Juracan Energy Team (JET)
Gurabo, Puerto Rico
Universidad Ana G. Mendez is participating in the 2022 competition as a learn-along team. This opportunity will allow team members to experience the competition and establish a deeper understanding of the wind energy industry and the competition.
Faculty Adviser
Dr. Amaury Malavé Sanabria, [email protected]
Student Lead
Alex D. Santiago Vargas, [email protected]
Vision and Mission
Our Juracan Energy Team believes that the growing market of renewable energy will need skilled engineers to continue its expansion. Participating in the U.S. Department of Energy Collegiate Wind Competition (CWC) as a learn-along team encourages team members to pursue careers in wind energy and introduces them to industry experts. Our team is using lessons from four previous competitions to come back stronger and take this year’s CWC submission to the next level.
Background
The name Juracan is derived from the female Taino deity Juracan, which means goddess of wind and storms. The name is a reminder of the extreme weather our island communities experience and thus how important it is for us to seek energy stability.
In previous CWCs, we have battled all kinds of design challenges. For instance, in 2019 our blade aerodynamics outperformed the hub structural capacity and the power system limits. As a result, we are actively communicating with members of that team to ensure we are adjusting the design to avoid the same problems. Despite these challenges, our team has performed well in past competitions, winning the Resiliency and People’s Choice Awards in 2018 and the People’s Choice and Bonus Challenge Awards in 2016. We are returning to the 2022 CWC as a learn-along team.
The Juracan Energy Team members, starting from the top left: Alex D. Santiago Vargas, Idalina L. Claudio Rodriguez, Gadiel J. Matheu Vega, Gabriel A. Vera Rodriguez, Jose A. Pedraza Centeno, Alcides Ramos, Ariel Torres Rivera, Clariane Carrasquillo Delgado, Carlos Trujillo Gonzalez, Miguel E. Moreno Lopez, Krystal M. Castillo Diaz.
Strategy
Each student has their own exceptional strengths such as programming, computer-aided design, electrical, mechanical, and structural analysis, manufacturing, and testing. Interdisciplinary collaboration among team members ensures that every wind turbine part fits into the overall design.
The Project Development team is using geographic information system software, Furow, and economic models to analyze the micro-siting of an offshore wind farm off the coast of Galveston, Texas. They have reviewed all necessary factors, as well as studies from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, to optimize the feasibility of our wind farm.
To meet our project goals, all students meet weekly to provide progress updates, and team members work directly with faculty advisors in mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering. The team expanded its expertise this year by including a civil engineering student to help analyze and design the offshore wind turbine structure, and the team now includes more female students than ever before. The work on a portion of the electrical and mechanical design is also included as part of students’ capstone and research projects. As a learn along team, the team opted to not include the Connection Creation Contest in this years’ activities.
Follow Us
- Facebook: @JuracanEnergyTeam | Universidad Ana G. Méndez Facebook Page | Universidad Ana G. Méndez School of Engineering Facebook Page
- Instagram: @je_pr
- Twitter: @JEnergyTeam
This content was submitted to the U.S. Department of Energy by the team. Find more information on CWC 2022.