Problem area
- Self-powered sensing/scientific equipment for remote arctic applications using hydro-power and hydrogen fuel cells.
- Cold temperatures provide challenges to batteries and environmental monitoring equipment in the Canadian north, where there is a widespread lack of data available. How to make the equipment more resilient and long-term.
- Field work in remote areas can be challenging and costly. A self-powered/self-sustaining system could mitigate some of the risk associated with remote work.
Main objectives
- Build a prototype of the hydro-power/battery charging station in consideration of environmental constraints and requirements from the UW Glaciology Lab
- Make environmental data collection more resilient to cold and remote conditions by combining renewable power generation and hydrogen fuel cells.
- Reduce the risk and cost of field work in remote areas by reducing high frequency site visits for data collection.
Scope of work
- Consultation with appropriate stakeholders
- Desktop study of potential river locations
- Prototype
- Testing
Deliverables
- Prototype
Frequency
- TBD
Skills and training required
- Turbomachinery & power generation research and physics
- Mech design & manufacturing/machining
- Data transmission design
- Site evaluations & desktop study
- Battery charging design
Resources required
- Software: Solidworks CAD, Ansys CFD
- Moving water source or simulator
- Hydrogen cell