“HEAR IT AND FORGET IT, SEE IT AND REMEMBER IT, DO IT AND UNDERSTAND IT” ME and ChemE Lab and Demo Hardware DPM – Spring 2012

Who are we? DPM Project Members: Michael DiRoma Beth Fischer John Harrington Rachel Levine Kristin Roberts Cory Smiley Mentor: Mike Walker

Table of Contents Mechanical Engineering Mission Statement ME and ChemE Lab and Demo Hardware Existing Curriculum and Laboratories Background Research Stakeholders Affinity Diagram

RIT ME Department’s Mission Statement The ME faculty have adopted the goal of establishing our department as one of the top 25 ME programs first in the nation, and then in the world. Based on a strategic planning retreat in May 2008, the faculty agreed that we, collectively as a department and in collaboration with others, should accomplish three tasks, in pursuit of our goal: Demonstrate a revolutionary advance in engineering education whereby we turn every entering student into graduates who achieve outstanding success. Provide solutions to three compelling problems of national and global significance. Other ME departments must emulate us. We must disseminate our model of education and research, and become the role model to which other institutions aspire

ME and ChemE departments want new hardware for demonstrations and laboratory experiments. Hardware is to target areas related to the principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer. Students will be able to apply theoretical knowledge to real life. Project will greatly impact future generations of RIT mechanical and chemical engineering students. ME and ChemE Lab and Demo Hardware

ME and ChemE Lab Relevant Curriculum Mechanical Engineering Thermodynamics Fluid Mechanics Heat Transfer Transport Phenomenon Thermal Fluids Lab 1 Thermal Fluids Lab 2 Chemical Engineering Thermo 1: Single Component Thermo 2: Multiple Component Fluid Mechanics 1 Fluid Mechanics 2 Heat Transfer Chemical Principles Lab Unit Operations Lab

Thermal-Fluids Lab 1 Description Procedures reinforce topics covered in Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Experiments quantify the differences between real and ideal systems through rigorous system analysis Extensive analysis is used to calculate system characteristics and to graph and predict system behavior Strong emphasis is placed on data collection methods, data interpretation methods, error propagation, discussion of error reduction and experiment documentation

Thermal-Fluids Lab 1 Layout Weeks 1-2: Vortex Tube Characterization Learn about the concept of a vortex tube and the different types manufactured Record input and output parameters for two types of vortex tubes and plot the data in order to characterize them accordingly

Thermal-Fluids Lab 1 Layout Weeks 3-4: Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Review basic refrigeration concepts studied in thermodynamics Observe and record the state of the working fluid throughout the refrigeration cycle Use the recorded data to calculate thermodynamic properties at each state point through out the cycle Use the recorded data to create a p-h diagram for an ideal case, and to calculate cycle performances

Thermal-Fluids Lab 1 Layout Weeks 5-6: Operation and Performance of Centrifugal Pumps Learn about the function and performance characteristics of centrifugal pumps Record and plot the performance for pumps run alone, in parallel and in series, compare the performance of “similar” pumps Write a clear lab procedure for recording the pump data

Thermal-Fluids Lab 1 Layout Weeks 7-9: Reynolds Pipe Flow Review basic flow concepts studied in fluid mechanics Calculate flow properties (mass flow, viscosity, theoretical entrance length, etc.) for laminar and turbulent flow conditions Record the pressure distribution along a pipe for both cases, and compare it to the minimum and maximum theoretical distributions resulting from the error in the properties mentioned above

Thermal-Fluids Lab 2 Description Students design and conduct their own experiment on a topic of interest relating to Heat Transfer and Transport Phenomena Students are required to work on the experiment and analyses through out the quarter Students submit a detailed lab report that is graded on the technical content as well as writing skills. Strong emphasis is placed on error propagation and discussion of error reduction

Chemical Principles Lab Description Reinforce topics covered in Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics. Students are introduced to basic equipment and methodologies for designing laboratory experiments, measuring results, interpreting data, and drawing objective conclusions Students work in teams of 3-4 to design experimental procedures, identify lab equipment, and assemble simple apparatus to achieve specific experimental goals Strong emphasis is placed on student independence and ability to design and adapt lab procedures for specific applications Assignments and lab write ups are relatively short

Chemical Principles Lab Layout Week 1: Introduction to equipment and pump function become familiar with the lab equipment learn how various pump types function Week 2: Pump analysis and valve studies Study/develop pump performance curves and pump efficiency Study the valve’s operating principles and plot valve coefficient vs. % lift Week 3: Pressure drop studies Study the relationship between pressure drop and pipe/flow parameters (laminar)

Mass Flow Apparatus

Chemical Principles Lab Layout Week 4: Heat Transfer lecture/review Review basic conduction and convection principles and pose the question: How can we measure the thermal conductivity of a specimen? Week 5: Fluid concentration Use spectroscopy to measure the concentration of different fluids Week 6: Kinetics Compare experimental reaction rates to analytical reaction rates Week 7: Fluid Viscosity Study Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids Determine fluid viscosities using the “Brookfield Viscometer”

Chemical Principles Lab Layout Week 8: Convection/Heat Exchangers Calculate experimental total heat transfer coefficients for parallel flow and counter flow heat exchangers, compare values to analytical predictions Week 9: Perform student designed conduction lab Calculate the thermal conductivity of different materials using the designed lab, compare the experimental values with textbook values Week 10: Cross flow filtration Learn to filter particles out of a fluid using a membrane in tangential flow filtration

Unit Operations Lab Description Note that this lab currently does not exist The chemical engineering department has approximately $300,000 to design this lab that will begin Fall 2012 The lab will teach students how to utilize large pieces of equipment used by chemical engineers (chemical reactors, distillation columns, etc.) The lab will bring together all of the concepts studied in the chemical principles lab

Background Research Existing interactive website that covers a variety of engineering topics designed by the makers of Wolfram Alpha

Background Research Cont. Existing demo from Boston University showing Entropy

Background Research Cont. Radiation demo from Northeaster Illinois University

Background Research: Thermodynamics Most difficult topic for students to grasp is entropy There are some animations but not many physical models available While animated models are helpful to some students, others need a more hands on approach

Previously Done Demonstrations Physical Model Examples:  Absolute Vs Gage Pressure  Vacuum Boiling (Saturation point)  Gas Turbine Engine  Car Engine  Spark ignition Gage Pressure Saturation Point

Labs to Reinforce Lessons Labs that complement in class curriculum are beneficial for many students Spark Ignition Engine Otto Cycle Animation

Stakeholders ME Department: Dr. Stevens Dr. Schrlau Dr. Bailey Mr. Landschoot Dr. Hensel ChemE Department: Dr. Koppula Mr. Gregorious

Needs by Stakeholder Affinity Diagram

Current Affinity Diagram

Questions?

References Fall 2011 DPM Mechanical Engineering Hardware Team