2.5 Projects Challenges
We have faced some problems while working on this project. On the stage of proposal it was difficult to put the ideas together and convince the audience that our project is important. To succeed we had to work hard, conduct substantial research and interview experts.
The second issue was the software we needed to run the simulation. It has been installed in the beginning of semester, Fall 2014 and we started studying the tutorials. But due to the college policy the access to labs and classrooms is under supervision on weekends and after official hours, so it was a big challenge for us. The available time that we were able to spend in the lab was limited. We were also slowed down by the significant amount of work other courses required.
It was a good time to start the project in summer break to cover some tasks, especially, collect water temperature readings, which is a key point for the project. Unfortunately, we have not collected this information, so the challenge for us now is to find a way to estimate the temperature for summer.
Some special devices are used in the system. We need to make sure that they are affordable and their performance is on a high level. The market offers a wide range of items with different specifications, so we need to choose the proper ones that fit the system.
Water and electricity conservation are big issues in this project. We have to figure out the time required to heat or cool down the water inside the tank. Moreover, the water usage per capita is also important. We have to figure out the daily usage and the amount of discharged water. This information will help us to perform a comparison between the existing system and the system that we designed on the final stage of the project. This will show whether we have reached our objectives or not.
3.0 Project Main Parts
3.1 Digital Thermostatic Valve
This valve is regulating the volume of the water which flows in the pipe system. The function of this device is to regulate the temperature and the flow rate based on certain predetermined values of volume and temperature.
We chose two digital thermostatic valves from the market. The main criteria were (1) The price (2) Size of the valve, (3) Manufacturer, (4) Cable length, (5) Flow rate of water. Both valves meet our system criteria and since we need only two outlets on it we decided to choose digital thermostatic valve with two outlets because it is more cost-efficient in comparison to buying a valve with six outlets.
3.2 Water Heater
Water heater is one of the major components of the system and it is the main provider of the hot water. Before buying and selecting new water heating system there are some points that need to be taken into consideration. First it is required to determine the number of people in the area that require the hot water and how is it going to be used daily. Then it is necessary to think about the different types of water heaters that are available on the market and the time they require to heat a certain amount of water and how is the temperature being sustained in a tank. There is a wide variety of water heaters available on the market, like tankless, solar, gas and conventional water storage heaters.
Electric conventional water heater uses electricity to heat the water using upper and lower thermostat and heating elements while electric tankless water heater heats the water directly without a storage tank. Heat exchanger and electric coil are used inside the heater to provide unlimited amount of hot water. We have chosen 4 heater types from market and performed the comparison of their specifications based on the following criteria: (1) The price, (2) Warranty: the manufacturer's guarantee on internal and external parts, (3) Manufacturer and model number, (4) Temperature: the maximum temperature of water heater, (5) Capacity: the amount of water that can be stored, (6) Power: KW consumption.
The water chiller is one of the main parts of the system. It is the supplier of cold water in it. We have found out that market offers a limited choice of water chillers. We have chosen two systems and compared them. The main criteria of this comparison were (1) The price, (2) Warranty: the manufacturer guarantee on internal and external parts, (3) Manufacturer and model number, (4) Capacity: the amount of water that can be stored, (5) Power: KW consumption, (6) Flow rate of water.
This project will require many calculations and resources in order to be completed on time. Namely, the following:
Dr. Razzaqul Ahshan, Project Advisor. His knowledge of process controlling and calculating thermodynamic equations will help us in the testing and calculation phase.
5.0 Findings
Having applied knowledge and techniques that we have learned in college we have found out that this project has many potential benefits. We have learned to think deeply about existing problems and find solutions for them. We also do realize that the simplest solution is the best one. Working on this project we have learned to pay attention even to the smallest details while designing a system and to find alternative solutions when the problem turns out to be more complicated than expected. Even though that some of the engineering equations were not related to our field we have used them because they were the best choice rather than the simulation. We have learned how to be patient while collecting data and designing processes to ensure the quality of the project.
6.0 Conclusion
The automated water control system is vital in the conservation of water in households. The system has great impact on regulating the amount of water that is used and reducing losses that occur due to dripping and poorly turned off taps. The automated water control system is, therefore, not only recommended to use in households because of the comforts it provides but also because it will have a significant positive impact on water preservation.
7.0 Recommendation
7.1 Implementation and Testing
In order to carry out all the above mentioned it is necessary to implement certain parts of the design. In this study it is recommended to use the same part as in the project or select other highly efficient devices. It is necessary to use a software program called Hysys. It helps students to build, simulate and test their designs. It also helps to predict all possible problems and determine the solutions to them.
7.2 Using Solar Energy
For future studies it is recommended that the electrical energy source is replaced with a "green" source i.e. solar energy to reduce the usage of power.
7.3 Collect more data for Summer
There are several personal reasons that prevented us from collecting data for the project this summer. The main objective of the project is to get the desired amount of water as quick as possible with the least amount of discharging water. This study will provide high level of detail such as water temperature in pipes and the exact amount of discharged water.
7.4 Water Recirculation
Lastly, it is recommended to conduct a future research to reduce the amount of discharged water to zero liters. This may be achieved by using basic instrument devices such as solenoid valve or small PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) unit.
