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Senior Capstone Design Showcase

2024 Senior Capstone Design Showcase

The Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources is showcasing the hard work and creativity of our senior design students through a series of presentations, demonstrations, and poster sessions. Join in on these events to see the amazing work our seniors have completed over the semester and year.

April 16

Chemical Engineering
Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Net Zero Processes for the Appalachian Region
12:30 pm, NRCCE Room 125 or Virtual: https://wvu.zoom.us/j/92006064109
Oral Presentation
CHE Project Abstract

April 19

Civil Engineering
Redesign of Scotts Run Bridge
2 pm – 4 pm, Evansdale Crossing Room 414
Oral Presentation
CE Project Abstract

April 23

Biomedical Engineering
Display of clinical and translational projects students have worked on throughout the academic year.
12:30 pm – 3 pm, ESB Atrium
Poster Symposium
BMEG Project Titles

University Rover Challenge Robotics
The University Rover Challenge (URC) team will showcase the latest Mars rover design, perform live demonstrations with the rover, and answer questions.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, AEL 107 Robotics Lab
Demonstration

BAJA SAE
The team fabricating the vehicle will discuss the competition and how the WVU car is designed to perform.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, AEL 108 BAJA Garage
Open House

Formula SAE
An interactive presentation and Q&A session to learn more about the design and fabrication of Formula-style race cars for the non-professional weekend autocross racing enthusiast and compete in international collegiate racing competitions to determine the best overall design, performance, cost, fuel efficiency, and production feasibility.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB B39 Formula Garage
Presentation and Demonstration

April 24

Lane Department
Display of computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, and biometric systems engineering student projects
11 am – 1 pm, AERB Atrium and Corridors
Poster Symposium and Demonstrations
Link to Lane Department CS 480 Project List and CS481 Project list.

Experimental Rocketry Capstone
Students in the Experimental Rocketry Capstone will showcase five different hands-on projects in support of the WVU Experimental Rocketry (ER) Club. The projects include an onboard active drag system for precision apogee attainment, a student-developed onboard flight avionics system for rocket state space estimation and subsystem control, a modular propulsion stand and data acquisition system for solid rocket motor characterization, an imbedded sensor system for long term assessment of airframe health for composite rocket bodies, and a propellant surrogate and casting approach for development of complex-geometry solid rocket motor propellant grains.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB Atrium
Oral Presentation

Small Satellites
Showcase their design for a laboratory small satellite for use in educational settings and by the satellite hobbyist. Their small satellite is named COSMOS: College Outreach Satellite for Motion Observation and Science. Homesteading Mars, and Multiuse Platform at L1.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB Atrium
Posters and Demonstration

Unmanned Aerial Systems
Students in the UAS Capstone design, built, and tested UAV based on the annual AIAA's Design Build Fly competition mission. AIAA's 2024 competition mission requirements are for an electric fixed-wing “Urban Air Mobility” capable of performing transport and ambulance missions
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB G75E (Lane Innovation Hub – Electronics Lab)
Demonstration and Oral Presentation

April 25

Mining Engineering
Two design teams will present the results of their analysis of an unmined mineral or coal resource and their recommendations for resource development. Recommendations include a full economic and technical analysis of the deposit and proposed mine development plan.
2 pm – 4 pm, ESB G84
Oral Presentation

Design Build Fly
Students in the WVU Design Build Fly (DBF) Club will showcase their design for an electric fixed-wing “Urban Air Mobility” UAV designed to carry both passengers and emergency medical crews and their equipment. They will also share their experiences as well as critical lessons learned from the 2024 AIAA DBF Competition on Wichita, KS.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB G75E (Lane Innovation Hub – Electronics Lab)
Demonstration

EcoCAR
The WVU EcoCAR EV Challenge team will showcase their 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ and the team will have four years to demonstrate the potential of advanced propulsion systems, connected and automated vehicle technologies and other innovative technologies to analyze energy efficiency.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB G15
Presentation and Demonstration

Microgravity Research Team
Students in the WVU Microgravity Research Team (MRT) will showcase their recent efforts to develop the hardware and materials required for in-space additive manufacturing through spraying of titanium-based solgel material using a miniaturized automated payload designed for use on board the International Space Station (ISS).
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB Atrium
Oral Presentation and Posters

Experimental Rocketry Club
Student members of the WVU Experimental Rocketry Club (ERC) will showcase their entry in this year’s Spaceport America Cup international rocket competition. The club’s high-power rocket, Miner’s Lady, is entirely designed and built by club members and made to fly to an altitude of 30,000 ft while operating numerous student-designed, built, and tested scientific payloads.
2 pm – 4:30 pm, ESB Atrium
Oral Presentation and Posters

Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
Group 1 – Completion Design Optimization of Marcellus Shale Gas Reservoir: A Case Study of Boggess 1H Well in West Virginia
Group 2 - Completion Design Optimization of Marcellus Shale Gas Reservoir: A Case Study of Boggess 5H Well in West Virginia
Group 3 – Enhanced Oil Recovery Optimization Using Water Alternate Gas Injection: A Case Study of Plum Bush Creek Field in Colorado
4 pm – 6 pm, MRB 301
Oral Presentation

April 26

Industrial Engineering
Display of the industrial projects that students have been working on during the spring semester.
12:30 pm – 2:30 pm, Evansdale Crossing Room 414
Oral Presentations
IMSE Project Titles

Additional Information 

Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering projects

MMAE students participate in many of the interdisciplinary capstone presentations including: the EcoCAR EV Challenge team presentation, University Rover Challenge Robotics, BAJA SAE, Formula SAE, Experimental Rocketry Capstone, Small Satellites, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Design Build Fly, Microgravity Research Team, and Experimental Rocketry Club.

Chemical Engineering Projects

Process Design and Techno-Economic Assessment of Net Zero Processes for the Appalachian Region

Mountaineer NetZero Tech (MNT)

Owen Gerdes, Meghan Boyczuk, Hunter Hardway, Hannah Litz, Reece Stevenson, Joshua Swecker, Ali Abul, Larry Clevenger, Joseph Davis, Adam Elder, Megan Flyte, Cyrus Hach, Cole Hodges, Marleigh Kawecki, Gage Keener, Max Kugel, Brian Lauerman, Kaitlyn Panaro, Rachel Phillips, María Paula Rincón Pérez, Afnan Safa, Tyler Schoenfelder, and Brendan Smith

Advisors: Debangsu Bhattacharyya and Fernando Lima

Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
West Virginia University

Growing environmental and social concerns surrounding climate change have led to broad efforts to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2050. Some strategies to accomplish this goal include process intensification, renewable energy utilization, and carbon capture, each of which allows the world to approach net-zero emissions in a distinct way, through reduction of process energy demands, generation of energy without the byproduct of greenhouse gasses, and isolation and storage of greenhouse gases, respectively. At the request of NetZeroTek, Inc. Mountaineer NetZero Tech conducted a three phase project to investigate the potential implementation of these strategies in the Appalachian region.

Upon completion of Phases I and II, literature review and preliminary model development had been performed, and six key units were formulated: Unit 100 – Liquid Metal Bubble Column Reactor, Unit 200 – Pressure Swing Adsorption, Unit 300 – Hydrogen Direct Reduced Iron, Unit 400 – Haber-Bosch Process, Unit 500 – Biomass Pyrolysis, and Unit 600 – Point Source Carbon Capture. Various groupings of the units provided a versatile net-zero process template to be applied to chemical processes and power production in the Appalachian region, but each grouping generated hydrogen to be used as a resource, either energetically, chemically or both.

Upon completion of Phase III, each model had been topologically and parametrically optimized using an objective function of Equivalent Annual Operating Cost. Additionally, one configuration of units consisting of all units was topologically optimized under the same objective function. This and other configurations were analyzed to understand the broader economic impact of a regional adoption of this net-zero process for energy and resource generation. More detailed analysis was performed for specific units, including a Hazard and Operability study of Unit 300, development of a Piping and Instrumentation Diagram for Unit 400, sustainability analysis of Unit 600, and a rigorous pressure vessel design for all units.

Civil Engineering Project Abstract

Abstract: The Scotts Run Bridge is a single span bridge located just across the Monongahela River from Star City, West Virginia. It lies on Route 100 where Lazelle Union Road and Scotts Run Road intersect. The current bridge was designed by the West Virginia Department of Transportation in 1997 as an adjacent box beam superstructure with a span length of 88 feet. This report covers eight alternatives to be considered for replacement of the structure. The alternatives are as follows: • Flexible Buried Bridge • Two Prestressed Concrete Alternatives: o Four BIV-48 Spread Box Beams o Four AASHTO Type IV Girders • Five Steel Girder Alternatives: o Four Composite Rolled Beams with Partially Stiffened Web o Four Composite Plate Girders with Partially Stiffened Web (Homogeneous) o Five Plate Girders o Four Shallow Tub Girders (Suggested Option) o Six Valmont U33 Tub Girders After analyzing all the options, it was found that using four shallow tub girders was the most adequate for design. For the suggested option, the hydrological aspects, roadway components, and geotechnical situation were analyzed to create plans to implement phased construction. The group found that the existing abutments were sufficient to support the new superstructure; however, a raise in the beam seat is required. The group also found that doing a two-phase construction method would be the most adequate for the replacement of this bridge, with a detour rerouting Scotts Run during phase 2.

Industrial Engineering Projects

Improvement of Material Handling Processes for High-Volume Manufacturing

Improving the Efficiency of Material Procurement for a Government Contractor

Reducing Incomplete Cabinetry Orders by Improving Product Flow Communications

Enhancing Shop Floor Information through Digitalization for an Architectural Veneer Process

Eliminating Waste in Material Movement for a Packaging Process

Optimization of Raw Material Storage for Urethane Manufacturing

Establishing Plans to Support Legacy Production Scheduling for Stained Art Glass

Biomedical Engineering Project Titles

Expandable Implant Trial for Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion

Modular Robotic System for the Chemical Synthesis of Biomedical Imaging Agents

Backing Design for Lymph Node Window Chamber Implant

Future Technological Forecasting for Physiologically Aware Intelligent Systems

Development of Synthetic Variable Lymphocyte Receptor Library

Design and Optimization of a Microfluidic Model of the Blood-Brain Barrier

Device for Ultrasound Guided Scleral Stiffening as a Glaucoma Treatment

A Wearable Feeback System for Reducing Shoulder Injury

Cardiac Imaging and Artificial Intelligence

Next Generation Transport Vehicles of Non-coding RNA for Improved Therapeutic Outcomes