User:303428mwatson/enes100/My Work 2.0

| Coanda Effect II

Write problem/project Goal
To learn how to manipulate the Coanda effect such that static ojbects are able to gain lift and/or momentum.

Launch of Project #2
I am drafing designs of possible blades that will be tested in the second project: manipulating the Coanda effect to create an airfraft that is dependent on three types of blades - a turbine blade, a fan blade, and a simple flowblade. Each blade will be powered by an alternative powersource. .

Summary of actual work over second weekend
I began to proceed in the construction of the final design. There were several problems which I encountered; one of them was the fact that I was using duct tape in order to create the blades for the slotwing as well as creating too many slots in the tubing. Both of which may compromise testing in that air may not be able to flow freely around the form of the tube, because of the obstuction of tape.

Closure to Project #1
In order to bring closure to the first part of the Spring 2012 Coanda project, I am finally constructing the bits and peices of the Coanda vehicle. It has taken a considerably long time to achieve progress at this point, but completion (as well as trial and error testing) is projected to be within two weeks, or four class meetings from today (3/22).

So far, I was able to form the slotted tubes, which I accomplished by taking specific and accurate measurements and using pink tape to guide the areas which I wanted cut our of the tubes. In order to gain a precise measurement of the length of the tubing I had to use a straightedge, document the total length of the tubing and placed pink tape along the narrow field of which I intended to make the incisions. (see figure #1)

First, I knew that this one large tubing with preliminary markers had to be cut in half. It was very imperative that I made the incisions in the tubing along the respected measurements and influence lines so the the tube is not bent of crushed the process of constructing the design. At first, there was a minor mismeasurement in the lengths of the two tubes, so I quickly dealt with that by using the buzzsaw to shed the extra 4-5 mm. from the end of the tube. I used a buzzsaw in order to cut out the very thin slots on the tube.

After I completed the construction of the tubings, I began to work on the wheeled platform. I found a peice of cut wooden board, and began to make lines of influecne on them because I wanted to affix roller wheels to the bottom of the board. Due to previous experiences making wheeled platforms, I learned that if the wheels are not aligned with eachother, the platform of which you are affixing them will not move, or will move with resistance. So, it took careful measurement with a straightedge to mark exactly where the wheels are most appropriate to be on the platform. The completed design is shown above, however, in the process of constructing the platform, it was very helpful to use the pink tape in marking approriate spots.

Instead of naling the wheels to the bottom of the wood, I used Epoxy Resin, a strong glue used for wood materials, to affix them to the platform. It took a while because Epoxy Resin takes a long time to dry; however, I tended to expidite this process by duct taping the wheels down around all sides so that the glue between the platform and the wheels are able to dry. Below is a snapsot of the bottom of the platform without the influence lines. When the wheels were fully dried, I decided to test the platform. It worked smoothly. At this point there is the welding of the angular blades which I will be used to direct the flow of air out of the tubes. Since I was not privy to the fact that "soldering" is made for electronics and wiring purposes, multiple solutions to getting the blades constructed are 1) taking the blades to Lowe's and having them welded and 2) having them bent with a bending machine. I believe that it would behoove me more to take the blades to Lowe's to have them professionally welded according to my sketches. It would be prudent to try and have them bent, and the metal warps, and can't fulfill its function

I was able to bend the metal blades. I used the clamping machine to cold together the edges of the blades, and bent them fowards as much as possible until a "curve" was achieved. When I got around to testing the effeciency of the curved blades, they apparently worked very wil in manipulating air flow around the tube. This video, a string was able to almost curve wholly around the form of the tube. From this testing, it can be concluded that the dynamic flow of air is sufficient; now there is the problem with the power supply. The power supply is not strong enough to emit a force full stream of air, so were are launching a second testing trial. I believe that since the air pump was not powerful enough, even at maximum voltage (12 volts, because the volt standard on the air pump was 6 volts), there needs to be efficient, alternate wind supply that will create a stronger flow of air. We found two smaller fans that would be ideal for producing a strong enough current of air. Adam is going to hook up these small fans (perhaps CPU fans; look on Adam's page for photos) to electric power supplies and test them for wind force; in the mean time, I tested the voltage extent of the inflatable air bed pump, and determined that it could be powered at a maximum 12 volts without overheating and breaking; that alone wasn't even enough to produce an appropriate air flow.

My Third task
Find a suitable power supply for the tail rotor demonstration model. Begin modeling and drafing for third design. We are scrapping our plans for Coanda Project #2 aka "best wing testing" because this Coanda fan project (Project #3) seems much more promising.

Summary of actual work over third weekend
How is what you did different than what you planned?

Week3 Narrative
Throughout spring break, I was unable to complete the remainider of project two because of the lack of strength in the wheeled platform in support of the slotwing tube and air pump. No matter how I attempted to set up the platform, either through a constructed cardboard platform or a block of wood, the entire platform still fall apart even after drying. Secondly, the cardboard stand did not support both slot tubes on the platform. Unfortunately, the Coanda project will not be able to demonstrate the movement of a wheeled platform down a specific path (for now) because I am not able to keep the platform assembled in one price; however, I will able to refocus the second project as a means to demonstrating how the Coanda effect can be used as a vacuum cell of some sort; to be able to pick up objects from a static state.

I really didn't want to give up on this part of the project; however, the tediousness creating the platform took time and trial.

Here were the issues that I encountered that didn't make the project successful as I wanted it to...
 * Epoxy resin sucks. It is too sippery and can not support large weights. I even brought it from the hardware store!
 * The weight of the slotwing tube was too great; but somehow, I managed to counterbalace the weight by taping the air pump to the opposite end of the tube. It worked, but the weak platform, made by the slippery Epoxy resin, made it difficult to mount it. I used more duct tape.

So what am I going to do? I am going to spend my last week evaluating what I can do to conduct the experiments that way I wanted them to be tested, but I will still provide proof of the use of a Coanda tube in the movement of particles from a static state.

Conception of Project #3
While I was watching more Coanda related videos so that the project is more inventive for future students, I happened to stumbled across this video. (Note that in this video, the fan unitilizes a suction pump in the base of the fan that attracts air into its annulus, then ejects it back out by blowing it along the design of the annalus. I was so impressed with the fact that suction is being used in the manipulation of air flow in the Dyson Air Multiplier, just as the inflatable bed air pumps utilize suction, that I created a sketch that can reverse engineer the bed pumps and use the suction mechanism to try and CREATE a power supply through wind force, a la the goals of the wind turbine project. With the little bit of sheet metal, I might be able to make a small scale replica of the Dyson fan, but with a less complex design than the annulus (ring shape).  Below is a possible sketch of what a final design may look like if we continue to pursue this project.

My Fourth task
I am going to futher my plans for project #3 by taking the last bit of sheet metal bending it to the form described in the Dyson air fan, and hooking it up to the air pump, as described in my notebook design. What I hope to achieve is similar to the slot wing; the only difference is that the device will be a mere fan that uses a reverse engineering air pump in order to create a sharp jet fan.

Summary of actual work over fourth weekend
Over the fourth week, I decided that there is nothing more I could possibly do in demonstration of the effect. I plan to move on to another project. I am going to document all of the possible ideas and possibillities for inventions in regards to the Coanda effect, such that future ENES 100 students will be able to emulate to utilize the principles for future pursuit of this project. I, however, and going to be thorough and complete my recreation of the Dyson Air Multiplier.

Week4 Narrative
In efforts to try and wrap up my final coanda project, I began construction of a metal peice that will be bent into a circular frame, such that the mechanic of the Dyson Air Multiplier could be emulated. As before, I am going to use aluminum sheet metal in order to manipulate the physical form of the Air Multiplier, such that the Coanda effect is demonstrated, and the total output of air is increased.


 * Note that this the same aluminum sheet metal used in the construction of the angular blades in the first Coanda project.

Complete Project Page
Follow the "project done" format.