Press Release

Systems Engineering II: Fuel for Thought: They’re going Green

Presentation Announcement

Highlands, NJ, January 18^th, 2011 – A Student Presentation, an opportunity for exposure to the construction and design of the Green Marina Fueling Docks, 1:20 p.m. at the MAST Campus, Building 303.

Introduction

With the project at its last legs, the opportunity to be exposed to the design and construction of the Sandy Hook Green Marina’s fuel docks is available. With student Erika Thompson speaking, the presentation will be held on January 18^th, 2011. Erika Thompson is a senior at the Marine Academy of Science and Technology concentrating on Systems Engineering II in her final year. Next year, she will be continuing her studies at Columbia University, expected to graduate in 2015. Ms. Thompson’s project is to design and construct a set of concise drawings for the fuel docks of the Green Marina proposed to be constructed bayside, on the chapel area of Sandy Hook. Her presentation will introduce the design and installation process of the fueling system as well as the thought process of her work. It is predicted to be very intriguing and informative.

Project Description

A-1: The working drawings of the fuel dock

      Erika Thompson’s project is to design the layout of the fueling station for boaters to access at the Sandy Hook Green Marina year round, and provide the details for installation of the components for the system. She also is responsible for designing the dock layout (Figure A-1) which must promote efficiency and restrict crashes and spills from boat collisions. The purpose of her layout is to minimize boat traffic and provide fuel in an efficient way to the various types of boats that come in and out of the marina.  She has taken into consideration all of the factors that she needs to base her designs around and has created a list of specifications and limitations regarding size, safety, and efficiency.. The mood of her project’s design is ecologically friendly. Her goal is to design a product that will provide fuel to boaters safely and efficiently while having an ecological footprint, or lasting imprint on the environment that is as close to null as possible. By researching the product lines of dispensers, pipes, fuel shut-off valves, and protection systems, she has comprised a design that causes the least possible harm to the environment. She has gained knowledge from multiple companies who are very familiar with the line of her work.

The Mentor’s Role

Mentors have played a huge role in the project’s process. The presentation will introduce the role of a mentor and how they are involved in the whole process of the project. Their role is to guide the student in the right direction on the design path. Erika’s mentor Mr. Logan Trimble is an engineering student at MIT. Mr. Adam Tierney helps run the Liberty State Park Marina. With a combination of the two mentors, Erika has a wide range of knowledge at her own disposal that she has used for her project. She has obtained site maps from them and PDF files detailing examples of possible fuel system designs and drawings. When mentors are taken advantage of correctly, the can completely change the outcome of a project in a positive manner.

STEMM and its Involvement

            STEMM is the Science, Technology, Engineering, Manufacturing and Math involved in the project. The most important aspect of Erika’s project is the Technology. If it were not for the technology of fuel systems already created in Erika’s projects by the company’s, and the level of advanced fueling technologies today, she would not be able to create a design that is so environmentally friendly. The technology in her design includes everything from the fuel dispensers to the emergency shut off systems. Without this vital advancement of technologies, the fueling system would be prone to spills and risk whether or not they would be detected by anyone before if was too late. Less damage can be done with this technology to the environment, guaranteeing a success in designing a “Green” product.

The Presentation

      January 18^th, 2011 marks the date of Erika Thompson’s Formal Progress Update. This presentation is formal as Erika is ready to make good impressions incase she is presenting to a client or any other professional interested in her work. The presentation should run under a half an hour as any other business presentation would be. She does not want to bore the client and other professionals; she is looking to intrigue them with her design and product. Those who attend this presentation will be able to ask questions at the end and learn about the fully functioning fuel dock. Developmental drawings (Figure A-2) will be presented and review is encouraged, as Erika always looks for more design ideas and inspiration.

Final Expectations

      The finished design is meant to meet all of the required expectations of how a Green fuel dock should work. The design will be aesthetically pleasing as well as safe and efficient, having very little impact on the surrounding ecology. The design will minimize boat traffic, as well as safely and efficiently provide fuel. The green marina will overall benefit from this design and the final set of drawings will be very professional.

Conclusion

The presentation concerning Erika Thompson’s design of the fuel docks will be held on January 18^th, 2011. She was given the opportunity to design and construct a set of concise drawings for the fuel docks of the Green Marina proposed to be constructed bayside, on the chapel area of Sandy Hook. Her presentation will introduce the design and installation process of the fueling system as well as the thought process of her work. With her mentors at hand she is able to have assistance and be ensured that the designs are viable for production. The STEMM aspect will establish the key components of the design and production process. Lastly, all of the information proffered will be explained in more detail during the upcoming student presentations. These will be taking place at the Marine Academy on the date previously stated.

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For more details about the Green Marina in Highlands, NJ, contact Erika Thompson or visit MAST at www.mast.mcvsd.org.

About the Marine Academy of Science and Technology

The Marine Academy of Science and Technology (MAST) is a co-ed four-year high school, grades 9-12; one of five career academies administered by the Monmouth County Vocational School District. The Marine Academy is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges and offers small classes with close personal attention. The Marine Academy was founded in 1981 as a part-time program, which has since grown to become a full-time diploma-granting program. The school's curriculum focuses on marine sciences and marine technology/engineering. The MAST program requires each student to participate in the Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) in lieu of Physical Education.

MAST is located in the Fort Hancock Historic Area at the tip of Sandy Hook, New Jersey. The school campus is located adjacent to the Sandy Hook Lighthouse, the oldest working lighthouse in the country, in thirteen newly renovated buildings, within walking distance of several beaches. The "Blue Sea" is a 65-foot research vessel owned and operated by the Marine Academy and berthed at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Sandy Hook. The vessel is used in all facets of the program.

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For additional information:

Marine Academy of Science and Technology

732-749-3360

Erika Thompson, E: erika_thompson@mast.mcvsd.org
Wendy Green and John Cuttrell, V: 732-291-0995

Rationale

This selection/rejection/ intention report has chosen what I will carry out in my design. The nature of the designs is well organized, ecologically friendly, and safe to users. The angles should look clean and be aesthetically pleasing to the viewer. Also, modern and ecologically friendly materials must be used to add to the pleasing aesthetics. They must provide a viable solution for the organization of the fuel stations to limit boat traffic and to meet the demand of fuel.

The first solution is the largest of the three alternate solutions. It has 4 pumps for 8 slips and two additional pumps for up to 4 additional fueling stations for boats who would like to quickly pull in. The 8 other slips must be used by boaters who are willing to pull or back into the space. In total, there are 6 fueling pumps. A fuel house for the gas attendants that is 20 by 15 feet resides in the middle of the large platform dock. Additional piping goes through to the fuel house such as waste and water and follows the same pipe line as the gas pumps. Each of the slips is 20 feet wide and 50 feet long on 45 degree angles from the side. If chosen as a solution, there would have to be some changes made to the layout due to the new site area which is described in the edited specifications and limitations. Also, I would replace the lined strips of dock with pilings with rope atop of each one to mark the slip’s space and angle.

Pros:

-         The design is very large and can provide fuel access to a large amount of boats.

-         There are many options for the boats to gain access, even on the busiest of days.

-         The design efficiently uses the amount of pumps due to the placement of the Superflow Dual Dispenser pumps in the middle of two slips (1 pump per 2 slips)

-         Long fuel hoses can access any type of boat

-         Pipelines running centrally down the underside of the dock offer protection for the lines

-         The 100 foot fueling spot allows large boats and ferries to have access to

Cons:

-         Takes up a large amount of space and materials

-         Fuel attendants might have trouble covering large amount of ground

-         May have more pumps than needed

The second solution is the second largest, occupying a 90 foot by 90 foot space. In this solution there are 4 slips that boats would be able to back into to fuel up and an additional 70 foot space at the end of the dock for a single, large boat or two small sized boats to pull up and tie up. The two slips on each side will each share a pump with two hoses. The slips are at 45 degree angles and are 20 feet wide and 40 feet long. As in the previous solution, there is a fuel house that lies in the center of the end diamond shaped portion of the dock. It is 15 feet from the end of the dock and its area is 20 feet by 15 feet. The piping for the dock lies underneath it in the center of the dock and extends to each of the pumps. If this were a chosen solution, I would have to adjust the placement of the pumps to make sure they are a safe distance away from the edge of the dock. The gas attendants should not have any problems after that adjustment to travel from pump to pump in a short amount of time. Also, I would replace the lined strips of dock with pilings with rope atop of each one to mark the slip’s space and angle.

Pros:

-         The design is fairly large and can provide fuel access to a large amount of boats of all shapes and sizes.

-         The design efficiently uses the amount of pumps due to the placement of the Superflow Dual Dispenser pumps in the middle of two slips (1 pump per 2 slips)

-         Long fuel hoses that are to be used can access any type of boat

-         Pipelines running centrally down the underside of the dock offer protection to the lines

-         Fuel attendants will be able to sufficiently access the three different pumps

-         The 70 foot fueling spot allows large boats and ferries to have access to fuel

Cons:

-         The end diamond shaped dock takes up more space and materials than necessary. The additional angles should be flattened out

-         Does not offer the most amount of service opportunities

-         There would be boat traffic on busy days with only 5 fueling stations/slips

The third and final solution for the layout of the docks takes up a space that is 100 feet long and 75 feet wide. It is the smallest of the three designs. Unlike the other two designs, this solutions design has smaller slips and has harsher angles that may not be aesthetically pleasing. There are 4 slips in total and they are 18 feet wide and 25 feet long. They can potentially accommodate ships that are longer than 25 feet long, both their bows would stick out into the water causing boat traffic and less protection of the ships. The pumps are located right off of the main dock in the middle of the sets of slips. The gas pumps that jut out from the dock are protected by the triangular barriers. There are two more pumps at the end of the dock on either side. They occupy the spaces that are the 135 degree parts of the trapezoid. The fuel house is in the center of the trapezoid end of the dock. It is 20 feet wide and 12 feet long. The piping runs under the center of the dock n order to have the utmost protection and eliminate spills from boat impact on the pipes. If this were the chosen solution, I would eliminate the triangular extension of dock jutting out between the slips and replace them with pilings. Also, the fueling pumps would have to be adjusted to they do not rest at the edges of the dock, but a few feet in from the edges.

Pros:

-         The design efficiently uses the amount of pumps by the slips due to the placement of the Superflow Dual Dispenser pumps in the middle of two slips (1 pump per 2 slips)

-         Long fuel hoses that are to be used can access any type of boat

-         Pipelines running centrally down the underside of the dock offer protection to the lines

-         Fuel attendants will be able to sufficiently access the four different pumps

Cons:

-         The design is small and is not able to provide fuel access to a large amount of boats of all shapes and sizes.

-         The pumps at the end of the dock would not be efficiently used.

-         Does not offer the most amount of service opportunities

-         There would be boat traffic on busy days with only 5 fueling stations/slips

-         Boats larger than 25 feet in length may have trouble protecting their boats from possible damage 


Spec Check

	Solution #1	Solution #2	Solution #3
Specifications
Design Prevents Spills	5 All pipelines and gas pumps are protected on dock and best systems of installation are used	5 All pipelines and gas pumps are protected on dock and best systems of installation are used	5 All pipelines and gas pumps are protected on dock and best systems of installation are used
Minimal interference with ecosystem	4 Larger than the other solutions, more slips to attract more vessels = more interference	5 Good size and less slips which would attract less vessel traffic	5 Good size and less slips which would attract less vessel traffic
Fueling hoses will be able to access all types of boats	5 Dual dispensers will be used and location of pumps make them accessible to any kind of boat	5 Dual dispensers will be used and location of pumps make them accessible to any kind of boat	5 Dual dispensers will be used and location of pumps make them accessible to any kind of boat
Pumps safe from contact	2 Directly against the edge of the dock, will need to be altered if chosen as final solution	2 Directly against the edge of the dock, will need to be altered if chosen as final solution	1 Directly against the edge of the dock, two pumps are poorly placed jutting out into water, will need to be altered if chosen as final solution
Large scale service is able to be provided	5 6 pumps and 10 fueling slips/stations are available for use	4 3 pumps with 5 places to fuel are available for use	2 4 pumps and 6 small scale places to fuel are available
Efficient layout of pipelines	5 Pipelines run down the middle of the dock and are well protected	5 Pipelines run down the middle of the dock and are well protected	5 Pipelines run down the middle of the dock and are well protected
Limited boat traffic	4 The large amount of stations/slips to fuel will assure little boat traffic	3 Less slips and fueling spots might cause minor boat traffic	3 Less slips and fueling spots might cause minor boat traffic
Total	28	27	25

The design that will be chosen according to the Spec Check chart is Solution #1. It adheres to all of the specifications the best out of the three designs. I was most importantly looking to chose a design with the largest possible amount of pumps and areas with access to fuel so that it would always have minimal boat traffic, even on busy summer weekends. The only minor drawback in the fact that it is larger than the other solutions is that it would take up more materials thus being less ecologically efficient. But if it is well maintained and the large size would limit boat crashes and potential oil spills from those crashes, then that is what is more important in the final solution.

            The details that will need to be changed in the design are few but very important. The fuel pumps will need to be placed a few more feet from the edge of the dock for two reasons. One, the attendants would be able to have better access to the pumps and the operating systems, and two, the added distance would not allow boats to impact the pumps resulting in spills. I found out from my fellow teammate, MaR, that my dock will be stationary which I was pleased to hear.  For my designs, I simply focused on the layout because this could have changed depending on the way she wanted to design the docks. The piping will not have to touch the water and I will familiarize myself with the methods of installing the piping under the dock with the research I have done. Once my other teammate, MiR, knows what he is doing with his pipelines that run under the ground, I will be able to connect to his piping easily.