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

• The cooling vest has been fully converted to a portable system

• Currently in the process of finalizing the portable backpack system & optimizing vest performance

• The next test will be a complete test of the portable system

Accomplishments from Previous Week

• Completed portable system design & mockup

  • • Cooling vest connects to a backpack with all parts and electronics (radiator, pumps, electronics, etc)

    • Brainstormed a design solution with a sturdy back support & mounting area for radiator

    • Completed a quick mockup using cardboard

• Control system

  • • Assembled battery & buck converter system

• Ansys

  • • We have started geometry parameterization. This will help in the optimization of the system.

• Completed flow rate tests, validating the Ansys simulation

  • • Two experiments: measured flow rate from jet block & measured outlet flow rate through vest tubing

• Log Mean Temperature Difference (LMTD)

  • • We understand how to apply LMTD to our system - found a research paper that described LMTD with Peltier

Goals for Next Week

• Finalize the packaging of the portable system - Josh, Edgar, Tyler

  • • Print packaging supports via filament printer - Tyler

• Complete portable system test with all 4 Peltiers - Edgar, Tyler, Vlad

  • • Qualitative assessment of cooling performance

• Modify the water block inlet & outlet locations - Josh

• Reprint waterblocks - Vlad

• Modify manifold and tubing to create a more secure design - Vlad

• LMTD experiment (obtain temp. measurements & calculate) - Edgar

• Ansys - Jocelyne, Josh

  • • Make a recommendation for a water block design

• Work on the app-based control system

  • • If Dr. Suárez sends us documentation for the app he wants us to integrate, we will start to implement it.

      • • The current design is using a buck converter & potentiometer

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

Zoom - 02/12/2020

• Dr. Suárez asked about the prevention of bacterial growth. Additives and alternative fluids were suggested. Dr. Suárez suggested that we use car antifreeze or biological inhibitors used for PC water loops.

  • • We researched both recommendations. There are many biological inhibitors that are nontoxic and biodegradable. Car antifreeze tends to be toxic and while the tubing we are using is non-permeable, we do not recommend using it as an additive. More research will be done in regards to using Glycerin as an antifreeze because it is less toxic than more popular antifreeze such as ethylene glycol or propylene glycol methyl ether.

• We discussed the use of a bladder reservoir and how to prime the pump that we use. Dr. Suárez suggested that we could use a syringe to prime the pump instead of a self-priming pump.

  • • We will recommend that the pump be primed with the syringe.

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

Zoom - 02/11/2021

• Professor advised that we could encounter microbial growth in the tubing, therefore we shouldn't use pure water in the system, we should use a fluid that prevents that growth

  • • There are a lot of biological inhibitors made for PC water loops. We will use PrimoChill Liquid Utopia.

• Professor suggested that we use springs to avoid kinks.

  • • We are looking into using silver springs that are used to inhibit organic growth in water loops.

• Professor also advised that we could flush the system with hydrogen peroxide to get rid of any current growth

  • • Flushed old tubing with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide & water

• Professor and Darren had comments on our report. They mentioned that we should add our analysis, write in the third person, think about wording, and be concise.

  • • We have received comments on our report from both Professor and Darren and will make changes to our draft before Friday.

Comments from Other Students in the Class

• No technical comments at the moment.

Risks and Areas of Concern

• No significant risks

Resources or Information Required but not Available

• None.

Schedule

• • Upcoming milestone

    • • Will complete a fully portable system test

  • Updated Gantt chart link

    • • Screenshot of the most recent updates included below

Budget

• Mesh Vest $21.50

• Amount Remaining: $35.77

Progress on Report and Webpage

• Currently revising report based on Instructor and TA feedback.