HT-09 [Filename: AC.DOC] Room Temperature Distribution Contributor: Affiliation: Feng Lin Dept.

of Mechanical, Civil & Industrial Engineering Indiana Institute of Technology Fort Wayne, IN 46803 (219) 422-5561 (219) 422-7696 lin@indtech.edu Design Problem 4-5 weeks Take home

August 9, 1996

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Summary This project is a design project for students at junior or senior level. It requires student groups to design a device that makes the temperature distribution inside air-conditioned rooms as uniform as possible. They need first to select a room that contains air conditioners, either window installation type or central air, then measure the temperature distribution inside the room. They need to analyze the reason why the temperature is not uniformly distributed and come up with ideas to solve the problem. They need to design a device that actually helps to improve the uniformity of the temperature distribution. The following constraints apply: The cost of the device must be less than $150.00. No remodeling the room is required. The size of the device should be reasonable, compared with the size of the room and other furniture in the room. The device should not cause significant loss of the efficiency of the air conditioner. It is desirable that device may help to improve the efficiency..

ABET Descriptors Engr. Sci. Content: Type: Elements: Features: Constraints: Effort: Heat Transfer Component, System Analysis, establish objectives, synthesis. Problem formulation, consideration of alternatives, feasibility, open-ended, creativity, design methodology Cost, reliability Individual

HT-09 [Filename: AC.DOC] Room Temperature Distribution

August 9, 1996

Problem Statement It is common experience that in the hot summer an air-conditioned room is not as comfortable as it suppose to be. One of the reasons is that the temperature distribution inside the room is not uniform. The temperature at the place where the jet of cold air blows may be much lower than anywhere else in the room. The purpose of this project is to design a device that makes the temperature inside the room distribute as uniformly as possible.

Specifications The cost of the device must be less than $150.00. No remodeling the room is required. The size of the device should be reasonable, compared with the size of the room and other furniture in the room. The device should not cause significant lost of the air conditioners efficiency. Actually, it is the best if the device helps to improve the efficiency.

Expected Output Every student should construct a portfolio for the purpose of evaluation. He/She should carefully document each step of his/her design process in the portfolio, and turn in the portfolio when he/she finishes the design. At the end of the project, he/she is required to write a final report and orally present his/her design in the class. Building a prototype is encouraged, but not required. However, he/she should provide evidences, analytically or experimentally, to show that his/her design actually works.

HT-09 [Filename: AC.DOC]

August 9, 1996

Room Temperature Distribution

Engineering Notes: It is better to let students take three phases to complete this project: 1. Investigating the situation and specifying the problem; 2. Analyzing the problem with the knowledge learned from classroom and any help they can find. 3. Designing the device. The device may be composed of multiple pieces.

Objectives/Comments: This is a project that is designated to teach students design process.

Discussion/follow on activities: The students are encouraged to make prototypes.