Strawboard Log

Mon Feb 3, 2014

Process: recruit feedback from mechanical engineering advisors as part of the process. Discuss ways of obtaining feedback - Facebook, ESW Facebook, professors, recruiting of stakeholders, etc.

Next:

• Biweekly meeting. Next: Research straw material. Sketchup rough drawing by next meeting - Feb 17 - post design to FB.
• Ask Dr. Stevens to be a technical reviewer
• How to edit wiki - Instructions
• See how to use documentation platform - Dozuki
• Start a log at Strawboard_Log
• Review
• ESW RIT - Facebook
• Team pictures
• Development Board - [1]

Phase 1

• Design is such that it can be modified readily to the continuous version
• Fed with chopped straw (1-2" pieces), manually though an elongated hopper
• Mold size for the heating/compression chamber is adjustable
• Piston creates pressure and feeds straw into chamber
• Piston foot size is adjustable to match heating/compression chamber aperture
• Heating elements are applied to flat plates in adjustable chamber
• Batch system - one end of the compression chamber
• Arduino temperature regulator controls temperature
• Temperature display shows temperature
• Pressure sensor shows pressure
• Uses Warehouse 4" square tubing for frame
• Length of frame is 8' long, but first prototype involves 4' length of heating area.
• Heating area is modular in 4' sections.
• Heating elements are insulated from the outside tom minimize heat loss
• Dual side heating
• 1/2" plate is used to form the chamber
• Screw-down mechanism adjusts size of chamber
• Board prototype chamber is scalable in units of 4'
• 2 hydraulic cylinders are used on the press foot
• Press foot is made from layered-up 1/2" steel
• Development Boards are used for each module
• We begin with Concept Design - Modules Definition - Interface Design, then all teams start working
• End side of strawboard machine is plugged to allow pressure buildup.
• Use a 4" cylinder - from [2]
• 0-2000 psi - system pressure
• Power would be a Power Cube 27 hp gas engine - in the form of hydraulic flow
• 0-14 gallons per minute
• Hydraulic Power Output from Power Cube feeds a hydraulic valve - [3]
• Heating element takes heat up to 240F

Design goals -

Phase 2

• Addition of straw chopper for automatic chopping and feeding
• Continuous version - end side is opened for continuous throughput
• Pressure buildup is achieved by friction against compression chamber
• Chamber length is extended to build up pressure as needed, while retaining the same length of the heating chamber

Google Drawing - Conceptual Design

edit

Links

• ESW