The Moss Machine in Action: A Preliminary Test of a Low-Cost, Indoor Cultivation Method for Mosses

Evansia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
pp. 139
Author(s):  
Sean R. Haughian ◽  
Jeremy L. Lundholm
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Cultivation Method

Design and Preliminary Testing of a Novel Dual-Chambered Syringe

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karen May-Newman ◽  
Maria T. Matyska ◽  
Martin N. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Medical Procedure ◽  
Dual Chamber ◽  
Two Fluids ◽  
Small Channel ◽  
Locking Mechanism ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Balance Of Forces

Intravenous catheterization is the most common invasive medical procedure today and is designed to introduce medication directly into the blood stream. Common practice is to administer medicine with one syringe, followed by a saline flush to clear the line of any residual medication. The risk of infection due to the introduction of bacteria in the catheter hub is increased with the number of times the hub is accessed. In addition, the two-step process adds millions of nursing hours per year and is prone to error. The goal of this effort was to design and test a dual-chamber syringe that could be reliably used for both dispensing medicine and the saline flush, and be produced at a low cost. The syringe has a novel dual-chamber design with a proximal chamber for medicine and a distal chamber that contains saline. The saline chamber has a fixed volume when the handle is locked into position, which allows the handle to control the variable volume of the medicine chamber. Between the two chambers is a plunger that surrounds the small channel (which is an extension of the distal chamber) that separates the saline from the medicine. When the distal chamber is unlocked, the handle controls the volume of the saline chamber. By this mechanism, the syringe is able inject the medicine followed by the saline flush with a single access to the catheter hub. The smooth operation of the device relies on a locking mechanism to control the rear plunger and volume of the distal saline chamber, and a bubble plug residing in the small channel between the chambers that prevents mixing of the medicine and saline fluids. The bubble plug is held in place by a balance of forces that depend on geometric variables and fluid properties. The chosen design prevents mixing of the two fluids during the operation of the device, which was experimentally validated with mass spectrometry. The dual-chamber syringe has successfully achieved the design goal of a single syringe for the two-step catheter procedure of dispensing medicine and a saline flush. This novel design will reduce the potential for catheter-based infection, medical errors, medical waste, and clinician time. Preliminary test results indicate that this innovation can significantly improve the safety and efficiency of catheter-based administration of medicine.

scholarly journals Design of a Low-Cost Thermoacoustic Electricity Generator and Its Experimental Verification

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhibin Yu ◽  
Artur J. Jaworski ◽  
Scott Backhaus
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Verification ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Detailed Comparison ◽  
Acoustic Power ◽  
Travelling Wave ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Thermoacoustic Engine ◽  
Design And Testing ◽  
Different Parts

This paper describes the design and testing of a low cost thermoacoustic generator. A travelling-wave thermoacoustic engine with a configuration of a looped-tube resonator is designed and constructed to convert heat to acoustic power. A commercially available, low-cost loudspeaker is adopted as the alternator to convert the engine’s acoustic power to electricity. The whole system is designed using linear thermoacoustic theory. The optimization of different parts of the thermoacoustic generator, as well as the matching between the thermoacoustic engine and the alternator are discussed in detail. A detailed comparison between the preliminary test results and linear thermoacoustic predictions is provided.

Development and adaptation of sensors and samplers for vertical profiling using fixed-wing drones in the context of the Cooperation to Unravel the RolE of Atmospheric Aerosols over the Amazonian Basin (CURE-3AB).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maximilien Desservettaz ◽  
Christos Keleshis ◽  
Panayiota Antoniou ◽  
Panagiotis Vouterakos ◽  
Yunsong Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Aerosols ◽  
Amazon Basin ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Lower Troposphere ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Vertical Profiling ◽  
Atmospheric Observations ◽  
On Line

<p>The Cooperation to Unravel the Role of the Atmospheric Aerosol over the Amazon Basin using drones (CURE-3AB) project has yielded new technical solutions to perform high quality in-situ atmospheric observations in the lower troposphere (0-2 km) with Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). An Ozonesonde (EN-SCI ECC, Model 2Z), designed for regular O3 radio sounding, has been adapted to perform on-line measurements of Ozone onboard the drone. A 3D printed low-cost pollen/spore collector has been developed to replicate reference instruments (VPPS2000) and adapted to perform onboard our UAV. Finally, an optical particle counter (AlphaSense) and a custom-made drying system have been fitted on a third drone. The three vehicle/instrument tandems will be deployed in the proximity of the Amazonian Tall Tower Observatory during the CURE-3AB campaign (delayed due to pandemic). We present the instrumental developments, setups, and preliminary test results performed with our UAVs at the Cyprus Institute private airspace.</p>

Micro-Machined Electrochemical Seismic Sensors with Interdigital Electrodes

2012 ◽  
Vol 503 ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guang Bei Li ◽  
De Yong Chen ◽  
Wen Tao He ◽  
Jun Bo Wang
Keyword(s):  
Electrolyte Solution ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Simple Design ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Output Current ◽  
Seismic Sensors ◽  
Interdigital Electrodes ◽  
Mems Technology

An electrochemical seismic sensor (ECSS), which consists of interdigital electrodes immersed in electrolyte solution, based on MEMS technology is studied theoretically and experimentally in the paper. The output current of the sensor is employed to measure the ground motion. The device has a small size, simple design and fabrication process with low cost. Preliminary test results show that the novel electrochemical seismic sensor has satisfactory characteristics.

scholarly journals Prospective Powering Strategy Development for Intelligent-Tire Sensor Power Charger Application

Electronics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1424
Author(s):  
C. Bambang Dwi Kuncoro ◽  
Min-Feng Sung ◽  
Cornelia Adristi ◽  
Arvanida Feizal Permana ◽  
Yean-Der Kuan
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Coupling ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Strategy Development ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Wireless Power ◽  
Data Logger ◽  
Sensor Module ◽  
Intelligent Tire System ◽  
Battery Energy

Tire sensors embedded in a vehicle tire are stand-alone autonomous devices. A tire sensor reserve power strategy is crucial due to sensor energy sources limitations for long operational periods. This paper presents an innovative tire sensor powering strategy for the intelligent-tire system. The powering strategy offers a green concept, maintenance-free, and low-cost method in order to extend the tire sensor lifetime for long operating periods. The proposed strategy adopts wireless power transfer (WPT) technology to transfer power to an electrical load mounted on the rotational system without an interconnection cable. It is composed of a power transmitter designed to be mounted on the vehicle’s inner fender liner, and a power receiver that provides power to recharge the tire sensor battery/energy storage. The transmitter transfers power from the vehicle battery/accumulator to a power receiver coupled with the tire sensor which is mounted on the vehicle tire inner wall. WPT devices were designed based on induction electromagnetic coupling and can provide an output current up to 1A at 5 V. The proposed powering strategy was verified using a vehicle tire simulator model to emulate rotational motion. A voltage and current sensor module as well microcontroller and data logger modules were utilized as the load for the developed WPT system. The verification experimental and preliminary test results reveal that the proposed strategy can provide constant power to the load (in this case, the voltage is around 4.3 V and the current is around 21.1 mA) although the vehicle tire model was rotated at different speeds from 0 rpm to 800 rpm. The proposed system has the potential and feasibility for implementation in tire sensor power applications in the intelligent-tire system.

Field Study of PID Parameter Tuning Investigation in Peristaltic Dosing Pump Control for Use in Automated Fertilizer Mixing System

Mekatronika ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-22
Author(s):  
Wai Xhuen Yong ◽  
Ahmad Najmuddin Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Salt Solution ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Industrial Process ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Parameter Tuning ◽  
Precision Farming ◽  
Mixing Process ◽  
Initial Amount ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Best Parameter

Proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller is one of the linear control methods of closed-loop irrigation control. Today, it is mostly used in the industry to regulate industrial process variables such as pressure, flow rate, temperature, heat, and others. In precision farming, the use of technologies such as sensors and PID controllers is popular nowadays. The technologies help the farmer fasten the fertilizer's mixing process before using it directly to the crop. However, not all farms afford to use high technology, and using low-cost mixing systems is one way to reduce their cost. Therefore, this research investigates the accuracy of fertilizer mixture using low-cost methods, compares the results, and proposes improvements to ensure a better fertilizer distribution for precision farming. Different parameter tuning will affect the mixing process of the fertilizer. A series of experiments will be conducted based on the PID control parameter, the concentration of the salt solution, and the initial amount of nutrients in the mixing tank. The salt solution will be used as an alternative for the fertilizer because it contains some similar composition ingredients that the EC sensor can detect. The experiment starts with a preliminary test to determine the temperature effect on reading where room temperature will be the best for the next experiment. The best PID parameter that is used is K_P= 130 and K_I= 60 to prevent the phenomenon of overshoot occur during the mixing process. Using the same PID parameter for the next experiment had also found out that the higher the concentration of the salt solution, the higher the chance occur the phenomenon of overshoot. The initial amount of nutrients inside the mixing tank does not affect much for the mixing process because the best parameter for the experiment we had found from the previous experiment is used. The results extracted from the experiment that shows the mixing process from a low-cost automated fertilizer mixing system.

scholarly journals Fabrication of High-Alumina Ceramic Fixtures for Jet Engine Repair Applications

1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. C. Kuo ◽  
M. Wood
Keyword(s):  
Low Cost ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Alumina Ceramic ◽  
High Alumina ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Production Flow ◽  
Jet Engine ◽  
High Temperature Furnace ◽  
Crack Problems ◽  
Manufacturing Applications

A new concept of utilizing a castable high-alumina ceramic, instead of machined steel or graphite, to make low-cost non-outgassing jet engine repair fixtures is presented in this paper. The desirable thermophysical and mechanical properties for the fixture material developed are summarized, and a process developed to produce the ceramic fixtures of different configurations and sizes is described. Each of the major production steps is identified in a production flow chart. Specifically, the methods to make the appropriate molds needed for casting the fixture, and the procedures for mixing, casting, curing, drying and sintering the ceramic fixtures are explained in detail. Crack problems and their controls throughout the production process particularly relevant to fixture geometry are discussed in reference to the several prototype fixtures fabricated. Preliminary test results for these fixtures mated with engine stators in a high-temperature furnace are reviewed. Potentials for this fixture material and production processes for other manufacturing applications are also discussed.

scholarly journals A Flexible Chain Proposal for Winch Based Point Absorbers

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjell Andersson ◽  
Anders Hagnestål ◽  
Ulf Sellgren
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Strength Analysis ◽  
Wave Power ◽  
Elastomeric Bearings ◽  
Elastomeric Bearing

Ocean wave power is a promising renewable energy source for future energy production. It has however been difficult to find a cost-effective solution to convert the wave energy into electricity. The harsh marine environment and the fact that wave power is delivered with high forces at low speeds makes design of durable mechanical structures and efficient energy conversion challenging. The dimensioning forces strongly depend on the wave power concept, the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) implementation and the actual Power Take-Off (PTO) system. A WEC using a winch as a Power Take-Off system, i.e. a Winch Based Point Absorber (WBPA), could potentially accomplish a low Levelized Cost Of Energy (LCOE) if a key component — a low-cost, durable and efficient winch that can deal with high loads — can be developed. A key problem for achieving a durable winch is to find a force transmitting solution that can deal with these high loads and handle up to 80 million cycles. In this article we propose a design solution for a force transmitting chain in a WBPA system where elastomeric bearings are used as a means to achieve the relative motion between the links in the chain. With this solution no sliding is present and the angular motion is achieved as a deformation in the elastomeric bearing when the chain is winded on a drum. The link was designed primarily to minimize the number of joints in the chain: Thereby the maximum allowed relative angle between the links when rolled up over the drum should be as large as possible within practical limits. The angle is to be handled by the elastomeric bearing. A detailed strength analysis of the link has been performed as well as topology optimization to increase the strength to weight ratio. A test rig for a first proof of concept testing has been developed and the first preliminary test results indicate that this concept with using elastomeric bearings can be a potential solution for a durable chain and should be analyzed further for fatigue conditions and under water operations.

scholarly journals A Flexible Chain Proposal for Winch-Based Point Absorbers

2019 ◽  
Vol 141 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kjell Andersson ◽  
Anders Hagnestål ◽  
Ulf Sellgren
Keyword(s):  
Wave Energy ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Shear Stiffness ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Topological Optimization ◽  
Design Solution ◽  
Wave Power ◽  
Peak Loads

Ocean wave power is a promising renewable energy source. It has, however, been difficult to find a cost-effective solution to convert wave energy into electricity. The harsh marine environment and the fact that wave power is delivered with large forces at low speed make design of durable mechanical structures and efficient energy conversion challenging. The dimensioning forces strongly depend on the wave power concept, the wave energy converter (WEC) implementation, and the actual power take-off (PTO) system. A WEC with a winch as a power take-off system, i.e., a winch-based point absorber (WBPA), could potentially enable a low levelized cost of energy (LCOE) if a low-cost, durable and efficient winch that can deal with peak loads can be developed. A key challenge for realizing such a winch is to find a force transmitting solution that can deal with these peak loads and that can handle up to 80 million cycles during its life. In this article, we propose a design solution for a force transmitting chain with elastomer bearings connecting the links of the chain. With this solution no sliding is present, and the angular motion is realized as elastic shear deformations in the elastomer bearings when the chain is wound onto the winch drum. The elastomer bearings were designed for low shear stiffness and high compression stiffness, and the links were designed primarily to minimize the number of joints in the chain. Thereby, the maximum allowed relative angle between the links when rolled up over the drum should be as large as possible within practical limits. Finite element-based topological optimization was performed with the aim to increase the link strength to weight ratio. A test rig for a first proof of concept testing has been developed, and preliminary test results indicate that this chain concept with elastomer bearings can be a potential solution for a durable chain and should be analyzed and tested further for fatigue and sea operations.

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