Project Proposal
Project Proposal
Justin Hawk Gustavo Michael Ibarguen Erhamah Alsuwaidi ME 340.3, Team 4 (Mean Machines)
Executive Summary Our company, which specializes in the creation of water turbines for micro-hydropower systems, has developed a product that is presumed to be our most successful product to date, a faucet powered generator. This product came as the result of a new product opportunity that was discovered by our marketing team. This opportunity called for a consumer product that could attach to a water faucet and produce electrical power to be used for a specific purpose. In order to perfect this product, our team followed a very in depth process including extensive research, establishing the appropriate target audience, assessing customer needs, external searching, benchmarking, and product design. With the help of our marketing team, it was established that our target market as homeowners, farmers, and ranchers. Through surveying and interviewing members of this demographic, important customer needs were gathered to help satisfy features of this product. Our team designed toward the needs that were found to be most prominent and important. First, we discovered that the function the majority of our prospective customers found most interesting and would like this product to carry out was for it to display the amount of water that is used when a faucet is turned on. Other important customer needs were determined such as the ability of the device to perform at a high level while having a low cost, high durability, attractive appearance, and minimal effect on the flow of water out of the faucet. Upon carrying out external searches for current products, similar products were discovered that have gained relative success in the marketplace such as a faucet powered light, radio, a self-powered faucet sensor, and an energy saving device. Our finalized product is a compact, water sealed device that can easily screw onto common sink water faucets without affecting the flow rate of the water out of the faucet. In order to make users more aware of their water consumption, it will display the amount of water being used while the faucet is running. Its inner workings include a water wheel with curved, bucketed blades to maximize performance. Its internal turbine is a combination of the basic, gravitypowered water wheel and the Pelton turbine. Our team has found this design to be the most efficient and feasible for a product of its size, rather than a Francis or Kaplan turbine. Our product will be able to consistently generate a minimum voltage of 1.5V across a 10 Ohm resistor in order to power our display. Estimating a sales volume of 100,000 units per year for 4 years, our company believes that the product is capable of making a profit of approximately $1 million per year if the product is sold for $20 apiece. Please see the following report for details about customer needs, external research, design considerations, a final detailed design, and an in-depth economic analysis.
Contents
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 3 1.1 Problem Statement ................................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Background Information ....................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Project Planning .................................................................................................................... 4 Customer Needs and Specifications................................................................................................ 4 2.1 Identification of Customer Needs: ........................................................................................ 4 2.2 Design Specifications............................................................................................................ 5 Concept Development ..................................................................................................................... 6 3.1 External Search ..................................................................................................................... 6 3.2 Problem Decomposition........................................................................................................ 6 3.3 Concept Generation .............................................................................................................. 7 3.4 Concept Selection ................................................................................................................. 8 4. System Level Design .................................................................................................................. 9 4.1 Overall Description ............................................................................................................... 9 4.2 Preliminary Theoretical Analysis ......................................................................................... 9 4.3 Preliminary Economic Analysis ........................................................................................... 9 5. Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 10 6. References ................................................................................................................................. 11 7. Appendices ................................................................................................................................ 12
Introduction
1.1 Problem Statement
Our company was excited to be given the task of designing and building a water turbine device that could generate electricity from a fluid stream of faucet water. The goal was to design a water turbine product that was capable of producing a substantial amount of electrical power without affecting the output flow of water. This electrical energy was to be used to power an accessory of our choosing. The product was to be economically reasonable and able to be easily mass produced. Also, our product was to be especially appealing to our targeted potential clients of homeowners, farmers, and ranchers. Some of the constraints that our company faced in creating this product included: our limited budget for a prototype of $100; the requirement that the outlet of our product terminate in a standard 3/8-18 NPS internal pipe thread; the restriction of not being able to use cannibalized parts in our final design; the requirement that our product generate a minimum of 1.5 volts with a load of 10 Ohms; and the exclusion of water additives to increase electrical output. Our motivation for creating this product was twofold. First, our team realized that this product can have a positive impact on the lives of our clients and the environment. Our product is able to generate electricity during a common household practice that normally does not produce power. By creating a product that can generate electricity to power our accessory without disrupting the use of a faucet or shower, the product will save our clients money that they otherwise would have paid to use the accessory as a standalone product. Also, this energy does not have to be taken from less environmentally friendly energy sources. Second, our company firmly believes that this product has a very high chance of succeeding in the market place. The company is predicting that it can sell about 100,000 units per year for 4 years.
9. The products accessory should be a digital indicator of the amount of water used while the faucet runs. In order to develop these customer needs, our company performed thorough research and solicited the opinions of prospective clients. Our team has created a comprehensive survey outlining the important features and functions of our water turbine ideas. Next, we asked several homeowners, a select few of whom either currently or previously lived on farms, to compare and rate the important characteristics that would possibly be incorporated into the design of our product. A full sample of these house owners were chosen, specifically those with farm or ranch living experience, because it was known that this was the demographic benefit the most from this product. The team took it a step further with a few of our customers and conducted interviews with them. In these interviews, we explored our survey questions much deeper, asking them to explain the logic behind their choices and received feedback on some of the ideas were generated. Upon completion of our surveying stage, the relative importance of the features of our product was determined. The team was able to find that prospective clients cared first and foremost about the cost of the product and the function of its accessory. These were major talking points during the interviews that were conducted. Secondly, they wanted to ensure that the product would operate efficiently and that it was water resistant for durability. Next in the order of relative importance was their concern that the water output may not be steady and oriented in the proper direction or that water may be leaking from the product -faucet connection. Lastly, they expressed their sentiments on the size, appearance, and loudness of the product during operation.
8. Ease of Installment
The data collected and outlined in the design specification and weighted customer needs tables was used when selecting design concepts. The specifications that correspond to customer needs with the highest calculated importance most frequently were given priority over the others. Our design concepts were created with the goals of satisfying the prioritized needs first, even if they constrained the design from fulfilling the rest of the needs. In doing so, our company has ensured that our customers most important needs, such as, high performance, reasonable cost, and durability will be met.
Concept Development
3.1 External Search
Our team began searching for the most effective water turbine available to insure that our products performance will be perfect with the maximum possible efficiency. It was found out that there are multiple types of water turbines, and each has its own subcategory. Since some kinds are hard to manufacture, our team decided to look into impulse water turbines and reaction water turbines. The impulse turbine uses the velocity of the water to move the wheel that will move a shaft connected to a generator. The water then flows down the housing. Examples of impulse turbines are the Pelton wheel and the water wheel. This type of turbine works best under high head and low water flow applications. Reaction turbines are a lot different from the impulse turbines. They are placed in the flow of the water in a way that the water hits all blades at the same time. Examples of reaction turbines are Kaplan and Francis turbines. This kind of turbines is more suitable for high flow conditions. Because of their great efficiency, the reaction and the impulse turbine were chosen for further testing to help choose which subcategory is the best for our product. Furthermore, our research revealed a lot of previous products and ideas for water faucet-powered generators. One of these products, being the cheapest, is the Barite Faucet that costs around $35.00. A more expensive product is the T & S EC-HYDROGEN that costs around $103.00, knowing that the prices range from $35.00 to around $900.00.
Concept Design #1: This design is similar to that of a basic water wheel. It has a large central wheel aligned vertically with the direction of the water inflow and outflow. It has curved, bucketed blades to combine the force of impulse and gravitational force due to collected water. The turbine has a rounded housing to fit the shape of the wheel that it contains. This shape will ensure that any errant water flows smoothly to the outlet so that the water outflow has the same characteristics of the water inflow. Lastly, the shaft is connected to the generator through a series of gears.
Figure 4: Concept #1
Concept Design #2: This concept idea also has a vertical wheel but has blades that resemble those of a Pelton turbine, although they are not as abundant. An important aspect of this design is that it uses a nozzle to increase the velocity of the water as it enters the system and allows for greater control of this water flow. With this type of control, it can be ensured that the water hits the sweet spot of the blade in order to maximize the force and torque translated to the shaft of the water turbine.
Figure 5: Concept #2
Concept Design #3: The shape of turbine wheel in this design concept is very similar to that of the first design except the blades are not buckets. Rather, these blades are flat, angled paddles. In this design, the generator is located directly on the side of the housing and it is connected to the wheel by the shaft without using any gears. Another important aspect of this design is that the water inlet and the water outlet are located on the same side of the housing so that water flows directly to the outlet.
Figure 6: Concept #3
Concept Design #4: This concept design, which utilizes a Kaplan turbine, is very different from the other three designs. As can be seen in the picture, its blades are oriented in a direction perpendicular to the inflow of water. Also, the generator is located on top of the housing. It is connected to the turbine by the shaft and using gears so that it does not interfere with the position of the faucet.
Figure 7: Concept#4
Concept#3 5 2 1 4 3 Combine
Concept#4 1 1 6 -5 4 No
This was the teams concept-screening matrix. By going through the selection criteria, each feature was given a better than (+), same as (0), or worse than (-), to rate that feature. When looking at the table, it can be determined that concepts 1, 2, and 3 scored very well (net score 4 or better). Concept 4 was evaluated with the same criteria and failed to impress with its net score of -5. With the aid of the concept screening matrix, the team was able to make the decision to combine the first three concepts because of their close scores while putting concept 4 on hold. A detailed table of each criteria and its rating can be seen in Appendix (). Concepts Concept #1 Total 421.5 Score 1 Rank Continue? Combine
Table 3: Concept Scoring Matrix
Concept #4 279 4 No
When evaluating the concepts generated, a concept-scoring matrix was used to compare them. From the AHP method, the weight of each selection criteria was multiplied by its corresponding rating for each concept to get a weighted score. All of the weighted scores were then added together to see the total score in the table. Concept 1 ranked highest, closely followed by concepts 2 and 3. However, much to no surprise concept 4 trailed far behind other concepts. Because of the close scores, it was determined that the first three concepts be combined. Concept 4 would not be further pursued because of its low score relative to the other concepts. All numerical values can be seen in Appendix ().
The final design our team has chosen can be seen above. Standing 2.7 tall, the rounded housing was chosen to help water exit the system in an orderly fashion. The blade contained within the housing has eight bucket shaped blades that will aid in the rotation of the blade. This feature is attached to a round shaft that connects directly to our chosen generator. To keep the generator from experiencing water damage and to keep the water within the system, on either side of the turbine housing are two identical pieces of plexiglass. Each piece resembles the shape of the housing and contains a hole for the shaft to go through, while providing a view of the turbine when in motion. The generator is then covered by its own case, to help ensure further that it will not experience water damage. As part of the housing, the water inlet will also include a nozzle that takes the 3/8 hole down to a 1/4 diameter hole to concentrate the flow more.
and assemble 20 of these devices per hour in our facilities given that the labor cost for manufacturing and assembly is $60/hr. Also, the company hired two engineers and two marketing specialists to assist us during this project. The salary for each of these professionals, including fringe benefits, pension, medical costs, and overhead is $120,000 per year. Therefore, over four years, $480,000 will be paid out. Adding all costs together, provides a total cost of $1.855 million per year. Subtracting the yearly total cost from the yearly total revenue gives us a profit of $644.9 thousand per year. Since it is projected that our sales will remain constant over the next four years, it can be expected to obtain a profit of more than $2.5 million during this period.
5. Conclusion
Our team has come a long way since being assigned this project. Beginning with background research, a list of customer needs and data were compiled through surveys and interviews. Concepts were generated based off of the data gained and compared using decision and selection matrices. A final design was chosen combining a few concept ideas and a Solidworks model of the final concept was created. A Gantt chart helped keep project tasks on time and will guide the team until the project is completed. Our team, Mean Machines, have put in an extensive amount of time into research and development of a faucet powered water turbine. Our final design is unique in the way that it has a rounded housing and a wheel with bucketed blades. The blade design is unlike any on the market and will be most effective in providing extra torque to produce power. The sleek design of the housing assures that water exits the system smoothly and efficiently. This product will highly appeal to consumers because of its compact design, low cost, and efficient features. Its accessory of a digital display to show the water used will benefit the customer as it can make them aware of their water usage and help them save money. The market for this product is fairly vast; subjectively homeowners, farmers, and ranchers, but almost any consumer with a water faucet nonetheless. It can be determined that our product will succeed within its intended market and challenge competitors.
10
6. References
[1] Ulrich, Karl T., and Steven D. Eppinger. Product Design and Development. 4th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill/Irwin, 2008. Print. [2] "Water Turbines and Their Uses." Water Turbines and Their Uses. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. <http://www.jfccivilengineer.com/turbines.htm>. [3] "How a Generator Works." Turbine Generator Atom. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2014. <http://turbinegenerator.org/generator-works>.
11
7. Appendices
Appendix A Gantt Chart
Team Roles Gustavo Michael Ibarguen a) Team leader b) Communication facilitator c) Primary presenter and work organizer Justin Hawk a) Lead machinist b) Primary SolidWorks engineer c) Meeting Recorder Erhamah Alsuwaidi a) Main concept developer b) Meeting recorder c) Research specialist 12
Qualifications We are a strategically organized team of mechanical engineers who specialize in the design and development of efficient microsystems and small scale machinery. Each of us have unique backgrounds, talents, and skills which allows for a combination of perspectives to maximize variety and efficient collaboration. Due to the experience gained in the engineering field and our background education, our team is confident that it will perform exceptionally in project. Also, during prior projects, the team has demonstrated the ability to succeed in the product creation process which includes concept development, concept selection, sketching, SolidWorks modeling, and prototype machining.
13
14
15
Appendix D: Risk Plan Questions 1 How often do you use this product/How many do you have in your home? 2 Overall, are you satisfied with the product? 3 What do you consider to be the best feature of the product? 4 What feature(s) of this product, bug you or do not work properly? 5 What would you change about this product? 6 Did this product satisfy your needs? If not, why? 7 Would you recommend this product to others, why or why not? 8 Do you feel that the product was reasonably priced?
Table D1: Risk Plan Questions
16
Appendix E: Customer Needs Survey What would you prefer that the electricity generated by this turbine be used for? 1.) Radio 2.) Clock 3.) Light 4.) Display of water used Which of these categories do you feel is the most important? 1.) Appearance 2.) Size 3.) Functionality/Efficiency 4.) Cost What would you expect to pay for a product that generates electricity from water flowing out of the faucet like this product does?(in $) 1.) 0-10 2.) 10-30 3.) 30-50 4.) 50-75 Rate these features on a scale from 1-10 on importance. 1.) Water Resistant 2.) No Leakage out of faucet 3.) Loudness/Noise 4.) Steady supply of power How concerned are you about the orientation of the outflow of water, with straight down being the ideal direction? 1.) Very concerned 2.) Mildly concerned 3.) Not concerned at all Customer Needs Survey Results (Totals are tallied in parentheses) What would you prefer that the electricity generated by this turbine be used for? 1.) Radio (7) 2.) Clock (4) 3.) Light (9) 4.) Display of water used (10) Which of these categories do you feels is the most important? 1.) Appearance (4) 2.) Size (4) 3.) Functionality/Efficiency (9) 4.) Cost (13)
17
What would you expect to pay for a product that generates electricity from water flowing out of the faucet? 1.) 0-10 (4) 2.) 10-30 (15) 3.) 30-50 (9) 4.) 50-75 (2) Rate these features on a scale from 1-10 on importance. 1.) Water Resistant (~9 average) 2.) No Leakage out of faucet (~7 average) 3.) Loudness/Noise (~4 average) 4.) Steady supply of power (~6 average) How concerned are about the orientation of the outflow of water with straight down being the ideal direction? 1.) Very concerned (22) 2.) Mildly concerned (8) 3.) Not concerned at all (0)
18
Appendix F: Design Specifications Customer Need 1. Performance 2. Cost 3. Durability 4. Self-contained 5. Downward outflow 6. Appearance 7. Size 8. Ease of installment
Table F1: AHP Ranking of Needs
Customer Need 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Performance Cost Durability Self-contained Downward outflow 6. Appearance 7. Size 8. Ease of Installment
Table F2: Weighting of Needs
6 4 3 3 1.5 1 1 1.5 .5
8 5 4 4 3 2 2 2.5 1
Net Score 23.5 17.67 14.67 9.5 6.632 6.25 8.9 3.43
Customer Need 9. Performance 10. Cost 11. Durability 12. Self-contained 13. Downward outflow 14. Appearance 15. Size 16. Ease of Installment
Table F3: Weight Percentages
19
Figure G1:
Figure G2:
20
By signing this document we all attest that it provides an accurate representation of our individual efforts in the completion of this work. Date:_____________ Member Name Printed: _________________________ Member Name Printed: _________________________ Member Name Printed: _________________________ Member Name Printed: _________________________ Signature:_____________________________ Signature:_____________________________ Signature:_____________________________ Signature:_____________________________
21