College of Engineering

MEC 200 – Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Project: DESIGN OF OFFSHORE SELF-SUSTAINABLE FARM

COURSE NAME & NUMBER Mec-200: Intro to Mechanical Engineering

Mec-130: Intro to Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
INSTRUCTOR Dr. Sharul S. Dol
ASSIGNMENT OR PROJECT
TITLE & NUMBER Project

DUE DATE
1.

2.

3.
SUBMITTED BY:
STUDENT NAME: LAST, FIRST 4.
STUDENT NUMBER, SIGNATURE
5.

MARKING SCHEME:

The project will be marked out of 100 with the following mark distribution scheme:

Drawings (out of 20):

Experimental testing procedures / Simulation / Data analysis (out of 20):
Design report mark (out of 50):
Presentation mark (out of 10):

Due Date: 8-February 2021

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

Deep sea fish farming or mariculture becomes very prospective business for countries surrounded by the
sea. In the nearest future mariculture will grow to billion industry that can provide half of all seafood
consumed in the world. Certain marine species and fish can be successfully farmed, so producing valua-
ble items for local or international markets. The waste from the sustainable offshore mariculture will be
drifted by the ocean currents and will not affect the local ecosystem and will not cause buildup or pollu-
tion, as what usually happens with inshore aquaculture. Since the farm will be located offshore in deep
waters it is required that the farm to be operated without human interaction and be able to internally
generate required amount of energy to remain self-sustaining for a considerable period of time.

As the development stages for this project, first the feasibility study of the design of self-sustainable
oilrig platform will be performed. Then, a conceptual 3D design of the offshore fish farm will be created.
The oilrig platform will be integrated with the tidal, wind and solar energy generation systems (see Fig.
1 for conceptual idea). Structural integrity of the farm design considering the influence of ocean currents
and waves will be studied.

Figure 1: Offshore fish farm concept (Dol, 2018)

OBJECTIVES:

 The sustainable offshore mariculture seeks to minimize transportation costs and fossil fuel use.

 Complete fish farm system design integrated with the alternative energy generation system (tidal,
wind, solar, etc.). The design should be different from the one shown in Figure 1.

 Mini power stations and generators will be installed on the platform to convert tidal, wind and/or
solar energy into electricity.

 Detailed design of system components (fish cages, automatic feeding system, energy storage sys-
tem, fixation mechanism, etc.)

 Farming fish will require regular feeding. The farm will be equipped with the new technology for
the long-term storage of feed. The combination of the remote sensing and automated fish feeding
system will make the offshore farms both more feasible and economical.

 Structural analysis of the farm design considering the influence of ocean currents and waves.

 Detailed engineering analysis of the system with optimization in terms of Factor of Safety, Cost,
Functionality and Simplicity.

 Technical documentation and specification of the model of the self-sustainable fish farm.

This design project is intended to provide exercise on the use of various stages of the design process; i.e,
problem definition, generation of goals and criteria, generation of alternatives, assessment of alternatives,
evaluation and decision making, planning, testing, and communication of the design. Each design team
is expected to perform a thorough search, generate imaginative and creative ideas, evaluate and assess
those thoroughly using appropriate criteria and various techniques discussed in the class. Design calcu-
lations and proposal for experimental testing (or simulation) are required to assess the model.

The learning outcomes from this project are summarized in the following:
 Demonstrate creative thinking,
 Demonstrate an understanding of modern engineering design methodology through design and
analyze projects,
 Assess a specific design through simple design calculations,
 Design a simple setup for experimental testing and assess a specific design through simple test-
ing/simulation,
 Work in small groups on simple conceptual design projects,
 Communicate and present the design to others
DESIGN SUBMISSION:
It is the responsibility of each group to elect a group leader and to ensure that a design report and the
pertinent model are submitted to the professor prior to the presentation. By signing the project submis-
sion sheet (first page on the report), you agree and consent to all the information in this document and
all amendments.

The following are the project deliverables required by the submission due date:

1. DESIGN REPORT:
The design report should include, but not limited to, the following:
- A cover sheet listing pertinent details of the project and the team members and their signature. Use
attached sheet.
- An appropriate engineering drawing of the model (2D and 3D drawings).
- Detailed account of various design phases and procedures used to reach to the proposed design.
This should include description and discussion of various stages of design, goals and criteria, alter-
natives, assessment and decision making, and detailed design and analysis. Tables, design/idea log
sheets, and sketches should be used as much as possible in this part of the report.
- Detailed analysis and calculation of simple energy required/generated and structural analysis.
- Detailed account of the proposed experimental setup and testing (or simulation) used by the
group to test the submitted design or specific parts/joints of the design.
- The design report should be typed (20 pages maximum including references) and you should sub-
mit both a printout and electronic version of the report. Use the BB link to submit your report.

GENERAL NOTES / DATES:

 Each design team must record their meetings and progress on the attached log sheet for meetings.
This is an essential part of the project and all these log sheets must be attached as an appendix at
the end of the design report.
 Dates for model submission, testing and report submission are specified on the cover sheet of this
document (by 8-February 2021).
 Turnitin similarity MUST BE LESS than 20%.
MEETING DATE & TIME:
MEETING PLACE:
ATTENDEES: NAME, ID AND SIGNATURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
FINISHED ACTIVITIES (SINCE LAST MEETING)

RESPONSI- TIME TO
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
BILITY FINISH

PLANNED ACTIVITIES (UNTIL NEXT MEETING)

RESPONSI- TIME TO
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION
BILITY FINISH