Team 10
Air Conditioning Experiment
• Members
–
–
–
–
Sean Gallagher
Pamela McDowell
Brian Davison
Prathana Vanarath
• Sponsors
– Dr. Wexler
– Dr. Advani
• Advisor
– Dr. Keefe
Presentation Overview
• Introduction
• Method
– Concept Generation
– Concept Selection
• Schedule & Budget
• Questions
Project Background
New Curriculum for Mechanical
Engineers “ME 2000 Curriculum”
• Joint Laboratory Classes for Thermodynamics
and Heat Transfer classes
• We must investigate 2 aspects of this issue:
– Single lab apparatus for multiple labs (Hardware)
– Increased understanding of Thermodynamic and Heat
Transfer fundamentals (Lab Experiments)
Mission
• Design a set of thermodynamic and
heat transfer experiments for the
University of Delaware Mechanical
Engineering Undergraduate Laboratory,
using a window air conditioner, that will
be completed by April for approximately
$4000.
Approach
1 Identifying customer(s)
– wants
– needs
– constraints.
2 Benchmark to identify
– competitors
– metrics
– possible solutions.
3 Generate concepts
4 Compare, eliminate,
expand and synthesize
possible solutions
based on the metrics.
5 Proceed to a Go/No-Go
review of the concepts.
Build and test a
prototype.
Customers
¶ Dr. Wexler
 Dr. Advani
 Undergraduate students
Graduate students
 Judy Green: Educational
 Dr. Sun
 William Davison
 Manufacturers: Hampden,
Armfield Ltd.
 Other Schools: Georgia
Tech, Penn State
Wants
¶ Effective learning tool
 Easy to Use
 Self Evident
 Easy to set up
 Cost Effectiveness
 Multiple Purposes
 LabView compatible data
acquisition
 Forgiving of incompetence
 Quiet
 Quick
Constraints (Prioritized)
• Portable
• Schedule dictated by NCDA
• Budget set by Sponsor
• Separation of Project set by Sponsor
Concept
Sub-Concept
Category
Sub-Concept
Category Category
Sub-Category
Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Sub-Category
Problem Description
• Hardware
– Develop a lab
apparatus using a
window air
conditioner and
sensors
– Develop a Data
Acquisition Program
• Lab Experiments
– Develop a set of
experiments that
include a variety of
Thermodynamic and
Heat Transfer
Principles
Systems Benchmarking
(Major Competitors)
• Hampden Basic Refrigeration Cycle Trainer
• Hampden Basic Refrigeration Cycle and Heat Pump
Trainer
• Hampden Refrigeration Demonstrator
• Hampden Heat Pump Trainer
• Armfield Heat Exchanger Training Equipment Series
• Armfield Heat Transfer Teaching Equipment Series
• Armfield Temperature Measurement Bench
• Others
Functional Benchmarking
• Omega Engineering - Sensors
– Carries every type of sensor we will require
– Catalogs are an excellent technical reference
• Optrand - Sensors
– Fiber-optic pressure transducer
• Air Conditioning Manufacturers - AC units
• University of Delaware HVAC - sample AC
Metrics
• Cost Effectiveness
– Low initial price
• Target value $4000
– Low operating cost
• Target value $22.
– Durable
• Target value 10 years
– Parts availability
• Target value: 2 week
lead time
• Easy to Use
– Visible Components
• Physically look at
chosen apparatus
and rate 1 - 10, target
value 10.
– Accessible
Components
• same as above
Metrics Cont’d
• Effective Learning
Tool
–
–
–
–
Fun
Number of Fundamentals
Clear Lessons/Objectives
Real World Connection
to Students
– Keeps Students’ Interests
– Hands-on/Interactive
• All are evaluated yes or
no, the target value is yes.
• Self Evident
– Clear
Lessons/Objectives
• Survey scored 1 - 5:
target value 5
– Logical Procedure
• Survey scored 1 - 5:
target value 5
• Quiet
– Low noise level
• Target value of 60 dB
Metrics Cont’d
• Forgiving of
Incompetence
– Years of experience
• Target value 2 years
engineering
experience
• Easy to set up
– Time
• Target value 15
minutes
– Self Contained
• Target value 1
• Quick
– Time
• Target Value within
set lab time (2 hrs)
• Easy Maintenance
– Parts visibility
• Physically look at
chosen apparatus
and rate 1 - 10, target
value 10.
– Parts availability
• Target value: 2 week
lead time
Concept Generation and
Selection
Concept
Lab Reports
Number
of
Experiments
Presentation
of
Lab Reports
Overall Presentation
of
Experiments
Hardware
Apparatus
Sensors
Concept Generation and
Selection
Number of Experiments
1 Experiment
4-7 Experiments
13 Experiments
Number of Experiments
Generation and Selection
¶ One Experiment using
different sensors
 4 - 7 Experiments
– Not an effective learning
tool
– Difficult to set up
– Easy to set up
– More effective learning
tool than  and 
Multiple Purposes
13 Experiments
– Easy to set up
– More effective learning
tool than 
– Multiple Purposes
Concept Generation and
Selection
Overall Presentation
of Experiments
By Component
By Fundamental
Overall Presentation of
Experiments
Generation and Selection
¶ By Fundamental
– Self Evident: clear
lessons
– Quick: can be
completed in lab time
By Component
– Self Evident: clear
lessons
– Quick: can be
completed in lab time
– More effective
learning tool than 
Concept Generation and
Selection
Presentation
of Lab Reports
Standard
Lab Reports
Short Lab Reports
+
Technical Paper
Presentation of Lab Reports
Generation and Selection
¶ Standard Lab
Reports
– Self Evident: clear
lessons
Short Lab Reports &
Technical Paper
– Self Evident: clear
lessons
– More effective
learning tool than 
Concept Generation and
Selection
Apparatus
Air Conditioning
Unit
Other
Apparatus
Generation and Selection
¶ Other
– Quick: can be
completed in lab time
– Easy to set up: can
be set up in less than
15 min.
 Air Conditioning Unit
– Quick: can be completed
in lab time
– Easy to set up: can be
set up in less than 15
min.
– More effective learning
tool than 
– More self evident than 
– Easier to use than 
– More cost effective 
Sensors
Generation and Selection
¶ Fully Instrumented with Redundancy
– Most expensive
Fully Instrumented without
Redundancy
– Most feasible
Economically Instrumented
– Least expensive but sacrifices
functionality
Updated Concept Flow-Chart
Concept
Lab Reports
Hardware
Overall
Presentation of
Presentation
Lab Reports
of
Experiments
Standard
By Component
Lab Report
N umber of
Experiment
s
1 Experiment
4-7
Experiments
13
Experiments
By
Fundamental
Apparatus
Sensors
AC unit
Other
Technical
Paper
Final Concept Selection
• Number of Experiments
– 4 - 7 Experiments
• Overall Presentation of
Experiments
– By Components
• Apparatus
– Air Conditioning Unit
• Presentation of Lab
Reports
– Short Lab Reports &
Technical Paper
• Sensors
– Fully Instrumented
without Redundancy
Working Model
• Lab Experiments
– See Handout
• Air Conditioner
– See apparatus
Actual Progress
• Wanted to be here:
• We are here:
– Develop Heat Transfer Lab
Fundamentals
– Applied Heat Transfer
fundamentals to labs
– Develop Thermodynamic
Lab Fundamentals
– Applied Thermodynamic
fundamentals to labs
– Investigate Educational
Values/Criteria
– Researched and applied
these values to labs
– Evaluate Key Equations
– Lab write-ups made
– Obtain Sample Air
Conditioner for Study
– Sample Air Conditioner
used in determining labs
– Examine Possible Sensor
Placements
– Possible locations
determined
Not Too Detailed Schedule
• January
• February
– Compile and finalize lab manuals
– Select and purchase required equipment
• March
– Assemble lab apparatus
– Test and evaluate labs
• April
– Complete project
Estimated Budget
Estimated Budget: Team 99.10, ME Air Conditioning Lab
Fully Instrumented
Unit
Unit Price
Quantity Total Price
Air Conditioner
$
250.00
1
$
250.00
Lab Cart
$
100.00
1
$
100.00
Relative Humidity Sensor
$
225.00
4
$
900.00
Mass Flow Sensor
$
1,000.00
2
$ 2,000.00
Thermocouples
$
25.00
12
Pressure Transducer
$
200.00
8
Various Pipe Fittings
$
10.00
$
10.00
Wiring and Connectors
$
10.00
$
10.00
Misc. Fabrication Costs
$
25.00
$
25.00
Estimated Budget
$
300.00
$ 1,600.00
$ 5,195.00
Concluding
Remarks