Floating Water Turbine

Team Ra: Ryan Davis, Zach Hazen, Chris

McKisson, Meijhan Mock, Matt Ostler, John
Twomey
 Problem Statement

 To provide power for a small village by harnessing the

flow of water.
 To develop a micro-enterprise based on the production
and storage of this energy.
 Functional Requirements

 The turbine must efficiently convert the kinetic energy of

the flowing water into electrical energy for the village.
 Quantitative Requirements

 To use cheap and common materials so that repair is

simple.
 The product must be small enough to not impede traffic
on the river.
 The system must be buoyant.
 Qualitative Requirements

 The system must have the ability to be easily retracted

onto land.
 Durability is a necessity, as there are harsh conditions
such as floods.
 Customers

 Inhabitants of a developing community.

 Non-conflicting with education, age, religion, income,
culture, etc.
 Electricity enables productivity after sunset.
 At dusk, one could pick up a battery from a charging
station.
 Customers

 Now: Children could study at night.

 Future: Education would increase continuously.
 Micro-enterprises would develop through charging and
selling batteries and turbine repair services.
Benchmarks
Benchmarks
Dam Concept
Initial Boat Concept
Preliminary Boat Design (Top View)
Preliminary Boat Design (Side View)
Preliminary Boat Design (Front View)
Alternative Concepts
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Brainstorming
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design
Final Design (Motor Assembly)
Alternative Paddle Arrangements
Alternative Paddle Arrangements
Actual Prototype
Actual Prototype
Actual Prototype
Materials
Materials
 Arrival at Final Concept

 Floating system for versatility.

 Paddle wheel instead of prop.
 Simplicity of construction, modification, and repair.
 ABS instead of PVC due to weight and price.
Testing
Testing
Testing
Testing
Data

 1 meter per second flow rate.

 26 revolutions per minute.
 Re-Engineering

 Addition of fins to direct water current.

 Sealed sections to prevent destruction and leaking.
 Re-enforced paddles.
 Addition of a tether system.
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
Testing (Trial Two)
 Data (Trial Two)

PADDLE RPM V. VOLTAGE

R2 = 0.9969
8

6
Induced Voltage (V)

5
Paddle RPM v. Voltage
Linear (Paddle RPM v. Voltage)
4

0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Paddle RPM (Rev/Min)
 Data (Trial Two)

PADDLE RPM V. CURRENT

5.0

4.5
R2 = 0.9969

4.0

3.5
Corresponding Current (A)

3.0

Paddle RPM v. Current

2.5
Linear (Paddle RPM v. Current)

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0.0 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0
Paddle RPM (rev/min)
 Re-Engineering (Trial Two)

 Addition of motor mounting bracket.

 Addition of decals.
 Strengths

 Everybody is a leader.
 Diverse ideas.
 Constructive communication.
 Healthy amount of conflict.
 Dedication.
 Inquisitive.
 Motivation.
 We have fun!
 Challenges

 Finding time to meet.

 Lack of background knowledge.
 Researching applicable paddle designs.
 Financial limitations.
 Cramming 6 people into a car.