Project Honeycomb

Tyler Leighton, Alex Lozada, Jackson Roberts, Ty Cubley

 
 
 
 
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Table of Contents

Background 2

Objectives 2

Scope 3

Timeframe 3

Project Budget 3

Developmental Process 4

Future Tests/Surveys 4

Current Solutions 4

Key Personnel 5

Supplementary Personnel 5

Scientific and Engineering Concepts 5

Monitoring and Evaluation 6

Mentor Approval Signatures 6

Evaluator Approval Signature 6

Citations 7

Appendix 7
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Background

In current times, one of the most important resources for a functioning modern society is
electricity. Electricity has improved every aspect of human life in the modern world allowing for greater
personal comfort and safety to the streamlining of all parts of the economy. Despite the widespread use
and importance of electricity, it is very possible there will be power outages or shut offs. Without
electricity most of modern society comes to a sudden halt. Schools and businesses lose most forms of
working and communication. Additionally, the lack of electricity can be potentially lethal for people in
hospital.
To prevent the possibility of there being a power shortage, The Honeycomb Project proposes the
use of microgrids to fulfill our energy needs. A microgrid is an independent self-sustaining large scale
circuit that can operate off the main power grid, known as island mode. It has to have at least two or more
ways of producing electricity. With that microgrids have the ability to store the energy it has produced
through batteries. If a microgrid runs out of space to store electricity it can also sell off electricity to the
local power company.
For our project, we will be working with Omni Energy Solutions, an energy solution company
that has been working and experimenting with microgrids for years. We will be in close contact with their
CEO, Troy Wooster, and Head of Operations, Michael Del Valle, to learn more about microgrids and
design our own. However, due to size and cost constraints of a physcial microgrid, we are planning on
creating a detailed theoretical design of one, possibly with a scale model. However, we are still planning
on using practices and design philosophies used in the existing industry.

Objectives

1. Identify issues and weaknesses of existing microgrids

2. Do indepth research on microgrids
3. Draw up several project proposals and decided on best design
4. Research best materials for product based on price, reliability, and performance
5. Estimate cost of materials
6. Design and material review with mentors
7. Finalize detailed blueprint
8. Build scale model

We have set up several objectives that we want to complete over the course of our project. First,
we want to identify issues and weaknesses of existing microgrids, and find ways that we could possibly
improve upon them. Second, we will do indepth research on microgrids and their applications. Third,
based upon our research, we will draw up several designs with San Marin High School in mind. Fourth,
for our theoretical design we will research materials based on their price, reliability, and performance.
Fifth, we will have an estimation of the total cost of all materials needed and then how much it would cost
to create a microgrid with them. Sixth, after we have completed our initial blueprint and design we will
review it with our mentors, to see it is possible and could be applied in real life. Seventh, after our mentor
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review needed changes will be made to our design and the blueprint will be finalized. Eighth, if Covid 19
and time constraints does not prevent us we would like to build a possible scale model of our microgrid at
San Marin.

Scope

Currently, the targeted market for our product are hospitals and schools. We will focus on San
Marin High School as a theoretical pilot project for our design. To meet the needs and goals of our
product, we are working with San Marin’s Vice Principal , Micael Casper, to find our clients desired
design and cost. However, we hope the implementation of microgrids can be applied elsewhere across the
country on a larger and more widespread scale in the future. With the expanding need for more
sustainable energy solutions and constant power outages across california. The need for microgrids has
become evident for a better future.

Timeframe

Phase Description Start End

Phase 1: Preparation Prepare for the 9/4/2020 10/2/2020

building of a
prototype or design

Phase 2: Design and Design a prototype or 10/2/2020 11/13/2020

manufacture model

Phase 3: Evaluation Revise the current 11/13/2020 11/27/2020

and Revision model/prototype

Phase 4: Finalization Finalize and create 11/27/2020 12/11/2020

design report

Project Budget

Currently, the targeted market for our product are hospitals and schools. We will focus on San
Marin High School as a theoretical pilot project for our design. To meet the needs and goals of our
product, we are working with San Marin’s Vice Principal , Micael Casper, to find our clients desired
design and cost. However, we hope the implementation of microgrids can be applied elsewhere across the
country on a larger and more widespread scale in the future. With the expanding need for more
sustainable energy solutions and constant power outages across california. The need for microgrids has
become evident for a better future.
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Developmental Process

The first step in our development process is to find the problem, which we have, and research
more in depth how a microgrid works and what components we need. We also need to research the
construction, electrical engineering, limitations, and logistics of a microgrid.
The second step is to develop the design requirements, such as energy requirements and ability of
the system to work under certain conditions, ie. heatwave, rain, etc. We need to figure out the
specifications and functions. This is where the demands and wishes list comes into play.
The third step of the development process is to develop the solution to the problem, that being our
design and concept of the microgrid we would like to build. We should also get an evaluation of our
design repeatedly throughout the process.
The fourth step is to reevaluate and revise the design. After this, we will get our final design and
prepare it for presentation.

Future Tests/Surveys

We plan on issuing more surveys in order to whittle down unnecessary demands and
wishes, and to find any problems that our market has with Project Honeycomb. The surveys we
plan on issuing are going to be revised versions of our previous survey. These revisions will be
focused on refining our questions to make them more open ended and less binary.
As for tests, it will be difficult to test our design since it won’t be implemented, but it is
likely it will be constantly critiqued and analyzed by mentors to find any holes or fallacies in our
design.

Current Solutions

Nowadays, microgrids are becoming more common. Along with becoming more popular, many
microgrids are utilizing renewable energy. Although few microgrids are 100% renewable, due to
limitations of the generation of renewable energy, such as no solar power generation at night or on cloudy
days, or lack of wind to power wind turbines. To achieve this, would require improved batteries to store
the renewable energy to eliminate the need for non-renewable energy.
There are also options that also protect against blackouts, such as batteries since power
generation can be expensive. The batteries obviously don’t protect the school against Public Power Shut
Offs and other long term blackouts mandated by PG&E since batteries can’t last that long. Much of the
technology used to make microgrids, such as power generation solutions like windmills and solar panels,
already exists. As such, the challenge imposed by microgrids is to combine all of these solutions together
into one cohesive whole as each grid has its unique needs and challenges.

Key Personnel

Tyler Leighton tyleighton@students.nusd.org

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Alex Lozada salozada@students.nusd.org

Jackson Roberts jaroberts@students.nusd.org

Ty Cubley tycubley@students.nusd.org

Supplementary Personnel

Mentors Profession Area of Expertise

Troy Wooster Ceo of Omni Energy Solutions - Electrical Engineering

Michael Del Valle Head of Operations, Omni - Planning

Energy Solutions - Implementation

Divyam Electrical Engineer - Microgrid Design

- Electrical Engineering

Steve Lyon Journeyman Electrician - Safety for microgrids

- Maintenance

Michael Casper Vice Principal of San Marin - Client

High school

Scientific and Engineering Concepts

● Computer Science
○ Operation/Management of grid
○ Cybersecurity
● Construction
○ Power generation (can be bought, windmills, natural gas)
○ Storage (can be bought)
○ Installation of wires, power generation, and storage
● Electrical Engineering
○ Wiring
○ Safety and Operation
○ Island mode and connection to the Macrogrid
○ Energy Consumption of San Marin HS
● Finance and Legality
○ Laws on microgrids?
○ Government (built on school)
○ Selling energy back to PG&E
● Logistics
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○ May cause disturbance

○ Who constructs microgrids? Multiple companies on one project or just one?

Monitoring and Evaluation

Our official Evaluator will be Mr. Tronconi of the San Marin Senior Stem program and
our mentors and industry professionals. Evaluation of our final product will be on December 11,
2020.

Mentor Approval Signatures

Evaluator Approval Signature

Citations

● The Advanced Microgrid: Integration and Interoperability

● Steps of The Engineering Design Process
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Appendix
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