1.3.4 RENEWABLE INSULATION

PARTNERS: Rajas Kothari, Conner Wolfe, and Eric Rivera  

SUMMARY:

In this activity my team had to design a renewable composite insulation material which would preserve the greatest possible amount of heat in a given heat box. 

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Constraints:​

• Composite insulation material must produce minimum heat loss, representing good insulating value

• Composite insulation material must have overall uniform thickness less than or equal to one inch

• Individual insulation material(s) must be environmentally friendly

• Individual insulation material(s) must be economical

• Composite insulation material dimensions must not exceed the overall dimensions of heat box apparatus top.

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This project tested our ability to interact with some of the equipment we have been using for the past projects as well as our understanding of heat transfer. Our final product  represents our ability to combine the elements of engineering we have learned over Unit 1.

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REFLECTION:

Learning:

This project helped me connect all of the concepts I had learned in Unit 1 of Principles of Engineering. From a basic understanding of renewable resources, with basic concepts such as efficiency from Introduction to Engineering, to concepts of heat transfer in Principles of Engineering. I had to draw on all of my understanding of effective documentation, insightful designs, and engineering ideas to work on this project. I learned how to use a heat box and connect the logger pro instrument to my computer and use the software for heat purposes. In my opinion, this was a perfect assignment to test my knowledge and reprimand me on the aspects of Unit 1 I needed to review. 

Improvements:

I think the place where I could improve most of all is organizing my time more optimally. Considering that the time constraint was only two days to work on the project, the PSAT was during that week, and I had great loads of homework, I didn't manage to take a more preferred amount of time to work on the project - thus the final product did not have my best contribution. Additionally, another improvement I could have made is gaining a better understanding of thermodynamic equilibrium questions to give my responses to the calculated values questions quicker.