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Welcome to the University of Maine's Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Tidal Turbine System Design for CCAR project.

The Center for Cooperative Aquaculture Research (CCAR) is a research facility dedicated to developing techniques for sustainable aquaculture and marine life technologies.
 CCAR includes 60,000 sq ft. of buildings comprised of both freshwater and saltwater systems requiring constant pumping, monitoring, treatment, and climate control. These requirements are crucial for maintaining a sustainable environment for the species of the organisms they are working to improve. However, due to these requirements, CCAR spends $10,000 to $25,000 per month for electricity. With this monthly electrical load, alternative technology is a sound solution.

Tauton Bay
Taunton Bay, Franklin, Maine

CCAR is located on the edge of Taunton Bay located in Franklin, Maine. Taunton Bay is a source of one the most efficient and ground-breaking means of "green" energy - tidal energy. It has 610 feet of tidal frontage proving to be an ideal site for tidal turbines. For this project, a tidal turbine is to be designed and installed in Taunton Bay to transfer the tidal energy to electrical energy, and thus fed back to CCAR to reduce their electricity costs.
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Tidal Turbine
Tidal Turbine