CAPTION TEXT

Template:305inprogress

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. Karina Coronado, Bryce Baker, Colton Evans,and Cassidy Fosdick will be taking on the project.

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.

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.

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 through 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

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.

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.

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
- IRA Grant HSU 868.00 868.00
Total Surplus or Deficit $70.00

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.


Proposed 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

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 temperture 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. zImage:Batenclosurebox.jpg|The box is 6 pieces of plywood cut to size with redwood dividers between the batteries. </gallery>

Painting the MEOW

Crafting the Bike

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.

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), 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. [1]

The Benefits of Solar

Medical

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. [2]

Are Solar Panels Economical for you

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. [3]

The average cost of electricity in Arcata is 19.53cents per kilowatt hour [4]. 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 [5]. 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. [6]

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” [7]

“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.” [8]

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.” [9]

“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.” [10]

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. [11]

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. [12]

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. [13]

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. [14]

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, 2013, pp. 11768-73.
  3. Kalogirou, Soteris. Solar Energy Engineering: Processes and Systems. 2nd ed., Elsevier Science and Technology, 2013, pp. 701-32.
  4. "Solar Power in Arcata, CA." https://solarenergylocal.com/states/california/arcata/#positioning.
  5. Meehan, Chris. "How are Solar Panels Changing America?." https://www.solar-estimate.org/news/2018-03-08-how-are-solar-panels-changing-america.
  6. "Solar Power in Arcata, CA." https://solarenergylocal.com/states/california/arcata/#positioning.
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. 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.
  10. 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
  11. "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
  12. "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
  13. Thacher, Eric F.. 2011. A Solar Car Primer. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers, Incorporated. Accessed February 20, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central.
  14. 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.
Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.