aquas air quality assurance system
DESCRIPTION
AQUAS Air QUality Assurance System. Feasibility. CS 410 Fall 2004. Presentation Objectives. Group Introduction Problem Description & Solution System Components Resources & Estimated Costs Time and Management Methods Anticipated Market and Societal Impacts Mitigation of Key Risks. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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AQUASAir QUality Assurance System
CS 410Fall 2004
Feasibility
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Presentation Objectives
Group Introduction Problem Description & Solution System Components Resources & Estimated Costs Time and Management Methods Anticipated Market and Societal Impacts Mitigation of Key Risks
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Team Members
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Problem Statement
A side effect of newer, energy efficient homes is they are too air-tight and insulated and allow airborne contaminants to build to potentially dangerous levels, yet they lack an integral contaminant detection system to offset this side-effect of energy efficiency
Dirty FilterClean Filter
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Problem Characteristics
• No common way to know when airborne contaminants reach dangerous levels
– Numerous odorless gases– No visual cues
• Unique conditions present:– Do you have pets?– Mold?– Gas appliances?
• Some Health Problems aggravated by “dirty air”:
– Allergies (Pets, Dust, Mold, Tobacco Smoke)
– Spread of airborne diseases (viral/bacterial)• Common Cold, Tuberculosis, Measles,
Staphylococcus– In rare cases, death by asphyxiation:
• Carbon Monoxide, natural gas
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Air QUality Assurance System
Develop a system that alerts a residential consumer when airborne contaminants inside the home reach dangerous levels by continually monitoring and testing the quality of the air entering the central HVAC system.
Solution
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Proposed System Will
Detect a reduction in air flow commonly caused by a dirty air filter
Reduce airborne contaminants that contribute to fungal growth *
Alert consumer when select contaminants reach dangerous levels
As a side benefits, reduce household costs by improving heating and cooling system efficiency
Contribute in maintaining a clean, clear, and safe air environment
* http://www.air-care-filters.com
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Proposed System Will Not
Alert the consumer of HVAC system malfunctions
Function without a power source
Determine the source of the contaminant
Require professional installation
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How a Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning System Works
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System Components
Notification system can be constructed with many off the shelf parts
Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Power Source Mounting Hardware Air Flow Sensor
Pressure Sensor Thin Film sensor
Electronic “nose” Can be configured to detect thousands of types of contaminants
Light Emitting Diode (LED) Typically burn for 10000+ hours.
Wiring To and from sensor and LED
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Resources
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Resources Needed Cost Range
Hardware Components
Programmable Logic Controller ($99-$120)
Power Source Negligible Cost
Mounting Hardware Negligible Cost
Air Flow Sensor? ($28 - $50)
Electronic Nose Currently Unknown
Miscellaneous Components (LED, Wiring, etc)
Negligible Cost
Total Cost Per Unit ($127-$160) + misc items
Overhead Resources
Engineer $67,000/yr
Programmer $67,000/yr
Software Cost (initial software purchase cost) ($1,000-$2,000)
Air Conditioner for Testing ($1000-$5000)
Total Overhead Cost ($69,000-$74,000)
Total Net Cost ($69,127-$74,160)
(Engineer/Programmer)http://www.salary.com(PLC & Ladder Software)http://web1.automationdirect.com/static/full_pl.pdf(LED) http://www.eled.com/product.asp?catalog_name=LEDs&product_id=E1503CB-ID(Sensor)http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html (AC Unit)http://www.alpinehomeair.com(Electronic Nose)http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/logos20-3/smartsensor01.htm
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Conceptual Model
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What we will have to do to complete this goal? Purchase the required components Construct a model, prototype, and working product Test to ensure the final product works as proposed with
various contaminants
We will be able to complete this in the allocated time No time will be spent manufacturing items Items in proposal are readily available Required knowledge is readily accessible Minimal amount of software creation required Majority of time spent on research and testing
Time/Schedule
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Managerial Methods Consistent Weekly Meetings Agenda driven, Open communication Assigned Job Description:
Each team member has a certain role with clearly defined responsibilities Collaborative tools to aid in group work:
Bulletin boards, Email-List Web based Calendar with tasks and milestones Plan to institute a Content Management System (CMS) for central
document sharing and revision control Subversion Code Repository
Monitor Project status: Daily status reports indicating status of current task Weekly status report to asses reaching milestones
Plan to follow a defined process cycle: Aligned with business rules and process Iterative, Requirement Driven, Test Driven
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MarketWho is the customer? Residential consumers that have central heating and cooling systems
As of July 1, 2003, there were an estimated 120,879,390 homes in the United States *
Between 88 and 90 percent of new homes completed in 2003 have air conditioning **
Other considerations? Affordable for the average consumer
Easy to install and operate
* http://www.census.gov/popest/housing/tables/HU-EST2003-01.pdf** http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalac.pdf
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Societal Impacts
Pros: Improvements in air quality within consumer homes Reduction in consumer costs associated with energy/
power consumption Ease of mind
Cons: Over reliance on a technological solution
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Risks
What are some Risks? The existing components are not sensitive enough to effectively
monitor air flow in a typical heating and cooling system
Production costs exceed initial estimates resulting in higher consumer
costs
Market for a comprehensive air quality detection system is too small
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Mitigation of Risks
Risk: The existing components are not sensitive enough to handle the flow of air in a typical cooling/heating system.
Mitigation: Quality control and safety program that implements specific tests verifying our notification system works in a variety of environments.
Risk: Market for a air flow sensor doesn't exist.Mitigation:
Thorough market research through consumer polls. If our product was available and at reasonable cost would the customer be interested?
Risk: Consumers may be unwilling to accept the added expense of the AFNS.Mitigation:
Demonstrate that the cost of adding the AFNS to a new or existing home is very small compared to the costs of not having the AFNS.
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Pro’s
Safer air environment for home owners with central HVAC
Potential reduction in energy costs due to reduced stress on the HVAC system
Eliminates the burden of scheduling routine superfluous air filter replacements maximizing an air filter’s life span
Lack of customized alarm settings may annoy certain consumers
Locations for installation may be difficult to access depending on the home’s architecture
Con’s
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Final Remarks
No integrated air quality system is included in most new residential homes
The Air QUality Assurance System provides a more accurate method
Components and resources required are readily obtainable and for reasonable cost
Large potential residential consumer market exists for this product
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Research Sources
Croom, Miles L., Filter dust collectors, McGraw Hill, Inc, New York, 1995.
Donovan, R. P. Fabric filtration for combustion sources, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1985.
McDermott, Henry. Handbook of Ventilation for Contaminate control. Butterworth Publishers, Boston, 1985.
McQuiston, Faye C. and Parker, Jerald D. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Analysis and Design, Fourth Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1994.
Oughton, D. R. and Hodkinson, S. Heating and Air Conditioning of Buildings, Butterworth- Heinemann, Oxford, 2002.
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Research Sources http://www.air-care-filters.com http://www.air-care-filters.com/faq.htm http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html http://www.stpaultravelers.com/business_insurance/risk_control http://www.eled.com/product.asp?catalog_name=LEDs&product_id=E1503CB-ID http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html http://doityourself.com/store/buildingwireuf.htm http://www.provantage.com/buy-7CBTB00E-500-ft-solid-cat5e-pvc-jacket-cmr-rated-
white-cables-go-bulk-wire-connectors-27355-shopping.htm http://www.census.gov/indicator/www/newresconst.pdf http://www.census.gov/popest/housing/tables/HU-EST2003-01.pdf http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalac.pdf http://www.deyes.sefton.sch.uk/technology/AS&Alevel/microprocessor_control.htm http://www.salary.com
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More Proposed Changes
Market change market to residential HVAC manufacturers (choose one)
Add new functionality- carbon monoxide detector? Is expandable to detect other contaminants…