Week Two
This week, after all of the time spent finalizing the idea and performing research, a list of parts was created and those which were relevant to the electrical circuit being made were ordered. These parts include the heating wire, the beaker to house the salt water, pumps to transport the water, and a 12 Volt battery. An additional part was also designed and is to be 3-D printed, this part being the lid to the reservoir of salt water. To ensure that the system would be successful, further research was done, this time delving into more specific categories.
Findings from the additional research allowed us to make several concise conclusions about the functionality of the desalination prototype, which are as follows:
1) The Ni-Chrome wire will not be immersed in the salt water, as corrosion is bound to occur at the increased heat.
2) Heating can either occur by coiling wire within insulated tubing that would be immersed into the salt-water supply, or by wrapping the wire around the glass reservoir of salt water.
3) If Heating were to occur within insulated tubing, thermally-conductive hard-ceramic powder inside a glass tube would most likely be the best way to transfer heat without allowing electricity to escape the circuit.
The team will continue the research efforts in order to design the most efficient process for heating the water.
Electrical safety was also explored this week, as circuits would be tested extensively over the upcoming weeks. Through research, the team deduced that the Direct-Current electrical circuit would be safe as long as it was under 2 milliamps and 30 volts. In instances where ratings exceeded these numbers, proper safety precautions would have to be enacted. These include the use of insulating gloves, having a towel nearby to ensure that skin is always dry from conductive water, and using safety goggles to avoid eye damage from heated substances.
Findings from the additional research allowed us to make several concise conclusions about the functionality of the desalination prototype, which are as follows:
1) The Ni-Chrome wire will not be immersed in the salt water, as corrosion is bound to occur at the increased heat.
2) Heating can either occur by coiling wire within insulated tubing that would be immersed into the salt-water supply, or by wrapping the wire around the glass reservoir of salt water.
3) If Heating were to occur within insulated tubing, thermally-conductive hard-ceramic powder inside a glass tube would most likely be the best way to transfer heat without allowing electricity to escape the circuit.
The team will continue the research efforts in order to design the most efficient process for heating the water.
Electrical safety was also explored this week, as circuits would be tested extensively over the upcoming weeks. Through research, the team deduced that the Direct-Current electrical circuit would be safe as long as it was under 2 milliamps and 30 volts. In instances where ratings exceeded these numbers, proper safety precautions would have to be enacted. These include the use of insulating gloves, having a towel nearby to ensure that skin is always dry from conductive water, and using safety goggles to avoid eye damage from heated substances.
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