Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC)

Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC)?

• Led by the Department of Energy, administered by National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)

• Theme: “Powering the Blue Economy”: use marine energy to power ocean-based industries

• Multidisciplinary teams (undergraduate and graduate) select blue economy market and design a marine-energy device for it

• Marine energy = tidal (gravitational), wave (wind & surface), current (51% of device’s power must be marine)

• ~ 8-10 month long

• 4 Main Challenges:

  • Business Plan: market & end users

  • Technical Design: detailed device design

  • Built & Test: scaled prototype, lab or tank testing

  • Community Connection: industry interviews & outreach

• Scoring: Mid-year submission + Final report + Presentation/Q&A

• Final event (May, Portland Oregon) presenting to industry judges

Team & Role

• Team: Comet Wave (UT Dallas)

• Device Name: Little Rocky

• Team Size: 6 Mechanical, 3 Electrical, 1 Business

• First year competing

• Volunteered to be Electrical Lead

• Responsible for the electrical system and leading the electrical team

• Coordinating with:

  • Mechanical: generator mounting, waterproofing, enclosure space

  • Business: end-user needs

• Wave-tank testing

• 8 industry interviews, co-authored the final report

The Problem?

The Industry (Blue Economy):

• Offshore aquaculture: fish or shellfish farms out in the ocean

Issue:

• High maintenance

• Lots of stressful factors (environmental quality & visits can stress the fish leading to higher mortality rate)

Diesel:

• Offshore is remote, with no grid connection

• Power comes from diesel generators

• Downsides:

  • Fuel cost + Boat trips

  • Emissions and spill risks

Solution:

• Wave energy converter (autonomous system) that powers water quality monitoring system

• Battery stores energy for low frequency or intermittent waves

• RF transmitter sends water quality data back to end users on shore

• Benefits: less diesel, fewer site visits, clean local power, less stressful factors reducing mortality rate of aquaculture supply

• Designed around operator interview: durability, maintainability, cost

Rotating Mass Wave Energy Converter?

• Name: Little Rocky

• Sealed buoy floats on the surface of the ocean and rocks with the waves

• Mass that moves relative to the buoy as it rocks (internal mass swings)

• Relative motion spins a generator (swinging spins a generator)

• Spinning generator generates electricity

The Electrical System?

N/A

Testing & Results?

N/A

Industry Interviews & Report?

N/A