156B Week 3

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

We met with Professor Seshadri and after seeing the wind tunnel design v.1 he made several suggestions. Finished Design Proposal presentation and received feedback from Dr. T and classmates. With all suggestions in mind, we made design changes, particularly to the plate mounts and fan orientation. We ordered a few parts and will be ordering more in the upcoming week to start machining immediately after the wind tunnel design v.2 is finalized.

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• • Ordered insulation material

    • Found alternate materials that can be acquired more immediately

  • Researched air mesh filters

  • Created Solidworks assembly of wind tunnel design v.1

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

• • Find thermal conductivities of modulan and polyurethane from McMaster (Tian)

  • Purchase heat source (Liz)

  • Finalize design for copper plate mounts integrating suggestions from Seshadri and finalized decision on insulation (Austin)

  • Finalize Solidworks assembly of wind tunnel design v.2 (Tian)

    • Design tunnel body

  • Create preliminary Labview program for temperature controller (Liz)

  • Obtain flow visualization kit from 171A lab (Austin)

  • Purchase fans (Anthony)

  • Determine method of calibrating velocity measurement (Anthony)

  • Find epoxy to attach insulation to heater (Tian)

  • Conduct flow visualization test with old wind tunnel (Anthony)

    • Determine: effectiveness of honeycomb, boundary layer effects, flow over plate

  • Research how to create uniform velocity profile when using pushing fan (Tian)

    • Baffle, diverging nozzle

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

• • Professor Seshadri wants the geometry of wind tunnel to be modified - we are planning to do this so it fits our copper plate geometry better

  • Seshadri wants the fan to be pushing the air onto the copper plate

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

• • Dr. T suggests double checking the alloy of the copper and compare it to alloys of the aluminum for the thermal conductivity. Liz will talk to Tom or Ian about the copper composition we currently have, and look into options suggested by Dr. T.

  • Dr. T says that the mounts for the copper plate may disrupt the uniformity of the flow because of how it does not lay smooth against the insulation. We have changed the design.

Risks and Areas of Concern

• • Will fan be strong enough to overcome pressure drop due to air mesh filters?

  • Will air mesh filters be enough to develop uniform flow?

• Will new copper mount design still disrupt flow?