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Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Ethics Statement F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
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Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Midterm Report Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
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Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Final Presentation F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Final Presentation Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Brochure F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 MidTerm Presentation F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Project Plan Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Poster1 Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Brochure Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Poster2 F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Ethics Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Poster2 Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
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Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Project Plan F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
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Title: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration (Semester Unknown) IPRO 349: Solid Fuel from Biomass for Cogeneration IPRO 349 Final Report Sp08
Creator: Mikesell, Jonathan, Dlugosz, Anna, Heffernan, Joseph, James, Joshua, Vassi, Anna, Yap, Ying Bing, Yeap, Xin Yi, Chacko, Serena, Ruidera, Ryan, Stanfield, Terrance
Date: 2008, 2008-05
Description: Renewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from...
Show moreRenewable energy is one of the most important and widely researched topics today. It is classically defined as any form of energy coming from any naturally replenish-able source. This may include everything from solar to wind power, as well as biomass or biofuels. When considering biomass, or any (living or recently-dead) biological material, the chemical energy of the molecules is generally collected through combustion. The area of liquid fuels from biomass has especially gained much notoriety and support in recent years. This is due to the lower emissions and clean-burning nature of these fuels when compared to more traditional approaches, as well as the obvious renewable nature of the starting material. While vegetable oils or animal fats can be used as a replacement for diesel fuels, corn, switchgrass, or other grains are more widely used to produce ethanol for use in common combustion engines. Today’s E85 fuel is sold to customers with a chemical makeup of 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline. The use of solid biomass as a direct supplier of energy, however, is an area still left relatively unexplored in this growing field. In theory, and as preliminary research suggests, harvesting energy directly from solid biomass may be considerably more efficient than gathering it from its processed liquid counterpart. In fact, some studies suggest that the energy acquired from burning ethanol is up to 67% lower than is contained in the plant cellulose from which it is derived.[1] There are, however, several other factors besides energy projections to consider when looking at the economic and market viability of such an approach. For example, one of the main advantages of liquid fuels over solid is the ease of transportation and storage. Additionally, the feasibility of developing a whole new process of biomass collection and processing must be balanced with economic and logistical constraints. This includes not only careful analysis of energy and cost balances, but also in-depth examination of all equipment, manpower and environmental limitations. IPRO 349 was established to examine these (and many more) considerations in the viability of sold fuel from biomass. Specifically, we have narrowed the scope of our research to biomass derived from corn stover (leaves and stalk left in the ground after harvesting) within the state of Illinois. Illinois was chosen because it is currently the largest producer of corn in the nation.[2] Corn stover has been shown to have an energy content of 5,290 Btu/lb. wet, and 7,560 Btu/lb. dry.[2]With such an approach, it may be possible to utilize what would otherwise be considered “waste” to produce useable, renewable energy. For the purposes of this project, cogeneration, or the simultaneous generation of both electricity and useful heat will be examined.
Deliverables
Show less

Title: Power Measurement for Road Bicycles: Towards a Universal Solution (Semester Unknown) IPRO 324: Power Measurements for Road Bikes IPRO 324 Final Report F08
Creator: Aguilar, Sergio, Becker, Patrick, Gonzalez, Daniel, Kaminski, Bryan, Knopp, Nathan, Jankhot, Crystal, Marcellis, Brandon, Poli, David, Ruidera, Ryan, Tsosie, Henrietta, Yoo, Jaewon, Ziomek, Arkadiusz
Date: 2008, 2008-12
Description: We would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be...
Show moreWe would like to develop a system that measures the applied torque at a bicycle crank set. In contrast to current solutions, we want to be able to retrofit our system to existing crank sets, obviating the need to abandon parts that the bicyclist already owns. In principle, according to preliminary tests performed at the MMAE department, this can be done using sets of quite inexpensive strain gauges. However, being able to get accurate torque measurements will require some advanced processing of signals from the strain gauges. These signals can then be transmitted wirelessly to a bicycle computer like the Edge 705 that the global positioning system corporation Garmin released this spring. There is a defined wireless protocol, called ANT+Sport, which has been developed specifically for the purpose of transmitting exercise data, such as power output or heart rate, to small computers. Chipsets and development kits for this protocol are also available commercially. Therefore, our task will be to find an optimal configuration of strain gauges that will be attached to the crank set, and to develop an algorithm to process the strain gauge data in order to isolate a signal that is proportional to the applied torque. This signal will then be transmitted to the bicycle computer for display and storage
Deliverables
Show less

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