Senior Capstone Projects Showcase Innovative Solar Thermal Technologies at Northeastern University
April 16th, 2024 - Boston, MA
Northeastern University illuminated the future of concentrating solar technology with senior Mechanical Engineering (ME) capstone projects on April 16th. Guided by professors Yiannis Levendis, Greg Kowalski, and Hameed Metghalchi, alongside Benjamin Lynch, students developed three projects with support from the Heliostat Consortium.
Deformable Heliostat
Heliostat Solar Tracker
ME students Ryan Cervone, Emmanuel Mendez, Julian Newquist, Andrew Pflaumer, and Daniel White engineered a closed-loop control system for heliostat mirrors capable of tracking a collimated light source—a light source with parallel rays. Their solution (Fig. 2) enhances tracking accuracy, potentially improving upon open-loop tracking systems in heliostat fields.
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Solar Pyrolyzed Fertilizer Production
ME students Robert Egan, Emily Leung, Michael Lo, Shaked Lotem, and Vito Montesa adapted a solar-tracking pyrolysis reactor to convert pine needles into biochar. The team modified the solar tracking system and built an auger system to process the solid product and were able to achieve a temperature of 550 °C. Their project (Fig. 3) not only aids in forest fire prevention (by consuming dead pine needles that could serve as fuel) but also produces biochar, which can be used as a fertilizer material. These projects not only demonstrate Northeastern's commitment to sustainability but also highlight the innovative spirit and collaborative efforts of its students in shaping a greener future.
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