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East Hill Surfers Flow Control Device. Elegant. Reliable. Precise. And DEAD SEXY. Develo p in g The Desi g n. Define Criteria Generate Choices Pick it out. FCD Criteria. Clogging Resistance Size Reliability Cost. Ease of Use / Maintenance Universality. Prime Desi g n Choices.
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East Hill SurfersFlow Control Device Elegant . . .
Developing The Design Define Criteria Generate Choices Pick it out
FCD Criteria Clogging Resistance Size Reliability Cost Ease of Use / Maintenance Universality
Prime Design Choices Variable Torque Bucket Floating Inlet Air Inlet Toilet Float Plug Float
Conventional Toilet Lever Valve Schematic Inlet Flow F = A γh L1 Float Buoyant Force = FB Pin L2 • Calculations showed that a lever was excessive for given design parameters • A simple float could control the low flow rates without a lever arm to amplify the magnitude
2 cm 2.3 cm 1.5 cm 2 mm 0.5 cm Rubber tip 4.4 cm PVC stem 11.0 cm 8.3 cm Float mass: 6 grams 6.5 cm 5.2 cm Housing Dimensions: ID = 7.85 cm OD = 8.8 cm Barb tubing adapter 5.6 cm 9.1 cm IV roller clamp IV tubing (~10 drops/mL) 2 mm Simple FloatValve FCD
Testing Apparatus Assembled Prototype Testing Apparatus
FCD Testing Apparatus Water Column Manual Valve 7 kPa Pressure Senor – Logs readings to Easy Data
Clogging Experiment • Process Controller used to meter water into 10 cm tube. Refilled after head dropped by 40 cm. • Interested in flow rate changes for each 40 cm head drop as well as over several days.
What We Learned • Low flow presents lots of problems • Complex and simple designs often do the same job • It is easy to overlook valuable solutions • A simple device can have vast implications in the developing world
Further Research • Is there a manufactured device like this already out there? Cost comparison • Cleaning mechanisms • Manufacturing Costs and Opportunities • Material Selection • Maximum head capabilities - Sizing