Solar Power Hydropump

Completed: November 2021 for Honors Introduction to Innovation and Physical Science of Engineering

 

Why?

• Solar power is a common energy source, but often unavailable/inefficient, as 10-25% of normal power output is captured on cloudy days

• Hydroelectric power can be combined with solar panels to satisfy energy needs

 

Objective

• Design a hydropump that has an efficiency of 80% +/- 5% and that costs less than $1M

• Make ethical, environmentally-conscious decisions given several different site choices

 

Site Options

• Site 1: 

  • Fees: requires a short access road to be built, $18,000 site prep, contains possible hazardous chemicals costing $300-$510 per metric ton​

  • Geography: small incline, smallest horizontal distance from river

• Site 2:

  • Fees: Requires longer access road, $36,000 site prep, is possibly an ancient burial site costing $2k-$7k per dug up grave​

  • Geography: steep incline, furthest distance from river

• Site 3:

  • Fees: Requires longest access road, $21,600 site prep, possible erosion monitoring with unknown long-term costs​

  • Geography: in between site 1 and 2 for incline and distance