anh presented: does not work after the morning or at night, the MEOW is not holding a charge, they think that possibly the inverter is not working, and only 2 out of the 4 bikes are in working order. Our objective and priority for this project are to get the MEOW working and functioning. Also, bringing the MEOW back into the community will be important and a goal for our group to accomplish.

Project Evaluation Criteria

The following criteria will be used by our team to follow in order to ensure that we meet our goals for our client and remind us what is most important to them to ensure that we achieve a successful project. The criteria below are based upon the client's stern direction and requests for their idea of what they want for the MEOW. The scale (1-10) represents the importance level of meeting the constraint of each listed criteria, 1 being the least important and 10 being the most important.

Criteria Constraints Weight
(1-10)
Community MEOW can be used for CCAT, powering tools, charging devices, and local events.
8
Maintainability An easy to understand operations and maintenance manual with in-depth details is required.
9
Aesthetics More signage and the MEOW must be more eye-catching.
7
Educational Aspect Must be able to educate the public about solar and pedal-powered energy without someone being present.
6
Safety & Placement Batteries should be properly covered and thorough instructions on how to handle MEOW technology will be provided.
8
Usability The MEOW should be able to be used by everyone and the knowledge made accessible.
9
Cost Must not exceed budget or fundraising is needed.
6
Functionality Must be able to make usable for people in the future for a long period of time.
10

Literature Review

The Basics of a PV System

A photovoltaic system is relatively simple. All it requires is a little know-how and ability to build the system. The necessities of PV systems are the following: solar panels, a battery(or batteries), solar energy. Although, to make the system more efficient additional technology should be added such as a charge controller an inverter, and a surge protector. The MEOW has 4 solar panels aligned in series to increase voltage. The solar panels energy that gets produced is then connected to batteries in series where the energy can either be stored or connected to the inverter. The inverters purpose is to alter the current from DC to AC which is used in most households. A charge controller is used for the MEOW’s system to prevent overloading the batteries with a charge or allowing the batteries to be drained too quickly. [1]

The Benefits of Solar

One of the solutions to the energy issue is solar energy. Solar energy provides many benefits not only for the environment but also medically. For example, in Ohio, a 1-kW panel provides 105$ in health benefits just because it displaces enough greenhouse gas emissions it saves people money from having to go to the doctor. In states where coal is the main energy source which causes a large assortment of illnesses; this technology could potentially be life-saving. The Air Pollution Emission Experiments and Policy (APEEP) values that GHG’s cause about 6 million dollars worth of mortality. [2]

An Economic Analysis

Not only does solar power make sense for a person medically but also is great for the wallet. The sun’s energy luckily for everyone is free. However, the equipment needed to harvest and use that its energy is not. Usually, when thinking about buying a solar system some terms that come to mind are- expensive and unaffordable. There are some calculations you should consider before purchasing the system such as the life cycle costs, life cycle savings, payback time, and return on investing. In order to decide if a PV system is right for your household, you should perform these calculations and make the decision best for you. [3]

The Problem

Finding the Problem

One of the most difficult parts of the MEOW is the understanding what it is and how it works. It took our group about a month of intense research and networking with community members to figure out how the MEOW works and what could be the source of the issues. The current system's batteries are 12 Volts (V) each and after testing them with a multimeter we discovered that two of the 4 batteries were at 8V. We spoke to Scott Toyama of Schatz Energy Resource Center and he confirmed that these two batteries are dead and need to be replaced. Two other components our group thought might be causing the MEOW to not work are the charge controller and the inverter. Our group had solar Roger come to the MEOW and assess these two components. After some testing, by looking at the controls of charge controller there were no issues found with it. Furthermore, Roger stated that the inverter was not putting out an AC current because there was not enough DC charge to pull from the batteries. The inverter does work when there is enough charge, but stops pulling out charge to avoid damaging the batteries.

What Caused the issue

As I wrote earlier some of the history of the MEOW is a mystery. There's a loss between the MEOW V2 to the version of the MEOW we have now. In MEOW V2 there were Trojan batteries instead of Interstate batteries that we have presently and there is no documentation of the switch and this has led us to believe that someone had done work on the MEOW without letting many people know. Whoever had done the work is likely the source for why the batteries are damaged. There is an AC bypass switch and the inverter switch and both of these cannot be on at the same time because it would create an endless loop cycle that would constantly pull charge out of the batteries. This occurs because even after the inverter stopped working the AC bypass switch would be pulling out the DC current causing the system to over discharge. There typically is a cover over these switches but was lost at some point once again most likely when the unknown update occurred. Although, this can be mitigated with proper signage and an easily accessible O&M.


Construction

In this section, we will be visually going over the construction of the project. This will include some of the design stage, the prototypes that were created and thought of, and assembling/ constructing the components for the MEOW.

Building a Battery Enclosure

The component the MEOW needed the most to be fixed was the batteries to ensure its capability to be operational. After, procuring the batteries we soon realized that the batteries we ordered were too long for the current battery enclosure. Immediately we began to make a makeshift battery enclosure. A new battery enclosure is important because its purpose serves as a barrier between the user and the battery and maintains temperature of the batteries to inhibit freezing. The batteries are 15.5" by 6.75". We sized the frame of the box to be 48" long, 18" in width and 14" tall. We cut the the box out of plywood because it was available and all of the designs we found of wood battery enclosures were made of plywood.

Painting the MEOW

One important criteria for the MEOW is to bring it back into the community. Although, the MEOW is dark and after speaking to students we found that people are scared to even go inside the MEOW.To change this we decided to paint the inside. Our group worked with some HSU art students and developed a painting event in the MEOW on May day to get it done.

Crafting the Bike

To improve the functionality of the MEOW our group decided to add on a third bike to the system to add more power. First, our group acquired a washing machine generator. To attach this to the bike we had to weld on a rectangular metal tube onto the bike and then weld on a large rectangular metal bracket with a bolt for the generator to be placed on.

Budget

This is a proposed budget for our group. The items listed, excluding the painting materials, were recommended as necessary in order to make the MEOW functioning by professionals in the community such as solar Roger, Lonny Grafman, and Scott Toyama.

Quantity Material Source Cost ($) Total ($)
4 Batteries Battery Manufacturer -187.00 -748.00
1 Outback mate display Outback Power Systems -215.00 -215.00
2 Natural Paint Pigment CCAT -8.00 -16.00
2 linseed oil CCAT -15.00 -30.00
1 washing machine generator Ebay -50.00 -50.00
1 Connection Wire Ace -5.00 -5.00
- CCAT Donation CCAT 250.00 250.00
- Soldering wire CCAT -10.84 -10.84
- Bolt CCAT -29.28 -29.28
- Diodes and heat-shrink tube CCAT -6.50 -6.50
- Soldering iron CCAT -23.85 -23.85
- IRA Grant HSU 868.00 868.00
Total Surplus or Deficit -$0.47

To supplement the budget we had available to us. One of the teammates, Cassidy, applied for a grant through IRA in order to purchase the needed supplies for the MEOW.

Project Timeline

Objective Tentative Proposed Date Date Completed
Complete research about MEOW issues and possible solutions 3/9/19 3/15/19
Have additional parts or equipment for MEOW 3/16/19 5/10/19
Schematic drawings completed 3/23/19 3/19/19
Test equipment and buy necessary parts within budget 3/30/19 3/30/19
Work on third bike: weld on bracket and add wheel 4/6/19 4/15/19
Make the MEOW presentable for Earth week. Attempt to make signs and paint the MEOW 4/13/19 4/18/19
Present the MEOW in Earth week. 4/21/19 4/21/19
Compile all schematics, operations, and maintenance manuals in one location 4/26/19 5/15/19
Finish the MEOW, high fives all around 4/30/19 5/16/19

Operation and Maintenance

Due to the MEOW immense technical learning curve we developed an entire page for the O&m please refer to this link for details on how to operate and maintain the MEOW [1]

Conclusion

Testing Results

Due to timing issues and lack of sunshine we were unable to test the new components we added to the MEOW. One of the batteries we ordered was broken when we opened the box. Additionally, after we installed 3 out of the 4 batteries in series they were drained and could not be charged due to no sun.

Lessons Learned

There is a racking system we purchased was smaller than the size of the panels. However, it is definitely more than possible to make the racking system work for the MEOW. Our group did not have the time it would take to build the racking system. Our group was cut short on time because it took a while to receive funding and also by the time the racks got shipped to us there were only a couple weeks left in the semester. Our basic design to attach the racks is to attach them to the brackets on top of the MEOW and set up a car jack to lift or lower the racks by hand.

Additionally, there are three currently working bicycles that are wired together. The bike that has a frame similar to the fourth bike has a diode installed that has not been tested to ensure its viability. The fourth bike which we worked on all semester has a generator attached to a belt and also has an untested diode. This fourth bike is in need of a rail system on the larger wheel that is attached to the belt/ generator. Thus, the bike with a rubber wheel is still in need of a guide to ensure the belt does not slide off the large wheel.

What's Next

Due to the MEOW's high learning curve, our group recommends for the next students that take on the MEOW to immediately reach out to community members and to do research in order to fully understand the MEOW and make the rest of the project easier. Additionally, it's important that everything gets properly sized when purchasing items. For both the racking system and batteries were not the right size and made the project more difficult. For example, we had to build an entirely new battery enclosure to put the batteries we ordered in.

Update September 2019

As of today MEOW was last known to be used for CCAT's Mayday in 2019 and it was a success. Some of its most recent updates include new batteries, a new battery enclosure, an extra bike for producing more energy, and a fresh new coat of paint. Although MEOW sits in the driveway there is still some components that work. The rig itself stopped properly functioning some time in June, but it’s thought to just be a problem with one of the batteries. It’s currently undergoing aesthetic modifications, with a mural on the inside of the trailer, and one planned for the outside.

Team

  • Karina Coronado
  • Bryce Baker
  • Cassidy Fosdick
  • Colton Evans

References

Template:Reflist

  1. Balfour, John, Michael Shaw, and Nicole Nash. Photovoltaic System Design. Burlington, MA: Jones and Bartlett Learning, 2013, pp. 1-45.
  2. Evans, Kyle, Ines Azevedo, and M. Morgan. "Regional variations in the health, environmental, and climate benefits of wind and solar generation." Proceedings of the National Academy of the Sciences 110, no. 29 (July 16, 2013): 11768-73.
  3. Kalogirou, Soteris. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. 2nd ed., Elsevier Science and Technology, 2013, pp. 701-32.
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