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For our fourth and final week, we studied: mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, industrial engineering, and aerospace engineering. We worked with RockSim to create, test, and refine our three stage rocket. Afterwards, we experimented with Tinkercad to design a system to capture carbon dioxide. In all, the team ran hundreds of tests to create the best rocket possible!
Mechanical Engineering:
Mechanical Engineering:
Mechanical engineering is the synthesis of physics and math with design and materials. Mechanical engineers help design many things that move including: engines, turbines, elevators, escalators, and other manufacturing systems. Mechanical engineers are involved in a wide away of projects from building cars, to making manufacturing plants, to making windmills.
Chemical Engineering:
Chemical Engineering:
Chemical engineering involves the disciplines of chemistry, biology, math and physics to solve problems. Chemical engineers are involved in the fields of food, pharmaceuticals, fuel, as well as various other fields. Chemical engineers utilize various compounds and substances to create new products that will better the world.
Industrial Engineering:
Industrial Engineering:
Industrial engineers optimize production and manufacturing. Industrial engineers utilize physics and math to make factories or other manufacturing places faster and able to produce more product. Industrial engineering helps especially in times of need as factories need to produce more supplies of needed commodities to keep up with demand.
Aerospace Engineering:
Aerospace Engineering:
Aerospace Engineering involves the creation of both aircraft and spacecraft. Aerospace engineers work to design and implement crafts that are capable of high speeds in high altitudes as well as space. Aerospace engineers create airplanes and rockets for space use.
ROCKET DESIGN
ROCKET DESIGN
3-Staged Rocket
3-Staged Rocket
For this rocket, we focused on providing a long burn time engine that is powerful enough in the initial stages of the launch so that inertia can do the rest of the work once the stages and booster are depleted. To maximize this effect, we made the sustainer or the very last stage quite heavy in order to insure that its momentum would increase its vertical height to its maximum. The fins help stabilize the rocket so it follows the correct trajectory without it tumbling mid-flight.
Data and Results
Data and Results
Engines Used:
1st, 2nd, 3rd Stage: Aerotech N1000W
Burn time: 16.4s Impulse: 14,183 N*s
Boosters: Cesaroni Technology Inc. N5800CS
Burn time: 3.59s Impulse: 20,367 N*s
Height Achieved: 497,404 ft Velocity Achieved: 4069 m/s
Simulated Test
Simulated Test
The rocket was launched directly up at a 90 degree angle from the ground with no wind speed in order to reach maximum height.
At a 30 degree launch angle the rocket is still easily making it up to the upper Troposphere were most of the CO2 is found.
For the CO2 mission, the rocket motor in the last stage can be downsized in order to fit the capture device which is around 19 in long and 4 in wide. For this test we installed a motor that will carry the rocket to its absolute maximum height.
CO2 CAPTURE DESIGN
CO2 CAPTURE DESIGN
Prototyping
Prototyping
To visualize the design for the capture system I used paper to create an origami system. The origami system is beneficial for conserving space which is crucial for adding multiple rockets. In our previous design the hull of the capture device would limit the amount of air flow out of the fins. This was later changed.
Closed/Inactive
Closed/Inactive
This version is used for 2 parts. The first part is storage where it can put with many other capture devices to be launched out at various locations. The other part is when the system is done capturing carbon dioxide is closes up and while keeping its charge, you can plug the rocket into a pressure gradient and turn off the electrodes so that they fill a tank.
Open/Capturing
Open/Capturing
When the capture device is released into the atmosphere it will open its collection system. This is done by a computer sending a single to the 8 servos to rotate down. The slits have chemically coated electrodes that attract to carbon dioxide as outlined by this MIT report. Ideally we would have many slits but due to the limitation of the software those were the max I could add without the process becoming tedious. The fins help direct airflow into the slits.
The Internal Mechanism
The Internal Mechanism
Ideally the whole system is powered like a wind turbine. As you see the fin below is rotated by passing air which rotates the shift up into the gears. Due to the vertical gear rotating in opposite direction there is a ball bearing connection to keep the gear from jamming and keep them upright. On the end of the gears theres a representation of a generator like used in a wind turbine, the green wires connect to a figurative battery that is charged by the wind turbine and then that powers the circuit board. Ideally the system would be powered solely based on green energy, but if not there might be a a reserve battery or charged battery to keep the system in flight. It might be worth it to look into adding solar panels to the top of the system.
Feature Design Considerations
Feature Design Considerations
To further this design it the two main additions would an altimeter and parachute. The altimeter would determine when to open and close the collection while the parachute would slow the fall to prevent crashing. It might also be possible to use a small plane and deploy the capture devices over the a sort flight to capture over a larger area.
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