Svenvbin
01-05-2010, 03:00 PM
Hello all,
Just until the end of June, and my first year in University, studying Applied Physics, will be done. Until then however, we have one last big project.
The idea is that in groups of 4 people, you build a machine which can cool two litres of water down as much as possible, within 30 minutes. The only rules are as follows:
- Max 2x2x2 metres
- Has to be powered by one person. (So no electricity from the socket, but you can generate it yourself)
- All parts have to be at room temperature at the start of the 30 minutes.
- You may not use energy which has been buffered in any way before the 30 minutes start. (As in, chemicals that cool down when they mix with water etc)
My favorite so far is just vaporising a lot of water, but we also have to consider other alternatives. I personally think that building a 'real' refrigerator (Using the Joule-Thompson process) will be rather difficult, as we'd have to build the system pressure-proof and, of course, working :P
So, do you have any websites or advice on how to build a goodworking cooling machine? We've had the subject Thermodynamics, so I guess I understand a couple of things you'll say :) (Not everything, but hopefully most of it :P)
Thanks in advance!
Just until the end of June, and my first year in University, studying Applied Physics, will be done. Until then however, we have one last big project.
The idea is that in groups of 4 people, you build a machine which can cool two litres of water down as much as possible, within 30 minutes. The only rules are as follows:
- Max 2x2x2 metres
- Has to be powered by one person. (So no electricity from the socket, but you can generate it yourself)
- All parts have to be at room temperature at the start of the 30 minutes.
- You may not use energy which has been buffered in any way before the 30 minutes start. (As in, chemicals that cool down when they mix with water etc)
My favorite so far is just vaporising a lot of water, but we also have to consider other alternatives. I personally think that building a 'real' refrigerator (Using the Joule-Thompson process) will be rather difficult, as we'd have to build the system pressure-proof and, of course, working :P
So, do you have any websites or advice on how to build a goodworking cooling machine? We've had the subject Thermodynamics, so I guess I understand a couple of things you'll say :) (Not everything, but hopefully most of it :P)
Thanks in advance!