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TRANSMITTAL
Florida Institute of Technology
Department of Marine and Environmental Systems
OCE 4541
TO: Dr. Stephen WoodDepartment of Marine and Environmental Systems
Florida Institute of Technology150 West University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901
FROM: Team N.A.R.W.H.A.L.E.s
150 West University Blvd.
Melbourne, FL 32901
RE: Final Design Report
Dr. Wood,
The following report for N.A.R.W.H.A.L.E.s senior design project is being submitted foryour review. We have included all sections stated under the report contents. Thank you and
please contact us at [email protected] if you have any further questions.
Jacob Strom Mallory Bond Harrison Gardner
Jeffrey Bell Erica vonBampus
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NARWHALEs
Final Design Report
Summer 2012
ybeetirW:
Erica [email protected]
(407) 324-6321
Mallory [email protected]
(850) 319-6375
Jacob Strom
(716) 807-2223
Harrison Gardner
(630) 880-1130
Jeffrey Bell
[email protected](732) 513-9236
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]7/29/2019 Flume Final Report 2012
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Table of Contents
1.0Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.1 Motivations ........................................................................................................................... 7
1.2 Objectives ............................................................................................................................. 8
1.3 Organization .......................................................................................................................... 8
2.0 Background ............................................................................................................................... 9
2.1 Basic Theory ......................................................................................................................... 9
2.2 Historical Theory ................................................................................................................ 12
3.0 Procedures ............................................................................................................................... 27
3.1 Customer Requirements ...................................................................................................... 27
3.2 Engineering Specifications ................................................................................................. 27
3.3 Function Decomposition Structure ..................................................................................... 46
4.0 Results ..................................................................................................................................... 49
5.0 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 52
6.0 Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 52
Appendixes ................................................................................................................................... 53
A -- References ......................................................................................................................... 53
B -- Resources ........................................................................................................................... 53
C -- Safety Plan ......................................................................................................................... 54
List of FiguresFigure 1: Boundary Layer Diagram [10] ...................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 2: Patent No. 1,061,206 [9] ................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 3: Diagram of Tesla Pump [8]............................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 4: Photograph of Insides of Tesla Pump [8] ................................................................................................. 14
Figure 5: Photograph of a Tesla Pump [8]................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 6: Diagram of a DiscFlo Pump [4] ..................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 7: Photograph of DiscFlo pump in use [4]..................................................................................................... 16
Figure 8: Diagram of University of Otagos Flume [6] ............................................................................................ 17
Figure 9: Photograph of University of Otagos Flume [6] ..................................................................................... 17
Figure 10: Aquabiotechs Flume [1]............................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 11: Maelstrom ........................................................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 12: Maelstrom Motor ............................................................................................................................................. 21
Figure 13: Maelstrom Chiller ............................................................................................................................................ 21
Figure 14: eFlows Bilge Pump Design [10] ................................................................................................................ 22
Figure 15: eFlows Paddlewheel Design [10] ............................................................................................................. 23
Figure 16: eFlows Paddlewheel [10]............................................................................................................................ 23
Figure 17: eFlows Tesla Pump [10] .............................................................................................................................. 24
Figure 18: eFlows Final Design [10] ............................................................................................................................. 25
Figure 19: eFlows Fluent Analysis [10] ....................................................................................................................... 25
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Figure 20: Fabricated Tank ............................................................................................................................................... 26
Figure 21: Fabricated Center Divider ............................................................................................................................ 26
Figure 22: Computer Model of Tank .............................................................................................................................. 28
Figure 23: Tank as Fabricated .......................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 24: Window Jig ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 25: Cleaning the Glass ........................................................................................................................................... 29
Figure 26: Placing Top Pane on Foam Tape ............................................................................................................... 30
Figure 27: Pouring Resin into Window ........................................................................................................................ 30Figure 28: Refined Window Making Method ............................................................................................................. 31
Figure 29: Cardboard Funnel............................................................................................................................................ 31
Figure 30: Computer Drawing of Center Divider ..................................................................................................... 32
Figure 31: Computer Model of Center Divider in Tank ......................................................................................... 33
Figure 32: Computer Model of Tesla Pump ................................................................................................................ 33
Figure 33: Preform Mold .................................................................................................................................................... 34
Figure 34: Mold Lined with Fiberglass ......................................................................................................................... 34
Figure 35: Lining of Mold with Fiberglass ................................................................................................................... 35
Figure 36: Injection of Foam into Mold ........................................................................................................................ 35
Figure 37: Closing of the Mold ......................................................................................................................................... 36
Figure 38: Allowing Foam to Cure .................................................................................................................................. 36
Figure 39: Finished Preform in Mold ............................................................................................................................ 36Figure 40: Wooden Mount for Telsa Disks .................................................................................................................. 37
Figure 41: Tightening the Ratchet Strap ...................................................................................................................... 37
Figure 42: Sanding Joints.................................................................................................................................................... 38
Figure 43: Smoothing the surface of the disk ............................................................................................................ 38
Figure 44: Disk after being Spray Painted ................................................................................................................... 39
Figure 45: Gluing the Flange to the Disk ...................................................................................................................... 39
Figure 46: Spraying Gel Coat on the Disk .................................................................................................................... 40
Figure 47: Layering fiberglass cloth on the disk ....................................................................................................... 40
Figure 48: Finished Mold on Disk ................................................................................................................................... 41
Figure 49: Removing Excess Fiberglass ....................................................................................................................... 41
Figure 50: Buffing the Disk ................................................................................................................................................ 42
Figure 51: Flange to Connect Disk to Shaft ................................................................................................................. 43
Figure 52: Motor and its Controller ............................................................................................................................... 43
Figure 53: Example of a Chain Drive System ............................................................................................................. 44
Figure 54: Motor Mount ...................................................................................................................................................... 44
Figure 56: Construction of Motor Housing Sides ..................................................................................................... 45
Figure 57: Motor Housing Under Construction ........................................................................................................ 45
Figure 58: Final Assembly .................................................................................................................................................. 45
Figure 59: Final Location .................................................................................................................................................... 46
Figure 60: Final Drawing of Tank ................................................................................................................................... 47
Figure 61: Final Drawing of Center Divider ................................................................................................................ 48
Figure 62: Drawing of one Disk ....................................................................................................................................... 48
List of AbbreviationsNARWALE.Naval Architecture Recirculating Water Hydrodynamic Apparatus for LaminarExperimentation
AUV....Autonomous Underwater VehicleROV.Remote Operated VehicleDMES..Department of Marine and Environmental Systems
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List of Equations
Reynolds Number [2.1.1]
Reynolds Number for a Rotating Disk
[2.1.2]
Displacement Thickness
[2.1.3]
Momentum Thickness
[2.1.4]
Boundary Layer for Rotating Disk
[2.1.5]
Hydrodynamic Drag
[2.1.6]
Drag Coefficient for Rotating Surface [2.1.7]
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Executive Summary
Model testing is a very important aspect in many fields of study; however, it can become
very expensive when large facilities and testing apparatuses are required. The goal of this project
is to design and build a transportable testing tank for projects such as AUVs, the growth of oyster
beds, model ships, ROVs, and other ocean engineering projects designed to operate in a current.
To meet these requirements the NARWHALE team is designing a flume that will circulate a
laminar flow of water with a Tesla pump.
The Tesla pump will create an even laminar flow over the length of the tank and will be
operated by an electric motor attached to the tank. The Tesla drive will pull water to one side of
the flume and propel it underneath a water column divider where it will then emerge at the
opposite end of the tank. This will create an endless cycle of flowing water that will be able to
achieve a laminar flow. This system will replace large tow tanks and allow for more efficient
hydrodynamic testing. The Tesla pump will consist of six disks which rotate vertically dragging
water around the center divider. The tank has aluminum sides with windows that will allow the
testing to be monitored. Upon completion, the flume will benefit research and academics on
campus.
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1.0Introduction1.1 Motivations
Designing and constructing a flume would have several advantages to the university and
its students. Making the flume 10 times the size of the wave tank will allow a wider range ofocean engineering projects to be tested. The flume will enable optimal research and education for
students at the university and other educational facilities. In addition to this other companies and
organizations can use the flume to conduct studies bringing in an income for Florida Tech.
The flume will improve all hydrodynamic research done on campus greatly. Model
testing on campus is currently done in the wave tank, which is 30 inches wide by 30 feet long.
Larger ocean engineering projects cannot be tested in the wave tank due to size constraints.
Testing is also very difficult for any projects that need to be submerged due to the wave tanks
depth and towing method. The flume will provide a way to accurately test models and some full-
scale projects at precise flow rates and velocities as well as varying depths. The flume will be
useful to other departments as well. It could be used to conduct studies on marine organisms
where a current is needed. It could also be used to very accurately conduct long-term
experiments without needing to be deployed in the field.
The flume will be a great tool for education on campus improving many classes and labs
in areas such as fluid mechanics, naval architecture and marine biology. The scope and accuracy
of fluid mechanics classes and labs could be greatly improved by the flumes ability to create a
large volume of closely controlled laminar flow. The flume could benefit marine biology
research on campus with its ability to circulate water in a manner that will not harm any marine
organisms in the water. Theoretical concepts taught in class such as forces on an object, drag and
the stability of a floating object could be better demonstrated giving students a practical
understanding and experience.
The flume will also benefit the community. Parties outside of campus would be able to
conduct studies in the flume bringing in an income to Florida Tech. For instance, high school
students would be able to conduct studies in the flume, greatly benefiting their education and the
reputation of the university. Local companies and organizations could have research done in the
flume, giving the Florida Tech students experience and providing the university with grants and
corporate contacts.
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1.2 Objectives
The main objective of the NARWHALE group is to demonstrate a thorough
understanding of, and the ability to, apply fundamental engineering concepts. This will beaccomplished by designing and building a flume that meets all of its design requirements and
specifications, and that is capable of withstanding all of the stresses and forces applied to it
during its operation without failing. The project will also be done in the most economical and
efficient way possible.
The flume must be able to produce reliable and accurate data during experimentation. To
accomplish this, the flume will be designed to produce the smoothest and most laminar flow
possible. Water flow will be as constant as possible both throughout the length of the testing area
and the depth of the flume, enabling accurate testing for a wide variety of objects.
The flume will be designed so that the velocity of the water in the flume can be closely
controlled, changed and monitored. The Tesla pump and motor system will be designed so that it
is capable of creating a precisely controlled and easily adjustable flow in the tank.
The flume must also be portable. The flume will be able to be taken apart if needed so
that it can be moved to a new location. If experimentation needed to be conducted off campus or
if the university were to decide that the flume needed to be moved, then the flume would have to
be moved quickly, without excessive equipment such as a crane, and without being damaged.
1.3 Organization
Organization is important in moving this project through the design process. It is
necessary to move the project from a conceptual design, to a product design, to production, and
then service in a professional manner, and on schedule.
The organization of the project will be maintained mainly by the use of a designnotebook. The design notebook will keep all of the project files in one location. Copies of all
designs will be kept, whether the designs are conceptual drawings done by hand on engineering
paper or formal CAD drawings used to fabricate parts. The design notebook also contains all of
the calculations performed so that they can be checked; double checked, and reviewed, ensuring
that the flume is structurally sound and safe to operate. It will also contain all records of
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donations, purchases and expenses, so that the groups budget can be constantly monitored and
utilized.
Making sure that every deadline and due date is met will be very important. This will be
accomplished primarily through the use of a Gantt Chart. The Gantt Chart will clearly state when
each part of the project is intended to be worked on and completed by. This will make it easy forthe group to stay on task and avoid falling behind schedule. Weekly updates have been and will
be sent to Dr. Wood so that the progress of the project can be monitored and critiqued.
A daily journal is also being kept which records the number of hours worked by each
group member and the tasks accomplished. This will be used to keep track of exactly how many
hours went into the project and when tasks were accomplished. This will also be used to keep
track of whom the group consults with and how long the consultations lasted.
2.0 Background
2.1 Basic TheoryThe Reynolds Number is a dimension number that represents the ratio of inertial forces
to viscous forces in a liquid [2] The Reynolds number is fundamental to fluid mechanics, used in
many calculations, and will be important to the flume for several reasons. It is used in the
calculations for the boundary layer thickness and coefficient of friction which will need to be
calculated to optimize the design of the Tesla pump. The Reynolds number is also vital to model
testing. Reynolds number similitude is used to accurately test scale models and will have to be
used to find the maximum free stream velocity that the flume must be designed to be able to
generate. The Reynolds number can be calculated over a surface using the equation:
[2.1.1]
Where V is the free stream velocity, L is a representative length, and is the kinematic
viscosity of the fluid [2]. The Reynolds Number of a rotating disk can be calculated more
accurately through the equation:
[2.1.2]
Where r is the disks radius, is the angular frequency, is the swirl factor, and is the
kinematic viscosity [7].
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The boundary layer thickness is the distance off of a surface into a moving fluid to which
the effect of the surface is still felt. A boundary layer develops over surfaces along which an
inviscid fluid is traveling. At the edge of the surface a no slip condition develops where the
velocity of the fluid is zero. The velocity of the fluid then increases exponentially as it moves
further away from the surface [2]. There are three main ways to calculate the boundary layerthickness. The first way is the arbitrary method which uses the arbitrary value as seen in figure
1.The boundary layer is determined to contain the fluid moving at less than 99% of the free
stream velocity.
The second method is the displacement thickness method. This method calculates the
volume of fluid that affected by the nonslip condition at the surface boundary.
[2.1.3]
The third method is the Momentum thickness method. This method works by calculating
the momentum of the water that has been affected by the surface it is traveling over, and the
liquids effect on the surface.
[2.1.4]
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Figure 1: Boundary Layer Diagram [10]
The boundary layer over the disks will need to be calculated to determine the most
efficient spacing of the disks and will also need to be calculated along the length of the tank to
avoid boundary layer separation and added turbulence associated with it at high testing speeds.
In this project the boundary layer over the Tesla Pump disks was calculated with the equation for
a rotating disk:
[2.1.5]
In this equation D is the diameter of the disk, and Re is the Rotational Reynolds Number.
Hydrodynamic drag over a surface is the resistance to motion through a fluid felt by the
surface; this is calculated using the following equation:
[2.1.6]
In this equation, Cdis the coefficient of drag, is the density of the fluid, V is the free streamvelocity, and A is the characteristic area of the surface [7]. The drag coefficient for a rotating
surface can be found with the equation:
[2.1.7]
where Re isthe Rotational Reynolds Number[7]. The drag over each side of the disks must be
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found in order to calculate the torque needed to be generated by the motor which will spin the
Tesla pump. This torque is also needed to calculate the cross section of the central shaft needed.
2.2 Historical Theory
The Tesla pump, U.S. Patent 1,061,206 -- May 6, 1913 was invented by Nikola Tesla as ameans to extract energy from water. The design uses waters salient properties of adhesion and
viscosity [9] to create mechanical motion from a moving fluid. The Tesla pump consists of a
chamber, which houses a number of round flat disks spaced very close together. These disks are
keyed to a shaft, which is then geared to an electrical generator. The dimensions, number, and
spacing of the disks is to be determined by the application of the pump. The pump is meant to be
placed in a quickly moving fluid. The fluid is directed into a valve at the top of the pump and
into the pump chamber where it will circulate several times before being discharged through the
valve at the bottom of the pump. As the water circulates in the chamber, its viscosity surface
friction causes the pump disks, shaft and electrical generator to spin with it [9]. Figure 2 shows
the original application for a patent, filed October 21, 1909, and the Tesla Pump design.
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Figure 2: Patent No. 1,061,206 [9]
Tesla also patented a system that used this technology that he believed to propel water in
a more efficient manner than the pumps used at the time. This apparatus is US Patent # 1,061,14
"Fluid Propulsion." This pump caused the water being pumped through it to move in natural
paths or streamlines of least resistance [8]. Like the Tesla turbine it used spinning flat disks.
Tesla wrote that skin friction on the disks would cause the water to circulate in the chamber. The
fluid was sucked into the chamber at the center of the disks. An outflow was positioned at the top
of the chamber and pointed in direction of the flow. He determined that this was the optimal
shape and configuration for the pump, his designs can be seen in Figure 3. Figures 4 and 5 showa working prototype of this design, the casing has been removed in Figure 4 to show the disk
system.
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Figure 3: Diagram of Tesla Pump [8]
Figure 4: Photograph of Insides of Tesla Pump[8]
Figure 5: Photograph of a Tesla Pump[8]
DiscFlo Corporation located in California designs and manufactures pumps which use
Tesla pump. The company founder Max Gurth experimented with the Tesla pump design in 1970
to make it more efficient and useful as a pump. He found that widening the blades from Teslas
design allowed more fluid into the pump and increased efficiency. These pumps are used in an
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extremely wide range of applications with great success. DiscFlos patented pumps have
exceeded in many situations where other more commonly used pumps have failed. The pumps
have had great success in situations where the fluid being pumped needs to be laminar, the fluid
is abrasive, contains live organisms, is highly viscous, is air entrained, or has suspended solids in
it[4]. These applications are commonly found in the oil and petrochemical, municipalwater/wastewater, food and beverage, and steel manufacturing industries. Figure 6 shows the
basic design of a majority of these pumps. The pumps consist of a Tesla Turbine with more
widely spaced disks, which has been integrated into the housing of the motor. Depending on the
application of the pump and the torque requirements, the motor is either electric or gas powered.
The Tesla pumps pull fluid into the pump from a pipe mounted to the chamber perpendicular to
the disks. The disks then have holes in their centers to allow the fluid to travel through the
chamber. The flow leaves the chamber through a pipe fitted tangentially to the disks. This
arrangement provides a laminar flow.
Figure 6: Diagram of a DiscFlo Pump [4]
Pharmaceutical Co/ESI Technologies in Ireland needed to pump a crystal slurry in their
pharmaceutical manufacturing process. The crystals suspended in the slurry were extremely
susceptible to shear stress and needed to be pumped in a very smooth laminar fashion. The plant
originally used a progressive cavity pump and a centrifuge that caused severe pressure changes
and damages to the crystals in the fluid. DiscFlos pumps were able to produce a laminar flow
that did not destroy the crystals during pumping. To further eliminate shear stress caused by the
Tesla Turbine the disks were fabricated out of highly polished and smoothed stainless steel, and
the motor chosen was able to precisely control and adjust the speed of the disks[4].
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Harbor Branch in Florida uses DiscFlo pump to pump sea water without damaging the
live organisms in it. The pump is being used specifically by the Bio-Fence system from Applied
Photosynthetics to pump water containing algae. Some of the species of algae would be damaged
by a standard impellor or cavity pump. The Tesla pump however is able to pump the live
organisms without damaging them [4].In this particular situation the disks in the pump weremade from delrin to avoid corrosion over long periods of time in the pump.
Allegheny Ludlum is a steelmaker in Pennsylvania. The company uses DiscFlo pumps
because of their ability to pump extremely abrasive fluids. The plant initially used end suction
pumps to pump the fluid. These pumps however failed an average of 4 times a year. The plant
installed DiscFlo pumps and immediately solved their problems. The fluid being pumped in the
plant is hydrofluoric/nitric acid at 1800F. The fluid also contains ceramic brick particles a half
inch in diameter [4]. The simple design of the Tesla Pump allowed the disks being used to be
manufactured out of a ceramic material which could withstand the corrosiveness of the acids.
The spacing between the disks also allows particles to travel freely through the disks and
chambers without being caught or causing any damage.
Figure 7: Photograph of DiscFlo pump in use [4]
The University of Otago in New Zealand designed and built a flume on the Otago
campus. The flume was primarily designed for the schools athletic program. It was designed to
circulate water at the pace of a swimmer, giving it a range of .6 to 10 knots, covering novice to
Olympic swimmers. The flume has also been used by canoe and kayak paddlers for workouts.
The overall dimensions of the flume are 21 meters long, 4 meters deep and 4 meters wide; it was
designed to be large enough to perform hydrodynamic testing on the schools surf skis, paddle
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boards and rowing shells [6]. The flow is pulled through the flume by large axial flow pumps and
then pumped to the other end through pipes under the flume. The flume uses guide vanes to
direct and straighten out the flow. To keep the flow laminar the pipes empty into large reservoirs
at the ends of the flume [6]. The flume then gets narrower in the testing section to increase the
velocity.
Figure 8: Diagram of University of Otagos Flume [6]
Figure 9: Photograph of University of Otagos Flume [6]
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Aquabiotech Inc. located in Coaticook, Canada has developed an artificial river system.
This artificial river re-circulates water through a 12 foot testing section. This system was
designed for conducting experiments on marine organisms that would be found in a river
ecosystem. The testing chamber is meant to be filled with specimens and substrates that wouldbe found in a natural environment such as sand and burrowing organisms. The artificial river is a
487 centimeter long rectangular box made of acrylic. The box is 50 centimeters deep and 50
centimeters wide. The testing velocities range from 5 to 50 centimeters per second and is
powered by a 1 horse power pump. The water is pumped through a 12 inch diameter pipe under
the tank and is pumped through a honeycomb block with inch in diameter cells to even out the
flow and prevent fish from swimming into the pump [1]. The tank is also designed to be attached
to a chiller to closely control the temperature of the river and to counteract the addition of heat
from friction and the pump.
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Figure 10: Aquabiotechs Flume [1]
A Florida Tech senior design project led by Brian Biera was started to find a way to
conduct long term experimentation in moving water. The group determined that circulating water
in a circular tank would be the best way to accomplish this. The original design consisted of a
circular tank with a paddlewheel in the center of the tank which spun horizontally, moving water
around the edges of the tank [3]. This design was found through testing to create unsteady flow.
The design was then changed to use a Tesla Pump in place of the paddlewheel. The Tesla Pump
was suspended in the tank by bearings on the lid and bottom of the tank. The tesla pump disks
were 6 feet in diameter, constructed of coated plywood. The thickness of the boundary layer was
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calculated to be 74 mm. From this information the optimal spacing of the disks was determined
to 148mm[3]. Through testing the Tesla Pump was found to create a very laminar and constant
flow over long periods of time. The plywood disks eventually failed under the pressure changes
due to the changing velocities of the water in the tank and were replaced with disks constructed
of a honeycomb core fiberglass composite, holes were also added to the disks which were 63.5mm in diameter and are as close to center as possible in order to equalize pressure [3]. Figure11
shows this tank in its current location outside of Fruehauf, building 427.
Figure 11: Maelstrom
This design uses a 7.5 horsepower motor seen in Figure 12. This motor has successfully
powered this Tesla Pump at speeds of 10 knots without any complications or failures for the past
3 years. A three phase motor with a detachable controller was used so that the revolutions per
minute of the pump could be closely controlled. The three phase motor adjusts its voltage to
maintain the RPM set by the controller. The controller also allows a routine to be programmed
into the motor to allow the water to be gradually brought up to speed.
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Figure 12: Maelstrom Motor
It was also found that the friction in the water caused a good amount of heat buildup so a chiller
was added to the system to counteract this as seen in figure 13.
Figure 13: Maelstrom Chiller
The NARWHALE group is continuing eFlows senior design project. eFlow made
considerable progress in designing and building the flume. This years team will add to, improve,
and expand on eFlows designs. The eFlow team prepared a report, analyzed the flow in their
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design using computer software, and began construction on the tank, the exterior structure which
will hold all of the water.
eFlow prepared and submitted a report detailing their designs and plans for the flume.
This report explained the progression of designs that the group went through in coming up with a
final plan. The group originally thought to propel the water through the test section with a seriesof bilge pumps.
Figure 14: eFlows Bilge Pump Design [10]
This figure shows how the bilge pumps would be positioned at the end of the testing
section to pull water through the flume, where it would then be returned to the other end of the
tank through a pipe under the flume. The bilge pumps had the advantage of being water proof
and easy to maintain. The pumps however would create a turbulent flow and the pipe under the
tank would create eddies as water was re-circulated. This flume was also meant to be deployed
into a body of water such as a pool. It was designed to be small enough to be easily put into and
taken out of a pool, so that the tank didnt need to be filled and drained after each experiment.
This design also avoided the problem of water draining limits. In the state of Florida it is illegal
to dump more than 2000 gallons of freshwater a day, which would be easy to exceed with a large
tank. The small reservoir however would not give the water a long enough period of time tostraighten and smooth out. These draw backs led to the next design which used a larger tank, a
paddlewheel to propel the water and a water column divider to separate the two directions of
flow as seen in figure 15.
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Figure 15: eFlows Paddlewheel Design [10]
This design with a water column divider greatly reduced the problem of eddies forming
due to the constrictions of the pipe and was more laminar than the use of water jets. It used the
curves of the ends of the tank to change the direction of the water without adding turbulence.
This design used a paddlewheel to propel the water in the tank. The paddlewheel would be
placed in one end of the tank and rotate vertically, pulling water from the water column divider
and pushing it into the testing section. The paddlewheel would be relatively easy to construct. It
was planned to be six feet in diameter and made of aluminum sheets that were welded into the
paddlewheel shape as seen in figure 16.
Figure 16: eFlows Paddlewheel [10]
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This design was an improvement on the original design, but the paddlewheel would not
create a constant laminar flow. This paddlewheel design would create pulses and changing
pressure as the paddles passed the opening to the testing section, creating turbulence in the
testing area.
To solve this problem eFlow designed a Tesla Pump. The pump would also rotate
vertically, but instead of using paddles, it would use a series of disks, whose boundary layers
would pull the water along in a very laminar and constant fashion. The Tesla Pump would also
be easy to construct and could use the same materials as the paddlewheel. This design used 6
equally spaced disks connected by a central axle. Through research, eFlow determined that the
pump would also need four support rods running through the disks. Figure 17 shows eFlows
final design for the Tesla Pump [10]. The central axle can be seen in red and the support rods are
shown in green.
Figure 17: eFlows Tesla Pump [10]
The Tesla Pump would be located in the same position as the paddlewheel in the tank and
would pull water in the same direction. The design for the tank changed slightly however. It was
made simpler and easier to fabricate. The tank became box shaped and inserts were designed to
direct the flow as smoothly as in the previous design. eFlows final design can be seen below in
figure 18.
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Figure 18: eFlows Final Design [10]
eFlows report also included an analysis of the flow that would develop in the flume. This
analysis was done using two different softwares, Fluent and Gambit. This software determined
the direction and the velocity of water particles throughout the flume. This software was used to
develop the flow directing inserts to eliminate eddies and keep the flow constant. Figure 19
shows the velocity field that would develop in eFlows final design of the flume.
Figure 19: eFlows Fluent Analysis[10]
The eFlow team, led by Tom Bruger, then started construction of the tank. Tom
completed the fabrication of the tank bottom and walls in the Florida Tech Machine Shop. The
tank was made entirely of aluminum. C channels were used to create a structural frame over
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which aluminum sheets were welded. All welding was done by Mr. Bill Bailey in the machine
shop. Figure 20 shows the completed tank after assembly in the senior design area next to the
machine shop.
Figure 20: Fabricated Tank
eFlow also started construction on the center divider. The group ran out of materials and funding
however before the center divider could be completed. eflow began construction on the frame for
the center divider. The frame was constructed out of c channel and 3 of the 4 sheets of aluminum
have been welded to the top of the center divider. Figure 21 shows the center divider in this state
behind the machine shop.
Figure 21: Fabricated Center Divider
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3.0 Procedures
3.1 Customer Requirements
The first requirement of the flume is that it must produce accurate data during
experimentation. The flume must produce a laminar flow. Any experimentation done in the
flume will not be reliable if the flow is turbulent or if eddies form in the testing section.
Experimentation on submersed objects will also not be able to be done if a velocity gradient
develops through the water column. The flow needs to be closely, accurately and easily
controlled. Model testing and Reynolds similitude depend on accurately scaled free stream
velocities, and will not be accurate if the flow cannot be controlled. Testing will also be difficult
if it takes hours of slowly adjusting the speed of the Tesla Pump and measuring the velocity in
the testing section. The flume will need to have a suitable superstructure to allow testing to be
done in addition to a frame, which can accommodate any additional testing mechanisms that
need to be attached. Lastly scaffolding will be required to support students standing and moving
around on top of the flume during setup and testing.
The second requirement of the flume is that it must be portable. It needs to be able to be
moved without any excessive equipment or difficulty. This means that the flume must be able to
disassembled and reassembled without being damaged. The flume should also be able to driven
on a road in one piece. If testing needs to be done off campus it should be able to fit on a flatbed
truck or trailer. This means that the flume cannot be wider than 8.5 feet or taller than 14 feet as
these are the maximum dimension allowed on roads without special permitting.Finally the flume must be safe to operate. The flume needs to have safety measures to
prevent students from falling into the top of the flume, or having a body part of article of
clothing caught in a moving part. The flume will also need a mechanism to dump the water out
of the tank quickly in the event that a student is sucked in and trapped in the tank.
3.2 Engineering Specifications
As previously explained the flume will consist of 3 main components: the tank, the center
divider, and the Tesla Pump. All of the necessary calculations will be done to demonstrate that
all of the components have been designed to handle any stresses and loadings with an
appropriate factor of safety.
The tank has been entirely constructed from 6061-t6 aluminum. C-channels were welded
together to construct frames for the walls and bottom of the tank, 1/16 inch aluminum sheets
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were then welded over these frames to create a water tight reservoir. Figures 22 and 23 show the
completed tank after assembly
Figure 22: Computer Model of Tank
Figure 23: Tank as Fabricated
The tank will also have glass windows. These windows will be constructed by spacing 2
separate 48 by 30 by one eighth inch thick glass panes by a gap of one quarter inch. This gap will
then be filled with isophthalic resin. This resin greatly improves the strength of the windows
without the cost of a glass alternative such as plexiglass.
Originally the windows were put together using a wooden jig as seen in figure 24.
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Figure 24: Window Jig
This jig consisted of a 2x4 frame along the bottom and sides of the window with a one
half inch groove milled into the center so that the window and resin fit perfectly into the frame.
In addition to the frame, there were also two supporting plates screwed to the front and back of
the frame in order to prevent the glass panes from flexing. These support plates were constructed
of three eighths inch plywood with 2x4 ribs for rigidity.
In order to construct a window first both panes of glass were carefully cleaned, as shown
in figure 25.
Figure 25: Cleaning the Glass
Then quarter inch thick double sided foam tape was placed along the edges of one pane
of glass and the other pane was placed on top, as seen in figure 26.
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Figure 26: Placing Top Pane on Foam Tape
The bottom and side edges of the window were then sealed again using clear packing
tape. The window was then carefully placed in the wooden jig. Isophthalic Resin was mixed and
poured into the gap between the glass panes using a wide funnel until the gap was completely
full to the top edge of the panes of glass. The funnel was rectangular and was made of thin
cardboard taped together with clear packing tape.
Figure 27: Pouring Resin into Window
This method was tried 3 times and all attempts were unsuccessful. The windows
cracked because the hydrostatic pressure caused the glass to crack over any small imperfection in
the jig and the wood that made up the jig. A new method was then adopted after some further
research.
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The second method of creating windows involvedlaying the windows down on a slight
angle instead using a jig. The equation for hydrostatic pressure is depth multiplied by the specific
weight of the fluid. When the window is laid on its side the depth of the resin becomes very
small, causing the hydrostatic pressure becomes almost zero. This results in very little pressure
on the glass.
Figure 28: Refined Window Making Method
A cardboard funnel was made to ease the pouring of the resin in between the panes. It
was found that using three funnels at different locations along the top allowed the resin to be
poured in the window well before it gelled.
Figure 29: Cardboard Funnel
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The window was successfully made without cracking, however, the window was only
filled to three quarters fulldue to lack of resin. This proves the concept of making the windows
without a jig. These windows will be put into place by using 3MTM
Marine Adhesive/Sealant
5200. The 5200 will hold the glass into place in the tank without needing any holes to be drilled
in the glass or the tank for bolts. The 5200 will also act as caulk, sealing the windows to the tank,making them watertight.
The center divider will be constructed the same manner as the tank, it will have a C-
channel frame with aluminum sheets welded to the top and bottom. The center divider will be
bolted to the sides of the tank using half-inch stainless steel bolts, this will improve the rigidity
of the tank under the load of the water pressure. It will prevent the tank from bowing outwards in
the center and potentially damaging the glass windows. The center divider will be placed flush
against the Tesla Pump in the tank and raised 26 inches from the tanksbottom. Depending on
the availability of funding and time, a finger system will be attached to the end of the center
divider. The fingers will be constructed of C-channels and aluminum sheets. They will extend in-
between the disks toward the central shaft in order to completely separate the two directions of
flow. Figure 30 shows the center divider drawing in pro/E and figure 31 shows the divider
(outlined in blue) bolted into the tank.
Figure 30: Computer Drawing of Center Divider
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Figure 31: Computer Model of Center Divider in Tank
The Tesla Pump will be constructed of 6 fiberglass disks with an 8 inch gap between each
disk. These disks will be keyed to a 2-1/4 inch diameter 6061-t6 aluminum shaft. This shaft will
rotate in two stainless steel bearings. These bearings will be held in place by an aluminum frame
that houses the Tesla Pump. A cover will be welded on to protect the motor from being splashed
as seen below in figures 32.
Figure 32: Computer Model of Tesla Pump
Each disk will be made up of 8 foam preforms fiber glassed together and finished in resin
and gelcoat. The preforms were made at Comsys using a mold fabricated out of wood to the
specifications seen in figure 61. The mold is divided into a top half and a bottom half as seen in
figure 33.
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Figure 33: Preform Mold
Each half of the mold is first lined with a precut pattern of two ply cloth. This cloth iscomprised of 45x45 fiberglass cloth that is backed by a tightly woven polyester cloth as seen in
figure 34.
Figure 34: Mold Lined with Fiberglass
The fiberglass cloth is placed against the mold so that it can later absorb resin during the
final construction of the disk. The polyester cloth adheres to the foam inside the preform, this
polyester cloth is very fibrous which allows for a strong bond between the polyester cloth and the
foam and keeps the foam from expanding into the outer layer of fiberglass cloth. After the cloth
is placed in each half of the mold and pressed tightly into the corners as seen in figure 35.
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Figure 35: Lining of Mold with Fiberglass
The bottom half of the mold is filled with a two part closed cell expanding foam.
Comsys system is computer controlled so that the temperature and mixture of each part of the
foam is closely monitored. This system also calculates the exact amount of foam required to fill
each mold and meters out that amount so that the technician cannot overfill or under fill the mold
as seen in figure 36.
Figure 36: Injection of Foam into Mold
Once the bottom half of the mold has been filled with foam the top half is quickly moved
into place and clamped down tightly onto the bottom half as seen in figures 37 and 38.
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Figure 37: Closing of the Mold
Figure 38: Allowing Foam to Cure
The foam expands and sets up within 10 minutes. Once the foam is cured, the mold is
unclamped and the preform is removed from the mold as seen in figure 39. The next preform can
then be made.
Figure 39: Finished Preform in Mold
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In order to combine all the pieces into one disk, the sides of the preform have to be
wetted out and joined together with a piece of fabric in between them. A mount is made to hold
the pie pieces into place; this will not only make sure the pie pieces are in the right spot but will
also help to make it easier to flip the disk during the fiberglass phase.
Figure 40: Wooden Mount for Telsa Disks
The entire disk will be squeezed together by placing a ratchet strap around the outer edge
of the disk and tightening. This will allow for all the pieces to move into its proper place and also
allow for the hole in the middle to be a perfect circle.
Figure 41: Tightening the Ratchet Strap
All the joints need to be sanded flush with the disk in order for the next layers of fabric to
lay flat and keep the curvature of the disk. A DA sander should be used with a coarse grit to
remove excess fiberglass from the joints. Proper safety equipment should be worn at all times.
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Figure 42: Sanding Joints
The surface of the disk is then wetted out and fiberglass, in strips of 72 inches long and
22 inches wide, is wetted out and placed in across the disk. The disk is then flipped and the
process is repeated. This whole process is repeated, rotating the disk, until the entire disk is
covered. The disk is then perfected by filling the low spats with Bondo. Using a long aluminum
rod, Bondo is spread evenly around the disk making a perfectly smooth and consistent surface,
filling any holes that might cause the disk to wobble.
Figure 43: Smoothing the surface of the disk
The entire disk is then spray painted, this will show where the low spots on the surface of
the disk are. This is accomplished by sanding after the paint is dry leaving the only paint in the
low spots. Once this is accomplished it can be concluded that the surface of the disk is as perfect
it can be, yielding a conclusion that there will be no wobble during operation.
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Figure 44: Disk after being Spray Painted
Once the first disk was completed, a flange made of plywood pieces was attached to theedge of the disk along the entire circumference. The plywood pieces were hot glued into place.
Figure 45: Gluing the Flange to the Disk
The wooden flange was then covered in packing tape. One of the sides was then covered
with mold release wax. 7 coats of mold release wax were applied, by covering the disk in wax,
waiting 5 to 10 minutes and then removing the wax and waiting 30 minutes between coats.
Once the disk was thoroughly waxed, gel coat was sprayed even on in a .24 linear
mils thick layer.
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Figure 46: Spraying Gel Coat on the Disk
After the gel coat started to cure, the disk was coated in resin and a layer of mat
fiberglass was laid down. Once the resin hardens, 3 more layers of fiberglass are added one at a
time, with the second being another layer of mat and the final two layers being normal cloth.
Figure 47: Layering fiberglass cloth on the disk
Once the disk has 4 layers of fiberglass on it, preform beams are then resined on to
provide structural support. The joints of the beams are covered with strips of fiberglass to help
prevent hinging.
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Figure 48: Finished Mold on Disk
After all of the resin hardened completely, the mold was popped off the disk. The disk
was then repaired any place the Bondo was chipped and the entire process was then repeated to
make a second mold. Any excess fiberglass was cut off around the flange and the molds were
then wet sanded and buffed to a high shine.
Figure 49: Removing Excess Fiberglass
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Figure 50: Buffing the Disk
The molds can now be used to make disks in 1-2 days versus hand lay-up which takes 5-7
days. Although the molds will save a lot of time and ensure better looking disks, making each
one will still be a multistep process. First, the molds need to be coated with 7 layers of mold
release wax then coated in a layer of gel coat 24 mils thick. Next, layers of fiberglass cloth will
be wetted out with resin and laid over the length of each mold so that the cloth fans out just
barely overlapping on the outer edge of the mold and completely overlapping in the center of the
mold. Next, each preform is wet out with resin and one strip of resined cloth is placed in between
each preform. The preforms are arranged in one half of the mold and the other half of the mold is
placed on top and the flanges are clamped down. The disk is let cure for 8-12 hours. The disk is
then popped out of the mold and it is repeated for the other disks.
There will be a 23.5 horse power, three phase motor bolted to the top of this frame. The
frame will have a splash guard between the motor and the pump disks and a housing over the
motor to ensure that all of the electronic components stay dry. The motor will be connected to
the shaft of the Tesla Pump by a chain drive and sprockets.
The method for attaching the disks to the axle is by using two flanges, placed on both
sides of the disk. Welding a quarter inch pipe to a quarter inch thick plate makes these flanges.
The plate has four holes drilled through allowing for four bolts to go through the flange, into the
disk, and securing to the flange on the other side. On the shaft of each flange are two holes for
setscrews, this allows for the flange to be secured to the axle, preventing the disk from moving
laterally and preventing the disk from slipping as the shaft spins.
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Figure 51: Flange to Connect Disk to Shaft
A three phase electric motor was donated to the NARWHALEs team by the waves lab. It
is a 23.5 horse power three phase motor. The motor can be seen in figure 54. Because it is a three
phase motor, it can be connected to a controller and a computer. The controller can also be seen
in figure 54. This controller takes input from an operator and controls the ameprage and voltage
being sent to the motor to presicely control the revolutions per minute of the shaft. This will
allow the speed of the water in the flume to be closely controlled.
Figure 52: Motor and its ControllerTo connect the motor to the shaft and disks, a chain drive and sprockets will be used. The
sprockets will allow a gearing ratio to be set up between the motor and the disk shaft. This is
important because the fan of the motor runs directly off of the shaft of the motor and needs to
spin at 1500 rpms. Using a small sprocket on the motor and a large sprocket on the shaft the
motor will spin faster than the disks. This will allow the flume to be run at low speeds without
over heating the motor. Figure 55 shows a chain drive used to create a gearing ratio on the
electric motor that drives the wave generator in the wave tank.
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Figure 53: Example of a Chain Drive System
In order to use a chain drive a motor mount needs to be constructed that can tension the
chain. The motor being used is meant to be a vertical motor and has its bolt pattern on the face of
the motor. The motor was origionally bolted to a steel plate that allows it to be held horizontally
by the post in the waves lab. This plate will be used with the motor mount to suspend the motor
between two beams. The motor mount was constructed of two aluminum plates welded to
eachother at a right angle. One plate has slots milled into it that match the bolt pattern of the
motor and will allow it to slide to tension the chain. The other plate has 4 tapped wholes through
wich bolts are inserted and turned to lift the steel plate bolted to the motor. This will raise the
motor through the slots and tension the chain while keeping the motor supported and aligned.
Figure 54: Motor Mount
To protect the motor from weather we had to build a motor housing. The housing is
constructed with a 2 x 4 frame with 1 x 4 slates. The slates allow air flow when the motor fan
turns on yet protects it from rain. The housing will rest on C channels around the motor. It was
designed so a door can be opened and the housing can slide back to allow full access to the
motor for easy inspection and maintenance.
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Figure 55: Construction of Motor Housing Sides
Figure 56: Motor Housing Under Construction
Figure 58 shows the flume as it will look when it is completed and assembled, with the
exception of the motor and its housing. The center divider is in place to separate the flow and the
Tesla pump is in the cage at the one end to circulate the water.
Figure 57: Final Assembly
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The Flume is located on a concrete slab behind the Link building. This location has easy
access to water and electrical hook ups. There will be enough room around the flume to safely
operate without constrictions. This location also provides a fence to protect the flume from being
damaged by foreign objects. The road, seen below in figure 59, will provide easy access for
models to be tested as well as enabling the flume to be moved as needed.
Figure 58: Final Location
3.3 Function Decomposition of Structure
The tank is 25 feet long over all, 8 feet wide and 8 feet tall. These dimensions were
chosen to allow it to be easily transported on a road. The c-channels that make up the frame all
have the same cross section. They have a web of 4 inches by 5/16 inches and flanges of 1
inches by 5/16 inches. Figure 59 is a drawing generated in Pro/E that shows all of the spacing
between the C-channels and the overall dimensions of the tank. These dimensions are not exactly
the dimensions that the eFlow team designed, but are what eFlow has actually fabricated. After
construction was finished, measurements were taken to be able to accurately draw the tank and
design the systems that have yet to be placed inside it. All dimensions are in inches.
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Figure 59: Final Drawing of Tank
The center divider has two aluminum angles that run the length of the center divider. The
flanges are 3 inches wide and 5/16 inches thick. C-channels were then welded to the bottoms of
these angles. Two differently sized C-channels were used. The larger has a web of 4 inches and
flanges of 2 inches, and the smaller C-channel has a web of 2 1/8 inches and flanges of 1
inches. Figure 60shows the dimensions of the center divider and the locations of each C-channel.
All dimensions are in inches.
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Figure 60: Final Drawing of Center Divider
Each Tesla disk will be 6 inches in diameter with a 3 inch hole in the center for the
central shaft to fit through. The disks will be keyed to the shaft. The disks will be 6 inches thick
in the center and will taper down to 2 inches think at the edge. This shape was chosen to give the
disks a higher modulus of inertia at the center where the bending moment and stress will be the
highest. The figure61 below shows the dimensions of the Tesla pump disks.
Figure 61: Drawing of one Disk
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4.0 Results
As seen below we have carefully calculated the pressure on the disks, the size of motor we
need, diameter of the axle, pressure on the windows, how much resin and adhesive we need for
the windows, and the boundary layer.
Pressure on a Disk
Motor Size Needed
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Diameter of Axle
Pressure on the Windows
M=3895
Tensile strength of glass = 467MPa
With a SF of 10
Resin needed for the windows
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Two plate glass sides
With an of resin in between
( )
Adhesive needed for the windows
( )
Boundary Layer
Total Allowable Load in Motor Mount Beams
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5.0 ConclusionThe NARWHALE flume has been designed to test ship models and underwater vehicles
as accurately as possible. It has been designed to re-circulate water to create a laminar flow in the
test section. This will allow testing throughout the length of the test section and at different
depths in the water column. The flume will be portable so that it can be moved at any time if
necessary. The Tesla Pump and tank that have been designed meet all of the engineering
requirements and specifications. It has been designed with appropriate factors of safety and will
be able to withstand the forces and stresses that develop in the individual members of the flume.
The flume will be a major asset to DMES and Florida Institute of Technology as a whole. The
flume has the potential to improve research and academics in many fields and majors.
6.0 Recommendations
The NARWHALE group recommends that the flume project be continued next year. To
help correctly channel the flow and reduce turbulence, a flow return should be constructed and
placed at the opposite end of the tank from the pump. The flow return should be a sheet of
aluminum welded into a curve to change the direction of the water gradually and smoothly.
There will be much design work and engineering to be done after the flume has been built. The
flow through the flume will need be experimented on and fine-tuned to ensure the most accurate
results. It will need to be tested throughout the tank to see if eddies or velocity gradients form.
While computer programs such as Fluent are a great tool in designing, they cannot be expected
to be perfectly accurate in practice, as there are too many factors to take into account.
Testing apparatuses and scaffolding will also need to be constructed to accommodate
experiments and students. As the flume begins to be used in research improvements needing to
be made may become evident in different areas and systems. Brackets for instrumentation could
be constructed. For instance, the slides required for mounting wave gauges could be installed to
allow the monitoring of the free surface elevation possible during testing. A platform could be
built over the top of the flume to accommodate moving models in and out of the flume and
prevent people or debris from falling into the tank. The flume is currently 8 feet tall. This will
make simply lifting test subjects over the side and placing them in the water very difficult.
Finally improvements to the design will undoubtedly be made in the future, as more
funding becomes available to future senior design teams. The sheer size of the flume and the
materials that it is constructed of make building the flume more expensive and time consuming
than many other senior design projects on campus.
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Appendixes
A -- References:
[1].AquaBioLab, AquaBioTechInc, Apr. 2011. [Online]. Available:
http://www.aquabiolab.com/en/products/flumes_systems/benthicflume.shtml, [Accessed: Apr. 8,
2012].
[2] B Munson.Fundamentals of Fluid Mechanics. 6th ed. U.K.: John Wiley and Sons, 2010.
[3] C Cawood, NewMethod for the Hydrodynamic Evaluation of Ship Hull Coatings. M.S.
Dissertation, Department of Marine and Environmental Systems, Florida Inst. of Technology,
Melbourne, Fl, 2009.
[4] DiscFlo Disc Pumps. DiscFlo Corporation. 2011[Online]. Available:
http://www.discflo.com/, [Accessed: 10 April. 2012].
[5] F Beer et. al. Mechanics Of Materials. 6thed. NY: McGraw-Hill, 2012
[6] Flume. Department of Physical Education, University of Otago, New Zealand. [Online].
Available: http://physed.otago.ac.nz/about/virtual.html, [Accessed: Apr 12, 2012].
[7] J Nelka. Evaluation of a Rotating Disk Apparatus: Drag of a Disk Rotating in a Viscous
Fluid. Naval Ship Research and Development, 1973.
[8] Nikola Tesla Disk Turbine Pump. RexResearch.[Online]. Available:
http://www.rexresearch.com/teslatur/teslatur.htm, [Accessed: Apr. 10, 2012]
[9] N Tesla, Tesla Turbine, U.S. Patent 1 061 206, Jan. 17, 1911.[10] T Bruger et al, eFlow Final Report, Florida Institute of Technology: Melbourne, FL,
2011.
[11] T Clayton et. al. Engineering Fluid Mechanics. Massachussettes: John Wiley and Sons,
2001.
BResources
Machine Shop Equipment
Bill Bailey
Jim Hayes
Greg Peebles
Dr. Ronald Reichard
Dr. Stephen Wood
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Dr. Steven Jachec
Dr. Robert Weaver
Dr. Geoffrey Swain
Bill Battin
C -- Safety Plan
Hazard Analysis
Material Description
When working on the center divider we will need to weargloves to prevent cutting our
hands while handling the sheets of aluminum. When Bill is welding the aluminum sheets to thecenter divider frame he will need to wear a face mask and gloves for protection. We will need to
wear safety goggles when drilling holes in the aluminum frame to prevent aluminum chip fromflying into our eyes.
When making the windows we will need a well-ventilated area or respirators while
pouring resin into the glass pans supported by a jig. We will also need gloves when handling theglass windows to prevent cutting our hands.
The Tesla Pump will be powered by a 23.5 horsepower electric motor. The motor will sit
above the Tesla wheel on a platform on top of the flume frame. We will consult with Jim Hayes amaster electrician about the best placement and type of motor for our flume. The motor will run a
gear connected to another gear by a chain which will spin the tesla wheel shaft. Possibly hazards
include the pulley breaking, electric shock, or fire. The moving pulley could grab foreign objectsor people causing damage or injury. Water and grease mixing could cause environmental hazardsor health risks if drained improperly.
When working on the Tesla Pump we will be dealing with objects getting stuck in thedisks as it rotates. When constructing the disks we will be handling resin and fiber glass cloth. To
protect ourselves we will work in a well-ventilated area or wear respirators. We will be wearing
gloves to protect our hands from the hazardous materials.
Environmental Impact Analysis
Waste must be disposed of in accordance with federal, state and local environmentalcontrol regulations. Please see attached MSDS sheets for each material listed below.
Aluminum
MSDS: http://www.sciencelab.com/xMSDS-Aluminum-9922844
Water
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MSDS: http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9927321
3M Adhesive 5200
MSDS: http://www.shopmaninc.com/pdf/adhesives/3m5200.pdf
Glass
MSDS:https://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/3864.pdf
E Glass
MSDS:http://www.advanced-plastics.com/msds/F05_090611.pdf
Polyvinyl alcohol
MSDS:http://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/polyvinyl_alcohol.htm
Gel Coat
MSDS:http://www.nacomposites.com/literature/msds.html
Resin VE8123 Corezyn
MSDS:
http://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDF
Hi-Point 90 Catalyst
MSDS:www.foamez.com/pdfs/MEKMSDS.pdf
Isophthalic Resin
MSDS:http://www.fibglass.com/pdfs/msds/aropol%20m7392%20iso.pdf
Bondo
MSDS: http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/pdfs/MSDS/bondo/272.pdf
Human Safety Analysis
Personal Protection Equipment
Several types of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) will be used in this project. The first
and most obvious PPEs are the use of safety glasses and closed toe shoes. While using drills or
saws, safety glasses are a must to protect the eyes from any small pieces that may fly up whiledrilling or sawing materials. Also, closed toe shoes must be worn at all times when dealing with
heavy materials that could crush or cut ones toes. Next, gloves and safety masks for welding must
https://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/3864.pdfhttps://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/3864.pdfhttps://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/3864.pdfhttp://www.advanced-plastics.com/msds/F05_090611.pdfhttp://www.advanced-plastics.com/msds/F05_090611.pdfhttp://www.advanced-plastics.com/msds/F05_090611.pdfhttp://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/polyvinyl_alcohol.htmhttp://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/polyvinyl_alcohol.htmhttp://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/polyvinyl_alcohol.htmhttp://www.nacomposites.com/literature/msds.htmlhttp://www.nacomposites.com/literature/msds.htmlhttp://www.nacomposites.com/literature/msds.htmlhttp://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDFhttp://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDFhttp://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDFhttp://www.foamez.com/pdfs/MEKMSDS.pdfhttp://www.foamez.com/pdfs/MEKMSDS.pdfhttp://www.foamez.com/pdfs/MEKMSDS.pdfhttp://www.fibglass.com/pdfs/msds/aropol%20m7392%20iso.pdfhttp://www.fibglass.com/pdfs/msds/aropol%20m7392%20iso.pdfhttp://www.fibglass.com/pdfs/msds/aropol%20m7392%20iso.pdfhttp://www.fibglass.com/pdfs/msds/aropol%20m7392%20iso.pdfhttp://www.foamez.com/pdfs/MEKMSDS.pdfhttp://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDFhttp://www.plasticmaterials.net/msds/resin2_msds/789-7775%20VINYL%20ESTER%20RESIN.PDFhttp://www.nacomposites.com/literature/msds.htmlhttp://avogadro.chem.iastate.edu/MSDS/polyvinyl_alcohol.htmhttp://www.advanced-plastics.com/msds/F05_090611.pdfhttps://www2.itap.purdue.edu/msds/docs/3864.pdf7/29/2019 Flume Final Report 2012
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be at hand. While welding, it is vital that one wears the proper gloves and mask in order to not get
burnt or blinded from the welder respectively. Following that, a respirator must be worn whileusing materials that have harmful chemicals such as paints or marine grade coatings that prevent
corrosion.
General Work Safety
Any team member working on the project will be machine shop certified. This will ensure that theworking environment is safe and that each member conforms to the safety regulations set forth by
the machine shop. This will ensure the teams safety and success.
Anytime a member is in the machine shop or working on the project, the member will wear the
appropriate protection equipment as required by the MSDS sheet per material.
To comply with the
above regulation, each team member will wear respirators when the MSDS sheet requires. Safetyglasses will be worn at all times to protect the eyes.