Niagara Chapter

Fourth Annual
Design and Build Competition
For Secondary School Students

DESIGN PACKAGE

Niagara College, Welland Campus

March 3, 2018
1. INTRODUCTION
Everywhere you look, you will find something an engineer has designed - the roads you drive on
and the cars you drive in; the clean filtered water you drink and the toilets you flush; the
electricity that powers your house, and the smart phone you use! These things were all
designed by many different types of engineers. Aerospace, biological, civil, chemical, electrical,
environmental, geotechnical, mechanical, and structural engineers (just to name a few!) all work
together to create the world we live in today. Engineering is the process of envisioning,
inventing, creating, and building the world around us.

Engineering feats and marvels occur all over the world. There are so many engineering
achievements right here in Niagara, in “our own backyard.” Some of these many
accomplishments include: the Welland Canal along with its system of lochs and bridges; Sir
Adam Beck Hydroelectric Generating Stations and the recent Niagara Tunnel Project; the
Roebling Suspension Bridge, the world’s first railway suspension bridge (decommissioned); the
Whirlpool Aero Car; and the Skylon Tower; all requiring Professional Engineers.

The Professional Engineers of Ontario (PEO) is the licensing body for 70,000 Professional
Engineers in the province of Ontario. PEO is organized at the local level through 36 “chapters”
across the province. These chapters are the link between the association, its members and the
public. The chapters deliver educational outreach, technical support, and social/sporting events
to their membership. The organizer of this event is the PEO Niagara Chapter, and represents
approximately 1,630 Engineers and Engineers-in-Training from the entire Region, from St.
Catharines to Port Colborne, and Grimsby to Niagara Falls.

The PEO Niagara Chapter is excited be working with both Niagara College and the Ontario
Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) to bring you the
Third Annual Engineering Design & Build Competition to Niagara. Our goal is to encourage
you, the students, to consider engineering as a potential future career, which we believe to be a
prosperous, worthwhile, fulfilling, and challenging career.

This event is one of many event across Canada to celebrate National Engineering Month. While
all events are different, they all promote the same messages:

Engineering and technology shape the world around us; yesterday, today and tomorrow

Engineering and technology are essential to the safety, health, happiness, comfort, and
efficiency of our friends, family and distant neighbours. Locally and globally, people are working
for people. Engineering and technology make a world of difference.

Engineering and technology provide solutions to the diverse set of 21st century challenges and
require a diversity of thinkers. There is a place for you in engineering!

Engineering and technology apply creativity and imagination to turn ideas into reality
2. HOW THE DESIGN & BUILD COMPETITION WORKS
2.1 Pre-Competition Design

This design package is sent to teams two weeks prior to the day of competition. This allows
teams time to research the topic outlined in Section 3. It also allows teams time to brainstorm
ways to solve the problem and determine a way to build the best possible solution with the
materials provided. Come to the competition with your plans written on paper. It is
recommended that during the build period, teams break into smaller groups to complete the
challenge on time.

2.2 Registration – Day of Competition

On the day of competition, make sure to arrive on time! Teams will be given their package of
materials and have four (4) hours to complete the build. The timeline is very tight and we do our
best to stay on schedule so late teams will not be given extra time.

2.3 Build

The build time period is exactly four (4) hours. It is recommended that teams plan how they will
complete their build prior to the day of competition.

2.4 Lunch

Lunch will be provided. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let us know prior to the event.

2.5 Presentations, Testing, and Judging

Each team will be given five (5) minutes to present their design to a panel of judges. Judging will
be based on the team’s build performance, knowledge of the topic, design choices, creativity of
design, and the team’s ability to work together. During the testing period, all teams (except the
team presenting to judges) will be present in the testing room. Friends and family are welcome
to watch the testing period.

2.6 Prizes and Awards

Following judging, the top teams will be awarded a monetary prize.

For a complete schedule, see Section 8.

3. BACKGROUND AND PROBLEM STATEMENT
Renewable energy is energy that comes from natural resources that replenish or renew
themselves over a human’s lifespan such as wind, sunlight, rain, and waves. Thanks to
renewable energy, Ontario has become the first jurisdiction in North America to eliminate coal
as a source of electricity1.

Although renewable energy is a relatively new phenomenon, wind energy has been used by
humans for hundreds of years. It was first used by ancient mariners to carry ships across the
oceans, and then farmers used wind turbines to pump water and create grain2. Today,
engineers have found ways to harness the wind to create an environmentally clean source of
energy through wind turbines.

Producing electricity from wind energy is one of the fastest growing methods of electrical
generation in the world. By the end of 2014, wind energy supplied approximately 4% of
Canada’s electricity demand, which is enough to power over
two million homes in Canada. Ontario is Canada’s leader in
clean wind energy, supplying over 3% of the province’s
electricity demand3. The Niagara Region has always played its
part in renewable energy, especially through hydroelectric
generating station. We have recently added to our renewable
energy profile through the creation of 10 wind turbines in
Wainfleet and West Lincoln. Another 77 proposed wind
turbines should provide 230 megawatts of electricity. In
comparison, Niagara Falls generates about 2000 megawatts
for Canada at Sir Adam Beck Power Plant.

In order for a wind turbine to create electricity, the kinetic

energy from wind turns the turbines blades. These blades are
connected to a rotor and a shaft, which converts the kinetic
energy to mechanical energy. The shaft spins a generator,
which produces electrical energy. This electrical energy is then
transmitted to a transformer, which converts the electrical
output to the correct voltage.4

It is your task as a team to produce a small scale horizontal wind turbine. The materials
provided to build your wind turbine are outlined below in Section 5. The wind turbine must be
able to use the kinetic energy from the wind (a fan) to turn the blades. A small generating motor
will be provided to produce electrical energy. Wind turbines will be tested in a wind tunnel and
the electrical output will be measured.

There are many different designs, from blade design, to nacelle design, to base design, that can
be built. Over the next two weeks, it is your job as a team to research which design will be most

1
Ministry of Energy. “Clean Energy in Ontario” [Online]. Available: http://www.energy.gov.on.ca/en/clean-energy-in-ontario/ [2015, January]
2
National Geographic. “Wind Power” [Online]. Available: environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/wind-power-
profile [2015, January]
3
Canadian Wind Energy Association (2015). “Installed Capacity” [Online]. Available: canwea.ca/wind-energy/installed-capacity [2015,
January]
4
U.S. Department of Energy. “How Do Wind Turbines Work?” [Online]. Available: http://energy.gov/eere/wind/how-do-wind-turbines-work
[2015, January]
effective at producing the highest electrical output using the materials you are given. Come to
the competition with a plan on how your team will build your wind turbine. During your time
researching different types of wind turbines, spend some time researching wind energy. Judges
will be asking you basic questions about how wind energy works.

4. CONSTRAINTS AND GENERAL RULES

Whenever an engineer is given a problem, there are constraints they must work around to
determine the best solution. The following provides constraints to the problem statement:

· Wind turbines cannot exceed 100 cm in height (from tip of blade to bottom of base)
· Students must only use materials provided on the day of competition. No outside
materials will be allowed.
· No power tools will be permitted during the build.
· The wind turbine must be able to stand up on its own. During the testing phase, students
will not be allowed to hold the base down, nor will they be allowed to tape the base to
the ground. A 10lb weight will be provided to hold the base in place.
· Students will be given one opportunity during the build period to test their wind turbines
in the wind tunnel.
· Students must complete their construction in the four (4) hours provided. It is a good
idea to come to the competition with a design or plan and work in smaller teams
to complete the task in the time provided.
· Students must remain with their team during the entire build session.
· Students will not be allowed “outside help” during the build period. This includes no
calling, texting, or emailing someone outside of the team. Volunteers will be around to
answer questions regarding the competition that students may have during this time.
· All four team members are required to speak during the presentation to judges.

5. MATERIAL PROVIDED
The following materials will be provided on the day of competition. Students will not be allowed
to bring any outside parts. The entire structure must be built within the four hours on the day of
competition.
· 200 popsicle sticks · 2 alligator clips
· 30 bamboo skewers approximately · Glue and hot glue gun
30cm long · 1 sheet of cardboard
· 1 styrofoam ball (2” in diameter) · 1 sheet of Bristol board
· 1 piece of wooden dowel 30cm long · Scissors
· 5 gears (2 small, 2 medium, 1 large) · Duct tape
· 1 gear box kit (see Appendix B) · Ruler
· 1 motor

Tools will be provided to cut the wooden dowel.

6. TESTING ON THE DAY OF COMPETITION
After the build period, testing and judging will occur simultaneously. A schedule will be provided
on the day of competition and will allow teams time between testing and presenting.

Overall points for each team’s solution will be based on both the presentation and the testing.
Points given to teams during the presentation are explained in Section 7. Points for testing will
be assigned based on the electrical output generated by the wind turbine.

All testing will be done in the wind tunnel. Wind speeds will gradually increase until maximum
output is reached. A 10lb weight will be provided to hold the base of the wind turbine in place
during the testing phase.

Testing will focus on electrical Power (Power = Volts x Amps) output. Teams will connect the
generator up to a Resistive Decade Box, and have the opportunity to adjust the resistive load
while observing output reaction.

Generator output voltage will be measured alongside load current. The product of these two
values is Power, and is measured in Watts.

Teams will be able to adjust the wind velocity, thereby changing the generator’s output
voltage. Students will also have control of the resistive load value, thereby changing the
electrical load placed on the generator. Teams will continue adjusting the parameters until the
peak output Power is achieved, or until time runs out.

All teams (except the two teams presenting to judges) will be present during the testing period.
Friends and family are welcome to watch the wind turbine testing.

7. PRESENTATION AND JUDGING

Each team will be given five (5) minutes to present to a panel of two or three judges, all of which
will be engineers, technologists or subject experts. Judges are interested in knowing what you
have learned about wind turbines and how they work. It is not required for you to become a
subject expert – just make sure you have enough knowledge to answer basic questions about
the topic. Judges are also interested in knowing why the design you chose for everything from
the base, to the tower, to the nacelle and blades would capture the greatest amount of wind
energy. Be prepared to explain your design choices.

Wind turbine testing will not occur in front of the panel of judges. It will occur at the same time
as presentations in a different room.

Overall scores will be determined based on the sum of both the judging and testing scores.
Presentation points will be awarded based on the team’s ability to explain their wind turbine
design. Testing points will be awarded based on the electrical output generated by the wind
turbine in the wind tunnel.

Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top teams.

8. SCHEDULE OF EVENT
The design package will be released to students on Monday, February 19, 2018. Students will
have two (2) weeks to research the topic, prepare a design and build plan, and ask any
questions regarding the competition. Students should bring their design plans on paper to the
competition.

The PEO Niagara Design and Build Competition will take place at Niagara College Welland
Campus on Saturday March 3, 2018, beginning at 8:00am. A map can be found in Appendix A.
The schedule of events is provided below:

8:00am – 8:15am Registration

8:15am – 8:30am Opening Remarks and Questions
8:30am – 12:30pm Design and Build of Wind Turbine
12:30pm – 1:30pm Lunch & Introduction to Niagara College Engineering Technology
1:30pm – 3:30pm Testing, Presentations and Judging
3:30pm – 3:45pm Campus Tour
3:45pm – 4:00pm Results and Closing Remarks

Throughout the day, students will have the opportunity to talk to members of the PEO and
OACETT, current Engineers and Technologists, and both students and teachers at Niagara
College Engineering Technology programs.

9. QUESTIONS
If students have any questions prior to the day of competition, they can be emailed to Lindsay
Mooradian at MooradianL@ae.ca. A list of all questions asked and the answer will be emailed to
each team’s person of contact throughout the two weeks leading up to the day of competition.

On the day of competition, volunteers will be present to answer any questions you may have
during the design and build or judging portion of the day.
Appendix A – Maps
 First Avenue
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A, B, C Lot entrance
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No permit parking in Lot A.
t Trail Please use B, C, D, E, F or G

A, B, C Lot entrance
F1 30-Minute
Merritt VISITOR PARKING
PARKING PARKING Library &
Learning
E2
F2 Commons
Shipping/Receiving
A1
Lundy
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Ring Road
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ACW

Main Entrance
Child Care
Woodlawn Applied Health
Institute
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G1
Chippawayan Boulevard

Safety
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G2 G3 G4

First Avenue
Rice Road

PARKING

Exit to Rice Road only D, E, F Lot entrance G Lot entrance Parking pay stations Bus stop Accessible ParkingTo Seaway Mall
Woodlawn Road Woodlawn Road only
by permit
Campus information station Smoking area
NiagaraCollege.ca/maps

Niagara College Canada Parking pay stations Bus stop Accessible Parking LOT A parking: Daily Paid, Visitor and Dental Clinic
by permit only
Welland Campus Campus information station Smoking area
LOT B, C, D, E, F, G parking: Daily Paid and Permit Holders
NiagaraCollege.ca/maps

LOT A parking: Daily Paid, Visitor and Dental Clinic

LOT B, C, D, E, F, G parking: Daily Paid and Permit Holders
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Appendix B – Gears & Gear Box Kit