Hello everyone, and welcome back! You must be dying for an update on how EvapoGATOR’s QRB2 went, and here I am to oblige.

Of course, the big event last week was the second Qualification Review Board (QRB2), and we are happy to report that it went really well! Our team created a PPT presentation to update the judges, Dr. Jackson (our coach) and Dr. Latorre (IPPD director), on the status of our project. In the few hours before our presentation, we worked in the FSHN pilot plant to attach the main process units (evaporator, condenser, and phase separator tank) to the stainless steel frame. Honestly, we were not expecting to get all of that finished, so our PPT was a bit outdated by the time we shared it with Drs. Jackson and Latorre, and they suggested we move up the timetable for assembly of our system. We’re hoping to have it all (mostly) assembled before Spring Break, so by Friday, March 10!

Here is some other information EvapoGATOR showcased in our QRB2 presentation:

• our accomplishments since QRB1 on 2/28
• the completed Bill of Materials (BOM)
• the completed CAD model for the whole system
• updates on the frame, manufacturing, and assembly
• results from initial testing of pressure gauges and mobility of the frame
• plans for further assembly and testing
• our Technical Performance Measures (TPMs)

We felt that these updates displayed a holistic view of our progress coupled with solid plans for completing the project. The coaches seemed impressed, and we were able to have an informal chat with them about certain aspects of our project, which was a nice change of pace since our team had literally met every single day for about 2 weeks.

Also, Dr. Latorre said that this is his favorite blog, and honestly, that’s all the feedback I remember.

Just kidding, they also suggested we start figuring out safety-based protocols for our end-of-semester system tests with FSHN graduate and undergraduate students, so we’ll be looking into that with the help of Dr. Jackson and our liaison, Dr. MacIntosh. Our assembly and testing plans are on track, and our TPMs are within the ranges we want, so EvapoGATOR is in a pretty good place to finish our project by FDR on April 25th.

This post is getting a bit long, so I’m just going to finish up by sharing some other tasks our team completed during the week of QRB2:

• We attached the heat exchangers (evaporator + condenser) to the frame.
• We finalized the BOM and took inventory of the 150+ parts we’ve ordered/received.
• In the Herbie lab, and with the help of Jeff Bielling, we manufactured a steel plate to attach the phase separator tank to the frame.

Thank you for tuning in, we’ll see you again next week! Enjoy these pictures of our progress from the week.