Log 11/18/10

Yesterday, I came up with some alternative solutions for the tanker and had a meeting with CMcD and DA. They liked my idea of having the tanks resemble an ice cube tray and I think it might be a viable solution. I started the drawings for the tank alternative solutions and I am also working on the alternative solutions for the system that will stop the oil flow to the tanker.

Log 11/16/10

I finished my tanker drawings on CAD today and I annotated and labeled them. I am currently working on the alternative solutions for the system that will enable me to stop the flow of oil when my tanker fills up.

Log 11/11/10

I had my Formal Presentation yesterday. I thought it went well considering how much I was missing. I also finished my tanker drawings. Today I will be working on my alternative solutions and I will try to upload the drawings that I have.

FP Outline

* Introduction

* Background of the Problem
     - Deepwater Horizon Explosion "BP Oil Spill"

* Design Brief
     - Group: To design and create an educational system to model the capture and transport of oil from undersea gushers
     - Individual: To design and construct a model of a device capable of transferring an oil-like substance to a retrieval storage device.

* Specs
     - Must remain inside of tank at all times during testing
     - Must be able to stay on the surface of the water
     - Must be able to gather all oil without any help
     - Must be free of any leaks

* Limits
     - Cannot exceed the size of the tank
     - Cannot take to long to build (preferably before testing)
     - Total cost cannot exceed $200
     - Power cannot exceed the amount of power available for the entire model to use

* Test Procedures
     - Will model transportation of the captured well oil to a retrieval storage device
     - Amount of "oil" will be measured before and after the transportation stage
     - "Oil" lost will show how bad the system is
     - Multiple videos should be taken from different angles to document the results accurately
     - Sample Questionnaire:
          1) Was more "oil" added to the water during transportation?
          2) Did the transportation stage run smoothly?
          3) How convenient is the method of transportation chosen to transport the oil-like substance?
          4) Is there a simpler way to transport the substance?

* Brainstorming
     - Getting the oil out of the water:
          1) Water Vacuum System
          2) Oil Skimmer
          3) Oil Sorbent
          4) Manually
     - Moving the oil from the rig:
          1) Small Barge (ideal for moving small amounts of oil)
          2) Small Tanker
          3) Large Tanker (ideal for moving massive amounts of oil)

*Conclusion

Log 11/9/10

Today I will be working on my alternative solutions and I will try to get my blog updated.

Log 11/3/10

Presentations continued today. My team, and ES and MM, did not present today. Instead, we will all be presenting after the four day weekend when DA comes back.

**Since there were only three days of school this week I decided to write my log today.**

Log 11/2/10

Presentations began today. My team is scheduled to go tomorrow, but I will not be presenting until after the four day weekend.