Air Conditioning Experiment

Department of Mechanical Engineering

University of Delaware

Members:– Pamela McDowell– Sean Gallagher– Brian Davison– Prathana Vannarath

Sponsors:– Dr. Suresh Advani– Dr. Tony Wexler

Advisor:– Dr. Mike Keefe

Presentation Overview

Background Concept Generation

– Benchmarking Concept Selection Concept Development

– Test Results, Modifications Budget Questions

Project Background New Curriculum for Mechanical Engineers

“ME 2000 Curriculum” Joint Laboratory Classes for

Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer

Two aspects of this issue:– Hardware

Single lab apparatus for multiple labs

– Lab Experiments Increased understanding of Thermodynamic and

Heat Transfer fundamentals

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 no more than $4000.

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

Customers Wants Dr. Wexler

Dr. Advani Undergraduate students

Graduate students Judy Green: Educational Expert Dr. Sun William Davison Manufacturers: Hampden,

Armfield Ltd. Other Schools: Georgia Tech,

Penn State

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

Metrics (Prioritized) Effective Learning Tool/ Self

Evident – Fun– Number of Fundamentals– Clear Lessons/Objectives– Logical Procedure– Real World Connection to Students– Keeps Students’ Interests– Hands-on/Interactive

Survey scored 1-5: target value 5 (1-poor, 5-excellent)

Easy to Use– Visible Components

Physically look at chosen apparatus and rate 1 - 5, target value 5.

– Accessible Components same as above

Metrics Cont’d Easy to set up

– Time Target value 15 minutes

– Self Contained Complete Apparatus in

one moveable unit

Cost EffectivenessLow initial price

Target value $4000Low operating cost

Target value $22.Durable

Target value 10 yearsParts availability

Target value: 2 week lead time

Metrics Cont’d Quiet

– Low noise level Target value of 60 dB

Quick– Time

Target Value within set lab time (2 hrs)

Forgiving of Incompetence– Years of experience

Target value 2 years engineering experience

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

Concept Generation

Complete Solution (includes 1 from each section)

– Number of Experiments– Lab Experiments– Presentation of Lab Reports– Apparatus– Sensors

Number of Experiments

4 - 7 Experiments– Easy to set up– Multiple Purposes – More effective learning tool than

Number of Fundamentals Keeps students interests

1 Experiment using different sensors– Not an effective

learning tool– Difficult to set up

13 Experiments– Easy to set up– Multiple Purposes– More effective learning tool than

Number of Fundamentals

Lab Experiment

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 Keeps Procedure

Logical

Presentation of Lab Reports

Standard Lab Reports– Self Evident: clear

lessons

Short Lab Reports & Technical Paper– Self Evident: clear lessons – More effective learning

tool than Keeps students interests Recommended by Judy

Green: Educational Expert

Apparatus 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 self evident than – Easier to use than – More cost effective – More effective learning tool than

Real World Connections for Students Hands-on/Interactive

Sensors

Fully Instrumented with Redundancy– Most expensive: Over Budget

Fully Instrumented without Redundancy– Most feasible

Economically Instrumented– Least expensive but sacrifices functionality

Concept SelectionLab Experiments

Number of Experiments– 4 - 7 Experiments

Easy to set up Effective

learning tool Multiple

Purposes

Presentation of Lab Reports– Short Lab

Reports & Technical Paper

Self Evident: clear lessons

Effective learning tool

Lab ExperimentsBy Component

Self Evident: clear lessonsQuick: can be completed in lab timeEffective learning tool

Concept SelectionHardware

Window Air Conditioner– Quick: can be completed in lab time

– Easy to set up: can be set up in less than 15 min.

– Effective learning tool – Self evident– Easy to use: Visible & Accessible Components, Self Contained

– Cost effective: see budget

– Quiet: see demonstration

Sensors– Fully Instrumented without Redundancy

Educational Testing Students of the current Heat Transfer and

Thermodynamics classes performed the experiments in groups, simulating an actual lab, and completed a survey (1 is poor and 5 is excellent).

Note: Testing of the hardware was performed by team members and resulted in prototype completion, and the results shown here are for the Lab Reports.

First Round Test Results Survey Questions

– Fun …………………..– Number of

Fundamentals……….– Clear

Lessons/Objectives...– Real World Connection

to Students……………..– Keeps Students’

Interests……………..– Hands-on/Interactive.

Suggestions/Comments– Labeling the elements on the

AC– More interesting than most

labs because of its relevance to daily life

– Good setup. Good integration of LabView software.

3 4 5 7% 27% 66%

13% 47% 40%

7% 50% 43%

0% 12% 88%

3% 33% 64%

5% 37% 58%

Modifications Based on suggestion from Student Surveys in

First Round Testing– Wrote a Lab Manual to supplement the lab

experiments– Improved the labeling on the unit

Second Round Test Results Survey Questions

– Fun …………………..– Number of

Fundamentals……….– Clear

Lessons/Objectives...– Real World Connection

to Students……………..– Keeps Students’

Interests……………..– Hands-on/Interactive.

Suggestions/Comments– Beneficial changes - clarified

ambiguities– Improved Labeling– Improved procedure– Made it more apparent how

the AC unit worked

3 4 5 4% 25% 71%

9% 43% 48%

6% 44% 50%

0% 8% 92%

2% 28% 69%

5% 33% 62%

Test Conclusions Overall testing conclusions

– Percentage of 4’s and 5’s increases between testing rounds Shows that improvements were successful

– All survey’s had positive comments and no 1’s or 2’s in either round

– Duration of experiment always well within time constraint Average time - 20 minutes

– All lab sessions collected data that was approximately the same, therefore, forgiving of incompetence

– Window air conditioner proved to be a good experimental apparatus

Unit Unit Price Quantity Total Price

Air Conditioner 200.00$ 1 200.00$

Lab Cart 150.00$ 1 150.00$

Relative Humidity Sensor 265.00$ 1 265.00$

Mass Flow Sensor 480.00$ 1 480.00$

Thermocouples 16.25$ 4 65.00$

Pressure Transducer 185.00$ 4 740.00$

Velocity Probe 330.65$ 1 330.65$

Power Meter 424.15$ 1 424.15$

Various Pipe Fittings 33.00$ 1 33.00$

Wiring and Connectors 12.00$ 1 12.00$

Misc. Fabrication Costs 18.00$ 1 18.00$

Total Budget 2,717.80$

Fully Instrumented Budget: Team 99.10, ME Air Conditioning Lab

Project Labor Time Fabrication time

– 116 hours

LabVIEW time– 30 hours

Testing/Modifications– 45 hours (includes team testing of apparatus and student testing of educational

effectiveness)

Lab Manual/Lab Experiments– 15 hours

HVAC Shop– Approx. 10 hours - (free of charge)

Conclusions According to our customer wants and

constraints, as evaluated by the metrics, we have met all the criteria for the project.

See demonstration