“A collective team effort between faculty, staff, and students resulted in the creation of a solar recharging station that stands ready to provide a renewable energy source for Chattanooga State students. It serves as a ‘green’ alternative to charge or power their phones, laptops, tablets, and other personal devices,” said Tim McGhee, dean, Engineering and Information Technologies. This solar charging station is located next to the Kolwyck Library.
Chattanooga State Solar Energy Technology students, Travis Chase and Chuck Bowers, were the student leads for the project, which involved conception, engineering design, appropriations, and a business plan. The project was completed on time and on budget.
Faculty and staff involvement, from the very beginning, included Dr. Michael Pugh, associate professor, physics; Ron Reese, assistant professor, electrical/electronics; Rick Carson, solar technology instructor; Caitlin Moffitt, assistant professor, civil/construction; Talion Johnson and Peter Kriener, teaching technicians. The student team utilized Chattanooga State’s specialty lab capabilities, such as welding, TCAT paint booth, and the electronics lab, to complete the project. The Associated General Contracting student chapter, who poured the footers for the station, provided additional assistance.
Dean McGhee said, “ I enjoyed the discussions between Dr. Pugh and Ron Reese, early in the project, surrounding the use of capacitors versus deep cycle marine batteries regarding power storage capacity. The physicist and the electrical engineer provided some entertaining technical assumptions and insights as to what the best possible design should be…. and it was always fun watching them ‘compare their math’ on the circuits design.”
Since Chattanooga State is set to become a smoke-free campus on July 1, the six previously designated smoking shelters are to be converted to solar charging stations. “These small stations consist of a solar panel on the roof, a voltage meter, PVC pipe to hold the ultra capacitors, and three USB recharging ports which may be used simultaneously,” said Dr. Pugh. “The small trickle of current enables the capacitor bank to maintain 5.5 volts throughout the day and will still provide two hours of charging time at sundown.”
As Chattanooga State looks for ways to “go green” to improve the environment, students will be at the forefront of these projects. “We are currently working on a circuit that will boost the variable lower voltage to a steady 5 volts and limit the current to one amp, which will provide ‘conditioned’ power and greatly extend our charging time,” said Dr. Pugh.
For more information about Engineering and Information Technologies, call 423-697-4434.