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Can the In-house Installation of Solar Panels Increase Residential Builder’s Profits?
Get PDFThe purpose of this paper is to analyze and determine if the In-house installation of solar panels by Residential Builders will lead to increased profits. Specifically, this pertains to Large Residential Developers that are focused on building single-family home developments with greater than 25 homes. With the demand for solar power in new homes continuously rising year after year, it is smart to find more profitable ways to install these systems, one of which is self-installation performed by the General Contractor. The Methodology of research I used is a combination of primary and secondary research, as well as interviews with current workers in the field. I also analyzed the licensing and training that is required to install solar panels to see how long it takes to make up the upfront costs. Through my research, I concluded that the in-house installation would lead to increased profits for Larger Residential Developers, although there is a required price to start the process of self-installation. In the end, Large Residential Developers could increase their profits by choosing to self-perform the solar installation on their developments, this is due to the labor savings that come with self-installation
An Analysis and Application of Pedestrian Streets
Get PDFThe goal of this project is to closely examine the conversion of traditional roads into pedestrian streets. By studying two examples, we will create an understanding of why cities do this, how they implement pedestrian streets, what results pedestrian streets bring, and what makes a successful conversion project.
The second part of this project is to implement the key takeaways of the research phase into a conceptual design of a similar project for San Luis Obispo. This design based phase will consider the entire scope of the project, detailing project location selection, implementation, and recommendations
Assessing the Cost and Fuel Consumption of Off-Road Agricultural Equipment
Get PDFSince 1995, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) emission rules have mandated that off-road engine manufacturers gradually phase in lower emitting diesel engines across all tractor and other off-road equipment sold in the United States. Starting in 1996 with Tier 1 emission standards for tractors between 175-750 horsepower (hp), all tractors were scheduled to be rated as Tier 4 Final by 2015. During the transition period, emission credit agreements made between manufacturers and EPA allowed for nonattainment of some tractors such that several tractor models were produced post 2015 that did not meet Tier 4 Final standards. Tier 4 standards are primarily concerned with reducing nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) pollutants, requiring a 90% emission reduction of both compared to Tier 3 standards. NOx contributes to formation of ground-level ozone, while particulate matter is implicated in respiratory illnesses.
With the new emission standards, manufacturers were required to implement emission reduction technologies. Emission reduction technologies such as diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), diesel particulate filters (DPF), and/or selective catalyst reduction (SCR) systems on the exhaust were developed to break down NOx, resulting in cleaner burning engines. It is important to note that the emission targets do not dictate how manufacturers meet the standards. As a result, a wide array of emission reduction strategies were developed by manufacturers that affect engine fluids use, costs of ownership, and typical maintenance costs3. As tractor emission systems advanced through the stricter emission standards, anecdotal evidence from growers suggested a decrease in fuel efficiency.
Two primary questions drive this research: First, can Tier 4 tractors claim greater emission reductions via fuel efficiency? Second, do Tier 4 tractors have a higher cost of ownership via normal maintenance and repair?
To assess the change in fuel efficiency over time, we estimated the rate of change of fuel efficiency through Tier 4 Final emission standards and provide estimates for factors that have impacted fuel efficiencies using University of Nebraska Tractor Test Lab (NTTL) data from 1988 to 2021. To assess the costs of Tier 4 tractor ownership, we developed a grower survey sent to San Joaquin Valley producers. We asked specifically about the costs of ownership through repair and maintenance costs at various EPA emission tiers and horsepower. We also interviewed equipment repair businesses throughout the San Joaquin Valley to gain their perspectives on costs of repairs and maintenance and to assess whether any issues arose with Tier 4 equipment.
One important deliverable for the project was the development of a searchable database for hundreds of NTTL reports. The NTTL is the only third-party tractor test laboratory in North America, and all manufacturers who want access to the Nebraska and thus the U.S. tractor market must send their tractors there for testing. A partial database of NTTL reports can be found at https://tractortestlab.unl.edu.
The final project report is organized into two sections: the first reports on tractor fuel efficiencies and the second deals with differences in Tier 4 tractor repair and maintenance costs. The notable findings from each report are reported as follows:
Fuel Efficiency vs Emissions Tier 4 Final tractors are statistically more fuel efficient on average than earlier Tiers. The average percent change in fuel efficiency, measured as hp.hr/gal, in Tier 4 Final tractors has been 0.77% per year since 2015. This is compared to an average percent change in fuel efficiency of 0.55% per year across all tractors from 1987-2021. AGCO/Massey has produced the most fuel-efficient tractor, the AGCO Fendt/Challenger 1042 with a hp.hr/gal of 21.17, and John Deere has the highest average fuel efficiency throughout its tested tractors over the same period, 2001 to 2021. Fuel efficiency is consistently lower when tractors are not running at max power. We found statistically significant differences of average fuel efficiency at max power between tractor attributes for Time, Max power take-off (PTO) horsepower, and the interactions between Manufacturer, Chassis, and EPA Tier.
Tier 4 ownership and Maintenance Costs
Farm Survey Growers reported a wide variation in repair and maintenance hours across tractor emission tiers and horsepower. Growers reported paying an average of 123.33/hr and 135/hr. The average reported field rate was 200 -$300 to reset the system); and Failing to refill the DEF tank. On average, service managers reported 30-35% of their calls were related to emissions systems. Most service managers noted that newer Tier 4 tractors are still under the manufacturer’s emission warranties, so owners are not yet experiencing out of pocket costs for maintaining the emission systems
Process Support Building Savannah River Site
Get PDFA report on the fire and life safety analysis of the Savannah River Site Process Support Building is required in order to receive a Master of Science in Fire Protection Engineering from the California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. The Process Support Building is a two-story office building that was first occupied in 2013, with a floor area of approximately 10,000 ft2. The building contains mainly personal offices, but also contains conference and turnover rooms, a Computer Simulation Room, an Observation Room, and a lunch area. The analysis includes both prescriptive and performance-based analysis.
The Process Support Building is of Type II-B construction in accordance with the International Building Code and is fully protected by an automatic wet pipe sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and DOE-STD-1066-2012, Fire Protection. The building is equipped with a fire alarm system that meets the requirements and definition of a protected premises per NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. Egress from the second floor is provided by a protected exterior stairway and a protected indoor stairway that exits into an exit passageway in accordance with the International Building Code and NFPA 101, Life Safety Code.
The prescriptive analysis consists of reviewing the applicable codes and standards at the time of building design and construction, as well as current editions of applicable codes and standards. Prescriptive analysis will include egress analysis and design, structural fire protection, flammability of materials, fire detection, alarm, and communication systems, water-based fire suppression, and smoke control. The analysis concluded the Savannah River Site Process Support Building meets prescriptive requirements.
The performance-based design analysis is performed in order to determine if the occupants are able to exit the Process Support Building in the event of a fire before tenability limits are reached. Three design fires were chosen for analysis: a fire in a two-person office, a fire in the Observation Room, and a fire in Corridor 128. Due to the risk and severity posed by the fire in Corridor 128, this fire was further analyzed using Pyrosim and FDS. This fire takes place in a first floor corridor and consists of upholstered office chairs. The FDS model was used in order to determine ASET, the time at which the tenability criteria was reached. Pathfinder was used to model movement time in order to determine RSET, the time at which all occupants have evacuated. ASET was determined to be 0.87 minutes and RSET was determined to be 5.7 minutes. The goals and objectives of the performance-based design have not been achieved since ASET is less than RSET.
The following recommendations are based on the prescriptive and performance-based analysis. The first recommendation is to ensure corridors remain free of obstructions and combustibles. The second recommendation is to revise the building hazard analysis when a room use changes
Galilean Cannon
Get PDFThis comprehensive report details our team’s senior capstone design project, which involved the design, construction, and installation of a Galilean Cannon exhibit—a linear momentum experiment involving rebounding balls—for the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum.
This report is split into four parts, as follows. Part One describes the needs of our sponsor and target market, as well as background research on the concept. Part Two details the ideation, decision making, and proofing process leading to our Preliminary Design concept. Part Three discusses the preliminary analysis and plans for the final prototype. Part Four describes construction and testing of the operational exhibit in the museum.
As of this report, the Galilean Cannon exhibit is complete and installed in the museum; from a child’s drop height, the cannon rebounds about 20 feet in the air, and is fully visible from all desired locations in the museum. All specifications that could be tested have been met, and our sponsors are fully satisfied with the result
Developing A New Gamma Ray Selection Criteria Based On χ2 For VERITAS
Get PDFThis paper investigates selection criteria for enhancing gamma-ray signal events relative to cosmic-ray background events used in the identification of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) by the Very Energetic Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System, or VERITAS. We tested a new selection criteria based on the reduced chiSquare metric in hopes of reducing background events while increasing signal. The results of the study proved that the new metric was not as strong as previous selection criteria already in use by VERITAS. Throughout the study, we gained important insights into the reduced chiSquare metric that will guide further analysis efforts
Development of Polyethylenimine-Modified γ−Cyclodextrin Metal Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Post-Combustion CO2 Capture
Get PDFCarbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from burning fossil fuels is the major contributor to climate change. Carbon capture from flue gas, is an attractive short-term approach to partially address the issue of climate change. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs), synthesized using organic linker molecules and metal joints, are among the most promising solid adsorbents for CO2 capture applications. Ƴ-cyclodextrin, a hydrophobic and eco-friendly MOF, has been tested for sorption of CO2, however, minimal sorption was observed. One of the potential reasons for this low sorption is the large pore volumes inside the γ-cyclodextrin (γ – CD) MOF. Thus, the objective of this research study is to functionalize γ-cyclodextrin with polyethylenimine (PEI), linear and branched, with different molecular weights ranging from 600-70,000 g/mol to determine the optimal PEI type that enhances the γ-cyclodextrin MOF’s CO2 sorption capacity. It is hypothesized that the incorporation of PEI into the pores of γ-cyclodextrin MOFs would: 1) introduce Lewis basic amine groups that selectively sorb CO2 molecules and 2) the PEI molecules would narrow the pores of the γ-cyclodextrin to an optimal size to allow for CO2 attraction. γ -cyclodextrin MOFs will be synthesized and functionalized with linear PEI and branched PEI with molecular weights ranging from 600 – 70,000. The CO2 sorption capacity of the γ-cyclodextrin MOFs will be quantified at CO2 pressures ranging from 0.03 – 1.0 atm using a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) assembly. The impact of molecular weight of PEI on this sorption capacity of the γ -cyclodextrin MOFs will be analyzed. Preliminary data has been gathered and the results are promising - moficiatons of γ -cyclodextrin MOFs with linear and 600 g/mole branched PEI have shown to enhance its CO2 soprtion capacity. This proposal is submitted to seek funding to improve the QCM testing assmebly to allow for testing CO2 at lower pressures that simulate typical CO2 concntrations in flue gas consitions
Percussion FX Sample Sound Library
No full textThis report examines the processes and methods used when recording, mixing and mastering a digital sound effects library. This includes, but is not limited to, an analysis of instrumentation, microphone selection, and signal processing in the music software program, Logic Pro X. The instruments in this virtual library consist of marimba, xylophone, timpani, cymbals, rainstick, snare drum, triangle, shaker, agogo bell, kick drum, snare drum, djembe, congas, tambourine, thunder tube, and wind chimes. In addition to these instruments, I have also recorded sound effects, such as claps, snaps, door slams, knocks, and ambient noises
Processing and Characterization of Silicon Nitride for Rapid and Low-Level Detection of Water Pathogens
Get PDFWater sanitation is a serious issue affecting the lives of many, and methods for assessing water cleanliness have been a major research interest for decades. Rapid and accurate water pathogen detection methods that can be performed in field applications have been a growing research focus, especially in low-income countries most affected by poor water quality. Silicon nitride was explored as a material for colorimetric water-pathogen sensing due to the large body of knowledge around its processing, and its isoelectric point. A bioassay of chlorophenol red-β-Dgalactopyranoside (CPRG) and β-galactosidase (β-gal) enzymes with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria was used to examine the colorimetric reading produced by electrostatic binding of E. coli to the surface of etched silicon nitride samples. Silicon nitride samples were produced by etching a pattern of repeating 250 μm side-length squares onto a silicon nitride wafer for different etch durations using buffered oxide etch (BOE) to increase its surface area for E. coli binding. Roughness and surface area were measured via profilometry and Brunauer-EmmettTeller (BET) analysis, respectively. After being submersed in the bioassay, the colorimetric readout was measured via spectrophotometry. Some statistically significant differences were observed for larger samples at longer etch-times compared with control values, though this trend was inconsistent. Further research should be conducted to investigate methods for producing samples with sufficient surface area for adequate and consistent bacteria binding