The 31st Annual
Senior Projects Night
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Schedule
3:45 p.m.
Engineering Senior Class Picture
4:00—5:45 p.m.
Open House Viewing of Prototypes in the Design & Project Center
6:00 p.m.
Dinner in the Van Noord Arena
We would like to have everyone seated and devotions completed by 6:15.
Welcome & Devotions, Prof. Michmerhuizen
Acknowledgements & Address to Seniors, Prof. Jeremy VanAntwerp
7:30 p.m.
Presentations of Projects (please feel free to visit from room to room.)
Van Noord Arena Room 235—Prof. Nielsen
7:30 p.m. Team #1
Maneuver Mobile
Team #2
Team 3-D Delivery
8:10 p.m. BREAK
8:25 p.m. Team #4
Volts-Wagon
Team #6
Jet Blade
CFAC—Recital Hall —Prof. Jeremy VanAntwerp
7:30 p.m. Team #16
The Nuclear Family
Team #15
Eporis
8:10 p.m. BREAK
8:25 p.m. Team #14
GRE-Cycle
Team #13
Solar Desalination
Hoogenboom Center 280—Prof. Ren Tubergen
7:30 p.m. Team #3
RoMow
Team #5
Thera Tryke
8:10 p.m. BREAK
8:25 p.m. Team #7
Greatest HITS
Team #8
Electro-Wave
Commons Lecture Hall—Prof. David Wunder
7:30 p.m. Team #17
NicarAqua
Team #18
GR Swiss
8:10 p.m. BREAK
8:25 p.m. Team #19
The ACE Team
Team #20
Daylighters
Science Building SB 010—Prof. Mark Michmerhuizen
7:30 p.m. Team #9
HomeAlive
Team #10
Bio Bit
8:10 p.m. BREAK
8:25 p.m. Team #11
Amphibot
Team #12
Pods
Team 1: Maneuver Mobile
Doug Faber, Tyler DeVries, Wesley Richards
The Maneuver Mobile team, consisting
of three mechanical engineers, was
given the task of restoring a car, built in
2002 by the “We Get Around” senior
design team. The previous design was
powered by a standard electric motor
paired with a continuously variable
transmission and controlled using a
single joystick. The vehicle was redesigned to utilize two hub motors in
place of standard rear wheels. It features mechanical front steering, and servo driven electronic rear steering for improved maneuverability.
The ride height was lowered to achieve a lower center of gravity, improving the stability of the car. Joystickstyle control was retained for the updated design.
Wheel hub motors integrate an electric motor right into the wheel. Their most common use is in electric
scooters because of the small amount of space they require for operation. Many concept passenger vehicles have been designed to use wheel hub motors, but none currently use this technology. Based on thorough research and analysis it was determined that hub motors would not only provide plenty of power, but
would provide the flexibility needed to achieve rear steering.
Since the rear steering turns further than normal mechanical steering systems, the rear wheels could not be
connected with a single axle. With one motor this would have been more difficult to accomplish. Since the
hub motors have individual power sources they provided a greater turning potential than any other option.
The servo motor controlling the front rack and pinion steering was replaced with a conventional steering
wheel to generate a smaller turning radius. By switching to this system and modifying the existing front
steering components a turning radius smaller than most standard passenger vehicles.
The rear steering system provides a unique way of turning. If one needs to turn tighter, the joystick used to
control the speed can be moved to the right or left and the rear wheels will turn. This can be used in tight
parking spaces when sharper turning maybe required. The team’s goal was to implement hub motor technology in a unique way while improving the maneuverability of an already unique car design.
Team 2: Team 3-D Delivery
Jeff DeMaagd, Kemal Talen, Ross Tenney
Team 3-D Delivery, consisted of Jeff
DeMaagd, Kemal Talen, and Ross Tenney.
Team 3-D Delivery designed and built a
user-friendly multi-copter drone capable of
carrying and delivering a package.
The drone was able to lift, deliver, and drop
off a 3 lb package to the customer without
physical contact with the drone. The drone
was piloted over the custom-made package
and attached with an integrated electromagnet. This electromagnet was activated from
the transmitter and was strong enough to
carry the package safely throughout the
testing.
The drone had a mixed flight time of over 10
minutes, and was be able to travel over one
mile. It was durable enough to withstand
moderate impacts from 36 inches or less.
This was tested using computer models, prototypes and the final product.
The drone incorporated carbon fiber arms as
they provided the necessary strength while
also being lightweight. They were also readily
available and easy to procure. The design
also incorporate 3D printed parts for the
motor mounts, main body, and landing gear.
3D printing allowed for complex geometries,
such as honeycombing, not easily achieved
through traditional manufacturing methods.
The parts were easily reproduced and replaced for prototyping, testing, and damage sustained while flying.
The 3D print files and parts list are available on the team website and Thingiverse.com where they are
available for free to the general public. The team looks forward to seeing what kind of creative improvements others will make to their design.
Team 3: RoMow
Dustin Brouwer, Nathan Terschak
Jordan Newhof, Andy Frandsen
Team RoMow set out to create a product which
would make the task of mowing one’s lawn
much less physically demanding. The team consists of three mechanical and one electrical. The
idea behind RoMow was to take the standard
walk-behind mower, which many own, and convert it into a vehicle which is controlled remotely and requires little to no physical effort to operate. The team undertook this project with the
primary goal of serving those who lack mobility,
by making RoMow very user-friendly in terms of
control and by removing the need to push the
mower. It can also be enjoyed by those who
would find joy in sitting back while simultaneously mowing their yard.
The first goal was a design that reduced the
time it takes to mow the lawn. It does this by
using two electric motors similar to the ones
that can be found on electric wheelchairs, to
drive the platform which is carrying the mower.
The second goal was to achieve the same level of cutting quality as could be attained by the walk-behind
mower on its own. This was achieved by suspending the deck of the mower slightly above the grass, similar to what the wheels do under standard operation. The grass can be cut down to two inches and up to
three and a half inches which makes it perfect for almost all applications outside of cutting fairways.
Finally, RoMow was designed to be flexible, meaning the mower could be used on the RoMow but can also
be unloaded easily, and used normally without any modifications to the mower save changing the wheel
height. The design was centered on making RoMow easy to understand and to operate and team is quite
thrilled that this was accomplished.
Team 4: Volts-Wagon
Andrew White, Jee Myung Kim
Garrick Hershberger, Thomas Brown
Volts-Wagon consists of three mechanical engineers and one electrical engineer. The team produced a
prototype of an electric powered vehicle that will serve the same functions as a gas-powered golf cart
but more eco-friendly, more sustainable, and at a lower cost to upkeep. At the conclusion of the 20142015 academic year the vehicle will be given to the Student Development Office to replace their Calvin
issued golf cart. The Volts-wagon will also be owned by Calvin College, instead of rented like the rest of
Calvin’s golf cart fleet.
The Volts-Wagon is designed to operate on Calvin paths at 15mph, move in forward and reverse gear,
and is capable of transporting up to four people. The frame was designed and built by the team using
steel piping with a 1in outer diameter. For convenience, the prototype was designed to charge from a
standard 110V outlet. The following components were donated by Team SolarCycle from 2014: shocks
from a 1984 Honda Nighthawk CB700SC, 5hp Briggs and Stratton electric motor, motor controller from
Alltrax Inc., and four 12V 60Ah AGM batteries. The rear axle and the leaf springs were donated by
Team Maneuver Mobile.
The first and largest obstacle faced by the team was welding the frame together. At over 9 feet long
the frame was far too large to construct in Calvin’s metal shop. As a result the entire frame had to be
constructed outside of the shop. Keeping the frame level on a warped floor all while welding was difficult and required leveling two sawhorses to weld on, and constantly checking the frame to make sure
nothing moved with the heat. The suspension on the front of the vehicle was also exceptionally difficult
to design and had to be redesigned 7 times to work properly. A-arm suspension was far more difficult
to fabricate correctly than the
team anticipated. Now the suspension is capable of holding up to
4 passengers each over 250 lbs.
The team would like to thank Professor Michmerhuizen, Professor
Kim, Professor Tubergen, Team
Maneuver Mobile, and Team
SolarCycle for making this prototype become a reality.
Team 5: Thera Tryke
David Evenhouse, Nick Memmelaar,
Connor VanDongen, Jack Kregel
Team 5 entered into senior design with two main goals. First, they wanted to work on a project that would
directly benefit the Calvin community in some way. Second, they wanted to have fun doing it. This mindset,
paired with conversations and research within the community both on and off campus, was what eventually
gave birth to project TheraTryke.
The goal of team TheraTryke was to create a tricycle that would provide a unique mix of recreational and
therapeutic benefits for persons of low or limited mobility. The resulting trike is primarily hand pedaled, but
was designed with an original gear train that incorporates foot pedals as well. This design boasts two significant advantages over traditional hand powered tricycles. For persons living with paraplegia, the tricycle
passively moves their legs through a full range of motion by transferring some power from the hand pedals
to the foot pedals. This realizes significant therapeutic benefits while allowing the user to be active outside.
For persons with limited mobility in all limbs, this design allows them to power the trike using both their
arms, and their legs. This is not only therapeutic, but also provides people with a viable outdoor recreation
alternative if they are unable to power a tricycle using a single set of limbs.
Team TheraTryke was not shy about plugging into the community over the course of their project. Throughout the design process, team members were in contact with persons with disabilities, local manufacturers,
bike shops, and medical professionals to broaden their knowledge and refine their designs. The team looked
for opportunities to give back to the
community as well, including volunteering at a local nonprofit bike shop
and participating in DisArt Festival
here in Grand Rapids. It is through
opportunities like DisArt and Senior
Design Projects Night that the team
hopes to encourage conversations
about disability, collaborative design,
and the opportunities available to
benefit disabled people within our
communities and the world at large.
Team 6: Jet Blade
Josh Vanderbyl, Zak DeVries
Nico Ourensma, Ryan DeMeester
Team Jet Blade consists of four mechanical engineering students with a passion for the outdoors and watersports. This passion, combined with the team’s technical ability, forged the idea for a personal watercraft
unlike anyone has ever seen before, the Jet Blade.
The Jet Blade is a new and unique personal watercraft that provides the user with an unparalleled experience in water sports activities. The Jet Blade is a single rider personal watercraft that is stable yet agile. It
incorporates a three-ski design that utilizes two skis in the front of the craft and one ski in the rear. These
skis are located below an aluminum hull and are underwater at rest. During acceleration, the skis operate to
lift the Jet Blade to a cruise position by relative water flow upon the undersides of the skis.
The rear ski is attached to a horizontal jet pump that is powered by a 650cc liquid-cooled engine which provides the power to lift the Jet Blade up out of the water and plane on the surface. While the front skis are
attached to a double wishbone suspension system that incorporates an active tilt steering design. The active
tilt steering design allows the rider to tilt up to 25o in either direction as they move through a turn. This
tilting action increases the agility and differentiates the Jet Blade from other personal watercraft.
The team would like to thank all of those who assisted in the design and manufacturing of the Jet Blade.
Your assistance and expertise was greatly appreciated.
Team 7: Greatest HITS
Jacob De Rooy, Patrick Anderson
John Sherwood, Jonathan Crow
Hydraulic cylinders are the
workhorses of heavy machinery, exerting large forces to lift
tractor buckets, forge metal
parts, and even mass-produce
pizza crusts. Greatest HITS, a
team of four students studying
mechanical engineering, was
approached by Best Metal
Products (BMP) to design a test
stand capable of testing hydraulic cylinders under load. As
a custom hydraulic cylinder
manufacturer based in Grand
Rapids, MI, BMP desired to
increase testing capacity and accelerate new product development.
The proposed solution consists of a full schematic for a hydraulic integrated test stand (HITS) and a bench
-top prototype. The test stand is composed of a bank of driving cylinders that can be actuated in combination to generate forces on the test cylinder. The bank is attached to the test cylinder by a thick, metal
wall that slides along a rail system. The test stand is controlled with a LabVIEW computer interface to
allow the user to input test parameters and generate reports for data such as force, pressure, and rod
speed.
Greatest HITS used a variety of design tools to complete this project. First, the team simulated fluid flow
and forces within hydraulic systems. A macro-enabled Excel solver was then used to select the optimal
bank of driving cylinders to accommodate test cylinders provided by BMP. A data acquisition USB interface was used to connect pressure and displacement sensors to a computer, which in turn controlled the
pressure in the test cylinder.
Greatest HITS would like to thank the many industry professionals who provided guidance, verified our
work, and supplied key parts for the project. Without you, this project would not have been possible.
Team 8: Electro_Wave
Ed Smit, Matt Ramaker
Austin Juza, Ryan Rhodes
Electro-Wave consists of four mechanical engineering students with a passion for energy systems. For
their senior design project, a yet to be implemented form of renewable energy, wave energy, was analyzed. The team’s goals for this project consisted of designing a wave energy converter that could be used
successfully within the Great Lakes region, as well as answer the question “What would it take for wave
energy to become a feasible energy option?”
As Christians, we are charged to be stewards of this earth, which means clean, renewable sources of energy need to be implemented to keep from destroying the environment with harmful emissions. Global renewable energy production is on the rise, and wave energy is one source that has remained unused commercially due to high initial costs and low energy generation compared to other forms of renewable energy. During the course of this project, wave energy was compared to renewable energy systems currently in
use as well as fossil fuels used in power generation. Historical capacity, cost of implementation, and other
industry trends of wind energy, solar PV, and fossil fuels were used to construct a roadmap for wave energy. This roadmap discusses the predictions for the future of wave energy and the requirements to bring it
to a feasible status.
For the team’s design of a wave energy converter, Great Lake wave energy potential was calculated to find
an appropriate scale. Researching existing prototypes, it was decided that an overtopping device, which is
a wave energy converter that uses turbines rather than the back and forth motion of the waves, would be
best suited for bringing wave energy to commercial feasibility. Turbine and generator types to be used in
the design of the wave energy converter were
compared and the optimization in designs
were performed for the Great Lakes. A computer model was created that was used to do
analysis on stress and other mechanical properties needed for the overall design.
Electro-Wave would like to thank all those
who supported this project, donating their
time and providing the knowledge needed for
the successful completion of this project.
Team 9: HomeAlive
Andrew Jo, Jeremy Ward,
Okkar Myint , Hezkiel Nanda
The HomeAlive team has designed a home automation system that allows users to remotely and conveniently control any electrical device in their homes. This system is divided into four components, and the
constructed prototype includes all of them: the server, a gateway, a user interface, and two sample devices.
The sample devices are a programmable thermostat and a power-monitoring outlet adapter.
The HomeAlive team intended their prototype system to demonstrate the possibility of modernizing houses
without large renovations. In this way, home-owners using the system would be able to reduce their energy
consumption, increase their productivity, and access their household devices remotely. In addition the
system can give individuals with limited mobility more independence in their home.
The is one server is the master of the system and exists on a dedicated desktop computer. It is responsible
for data storage and device control as it communicates with the user interface and gateways through an
internet connection. The gateway acts as the system’s mailman by delivering messages bi-directionally
between the server and devices. It is on a small single-board computer and communicates with the devices
through a wireless radio frequency connection. There is one gateway per household and the user interface,
which is a website hosted on the server, provides an intuitive and seamless method of interaction between
the system and its users. The system is capable of controlling are countless devices, including thermostats,
appliances, security cameras, door locks, lights, and many more.
HomeAlive has four electrical and computer concentration. They proved the feasibility of their project during the fall semester using research
and preliminary design. During the
spring semester, the team constructed
a prototype of the design and tested it
thoroughly.
The team is very thankful to the
people who contributed to the success
of this project.
Team 10: Bio Bit
Brad Kunz, Nick VanDam
Jessica Snyder, Carl Cooper
Have you ever
wanted to track
your fitness
with your friends
and family? Have
you ever participated in a team
workout or attended group fitness
training? Have you
ever owned a fitness tracking device, but wished it
included some additional features? If so, then BioBit may be for you.
The team behind the idea of BioBit consists of four electrical & computer students from Calvin College: Carl
Cooper, Brad Kunz, Jessica Snyder, and Nick VanDam. The concept of the project is a smart, wearable device
that tracks various types of biometric data, which is intended for coaches, sporting teams, and workout
groups who need a better way to gauge intensity and effectiveness of workouts and practices. This device
then works with a partnering Android app in order to provide a product that tracks and displays data in a
simple and intuitive format. The design allows for coaches and trainers to receive information with real time
analysis of workouts, goal tracking, and team performance. Unlike many of the personal fitness tracking
devices in today’s market, our product provides a unique workout tracking network of multiple devices that
helps to improve team and individual workouts and achieve fitness goals with a partnering analysis
application.
The team has faced many obstacles throughout the past year of design and development and has needed to
broaden their knowledge outside of electrical & computer engineering in order to complete this
project. With this, the team has experienced great success in their final prototype. We want to thank everyone who has contributed to the success, whether it be through time or support over the past year. Because
of your help, the team was able to achieve more than we anticipated at the beginning of this project.
Team 11: Amohibot
Monica Limback, Kaitlyn Weinstein
Heather Kloet
Team Amphibot is made of two electrical and computer engineering concentration and one mechanical
engineering concentration student. Amphibot is designed to assist with underwater metal detection by
providing a remote controlled robot with all-terrain movement ability, including over the surface of water.
Shallow water metal detection can be helpful for boaters, fisherman, and others who spend time around
water, who run the risk of losing jewelry, car keys, and other valuables while on the water. It could also
appeal to treasure hunter hobbyists,
opening up new opportunities for
where metal detectors might be
used. Amphibot’s all-terrain tread
system allows it to be useful in any
shallow-water area, including beaches, ponds, marshes, and swamps.
Amphibot is remote controlled and
equipped with a camera, allowing it
to be driven from a safe distance if
an area is difficult to reach or unsafe
due to the presence of dangerous
wildlife or any other safety concerns.
Further use of the Amphibot design
may be made by soldiers in war zones searching for land mines or improvised explosive devices (IED)
placed in shallow rivers or streams. Current IED practices require a soldier on foot carrying a metal detector on his person to wade through the river to ensure its safety before a unit can cross. By allowing for
remote detection, this process can be made safer and simpler. This is one more way robots are used by
soldiers to make battlefields safer and more efficient.
Amphibot’s body is carefully enclosed to protect the onboard electronics from the elements. It is propelled
by a tread system which is able to paddle through water for propulsion. Within Amphibot, a single-board
computer connects the robot to a user over a wireless connection, allowing the user remote access to GPS
information and metal detection. The user controls Amphibot from a laptop, tablet, or smartphone, and is
able to see the picture from Amphibot’s webcam and control the speed and direction of motion. The metal
detector coil is mounted to the bottom of the robot.
Team 12: Pods
Nick McKee, Scott Block,
Ben Wohl, Taylor DeHaan
Team PODS (Pulse Oximeter Display System) consists of four electrical and computer concentration students who worked to solve the problem of pilots succumbing to low blood oxygen level in an unpressurized aircraft and crashing by creating a comfortable device with an intuitive display. The condition of low
blood oxygen is known as hypoxia and upon further research, PODS found that more than just pilots would
benefit from a system like this. Following the design norms of trust, transparency and integrity, the team
designed an ergonomic pulse oximeter that does not restrict range of motion, has an informative display
containing all the vital measurements gathered by the device, and warning the user when their oxygen
level is low.
There are many devices available to measure blood oxygen level on the market today, however PODS set
out to distinguish themselves by integrating a display system with a device that is comfortable to wear for
long periods of time. Most pulse oximeters currently available on the market attach to the end of a finger,
but this is not ideal for a pilot or anyone who uses their hands while requiring blood oxygen level readings.
The oximeters have a hard time taking readings while someone is moving, they aren’t meant to stay
attached for long periods of time, and they have a tendency to slip off. These factor incentivise pilots and
others at risk of hypoxia to only check their oxygen levels when it is convenient or when they feel other
symptoms coming on. The problem is that impaired judgement is one of these symptoms, thus the need
for this system.
The basic principle behind pulse oximetry is to use two different wavelength LEDs with a photodiode to
measure blood oxygen level. The level of oxygen in the blood will determine how much light from each LED
is absorbed. This is seen by the photodiode, translated into a current,
and read into software for processing
and display. The PODS device uses a
set of industrial red and infrared
LEDs and phototransistors to gather
data on the amount of light absorbed. PODS work on pulse oximetry will help pilots and many others
constantly monitor their blood oxygen level, reducing the risk of hypoxia and improving their quality of life.
Team 13: Solar Desalination
Josh Schalk, Emma Camilleri
Brianna Neil, Toyin Ogunsanya
The availability of clean drinking water is one of the fastest growing issues in the world today. On a
planet that is 70% water, desalination of ocean water is not a new technological concept. However,
current desalination methods are very energy intensive, and this poses a problem for smaller, poorer
countries that find it too expensive to run such a plant. With the advent of exploitation of renewable
energy sources and advancements made in increasing the efficiency of renewable energy processes,
there is incredible potential for the two concepts to be combined to create a process that is significantly more affordable. This thought process coupled with their compassion for their fellow man as
influenced by their Christian faith, nurtured and encouraged at Calvin College, formed the basis of
Team 13’s desire to undertake this project. The four senior chemical engineering students subsequently designed a solar-powered forward-osmosis seawater desalination plant.
Desalination is the process of removing salt from ocean or brackish water, and one of the more common industrially used methods of doing this is Reverse Osmosis (RO). RO processes force saltwater
through a semi-permeable membrane such that fresh water passes through, leaving the salt behind.
A fair amount of energy is needed to operate the pumps which keep the system under pressure.
Forward osmosis eliminates the pumps entirely, thereby significantly reducing the overall energy
consumption of the plant. Fresh water flows naturally down a concentration gradient from the ocean
water, through the membrane, and into a solution containing an osmotic agent. Through their research and simulation, the team identified an ideal agent which is removed
from the fresh water quite simply by
thermal precipitation. Solar energy
serves as the power source for the
heat exchanger which accomplishes
that precipitation. The team successfully simulated and tested their process, and found that this technology
can be implemented on an industrial
scale at a cost that is economically
acceptable even for countries that
would otherwise have been excluded.
Team 14: GRE-Cycle
Colton Walker, Ben Guilfoyle
Hannah Albers, Melanie Thelen
Renewable energy sources are currently viewed
as part of the solution to support the rising energy demands around the globe, but most are
not developed enough to be competitive with
petroleum. Biodiesel, one such renewable
source, produces less greenhouse gas emissions
than conventional diesel, but production and
material costs stand in the way of making biodiesel an economically feasible alternative energy source without government tax credits.
Over the past decade, interest in producing biodiesel from oils and grease has developed into a marginally successful industry as the dependence on fossil fuels is questioned. Since most wastewater
plants cannot process grease, most restaurants sell used grease to recycling companies that convert
it into fresh cooking oil. Rather than recycling the grease, the burden of waste grease disposal can be
alleviated by converting grease into fuel.
Team 14 purposed to design a full-scale biodiesel production plant that uses waste cooking oil as its
feed material. This plant must produce biodiesel that can compete with diesel in terms of price and
quality. The biodiesel production processes consists of pretreatment, the main reaction, and product
purification. To prevent the formation of undesired products, the cooking oil must be filtered and
treated with methanol before entering the main reactor. The main reactor converts the triglycerides
that make up grease into methyl esters, or biodiesel. The product is then separated from undesirable
reaction byproducts and unreacted materials such as methanol, sulfuric acid, and caustic soda. Most
process materials were purified and recycled to lower plant costs and minimize the plant’s environmental impact.
The team explored process alternatives with UNISIM and SuperPro designer, two process simulation
programs. The process was optimized by simulating different reactors and process configurations to
arrive at an economically feasible design. The final production plant produces 9.5 million pounds of
biodiesel annually, which competes with other diesel fuels if government tax credits are included.
Team 14 would like to thank Doug and Randy Elenbaas for their support and guidance throughout
the project.
Team 15: Eporis
Zion Lee, Nick Giles, Stephen Tubergen, Abby Liestra
Erythropoietin (EPO) is a glycoprotein hormone that stimulates red blood cell production. It is produced
industrially to treat anemia caused by chronic kidney disease, cancer chemotherapy, or HIV treatment. The
current method of producing EPO is a large-scale biofermentation process using Chinese Hamster Ovary
(CHO) cells. CHO cells grow slowly and their products require many purification steps. Because of the complexity of the process and high purity requirements of the product, an eight-week treatment of EPO can
cost up to $11,000. Team Eporis, comprised of four senior chemical engineering students, designed an alternate production method to reduce the manufacturing cost of this biopharmaceutical.
Based on current research, Eporis designed an alternate process to produce EPO using the simpler yeast cell
line Pichia Pastoris. Using literature data to model yeast growth and EPO production in bioreactors and its
separation from other cell products, a process model was created using modeling software. Specifically,
Eporis designed a sequence of bioreactors, chromatographic separation columns, and filtration units to
produce bioactive EPO using SuperPro designer. The process was economically optimized while retaining
product purity, to ensure production of lower cost EPO while meeting FDA standards.
While EPO has clear
medical benefits, the
biopharmaceutical has
been used to illegally
supplement athletes’
performance. Team
Eporis recognizes this
potential misuse of EPO
and has actively considered the integrity of
their product. Intentional transparency with
consumers can serve
to minimize misuse.
Team 16: The Nuclear Family
Thane Symens , Meredy Brichford
Christina Headley, Joel Smith
As the world’s population grows and technological advancements necessitate more electricity, electrical power generation has become a global issue. Nuclear fission is a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil fuel combustion and, unlike current renewable technologies, is able to supply dependable base load
power. However, improvements can be made
to the safety and waste management systems
of current nuclear plants.
Team 16’s objective was to design a nuclear
reactor using the thorium fuel cycle. The thorium cycle presents several benefits over the typical
uranium cycle. Thorium is three times as abundant as uranium on earth, produces less long-lived
radioactive waste, and is not weaponizable. Of the reactor types compatible with thorium, the
team selected the molten salt reactor (MSR).
MSRs are characterized by fuel dissolved in a molten fluoride salt, whereas current reactors burn
solid fuel. This design presents safety advantages, as the fluid fuel is passively drained and cooled
in the event of a power outage. The fluidity of the salt also allows for recycling of spent fuel. MSRs
offer many advantages, but because of the complexity of their processes, none have reached industrial operation. Their history, however, extends back to the 1960s, when scientists at the Oak
Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) successfully ran a test reactor for five years.
Using the ORNL studies for validation, Team 16 developed the design for a 200-megawatt MSR
power plant. As the team consists of engineering students in the chemical and mechanical concentrations the project was divided into reactor- and power-loop designs. The reactor loop included
the reactor vessel design as well as the fuel reprocessing and waste management scheme. A supercritical CO2 cycle was designed for the power loop. For the entire plant, start-up and shut-down
requirements were analyzed, materials of construction selected, and active safety systems designed. The plant design was optimized by minimizing capital and operating costs, which were
determined by economic analysis. Non-technical issues, such as nuclear policy and regulation,
were also considered. The final product of this project is a computer model of the plant systems
Team 17: NicarAqua
Jesse VanderWees, Hannah Van der Vorst,
Seth Koetje, Dalton Veurink
Team NicarAGUA consists of students from the mechanical and civil/environmental concentrations. To
improve access to clean water for rural communities in Nicaragua, they partnered with World Renew to
design an ultraviolet (UV) water purification system powered by solar panels. The device will be implemented in Acción Médica Cristiana’s (AMC) headquarters in Waspam, Nicaragua. AMC, a partner of
World Renew in Nicaragua, is a Christian organization that promotes community health and development
in impoverished communities of Nicaragua. AMC plans to use the disinfection system to provide affordable clean drinking water to people in nearby rural communities.
Team NicarAGUA’s disinfection system makes use of AMC’s existing well, pump, and water tower. Water
is pumped from AMC’s well to the water tower. When a faucet is opened, water flows from the tank
through plastic tubing into the disinfection system. The disinfection system removes debris, sand, clay,
and large microbiology from the water using a series of screens and a filter. After passing through the
filter, the water flows through a UV disinfection lamp where the remaining bacteria and viruses are deactivated. Immediately after the UV lamp, the water exits the system and is delivered to the user. The
system includes a battery to store energy captured by a solar panel. Two hours of direct sunlight is sufficient to power the UV system for three days. The system is also capable of drawing power from the grid.
Team NicarAGUA will be sending their system to Waspam after graduation.
Team 18: GR Swiss
Dan VanKooten, Breton Newswanger,
John-Marc Eshelman, Brandon Kuyers
The team, consisting of four students of the civil/environmental concentration of engineering ,
was tasked with the idea of turning the Alger Heights Business District at the corner of Alger Street
and Eastern Avenue into a more environmentally friendly area. Currently, the area is largely covered by asphalt, concrete sidewalks, and building roofs with very little green space. The site is
within the Plaster Creek watershed and contributes to the flooding and pollution problems associated with the waterway. Goals of the project were to reduce runoff and mitigate pollution, while
maintaining or improving the traffic conditions on the site and beautifying the area by adding
green space.
Currently, Plaster Creek is very polluted because a large portion of the watershed has been developed into commercial, residential, and agricultural uses. This reduces the amount of rainfall that
infiltrates into the ground, increasing the volume running off into storm drains. This runoff carries
various pollutants from the developed areas and deposits them in Plaster Creek.
The final design consists of a series of planter boxes and roadside pavers to improve infiltration.
The planter boxes also provide storage to decrease the peak runoff from the site. The team considered several structural best management practices outlined in the Southeast Michigan Council
of Government’s Low Impact Development Manual. Planter boxes were chosen due to their combined aesthetic appeal and
functionality.
Team 19: The ACE Team
Mark De Haan, Julie Swierenga, Jeremy Kamp
Wendy Tabler, Nathan Laframboise
Team 19, also known as the ACE Team,
completed a water system improvement plan and designed a chlorine
disinfection system for a community in
Ecuador as its senior design project.
The ACE Team became connected to
the community of Apatug, Ecuador,
through its client, Bruce Rydbeck, who
is the founder of Life Giving Water
International.
While the team's original project was
to design a complete water distribution system from scratch for the community, upon visiting Apatug in January, the ACE Team learned that a working system is currently in
place. While the system functions, improvements are needed to make it reliable and trustworthy. Thus,
the team shifted its focus from designing a complete system to creating a multi-year improvement plan
that can be implemented by community members to improve their current system.
The main features of this plan are the addition of chlorine to the water to disinfect, the connection to
the water supply for homes that were not already connected, and the design of water storage tanks
which would help bring constant water pressure to all of the homes in the community.
Other minor improvements include the metering of the system so the local water authority can accurately charge community members for water usage.
The team finished these tasks by completing a survey while in Apatug to collect accurate elevation data.
This data allowed the ACE Team to set up pressure zones and choose appropriate locations for the designed storage tanks in the improvement plant. The data was also necessary in the formation of a computer model of the current system. The team also completed a bench study to test two fluid driven
pumps to determine which would be best to feed chlorine into the water supply.
All system improvements will be implemented by community members in order to encourage ownership of the system, and, once the improvements are in place, local engineers will make regular visits to
the system to ensure it is working properly.
Team 20: Daylighters
Steve Brown, Caitlin Callow,
Helina Krieger, Zach Boeve
Team 20, the Daylighters, consists of four students in the Civil and Environmental Engineering
concentration. The team’s name stems from one of the team’s project goals, which is to Daylight
Silver Creek. Daylighting is the redirecting of storm water, which is flowing in a closed pipe, into an
open space, therefore exposing it to sunlight. Daylighting allows sunlight to treat the storm water,
as well as allowing other treatment methods to be implemented.
Our project focused on Southfield, which is located in the Madison Square community, in an industrial area of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Currently, Southfield is being used as a detention basin
and is fenced off from the public. At this location, Silver Creek flows through an underground pipe
along the length of the basin, with an inlet and outlet which allows storm water to flow into the
basin during high intensity rainfall events.
The team had three broad goals for the improvement in utilization of Southfield. The first was to
detain more water from Silver Creek and keep it from flowing directly into Plaster Creek. This is
based off of the Clean Water Act passed in 1972 and the changing approach to storm water management. The second goal was to improve the water quality of Silver Creek by reducing common
storm water pollutants including sediment, excess nitrogen and phosphorus, and heavy metals.
The team worked with Calvin College’s Plaster Creek Stewards to ensure this goal was met, since
Silver Creek is a tributary of Plaster Creek. The last project goal was to meet the two previous
goals with the ability to set aside a portion of the land as community space.
The final Design for Southfield consists of a wetland which meanders
through Southfield, with a park and
playground incorporated into the
Southfield design to allow for community use. Throughout the course
of the year, our Christian beliefs
influenced every aspect of this project. The final design of this project
was influenced by the fact that, as
Christian engineers, we have been
called by God to be stewards of His
Engineering Faculty
Chemical Concentration
Jennifer Jewett Van Antwerp
Jeremy Van Antwerp
Wayne Wentzheimer
Civil & Environmental Concentration
Leonard De Rooy
Robert Hoeksema
David Wunder
Electrical & Computer Concentration
Randy Brouwer
Yoon Kim
Mark Michmerhuizen
Mechanical Concentration
Gayle Ermer
Matthew Heun
Ned Nielsen
Ren Tubergen
Interdisciplinary
J. Aubrey Sykes
Engineering Faculty
Adjunct/ Part time
Monica Groenenboom
Michael Harris
Melissa Okena
Ron Plaisier
Bryan Vanden Bosch
Julie Wildschut
Emeriti
James Bosscher
Rich DeJong
Lambert VanPoolen
Calvin College
Engineering Department
1734 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan 49546-4388
Telephone (616) 526-6500
Fax (616) 526-6501
engineering@ calvin.edu
http://www.calvin.edu/engineering/