Overall Data Analyses and Conclusions

Data from the lab prototype and robust CD designs collected in the Fall 2008 experiments here and here were analyzed. Both lab set ups used the same FC so the doser tubing lengths were the same, making analysis simpler.

All data was corrected in MathCAD so that float heights and lever arm positions were converted into chem doser heights at each position out from the pivot. The chem doser height is actually the change in height downward from the zero level, which corresponds to the driving head on the system being applied by the moving lever arm. This was then plotted on a graph to show the relationship between doser height and outflow measured, which can be seen below.

The data fall along a nearly-linear path with a spread of about 0.2 mL/sec that appears to fall off around 1.1 mL/sec outflow. There is relatively little data collected at the heigher flowrates, though, so this conclusion is not very concrete. It is important to note that the data clusters very strongly around the theoretical performance for the system using head loss equations for both major and minor losses in the FC outflow tubing (graphed as the dashed line).

To make sure that the system was tested in the laminar flow range, the following Reynold's Number analysis was performed. As can be seen in the graph, the system should not have approached the turbulent transition during testing with head losses of 0-20 cm.

The MathCAD program (CDFall08LeverT) used to analyze this data can be found attached here.