Air Conditioning Experiment Department of Mechanical Engineering University of Delaware

n Members: – Pamela McDowell – Sean Gallagher – Brian Davison – Prathana Vannarath n Sponsors: – Dr. Suresh Advani – Dr. Tony Wexler n Advisor: – Dr. Mike Keefe

Presentation Overview n Background n Concept Generation – Benchmarking n Concept Selection n Concept Development – Test Results, Modifications n Budget n Questions

Project Background New Curriculum for Mechanical Engineers “ME 2000 Curriculum” n Joint Laboratory Classes for Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer n Two aspects of this issue: – Hardware n Single lab apparatus for multiple labs – Lab Experiments n Increased understanding of Thermodynamic and Heat Transfer fundamentals

Mission n 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 n 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 ¹ Judy Green: Educational Expert º Dr. Sun » William Davison ¼ Manufacturers: Hampden, Armfield Ltd. ½ Other Schools: Georgia Tech, Penn State ¶ Effective learning tool · Easy to Use ¸ Self Evident ¹ Easy to set up º Cost Effectiveness » Multiple Purposes ¼ LabView compatible data acquisition ½ Forgiving of incompetence ¾ Quiet ¿ Quick

Constraints (Prioritized) n Portable n Schedule dictated by NCDA n Budget set by Sponsor

Metrics (Prioritized) n 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 n Survey scored 1-5: target value 5 (1-poor, 5-excellent) n Easy to Use – Visible Components n Physically look at chosen apparatus and rate 1 - 5, target value 5. – Accessible Components n same as above

Metrics Cont’d n Easy to set up – Time n Target value 15 minutes – Self Contained n Complete Apparatus in one moveable unit 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

Metrics Cont’d n Quiet – Low noise level n Target value of 60 dB n Quick – Time n Target Value within set lab time (2 hrs) n Forgiving of Incompetence – Years of experience Target value 2 years engineering experience

Systems Benchmarking (Major Competitors) n Hampden Basic Refrigeration Cycle Trainer n Hampden Basic Refrigeration Cycle and Heat Pump Trainer n Hampden Refrigeration Demonstrator n Hampden Heat Pump Trainer n Armfield Heat Exchanger Training Equipment Series n Armfield Heat Transfer Teaching Equipment Series n Armfield Temperature Measurement Bench n Others

Functional Benchmarking n Omega Engineering - Sensors – Carries every type of sensor we will require – Catalogs are an excellent technical reference n Optrand - Sensors – Fiber-optic pressure transducer n Air Conditioning Manufacturers - AC units n University of Delaware HVAC - sample AC

Concept Generation n Complete Solution (includes 1 from each section) – Number of Experiments – Lab Experiments – Presentation of Lab Reports – Apparatus – Sensors

Number of Experiments ¸ Experiments – Easy to set up – Multiple Purposes – More effective learning tool than  n Number of Fundamentals n 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  n 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  n 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  n Keeps students interests n 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  n Real World Connections for Students n 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 Selection Lab Experiments n Number of Experiments – Experiments n Easy to set up n Effective learning tool n Multiple Purposes n Presentation of Lab Reports – Short Lab Reports & Technical Paper n Self Evident: clear lessons n Effective learning tool Lab Experiments By Component Self Evident: clear lessons Quick: can be completed in lab time Effective learning tool

Concept Selection Hardware n 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 n Sensors – Fully Instrumented without Redundancy

Educational Testing n 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 n Survey Questions – Fun ………………….. – Number of Fundamentals………. – Clear Lessons/Objectives... – Real World Connection to Students…………….. – Keeps Students’ Interests…………….. – Hands-on/Interactive. n 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 % 27% 66% 13% 47% 40% 7% 50% 43% 0% 12% 88% 3% 33% 64% 5% 37% 58%

Modifications n 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 n Survey Questions – Fun ………………….. – Number of Fundamentals………. – Clear Lessons/Objectives... – Real World Connection to Students…………….. – Keeps Students’ Interests…………….. – Hands-on/Interactive. n Suggestions/Comments – Beneficial changes - clarified ambiguities – Improved Labeling – Improved procedure – Made it more apparent how the AC unit worked % 25% 71% 9% 43% 48% 6% 44% 50% 0% 8% 92% 2% 28% 69% 5% 33% 62%

Test Conclusions n Overall testing conclusions – Percentage of 4’s and 5’s increases between testing rounds n 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 n Average time - 20 minutes – All lab sessions collected data that was approximately the same, therefore, forgiving of incompetenc e – Window air conditioner proved to be a good experimental apparatus

Project Labor Time n Fabrication time – 116 hours n LabVIEW time – 30 hours n Testing/Modifications – 45 hours (includes team testing of apparatus and student testing of educational effectiveness) n Lab Manual/Lab Experiments – 15 hours n HVAC Shop – Approx. 10 hours - (free of charge)

Conclusions n According to our customer wants and constraints, as evaluated by the metrics, we have met all the criteria for the project. n See demonstration