THIS IS MY GROUPS PROJECT FOR THE SAINT ACADEMY FOR THE
SAGICOR VISIONARIES CHALLENGE 2O14 . WE WANT TO TACKLE THE
PROBLEM THAT WE FACE ON A DAILY BASIS WHICH IS THE INTENSE
HEAT. WE HAVE COME UP WITH TWO SYSTEMS WHICH ACTUALLY
ADDRESSES THE PROBLEMS VERY EFFICIENTLY.
PHASE 1: FOR THE PEDESTRIAN ON THE GO
WE ALL NO THAT IN OUR BELOVED CITY OF ROSEAU, HEAT IS THE
NUMBER ONE PROBLEM TACKLING THE PEDESTRIANS OF THE STREET. WE
HAVE DESIGNED A SOLAR POWERED HANDHELD SYSTEM WHICH
ADDRESSES THAT ISSUE. THIS SYSTEM PROMISES TO KEEP YOU COOL IN
AN ECO FRIENDLY AND PORTABLE WAY WHICH IS POWERED BY 2 AA
RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES WHICH WILL BE CHARGED BY A SOLAR PANEL
CHARGER, BYDOING THIS I AM ACTUALLY SAVING BATTERIES FROM
FILLING OUR LANDFILLS.
Step 1: How It Works:
The concept is simple: a bilge pump transports cold water from
an ice cooler, and is then pumped through a wound coil of copper
tubing, which surrounds the circumference of an electric fan.
Thus, when the bilge pump circulates the flow of ice water
around the metal copper tubing coils, the cold air is sucked
around them and produces and Eco Friendly blast of cold air.
Step 2: ICE COINTAINER
I HAVE DECIDED TO USE AN ICE COINTAINER AS IT IS
VERY PORTABLE AND LOOKS TO BE
A VERY VERSATILE SOLUTION TO HEAT IN A
CONVIENENT WAY KEEPING ICE COLD FOR UP TO 1.5
HOURS.
The ice container is what houses all of the ice, water and water
pump system so that the fluid is always in motion. I also
dremelled three small holes at the top lid, which is how the two
stiff plastic tubes will be connected to the cooling coils, as well
as the battery wire, fit through the lid to get to the ice water.
IN THE HOLES IN THE CAP THAT WILL ACT AS THE TUBING IN FROM THE
LEFT AND TUBING OUT FROM THE RIGHT.
NOTE*- A BILGE PUMP WOULD BE LITTLE TO BIG, BUT A PUMP FROM A ZEN
FOUNTAIN WOULD BE BETTER.
THE BATTERY WOULD BE RE –SOLDERED BACK TO 7 INCH LENGTH OF
WIRE CONNECTED TO A WATER PUMP, AFTER THE WIRE WILL BE FED TO A
THROUGH THE THERMOS CAP.
THE ENTIRE UNIT WILL BE POWERED BY 2 AA
BATTERIES
RECHARGEABLE
Step 4: Aperture 3: "Conditioner Coil + Fan"
The final aperture in this product is the copper tubing cooling
coils.
Next, four tie-wraps to connect THE wound coils to my fan, and
then took both ends of the coils and inserted them into the non
flexible plastic tubing. This connects the final piece of the
PORTBALE SYSTEM, so now the ice water can travel from the
pump, through the coils and back into the thermos again, in a
rapid circular flow.
Materials and Parts Index
Desktop Fountain
Thin Copper Tubing
Stiff Plastic Tubing
Soldering Shrink Tubing
Handheld Plastic Fan
BEAT THE HEAT= PHASE 1: PORTABLE
COOLING SYS
TEM
PHASE 2= CLASS COOLING SYSTEM
PHASE 2 IS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF HEAT IN MY CLASS IN AN ECO
FRIENDLY AND SUBSTAINABLE WAY WHICH ONLY USES HEAT FROM THE
SUN, EVAPORATION, CONVECTION, AND ADHESION/COHESION WHICH
WILL SUSTAINABLY AND EFFICTIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF HEAT IN
MY CLASS WITHOUT USING ANY ELECTRICITY WHAT SO EVER, MY SYSTEM
IS BY FAR THE BEST ECO FRIENDLY SOLUTION TO COOL MY CLASS
STEP 1: THEORY OF OPERATION
1. Convection:
But what does that mean!? Hot air rises. As the hotter air rises, it can draw
cooler air up with it. Convection cycles can occur when hot air rises, and draws
cooler air from lower elevation. When the hot air rises and loses energy it begins
to fall.
2. Evaporation:
We are using water in this project as our cooling agent. Evaporation is when
a substance changes from liquid to gas
3. Cohesion and Adhesion:
Cohesion and Adhesion are two properties of water, and are closely
related. Cohesion means that water tends to stick to itself, or try to stick
together. You can see this by placing small drops of water onto wax paper.
You'll notice that the drops tend to ball up. This is because of the strong polar
bonds in the water that attract individual molecules to one
another. Adhesion means that water sticks to other things.
These three principles make the Unit what it is. The sun will shine on the unit
and heat the air at the bottom of the shaft. The air will rise, and also draw in
more air from the bottom. As the air rises, it will cause water in a small chamber
to evaporate. When the water evaporates, it will take energy away from the
heated air in order to change from a liquid to a gas. This will cause the
surrounding air to get cooler. The water is brought into contact with the moving
air by a piece of fabric. The fabric will pull up water from the chamber to increase
the surface area of the water with respect to the moving air. As the water
evaporates and the fabric gets dry, more water will be drawn up the fabric due to
the awesomeness of cohesion and adhesion.
Materials needed
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
MDF Sheet. | 1/4" thick. 2'x4'.
Glass sheet. | 11.5"x20.5".
Sheet Metal. | Recovered from old microwaves.
1" PVC Pipe. | A small section.
1/2" PVC Pipe | A small section. I
1" PVC-1/2" Elbow. | The 1" side was a slip coupling, and the 1/2" side was
threaded.
7. 1/2" PVC Male-thread Coupler.
8. 1" PVC End Cap.
9. PVC Primer and Cement. |
10. Wood Glue. | $3-4.
11. Caulk. |
12. Matte Black Paint |
13. Mesh. |
14. Small wood screws. |
15. Fabric. |
Tools:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Dremel Rotary Tool.
Oscillating Cutting Tool.
Jigsaw.
Drill.
Various hand tools: knives, scissors, screwdrivers, etc.
6. Step 2: Build Pt. 1 - Cutting Wood
The wood will form the baseboard which will provide support to
the entire unit, the baseboard will have holes cut into to it for the
convection shaft and for the wooden-glass insulation box and at
the top of the convection shaft a 2-3 gallon water/trough tank for
evaporation.
Step 3: Build Pt. 2 – Gluing
This section focuses basically on the wooden -glass
insulation box which will prevent the loss of heat which is
so vital to my system.
In the middle/center of the box a glass panel which could be
obtained from an old window will be placed and glued with
acrylic silicone to insure a study and firm seal between the box
and the glass.
Step 4:build part3 metalwork
For this step since metal is not so easy to obtain I hope to
obtain the metal from the frame form an old microwave for
the main convection shaft, because metal conducts heat
better than pvc or wood. A small amount of acrylic silicone
will have to be placed to ensure a good seal with the
baseboard, but the two ends will not sticked together, so that
it could be easily taken apart and repaired if necessary.
Step 5: Build Pt. 4 – PVC
I decided to build the water holder/trough out of PVC pipe, since
it's easy to work with, easily available, and inexpensive.
A small section of 1/2" diameter PVC will go through a hole cut in
the top of our metal container to a male adapter coupling and
into a 90-degree elbow, which has a 1" slip-coupling on the other
side. The section of 1" PVC will have a slit cut in the top for the
fabric to go into, and be capped off with an end cap. I will PVC
primer and cement for the smooth coupling pieces and end cap,
but did not glue the threaded piece in case I need to take it apart
for repairs. I used a 1/2" end cap, not glued in place, to top off
the 1/2" pipe.
At the top you can see that two gallon water/trough tank where a
pvc pipe will hang out from the top where water can easily be
inserted for evaporation.
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There are a few unrelated things that still need to be done before
this is operational.
1. A small piece of fabric must be cut and fit into the cut made in
the 1" PVC pipe. Mine was from an old t-shirt.
2. A hole must be cut in the base board for the air to be able to
move into the class. and with the same width as the fabric
piece.
3. A hole was cut into the bottom of the outer box, and a piece
of mesh glued in place to allow air to be drawn in from the
bottom.
4. Everything must be assembled. The fabric must be put into
position, from the pipe to the edge of the metal box. Holes have
to be drilled, and small wood screws will be used to hold the
metal box to the base board. The bottom of the metal box, as
well as the wooden outer box were box painted black because
the colour black traps heat better as opposed to brighter colours
In ending this is my plan to effectively change the way my class
operates, and also for the pedestrian on the go who needs an
ecofriendly way to cool his/her self.
*
To use the unit. I simply place it outside my class and add water to the spout
above the metal housing, and put the window-box in place over it and allow the
magic to begin
I hope this provided some insight on my projects, upon winning this challenge I
hope to access the materials to make actual working models, I also hope to
sensitise the public on heat related sicknesses and its dangers.