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Engineering DesignDuring the spring2009 semester, firstyearengineeringstudents worked on behalf of client sponsor ConstructionSpecialties, Inc., a manufacturer of architectural products, todesign an architecturally appealing, building-integrated windenergy generation system.The primary objective of the project was to integrate andapply wind energy generation technology into commercialbuilding types, successfully enabling new product growthwhile advocating clean energy production.Student teams had to consider a variety of factors and forcesdriving the building-integrated wind energy market whiledesigning their models: the green building movement,skyrocketing energy prices, building energy retrofitting,reduced dependence on foreign oil, growing interest andawareness in renewable energy, increased governmentincentives, and improved technologies.Winners of the spring 2009 Student Design Project ShowcaseBEsT dEsIgN COMMUNICaTION awardBEsT dEsIgN PrOCEss awardThe team of Ravi Shah, Lindsay Corey,Lindsay Augusterfer, and Alex Chappell(under the instruction of AssistantProfessor of Engineering Design Elizabeth Kisenwether)were inspired by dorm life to create the Green Triangles, adorm building that uses wind as a supplemental source forelectricity. Sectioned into three triangles, the dorm buildingis designed to optimize the way wind flows around it. Thetriangles, which are connected by sidewalks, are separated bytapered gaps that force incoming wind to speed up. PacWindSeahawk vertical-axis turbines embedded in the walls andAeroVironment horizontal-axis turbines on the uppercatwalks harvest energy from this wind.MOsT INNOVaTIVE dEsIgN awarddesigned for use at retail outlets such as Wal-Mart, Target,and Wegmans. The team’s project addresses the profitabilityof the turbine, taking into consideration such issues asaesthetic appeal, opportunities for consumer growth, andminimal maintenance.BEsT ENgINEErINg dEsIgN awardThe “Wind Cowboys” team of NathanNalevanko, Chris Hong, Scott Langsdale,and Joe Tombasco (under the instructionof Assistant Professor of Engineering Design MatthewParkinson) modeled their turbine blade design after asycamore seed using the biomimicry technique. Multipleturbines would be placed on the perimeter of the rooftop(s)of the building, and a roof would be erected over these fansto give the impression that the level was just another floor ofthe building. This system would be most effective on highrisebuildings due to higher speed winds at higher altitudes;however, it could be implemented on many other types ofstructures. Recycled materials, such as plastics, could be usedto make the lightweight blades of the wings.Become a sponsor of first-yearengineering designSupport EDSGN 100 Introduction to Engineering Designcourses at Penn StateIf your organization is looking for a unique way to impact first-yearengineering design education at Penn State, consider sponsoring anEDSGN 100 design project.why do we run a client-sponsored design project?➤ Students find sponsored projects to be extremely relevant; it givesthem an understanding of what they will be doing as engineers whenthey graduate.➤ Sponsored projects tend to be multidimensional and highlyinterdisciplinary, allowing us to include a broad range of practicaltopics such as economics, management, customer needs,benchmarking, decision-making, and ethics.➤ While many projects have emphasized product design, we havealso done component design, service and system design, andprocess design projects.what are the benefits to your organization?➤ Exposure of your company or organization to approximately 450students each semester. The project may also be used in corporateand University press releases and publications.➤ Prolific idea creation, with market value, that is documented in theWeb reports of more than 100 four-student teams. These teams tackleyour design problem and document the entire design process, fromcustomer needs assessment, concept generation, and selection todocumented final design model or prototype.➤ Early identification of students for internships and future hire.Past sponsors have hired student interns and full-time employeesfrom the pool of students who worked on their client-sponsoreddesign project.To discuss your interest and possible projects, please contact:Sven BilénDesign Projects Coordinator213 Hammond BuildingUniversity Park, PA 16802E-mail: sbilen@psu.eduPhone: 814-863-1526The team of Tommy Monda,Andrew Redding, Alex Romba,and Stephen O’Neill (under theinstruction of Engineering DesignInstructor Xinli Wu) designed the“Molino” wind energy turbine, emphasizing architecturalappeal, easy attachment to buildings, efficiency, affordability,durability, and innovation. The model features a housingcover, which protects the turbine from weather, funnelsthe up-draft to create more power, and is welded to thegenerator and curved so that weather precipitation does notaccumulate.The team of Aaron Farnsworth, GregMcIntyre, and Steven Nath (underthe instruction of Engineering DesignInstructor Brett Ulrich) developed a wind generation systembased on the marketing aspect of using a wind turbine tocreate a green image for a company. Their product wasEngineering Design Certificate offered at Penn StateThe Engineering Design Certificate, offered through theEngineering Design Program, recognizes the completion of nineadditional credits of interdisciplinary design courses and projectexperiences beyond the required engineering design courses.The certificate emphasizes the application of new design methodsand learning new interdisciplinary applications of design, whichinclude:• Design for sustainability• Innovative design• Integrated product and system design• Design for human variability• Humanitarian engineering• Global design• Affective designThe Engineering Design Certificate involves integrating at leasttwo distinct fields of knowledge to help students gain an edge inthe industry.For more information about the Engineering Design Certificate, visitwww.edp.psu.edu/designcertificate or contact Richard Devon atrdevon@psu.edu.See the list of Engineering Design Certificate recipients onpage 56.24 | SEDTAPP NEwS | SPriNg 2010 SPriNg 2010 | SEDTAPP NEwS | 25