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Work-based Learning Projects for the Classroom

Project: Cold Glycol Design

(Summary of Results)

Name of NGM Educator:

Odell Glenn, Assoc. Professor Engineering, Manchester Community College

Name of Host Company:

Hamilton Sundstrand, United Technologies Corp.

Grade Level: For Freshman/Sophomore level community college students

Student Work Types:

  • Powerpoint presentation to students from company host
  • Students to tour the company
  • Group project design

Task Abstract:

To come up with a new design for cold glycol to flow through a testing machine at Hamilton Sundstrand.

Task Objectives:

To design a new system that would satisfy pressure, temperature and design conditions with a material that is rarely used.

Esssential Understandings/Questions:

  • What are the design factors? (prssure, temperature, use of substance)
  • How expensive can we design?
  • Where will it be used?
  • Who will I report to?
  • Why are we limited to glycol or liquid nitrogen?

Task Description:

Through field trips and class visits as well as preparation in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, the studetns iwll be able to come up with a design solution.

The intent is to size and design a cold glycol system that will provide the test laboratories at Hamilton Sundstrand with minus 18 degree Fahrenheit glycol flowing in a closed loop system at 12 to 15 gallons per minute (gpm). The system will have a total cooling capacity of 16 tons. Note that this cooling capacity is rated at the operating temperature. The students may design a conventional chiller-based cooling system or consider using a liquid nitrogen cooled heat exchanger cooling system. The design must incorporate the following:

  • Environmentally friendly glycol (propylene glycol)
  • Environmentally friendly refrigerants
  • Energy efficient systems (i.e. chiller unit, electrical motors, pumps)

The students will provide a written report that will include:

  • Project abstract
  • Engineering theory (including pertinent equations)
  • Sample calculations
  • System schematics
  • Vendor documentation
  • Equipment quotations (if acquired)

 

Resources Required:

Engineers from Hamilton Sunstrand

Prior Learning Required:

Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, Algebra

Educator Comments:

 


The Regional Center for Next Generation Manufacturing is funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education program. Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.