Project #1: Floating Offshore Wind Energy in the Great Lakes Region
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, [email protected]
Prerequisites:
- Completion of courses relative to one or more of the following: Aerodynamics, Fluid Dynamics, Marine Hydrodynamics, Marine Structures, Manufacturing Techniques, Climate Change, Energy, and Social Justice, Energy and Economics, Environmental Law and Justice.
Desired skills/experience:
- Familiarity with MATLAB and Open FAST is helpful but not required.
Project Description: The Great Lakes area offers an enormous offshore wind capacity of 743 gigawatts (GW), surpassing that of the New England or Middle Atlantic region. Despite this significant potential, the development of offshore wind energy has been slow in the region. This project seeks motivated students to assist in developing new research projects related to offshore wind energy in the Great Lakes region. The student research involves evaluating and providing solutions to the technical and social challenges associated with future offshore wind projects in the Great Lakes.
The technical challenges include addressing aerodynamics, hydrodynamics, and the structural response of the floating offshore platform under wave, wind, current, and ice loadings. In addition to challenges in the design phase, novel manufacturing procedures such as 3D printing and additive manufacturing can also be investigated. Social challenges related to environmental concerns and community engagement should also be addressed during this project.
The preliminary findings of the SURE student during this project will be used to apply for new grants, which can potentially support the student during their graduate studies.
Research mode: In Lab
Project #2: Dual-Functional Tuned Inerter Damper for Enhanced Semi-Sub Offshore Wind Turbine
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, [email protected]
Prerequisites:
- Completion of ME 240 Dynamics or NAME 340 Marine Dynamics is required.
Desired skills/experience:
- experience in machine shops is helpful but not required.
Project Description: As the world increasingly turns to renewable energy, offshore wind emerges as a promising resource, especially in deeper waters where floating turbines can capture stronger wind profiles. Unlike fixed-bottom turbines confined to shallow depths, floating turbines offer a broader range of deployment but face challenges with increased motion and ultimate loads.
Our team is addressing this challenge by developing a dual-functional tuned-inerter damper (TID) specifically designed for semi-submersible offshore wind platforms. This retrofittable device aims to not only enhance the stability of these floating structures but also to harvest energy from both wind and wave-induced vibrations.
Research Focus: Implement TIDs in the columns of semi-submersible platforms to effectively reduce vibration and transform these motions into electrical energy.
Opportunities: Be part of a project funded by the National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC) and GE Research Center. Engage in MHL tank tests and other experimental research to investigate the improved performance of wind turbines under harsh ocean conditions.
This is an opportunity to work alongside Dr. Lei Zuo and gain hands-on experience in marine renewable energy, energy harvesting, and scaled testing.
Research mode: In Lab
Project #3: Prototype and wave tank test of a light-weight portable wave-current energy converter
Faculty Mentor: Lei Zuo, [email protected]
Prerequisites:
- Completion of ME 240 Dynamics or NAME 340 Marine Dynamics is required.
Desired skills/experience:
- Familiarity with mechanical design using Solidworks or other CAD software.
- Basic understanding of marine renewable energy.
- Hand-on experience with mechanical systems/knowledge on numerical simulation using MATLAB is a plus.
- Junior (raising senior) students preferred.
Project Description: The Marine Renewable Innovations and Education Lab is developing a lab-scale prototype of a light-weight portable marine and hydrokinetic energy converter. This device has the unique design that can harvest ocean wave energy and the ocean current energy at the same time. We are looking for undergraduate students who are interested in conducting mechanical design and hardware implementation, and maybe testing of the device. The job includes improving the current design with better efficiency and reliability, applying hardware building and assembling, and conducting some dry-lab and wave tank tests. Thus, students with strong hands-on experience and problem-solving skills are encouraged to apply. The job is expected to be done in multiple locations, including the NAME building at the North Campus and the MHL building at the Central Campus, in-person attendance required.
Research mode: In Lab