RVC students present renewable energy projects May 8 at Freedom Field

Online Staff Report

Rock Valley College (RVC) students will present renewable energy projects at Rockford’s Freedom Field Renewable Energy, 3333 Kishwaukee St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, May 8.

The event features work by students in the Electronic Engineering Technology, Manufacturing Engineering Technology, and Sustainable Energy Systems programs.

Following is a breakdown of the projects that will be featured:

• Biomass Stove — How to develop a portable biomass stove that can help third-world countries, reside in your back yard or even be part of your next camping trip.

• Energy Storage — How to invest and realize a profit with real-time electrical energy pricing.

• Green-Roof Instrumentation — Using measurements to assess and characterize a green roof. Do they work? How can we make them work better?

• Ground-Mounted Photovoltaic Arrays — Using micro-inverters to optimize the energy harvesting of an array of solar modules.

• LED Lighting — How to save money and not look like the Frankenstein monster or his bride in the morning thanks to LED lighting.

• Microhydro — Extracting electrical energy from a creek and teaching microhydro principles.

• Solar “Bike” — Using solar energy storage to power an electric vehicle.

• Variable Speed Pump — Applying a Danfoss Variable Frequency Drive to a pump application to save energy and improve overall system performance.

• Wind Turbine Controls Design — Developing a control system for wind turbine blades.

• Special Guest: The Electronics Technicians Association, International will be on hand to explain the array of certifications available — including those for renewable energy and their latest certification for electrical vehicle technicians.

To register for this event, contact RVC’s Engineering & Technology Division Office at (815) 921-3101.

Posted May 4, 2012

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