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Our goal this semester is to continue improving the ram pump's design and to establish guidelines for optimization. We will be focused on designing a method of containment, attempting at scaling the entire system, and stabilizing the pump. We will conduct experiments to test the effect of the order of components, weights used, size of air chamber, and long-term runs on the efficiency of the system (based on flow rate, pressure, head loss, etc.). Our overlying goal is to establish a close-to-final design of ram pump.
Spring 2014 End of Semester Contributions
Foam Filtration
Even though we weren't able to conduct any tests using the "new" drum, as a whole, the end of the semester brings great results where we manage to accomplish our semester goals. We have finalized calculations/ ordered parts for the chemical dose controller, designed/ put together the pulley system, found compression material (plate) that we feel is feasible, and welded the side drain onto the drum. We were also able to conduct tests to further expand our knowledge of the foam filter, a compression-velocity test and a foam decompression test, the latter of which demonstrated the de-compressibility of foam, whose diameter was 0.75 inch too big for the drum.
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