Overview of Status of Analysis, Design, Fabrication, Tests, etc.
Mass balance testing has been performed to test the effect of the airflow on the mass reading (thanks to Prof. Javier Garay)
Airflow circuit designed, fittings and valves obtained and assembled, ready for testing
IR temperature sensor mounting method designed
Emulated heated airflow metal block ready for testing
Accomplishments from Previous Week
Determined means of controlling cooling airflow temperature (mixing with adjustable fraction with ambient-temperature air stream)
Established control based upon changing airflow temperature only (flow rate is fixed based on pressure of air supply)
Distributed tasks for report and upcoming Design Review presentation
Assignments for Coming Week
Jayant Mathur
Design data collection and control interface
Assist with implementation and gearing of stepper motor for valve adjustment
Nate Goldberg
Perform CFD to determine analytical model of temperature of cooling airflow needed to achieve varying steady state temperatures of coupon
Assist with construction of airflow circuit
Kristen Matsuno
Continue updating CAD of Chill Puck device and surrounding test assembly
Establish operating methodology for stepper motor and valves
Nathaniel Liu
Repeat mass balance measurement in Garay's lab
Determine mounting positions for emulated heated airflow (metal block) and IR temperature sensor.
Sponsor Feedback and Corresponding Action Items
Sponsor has obtained a vortex tube of his own and very much likes how it works. Based on recent mass balance concerns, awaiting next sponsor call to receive further clarifications.
Instructor Feedback and Corresponding Action Items
Professor Tustaniwskyj has emphasized the importance of closed loop control that considers the significant timelag that is associated with IR temperature measurements. To this end, a robust control scheme will be established that carefully optimizes how the temperature of the cooling airflow is determined.
Comments from Other Students
Testing the vortex tube has drawn student attention to the noise level involved with the current setup. Muffling will be considered, but the degree to which this is an issue is small as the actual experiment will be conducted in an already loud environment.
Risks and Areas of Concern
The extreme degree of cooling required the implementation of an airflow circuit to adjust the temperature of the cooling airflow so that the coupon would not be made TOO cold.
The airflow circuit is an area of concern because the losses associated with the fittings, valves, and associated geometry are potentially large.
Resources or Information Required but not Available
The existing experimental assembly is not physically available to us for modification, so the acceptability of some of our proposed additions is not fully certain.
For now, the degree to which we modify the existing test setup from the sponsor will be kept to a minimum.
Schedule
Monday 5/22 - 10:00 am Team meeting
3:00 pm Preliminary Design Review Presentation!
5:00 pm Additional team meeting (if necessary)
Wednesday 5/24 - 2:00 pm Phone call with sponsor contact (Jeremy)
5:00 pm Team meeting
Friday 5/26 - Complete testing and another report draft
Budget
Remaining Funds: $305.41
Progress on Report and Webpage
Submitted updated report draft on Friday 5/19, awaiting feedback.
Webpage furnishing still underway.