Week 4

Week 4: Progress Report

Team 10 Members:

Shom Bhandari Nobuto Ishii

Brian Mckenna Tomo Yamada

Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.

Investigation of a new sensor was a necessary for the following reasons:

• Only 1 RTD sensor available for l feedback for pump control.

• A “kill switch” was needed to protect the circuit beyond the surface of the DUT.

Electrical contacts surrounding the DUT were most strongly considered for water detection device:

Upon further analysis:

Water detection using the voltage divider circuit revealed that the sensor was mathematically realistic. This gave us the “green light” to create preliminary circuit and begin programming the controls for the sensor.

Accomplishments from Previous Week

1. Tests/Optimization of the overflow detector using LabView programing

2. Started and worked on some  concepts to control the water pump in LabView

• • PID Control : doesn’t seem to be necessary application but still learning about how to build one

  • Pulse width Modulation (PWM) method : With the available DAQ-6009 either Simulation signal is not supported or it’s sampling capacity,  only 150 samples per second, seems to be the problem. Our lab manager advised us not to use this method with this particular DAQ simply because it supports only up to 150Hz sampling rate.  which is not good enough for our purpose.

  • Using simple RTD data input (scaled in 5 volts) to generate output  to control the rpm of the motor (pump): Since we haven’t gotten our devices yet, we used a simple controlled input in LabView and generated output power to a high-speed motor. From what we have noticed, the RPM variation with respect to the input voltage, this method might be the simplest and suitable. But until we implement this method to the real equipments we can not make any conclusion. Below is the simple concept of LabView diagram for a pump control

Goals for Next Week (list names after each item). Use specific and measurable objectives.

• Buy a pump, tubes and fittings

• Build a overflow sensor

• implement and test the LabView program to acquire RTD signal from the DUT and scale them in 0 to 5 volts, then generate an ouput voltage signal to control our motor until we have a pump  

• implement and test our LabView program to detect overflow and activate the kill switch

• Build and test thermal control system in Labview for DUT

Sponsor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments

• Dr. Jim Babcock had the unfortunate task of jury duty during week 3, and could not meet in person.

• Collaboration with Team 10 occurred via email:

  • The DUT/TU device not ready yet, but probably during week 4.

• The equipments for the project is now ready to go (DUT, TU, T-core box, Cooling system, SSR, etc.). Will need at least two people to get the equipment and have them get familiar with system.

  • Pump: Instech 1-P625/275.143 Miniature Peristalic Pump 275:1 motor, .143" rollers is good to go. Price is at a good range. Just make sure you guys are really familiar with the amount of water you guys are dealing with.

• The concept for the overflow sensor is good for this particular project, but for real world application, there will be no space put such sensor on.

Instructor Comments from Last Meeting and Actions Taken to Address these Comments

1. The group should put more focus into an overflow sensing component.

• Optical detection system a possibility.

• Attaching a device to the TU is okay as long as it wont disrupt the interface layer.

• An insulator and conductor can be made into a sensor.

2. Pump is a major component to put more thought into.

• Acquiring a cheap ($100 USD) pump should probably be considered, as it is not a major monetary loss.

3. Labview control loop development should continue as scheduled.

Risks and Areas of Concern

• Pump analysis (how much water to make a film of water between TU and DUT)

• Overflow detector for the final product

• Interfacing software with our actual equipments

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• Equipments from Delta Degisn

• Pump/tubes

Schedule (2/1 to 2/7/2012 )

• Develop SSR system for DUT software (Shom and Brian)

• Improve website (Nobuto)

• On 2/2, tutorial to handle Adaq software  (Shom, Nobuto, Tomo)

• Pickup the equipments from Delta Design and setup at the workspace (Shom, Nobuto, Tomo)

Update Gantt Chart

Budget (list amount spent and amount remaining)

Progress on Webpage

• Uploaded some pictures

• Modified ‘Team’ website