ENGR
103 - Spring 2013
Freshman
Engineering Design Lab
“Rainwater
Catchment/Irrigation System for Greenhouse”
Project
Design Proposal
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Date
Submitted:
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April
24, 2013
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Submitted to:
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Alexander Moseson, AlexMoseson@drexel.edu
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Group
Members
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Dustin Brandl, dab382@drexel.edu
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Matthew Prokop, mtp56@drexel.edu
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Danielle Schroeder, des89@drexel.edu
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Marisa Somich, mts93@drexel.edu
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Daniel Bowman, dtb49@drexel.edu
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Abstract:
The project is a rainwater catchment/irrigation
system for the new greenhouse to be installed at the Walnut Hill
Farm. The farm is to be equipped with a new, solar-powered greenhouse
in the next few weeks. The objective of the project is to design and
construct a working irrigation system for the new greenhouse. Currently,
there is no easy, reliable method for workers to water the produce inside
the greenhouse. Constructing a rainwater collection and irrigation system
for a greenhouse which is not yet built poses the main challenge for the
team. The remaining needs and challenges facing the team are few: Design a
system that is independent of outside resources such as water, power,
maintenance and operation that will last for a long period of time before
needing to be upgraded or replaced. Ideally, if time allows, the system
will be ready for installation once the greenhouse is completed.
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1 Mission Statement
The mission is to design and construct a rainwater catchment and irrigation system for the new greenhouse at Walnut Hill Farm. The system must be easily maintained and operated, and will successfully irrigate the crops inside the greenhouse while using only renewable energy.
2 Introduction
The planned project is to design a sustainable rainwater catchment and irrigation system, and the project poses a number of tasks and technical challenges. The first major task is to research rainwater catchment and irrigation systems to establish a solid foundation on the matter. This ensures a working knowledge of
the subject to better understand the wishes of the client and the design of
such a system. The second major task is to design an
appropriate system for the client. The client has a specific set of parameters
that must be followed. Close contact and frequent communication with the client
will be necessary to design a system to her specifications. The final major
task may be to install the system for the client; however, this will only be
possible if the budget allows. Also, it will depend on the construction of the
greenhouse because it will need to be completed to install the system.
The major
technical challenge is the design system. Designing the system will require
drafting expertise, so CAD programs such as Creo will prove useful. One major
challenge will be designing the system so that it works without power or runs
off of a built-in power supply. The ideal situation is designing a system that
uses gravity to move the water through the system. Alternatively, the system
could be outfitted with a power source that works off the power grid. The
system will need to be tested, so knowledge of how to simulate the system is
needed. If the opportunity to install the system arises, it will require a more
practical set of technical skills such as expertise with tools.
The desired
outcome is that the rainwater catchment system will collect enough rainwater
efficiently enough to irrigate a small greenhouse. Also, the system will need
to store enough water to last a reasonable amount of time without rain. The
system must be sustainable so that it does not draw from the power grid.
3 Market Study
3.1
Stakeholders and Needs
- Allison
Blansfield Stakeholder 1
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Stake: Farm Manager
and will regularly use the system
o
Need 1 Priority 1, P:
Performance: able to collect and store rainwater
o
Need 2 Priority 1, P:
Performance: able to water the crops in the greenhouse
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Need 3 Priority 1, P:
Planet: must use renewable energy resources
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Need 4 Priority 2, P:
Performance: must be easily maintained and operated
·
Other Farm workers
Stakeholder 2
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Stake: will use the
system regularly
- Need 1 Priority 1, P:
Performance: able to collect and store rainwater
- Need 2 Priority 1, P:
Performance: able to water the crops in the greenhouse
- Need 3 Priority 1, P:
Planet: must use renewable energy resources
- Need 4 Priority 2, P:
Performance must be easily maintained and operated
- Local Restaurants
Stakeholder 3
- Stake: will purchase
product of the system
- Need 1 Priority 2, P:
People/Prosperity: must aid in producing healthy microgreens
- Engineering 103 Team 2
Stakeholder 4
- Stake: designing and
constructing this system
- Need 1 Priority 3, P:
People completion of the course requirements
- Need 2 Priority 3, P:
People Maintain Drexel’s image outside of the university
3.2
Specifications
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Specification
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Stakeholder(s)
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Need
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Units
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Ideal
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Marginal
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Allison Blansfield
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Able to collect and store rainwater
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Volume of rain water
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100 gallons of water
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60 gallons of water
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Weekly maintenance of greenhouse hours
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Hours
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.5
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1
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Able to water the crops in the greenhouse
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Automatic sprinkler system
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manual sprinkler system
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Clean water for quality microgreens
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pH level
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7.0
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7.0 +/- .5
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Expected time of failure
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Years
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10
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5
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Low cost
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Dollars
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$ 200 – 300
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> $500
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Must use renewable energy resources
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Local Restaurants
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Will purchase product of the system
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Engineering 103 Team 2
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People completion of the course requirements
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4
Deliverables
Using the research gathered from various
present irrigation systems, the team will construct a computer model of a
modified irrigation system computer model using Creo parametric(c). After the
model is competed on Creo, an addition program will be used to test the
performance of the irrigation system design.
If such a program does not exist, a rudimentary prototype will be
constructed in order to test the design. After both the computer model is
complete and is tested to ensure its efficiency, a physical prototype will be
created scaled down to approximately a fourth of the intended size using any
materials available to test the mechanics of the irrigation system. If time and
budget allow and efficiency of the prototype is ensured, this prototype will be
implemented at Walnut Hill Farm.
5
Technical Activities
1. Designing
the System
The system will
have to meet the specifications of the client. To aid in this, CAD software
such as Creo will be utilized to design the components of the system. Testing
the system before possible installation poses a major technical challenge.
Unless a program is found that can accurately model the system, testing will
have to be done by hand. This will require finding or formulating the proper
equations to model the system. The biggest technical challenge of designing the
system will be making it sustainable. This will greatly limit the methods used
to design and construct the system. Everything will have to be environmentally
friendly and not draw from the power grid. Sustainability can be achieved two
ways: by making the system work without power or by giving it something like a
solar panel or wind turbine to generate its own power.
2. Installing the System
If the
opportunity to install the system arises, it will pose a second major task and
set of technical challenges, albeit of a different nature. While designing the
system requires more theory based expertise, installing the system would
require more practical based expertise. The biggest technical challenge would
be installing the system properly. Skills with tools would be necessary to
properly build and install the system.
Project Timeline
As of yet the design possibilities have been discussed, however, the team
does not yet know what the specifics of the project constrain. This is the
reason why research and development lasts into week five to allow for
fundamental modification to systems yet to be applied with constraints. The
team plans on starting drafting designs for the system and testing materials
week four. This will continue until late into the term to yet again allow for
changes and alteration that van be made before implementation.
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Project
Timeline
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Week
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Task
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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Research and Development
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Mechanical design
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Electrical design
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x
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x
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x
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x
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System integration
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x
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x
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x
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Prototyping and Testing
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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x
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Final report preparation
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x
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x
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x
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6
Facilities and Resources
To aid in the
completion of the project, a variety of resources are available, such as the
usage of machine shop tools and research space. The particular needs to build a
rainwater catchment and irrigation system include different types of metal to
construct the system along with the tools to hold it together, whether it is by
welding or some other form has not yet been discussed. For the project in
general, the use of machine shop tools may be valuable for the group to aid in
the construction of the system since there are hopes for the system to actually
be built so Walnut Hill could successfully use it. Other than the materials to
actually construct the rainwater catchment and irrigation system, no other
materials should be needed.
7
Expertise
Regarding the
rainwater catchment and irrigation system, specialized skills the members need
to have include: knowledge of machine tools along with knowledge about
irrigation systems in order to build an efficient system for Walnut Hill to use
and to be able to handle by themselves. The use of machine tools is important
to construct the physical system. If expertise was not proficient in the area,
then the system would not be properly built and may not last as long as
intended for and may also not properly do its job. Knowledge about irrigation
systems is important in designing and building the system for the farm. Without
proper knowledge on the mechanisms behind building the systems, a working
rainwater catchment and irrigation system would not be built proper.
8
Budget
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Category
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Projected Cost
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Drip Hose Sprinkler System
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$80.00
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Aluminum Trays
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$120.00
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Sump Pump
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$160.00
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Car Battery
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$40.00-140.00
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Plastic Sheeting*
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$60.00
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Plastic Trays**
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$50.00
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Water Storage Tank
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$100.00
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TOTAL
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$500.00-560.00
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TOTAL*
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$240.00
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TOTAL**
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$440.00-540.00
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*Using an elevated system using plastic greenhouse
sheeting will lower the immediate cost to $240.00 by removing the need for a
sump pump and aluminum trays, however this choice will likely lead to a much
more fragile system requiring a recurring need for repair.
**By using plastic trays the design still calls for a sump pump, however will cost less than the aluminum. HOWEVER, the plastic trays are much more prone to deterioration and warping calling for replacement much more often.
**By using plastic trays the design still calls for a sump pump, however will cost less than the aluminum. HOWEVER, the plastic trays are much more prone to deterioration and warping calling for replacement much more often.
Drip
Hose Sprinkler System Kit
The design
will be working off existing drip irrigation systems using basic butterfly
valves to control water flow. The system will be powered, and water thus
dispersed by water pressure provided by the greenhouse’s own water storage
tank.
Aluminum
Trays
Aluminum
trays being sturdy and noncorrosive metals will direct runoff from the
greenhouse into in ground reservoirs to be pumped into the storage tank for
years.
Plastic Trays**
Plastic
trays will serve the same purpose as their aluminum equivalents, however unlike
their aluminum counterparts they are inexpensive, but more prone to UV
deterioration and warping due to heat.
Sump
Pump
The sump
pumps are the key to the first design. They will pump all collected water into
the main storage tank. The current design implements two pumps. There is
however a chance to use a single pump for both reservoirs to potentially cut
the cost in half.
Car
Battery
This will be
the battery used to power the sump pumps. It will be housed in a lock box
inside of the greenhouse if possible or at the base of the water tank.
Depending on the source of the battery it could be used, at a very low cost or
new at a comparably more expensive cost. The battery will then be charged when
needed (every month or so with a vehicle with an alternator).
Storage
Tank
The tank
will be a vertical tank capable of holding 55-105 gallons of water depending of
the needs of water pressure and produce water needs.
Plastic
Sheeting*
By using plastic sheeting, space permitting, the team can design a
basic canopy system that is suspended above the greenhouse that will funnel
rainwater into the storage tank. While this system will be much more inexpensive
to start, it may end up being more expensive since the plastic sheeting will be
quite fragile compared to the other systems. It may also reduce the amount of
sun the plants in the greenhouse receive. (This has yet to be confirmed).
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