Materials - Week Two
This week the group discussed which materials we will use. Our biggest considerations were cost, availability, and practicality. These requirements must be met so that the design is achievable for both a small clinic and because the teams budget is very little.
The Frame- This outer wooden covering can really be made out of any type of lumber accessible. Drexel's Innovation Design Studio will supply all the lumber necessary for the Solar Sterilizer. In third world countries, wood unfinished wood is relatively cheap and not hard to find. Wood is a very appropriate material for the frame because it is sturdy and an insulator and will be safe to touch when the inside is hot.
Insulation- Insulation will help hold all as much of the heat in the oven as possible. Because this is powered solely by the sun it is going to require a lot of insulation to hold heat. If the oven is getting up to 300F the insulation has to be able to withstand that temperature. Our first idea was the cheap styrofoam board insulation board that houses use. However, most of those materials melt at 200F. Ceramics like clay are a great alternative. Clay is a natural resource to most of the third world countries and therefore accessible. It is heavy which is a downside but because of its low cost and vast quantities, it proved to be the best option.
Reflective- We plan on trying out tinfoil because it is cheap, replaceable and accessible. If it is not reflective enough then we will explore other materials
Glass- When looking at glass we are considering size the most. A 30" by 36" sheet can be bought at a hardware store for under $20. This just needs to be a basic smooth sheet. The more heat it can hold in the better but it is not our top concern
The Frame- This outer wooden covering can really be made out of any type of lumber accessible. Drexel's Innovation Design Studio will supply all the lumber necessary for the Solar Sterilizer. In third world countries, wood unfinished wood is relatively cheap and not hard to find. Wood is a very appropriate material for the frame because it is sturdy and an insulator and will be safe to touch when the inside is hot.
Insulation- Insulation will help hold all as much of the heat in the oven as possible. Because this is powered solely by the sun it is going to require a lot of insulation to hold heat. If the oven is getting up to 300F the insulation has to be able to withstand that temperature. Our first idea was the cheap styrofoam board insulation board that houses use. However, most of those materials melt at 200F. Ceramics like clay are a great alternative. Clay is a natural resource to most of the third world countries and therefore accessible. It is heavy which is a downside but because of its low cost and vast quantities, it proved to be the best option.
Reflective- We plan on trying out tinfoil because it is cheap, replaceable and accessible. If it is not reflective enough then we will explore other materials
Glass- When looking at glass we are considering size the most. A 30" by 36" sheet can be bought at a hardware store for under $20. This just needs to be a basic smooth sheet. The more heat it can hold in the better but it is not our top concern
Comments
Post a Comment