The goal of this project was to improve on and simplify an existing design of a device that generates electrical power from the flow of water. The device was previously a series of fins that were driven by water flowing past, which in turn drives a shaft that supplies rotational energy to a generator that produces electricity. The team hoped to accomplish this by improving fin design and material selection. A new fin and a crankshaft were designed, and it was found that a crankshaft made of acrylic is not feasible to manufacture on WPI's campus due to tolerancing constraints. Also, a fin constructed of 1/4" of neoprene was far too heavy to turn a crank or camshaft with the applied force of the water.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Bradley, Katrina

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032416-000351

Advisor

• Savilonis, Brian James

Year

• 2016

Date created

• 2016-03-24

Location

• Worcester

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-02-02