Blog Posts

Last but Not Least

Hello dear readers, I am sad to say that this will be the last installment of EvapoGATOR’s weekly blog. However, I’m happy to say we achieved our goal of creating a brand-new, functional food vacuum evaporator for UF’s FSHN department! Also, we crushed it at FDR!

To begin, our team presented our final design at the FDR event on Tuesday, 4/25 in the Reitz Union. We first shared our project journey with a 15-minute presentation to two other teams, the coaches, and the liaisons; then, there was a poster session that the general public could attend, which was nice because all IPPD students’ friends and family could come and see everyone’s poster and prototype. EvapoGATOR feels very accomplished after the event because of our thorough presentation and impressive physical prototype.

Now, at the end of our project, let’s talk logistics. Our team wants to emphasize that our prototype met every specification in our scope of work and every metric our team set back in August. Something cool that sets our project apart from everyone else’s is that the apparatus we built was never meant to be just a prototype; it needed to be functional because it will be used in FSHN labs for many years to come. Another unique aspect of our project is that EvapoGATOR had a budget of $10,000 to construct a new vacuum evaporator; buying a similar system on the market would cost $80,000 or more. The system we produced cost about $8000 to construct and contained about 250 individual components. Not to brag, but it’s kind of a modern mechanical wonder of the world.

Though we did fulfill all of the customer’s needs, there were a few things we didn’t get to because of time constraints. Therefore, here are some next steps we recommend for the FSHN department:

  • Weld tri-clover connections on evaporator HEX to lower risk of injury or accident with steam
  • Integrate a 360॰ rotary spray ball cleaner and pressure transmitter
  • Attach labels to the system

Aaaand some next steps for us!! EvapoGATOR actually submitted an abstract and draft of a research paper about our project to the American Society of Engineering Education (ASEE), and we will be presenting at the conference this summer in Baltimore!

As for the team, Ryan is graduating next weekend, while Emily and Alli are completing one last semester before graduating in the fall. It has been a great experience working together, and I think we’re all a bit surprised at how well this turned out but also very proud of ourselves and our hard work! Personally, I can’t wait to add this to my resume and talk about it in interviews.

Well, that’s a wrap on EvapoGATOR’s senior design project with IPPD. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading these weekly updates as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them. For the last time, steam off!

The Beginning of the End

Or the end of the beginning? Both could be argued. On the one hand, IPPD is almost over with our Final Design Review (FDR) presentations tomorrow (Tuesday, 4/25/23); however, on the other, the greatest journey comes after graduation, and IPPD is just a stepping stone in our careers. You’re welcome for some more sentimental senior-year thoughts from EvapoGATOR.

Anyway, the semester is not over yet!! No matter how much we want it to be.

As I’m sure you can guess, the team has been very busy finalizing everything for FDR. This event allows all IPPD teams to showcase their functional prototypes and all the work accomplished during the two-semester program. The coolest thing about EvapoGATOR’s project is that ours is not just a prototype; it’s a functioning system that will be used for laboratory exercises in the Food Science and Human Nutrition (FSHN) department for many years.

If you have been following our project, you’ll know we’ve been having some issues with optimizing the final system. One of the biggest issues we’ve faced is not having enough natural circulation in the evaporator HEX to form an effective bubble pump for the liquid product to turn into a superheated vapor, devoid of water after evaporation occurs. This is the main reason we switched from Evap 2 to Evap 1, since Evap 1 is a shell-and-tube configuration, meaning the inner diameter is reduced, allowing for better natural circulation. Please refer back a few posts ago to see a more detailed explanation of why we chose to use Evap 1 over Evap 2.

EvapoGATOR is happy to announce that Evap 1 works great! When testing last week, we discovered that the HEX actually evaporates a bit too effectively, but that’s not the worst problem to have. The team discovered this after replacing the 6″ tri-clover gaskets around the phase separator tank, which luckily fixed the leaking issues. It’s so interesting how something as small as a gasket (or o-ring) could create such big problems (see the tragic Challenger explosion to understand this on a bigger scale).

Okay, I definitely started that paragraph in a fun, optimistic way and ended it in a depressing way. Let’s talk about more good things! Here are some tasks EvapoGATOR completed during the past week:

  • presented during PR FDR, received constructive criticism, and responded to that feedback
  • finalized the lab and operations manuals as well as the FDR draft
  • completed designing the steel nameplate and made plans for manufacturing next week
  • attached final components and tested system
  • continued preparing for FDR by working on the final report and presentation

Now, here are some tasks the team wants to complete before and after FDR this week:

  • finish manufacturing and assembly of steel nameplate
  • attach pipe labels, NPT connections, and any other final components to the system
  • test the system + collect pressure and temperature data
  • finalize FDR presentation and report
  • present our super awesome system at FDR on 4/25!!

Here are some pictures from the last week! Be sure to stick around because there’s a bit more after these.

It seems like we have a lot of work left to do, but really, we’re almost done and ready to hand the vacuum evaporator off to Dr. MacIntosh in the FSHN department. While testing last week, Dr. Mac (our liaison) mentioned how happy and impressed he was with the apparatus we designed and built and said he believes we’ve been underselling our achievements. It’s a good feeling to know that EvapoGATOR completed our project, addressed every technical specification and metric, and optimized the machine to the best of our abilities. It’s a bit surreal to look at all the work we’ve done in the last two semesters and accept that we did this.

To address the fact that Dr. Mac thinks we’re underselling our accomplishments, the team wanted to mention some impressive things about our project that sets it apart from other senior designs:

  1. We had a budget of $10,000 (while other teams only received $2000 to work with)
  2. Similar systems on the market cost $80,000+ and don’t contain features that enhance students’ educational experience like our design does
  3. We enhanced the new system in many ways, giving Dr. Mac and students the ability to read multiple temperatures, easily record steam/vacuum pressure and mass flow rate, reliably control the pressure in the system, move the system more conveniently, and more clearly see the process
  4. We, three senior-level engineering students at UF, designed and built a vacuum evaporator with the needs of FSHN students at the forefront of our minds

This has been an amazing experience, and EvapoGATOR is incredibly proud of ourselves for all the hard work we’ve put in and the amazing feats we’ve accomplished! To understand a bit more about our project in its entirety, below is a copy of our final poster that we will be presenting at FDR tomorrow. Wish us luck!

The final version of EvapoGATOR’s poster to present at FDR on Tuesday, 4/25.

Additionally, here is a link for our final video! Enjoy!

Prepping for PR FDR

Hello everyone, and welcome back to one of the last installments of EvapoGATOR’s blog! Unfortunately, I’m a bit late with this post but don’t worry, I won’t leave out any details from last week, this week, and next week in the final blog posts.

Last week (April 10-14), the team was putting some final touches on the system and fixing any issues that arose. We were also busy preparing for the peer-reviewed final design review (PR FDR) that occurred on Tuesday, 4/18. During this demonstration, EvapoGATOR will showcase a draft of our final presentation and receive feedback from our peers. This is a good way to practice our presentation skills, become more comfortable with receiving constructive criticism, and gain specialized input on our project.

Another big project the team was stressing over was an outline and draft for our final design report, composed of 5 volumes; this is the final, cumulative report that documents everything we’ve done with our project in IPPD. Volume 1 is a final design summary report, Volume 2 is product and process documentation, Volume 3 is acceptance test results, Volume 4 is a folder with product manuals, and Volume 5 is a folder with project deliverables from the last two semesters.

Other than working on these things for class, here are a few other tasks EvapoGATOR accomplished:

  • more alignment issues were fixed, specifically regarding the phase separator tank
  • the new evaporator HEX (Evap 1) was configured into the system
  • parts were sourced and purchased for new connections for Evap 1, since the outputs are tri-clover fittings, and we need NPT parts for the steam line
  • the thermocouple tray was designed, manufactured, and attached to the system

These were a few small tasks since our project is almost completely finished. At this point, the team is focusing on wrapping up and perfecting our design to optimize the system while documenting everything for FDR. However, we’ve had some issues, the biggest being a massive leak under the phase separator tank (picture at the bottom).

To continue, here are some tasks we wanted to accomplish this week (April 17-21):

  • finish FDR report draft
  • create PPT for PR FDR + prepare for presentation on Tuesday
  • work on and finalize the poster + video for FDR
  • receive + attach the new components ordered
  • complete a final draft of the student survey
  • make plans for testing with undergraduate students next week
  • design, manufacture, and attach the steel nameplate
  • seal NPT connections on Evap 1 to prevent leaking
  • test system with all components to assess challenges

We’re getting to the very busy part of the semester with FDR right around the corner. EvapoGATOR is working to finish our system and documentation, which is proving to be quite challenging since we’re a group of 3 compared to other IPPD groups that have 4 or 5 members. It’s been a lot of work for us, but we’re getting through. See you next time, but for now, enjoy some pictures from this week!

Hippity hoppity, FDR is on its way

Hello dear readers, EvapoGATOR hopes you all had a great holiday weekend! (Time check: Easter was yesterday, hence the title.) Your favorite IPPD team is still working vigorously to finish optimizing our system before the Final Design Review (FDR) on Tuesday, 4/25.

Here are a few of the big accomplishments our team completed last week:

  • finished an outline for the FDR paper
  • tested system under vacuum
  • completed the evaporation lab with an FSHN graduate student + received feedback
  • tested the evaporator’s natural circulation with a new heat exchanger (HEX)
  • ordered parts for thermocouple tray + manufactured it in the Herbert Wertheim Laboratory for Engineering Excellence (Herbie Lab)
  • made purchases for system labels + new evaporator connections

Our main achievement last week was testing the system under a vacuum, and we are happy to report that the apparatus holds the vacuum pressure well! We discovered a few leaks, found by (1) seeing bubbling from certain parts of the phase separator tank and (2) hearing a loud squealing sound when we increased the pressure in the system by opening the diaphragm valve. To fix these issues, we checked that all gaskets, clamps, and other tri-clover connections were sealed well, and we also bought some new 6″ gaskets for the phase separator tank.

Additionally, EvapoGATOR conducted testing with an FSHN graduate student to understand the usability of the vacuum evaporator and the accompanying lab manual. We fumbled through the testing a bit, and the centrifugal pump actually malfunctioned, so our team decided it was time to find a permanent solution to fix the natural circulation in the evaporator. If you’ll remember, the evaporator HEX was actually the very first part our team purchased, but it was too short and did not have ideal connections, so we decided to get another one with a longer tube + proper connections. However, you will also recall that we’ve been having issues with natural circulation on Evap 2 and might have accidentally messed up the NPT connections by applying Teflon tape incorrectly. Because of this, we decided to use Evap 1 to continue testing the system. To clarify, our team used Evap 2 during graduate testing and changed it out for Evap 1 to continue testing immediately after.

The main differences between Evap 1 and Evap 2 are the HEX configuration (shell-and-tube vs. tube-in-tube) and the connections (tri-clover vs. NPT). First, we believe we were having issues with natural circulation in Evap 2 because of the tube-in-tube layout, and though our group tried to decrease the diameter inside the tube, it still did not fix the problem as much as we wanted (hence the implementation of the centrifugal pump). Next, our liaison specified the need for NPT connections since the evaporator is connected to a steam utility line at 10 psi and 115*C, and it can be dangerous if the steam connection is accidentally disconnected (which is easier to do with tri-clover connections). Due to these risks, our liaison is looking into welding connections onto the tri-clover parts of Evap 1 to address safety concerns. Below are some diagrams showing the difference between HEX configurations of shell-and-tube (like Evap 1) and tube-in-tube (like Evap 2).

Now, here are some tasks EvapoGATOR will be working to complete this week:

  • Finish manufacturing/assembling/attaching thermocouple tray
  • Attach labels to the system
  • Finalize drafts for the FDR video + poster
  • Complete welding on Evap 1 tri-clover connections + implement HEX into the system
  • Continue testing to ensure there are no issues
  • Design + manufacture a nameplate using a waterjet
  • Prepare for testing with undergraduate students next week

We are reaching the home stretch, and though EvapoGATOR’s system is pretty much finished assembling and is relatively functional, we’re still trying to iron out some wrinkles. To finish the project, our team needs to add the “new” HEX (Evap 1) into the system, test the vacuum evaporator, add a few extra components, complete undergrad testing, and finalize documentation for FDR. This seems like a lot of work when we only have 2 weeks left until FDR, but our group is sure we will accomplish everything!

Okay, that’s it for now. Thank you for reading, and please enjoy some pictures from this week. See you next time!

Praying to the Heat Transfer Goddess

Hello everyone and welcome back to EvapoGATOR’s weekly diary… I mean, blog. First thing’s first, refer to the pictures to understand the title.

EvapoGATOR had Prototype Inspection Day (PID) this week, and if I do say so myself, we killed it! The team transported the vacuum evaporation system from the FSHN pilot plant (near Marston) to the Reitz Union since the stainless steel frame sits atop 4 sturdy caster wheels.

Quote of the walk: “I’m not sure what that is, and I’m kinda too afraid to ask…” from a friendly student sitting at a table in the Reitz North Lawn. Then they wished us luck on our presentation when we told them what it was 🙂

We think everyone was impressed with our system, and the six judges we presented to all gave positive comments and thoughtful feedback, which the team appreciated. One of our favorite comments was from a coach who commended how much we’ve accomplished as a three-person team, and it felt good to be seen because we’ve been working extremely hard on this project, and we basically live in the FSHN pilot plant.

Anyway, all of the hard work has definitely been paying off because the system is jaw-dropping! (Okay, I’ll stop teasing, there’s a picture of the fully assembled vacuum evaporator at the bottom.) Here is some of the feedback PID judges gave for us to consider:

  • Adding insulation because the system can get dangerously hot, and that could help save energy
  • A more thorough understanding of the functionality of the pressure safety valve
  • Using chemical engineering software to model heat transfer in the HEXs
  • Possible vibration of the system

With this great feedback, EvapoGATOR was able to make some changes to our design plan and solidify our project plan from now to FDR on April 25.

Now, here are some of the things we accomplished this week after PID:

  • Began applying pipe thread compound to NPT connections for a leakproof seal
  • Tested first option to improve natural circulation in the evaporator
  • Added a centrifugal pump under the evaporator to help with natural circulation
  • Completed drafts of the lab manual and student survey for coach review
  • Updated the vacuum evaporator’s 3D CAD model in Solidworks

A few of the issues we noted during PID and we’ve been working to fix are leaking components and natural circulation in the evaporator HEX. To address these, the team is sealing threaded parts to prevent leaks and decreasing the diameter for fluid flow in the evaporator, respectively. The bigger problem is natural circulation because we haven’t found the best solution yet. First, the team tried adding a copper coil and metal rod to make a smaller area and increase the pressure and bubbling, but these weren’t as effective as we had hoped.

An interesting twist though — apparently there is a right and wrong way to apply Teflon tape on threaded (NPT) parts, and if you do it the wrong way, it can absolutely ruin the threading. With that being said, there are a few connections we’re having a problem getting out of the evaporator, and we’re worried it might have ruined the threading, so we couldn’t attach anything else to those connections. To fix this problem, we are considering buying a new evaporator (shell and tube HEX) with 3/4″ NPT connections. Hopefully, the shell and tube configuration (compared to the current tube-in-tube design) will resolve the natural circulation issues we’re facing.

Now, our biggest tasks ahead include optimizing the vacuum evaporator, testing the system with grad/undergrad students, and documenting all of our work in an operations manual. We only have 3.5 weeks until FDR, but EvapoGATOR is sure we can do it!

Until then, we just have to keep working harder and smarter. Below are some of the tasks we want to accomplish next week:

  • Finish outline/draft of final design report
  • Finalize CAD, lab manual, and Bill of Materials (BOM)
  • Design, manufacture, and assemble a tray for the thermocouple transmitter
  • Finish applying pipe thread compound to NPT parts + test for leaks
  • Test system under vacuum + check pressure relief valve
  • Decide on a solution for labeling the system

We have a busy week ahead! These last few kinks we have to work out feel like the longest part of the process, but our team knows they’re necessary and we’re still grinding. See you all next time, and please enjoy pictures from the week!

To Level or Not to Level?

Hello and welcome back, dear readers! First, the answer is to level, always. Second, EvapoGATOR feels refreshed after a nice break, and we dove right in this week!

Recently, our team has been preparing for Prototype Inspection Day (PID) on Tuesday, 3/28, where we will showcase our functional prototype to judges and receive feedback. During this event, we plan to present our vacuum evaporation system with an accompanying PowerPoint presentation and video demonstrating its functionality.

Oh yeah, so big update from the last two weeks — IT WORKS!!! We finished assembling the whole system (with 200+ individual parts) on Tuesday, 3/21, and spent the subsequent days testing it.

Okay, that’s the big news, but here are some other tasks we accomplished this week:

  • added spacers behind the evaporator and condenser to fix alignment issues
  • moved the evaporator + condenser up (y-direction) to help with alignment
  • slightly reconfigured hex bolts + L brackets on threaded piping of phase separator to ensure it was level
  • worked out many iterations of configuring piping that didn’t quite fit until they did
  • connected all NPT parts with the addition of Teflon tape on threading
  • received the Buchner flask + implemented a connection idea under the condenser
  • added small hoses and hose clamps to the steam trap (evaporator outlet) and tri-clover tee (condenser outlet)
  • began initial full system testing
  • tightened NPT components to address leakage during testing
  • tested 5 thermocouples on the system

We learned many things from assembling and testing the system this week. Adding the spacers helped with most of the alignment issues, but we still had to tinker with the parts to form different configurations until it all fit. We centered the entire design around the phase separator tank in the middle, so once we ensured that piece was properly aligned, most other assemblies fell into place.

It was funny because all of EvapoGATOR had a kind of moment of silence when we finally finished assembling the system to stand back and be like, “Dang, we did that!” It has been extremely satisfying to see that our countless hours of reverse engineering, researching, designing, planning, purchasing, and building have produced such a beautiful system. It has been very rewarding to see all the hard work come to life through our system.

Even though the system is assembled, it’s not quite finished yet! We began testing its functionality on Wednesday by filling the phase separator with water, connecting the steam line to the evaporator, and connecting the cold water utility line to the condenser. This allowed us to check for leaks and observe the heat exchange capabilities of the evaporator and condenser. The exciting thing is that both HEXs were functioning as intended, but we realized that we needed to optimize the heat transfer taking place in the evaporator. Additionally, we found some leaks in the system and took steps to fix those.

The biggest lesson EvapoGATOR learned this week is that, in engineering, things rarely work exactly how you want them to the first time. We had to go through the tedious process of fixing some problems whose solutions created other problems until all issues had adequate solutions. It’s interesting because, in most classes, there’s a clear right answer to every problem, but in real-life engineering, there are usually multiple solutions to the same problem, and you have to weigh all the factors to decide which will work most effectively for your project goals.

Okay, anyway, I’m done with my senior year, nostalgic, full-circle moments (for now). We made some great progress this week, and here are some tasks we plan to accomplish next week:

  • present our functional prototype to judges during PID + ask for feedback
  • source, purchase, and insert 3 small (diameter) tubes into the evaporator to improve natural circulation
  • source, purchase, and begin design/manufacturing of labels for the system
  • source, purchase, and begin manufacturing tray for thermocouple reader
  • coat NPT parts with a pipe thread compound to create a leakproof seal
  • order/receive a replacement of the broken thermocouple from McMaster-Carr
  • update a draft of the lab manual for the system
  • create a draft of a survey for students to fill out after testing the system
  • continue testing the system + complete evaporation lab
  • start planning labs with FSHN grad/undergrad students

Finally, please enjoy pictures of assembly and testing this week. We’re not including a picture of the fully assembled vacuum evaporation system yet though — gotta keep the suspense somehow. See you next week for more exciting updates!

Happy Spring (Break)!

Hello lovely readers and welcome back to the final installment of EvapoGATOR’s blog before we take a week off for Spring Break!

The past week has been pretty busy with all the assignments/projects/exams our professors are trying to squeeze in before break on top of the continued assembly we’ve been doing in the FSHN pilot plant. It has been a hectic week, but we’ve been sure to prioritize lab time and assembly.

With that being said, here are some tasks our team accomplished this week:

  • finished attaching the main process units (evaporator, condenser, and phase separator tank) to the stainless steel frame
  • continued assembly of piping, tri-clover and NPT connections, gauges, and valves
  • repurposed a mesh steel tray in the pilot plant to use as a tray at the bottom of the frame for the Buchner flask to sit under the condenser
  • updated the BOM/Purchasing Sheet by taking inventory of additional purchased/received components
  • identified problems where parts/assemblies were misaligned and constructed a plan to fix those problems

As the last bullet point states, one of the snags we ran into this week was that there are a few parts of the system that are misaligned. Our team used STL files from McMaster-Carr to construct the CAD model, but not all parts were purchased from this company for various reasons; therefore, not all dimensions are exact. While the Solidworks model lines every assembly up correctly, we learned this week that it was very unlikely all of our parts would align perfectly in real life. This is a risk we should have foreseen but overlooked.

The good news is that we spent enough time in the lab this week to create some plans for fixing these alignment issues. First, we are going to use an acetal copolymer rod to cut to size as a spacer in between the heat exchangers (HEXs) and frame, so the centers of the HEXs line up with the center of the phase separator tank. Hopefully this will fix many issues we have with alignment.

If there are additional issues, we plan to either drill more holes into the stainless steel frame or into the stainless steel plate behind the phase separator tank to help with alignment in the x-direction. We can also move the HEXs up/down by varying amounts so they line up better with assemblies attaching to the phase separator tank.

That’s about it for our progress this week! As a reminder, next week is Spring Break so EvapoGATOR will all be soaking up the sun and getting some much-needed rest and relaxation so we can come back ready to finish this project! When we return, our team plans to implement our solutions to the alignment problems, finish assembling the system, and begin some testing. Additionally, we will be preparing for Prototype Inspection Day (PID) on 3/28 where we show our current prototype and receive feedback from judges, then our final presentation will be the Final Design Review (FDR) on 4/25.

Now please enjoy lots of pictures from the FSHN pilot plant, which is where we lived this week. Have a great Spring Break, everyone!

So Close to Spring Break

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.

Prepping for QRB2

Hello all, and welcome back. It’s officially part 1 of midterms season, so we’re all enjoying that.

Luckily, EvapoGATOR has been really productive, and we’ve accomplished a lot this week on top of exams and projects in our other classes. This week’s main goal has been to prepare for the second Qualification Review Board (QRB2) presentation on Tuesday, Feb. 28. The point of the QRBs is to compile an update on our project progress to be evaluated and judged by a few IPPD coaches. With the information we present, our team hopes to persuade the coaches that we are on a good path and can confidently anticipate any risks to the project, especially when it comes to being finished by the end of April. We also look forward to the feedback we’ll receive from the coaches and plan to take it as advice for improving.

EvapoGATOR believes we’ve been working incredibly hard to stay on track and ensure the entire vacuum evaporator is assembled and tested by the Final Design Report (FDR) presentation on April 25th. In our post next week, we’ll give a brief overview of our QRB2 presentation, but until then, here are some tasks our team accomplished during this past week to prepare for that next milestone:

  • received the completed welded stainless steel frame
  • began manufacturing of corner brackets and steel bars to connect phase separator to frame
  • began manufacturing of frame to connect main process units
  • completed initial component testing on vacuum and pressure gauges
  • completed purchase orders of 75 additional components
  • continued updating BOM and CAD, hopefully to be finished by QRB2
  • collaborated on QRB2 PPT presentation and required documents

Last week, I said EvapoGATOR loves IPPD, and that must be true because we all worked on this project every single day this week. The greatest accomplishment has been receiving the welded frame, especially since that was the biggest piece of feedback we received during QRB1. It has been slightly daunting to use the manufacturing labs, but our team really appreciates the lab manager, Jeff, and the progress he’s helped us make.

Looking forward, the priority is preparing for our QRB2 presentation Tuesday, but below are some other things we plan to work on next week:

  • continue manufacturing parts in the Herbert Wertheim lab
  • finish purchasing with our liaison and continue to take inventory of received components
  • begin to assemble main process units to frame
  • begin heat exchanger testing
  • begin testing on thermocouples and create calibration curves
  • begin an outline of FDR

Well friends, until next time, good luck during these trying times, you got this! EvapoGATOR believes in you! Now please enjoy some fun pics of us all manufacturing this week.

EvapoGATOR Loves IPPD

Hello everyone and happy Valentine’s week! As you can see from the title of this week’s blog, our group loves IPPD and being able to work together to create this awesome project!

Y’all know that we love IPPD and our project because we have been working hard! This week, we were able to be productive and come up with a concrete plan for the rest of the semester, taking into consideration where we are now and some of the setbacks we’ve encountered. Some tasks we’ve accomplished this week are:

  • purchasing A LOT of components during our liaison meeting
  • reviewing and updating our BOM and Purchasing Sheet
  • receiving components from the McMaster-Carr orders
  • taking inventory of all the parts we have
  • solidifying the lead time on the system’s frame
  • finalizing testing plans for when we have the appropriate components
  • planning data analysis (calibration curves) for purchased measurement devices (thermocouples, pressure gauges, etc.)

During our weekly liaison meeting with Dr. MacIntosh, we turned our normal one-hour event into two hours to ensure we purchased the appropriate parts. Our BOM has been a bit of a mess with the changing design, but we’re getting it figured out. Luckily, we were able to make some progress and order 30 different parts from vendors like McMaster-Carr, Brewer’s Hardware, and Amazon. One of the biggest roadblocks our team has run into with part sourcing is the changing CAD model; therefore, the small connections (NPT, tri-clover, hose, etc.) have been variable.

The BEST news, however, is regarding the system’s frame. At the beginning of this month, we ordered and received the steel rods and caster wheels to be welded by a colleague of Dr. Mac’s in the IFAS Agriculture department. EvapoGATOR is happy to share that our frame is almost finished! Today, we were informed that the frame is welded, and the last thing to attach is the caster wheels! Yay!! Hopefully, you’ll be seeing some pictures of the manufactured frame here next week, so keep an eye out.

In the meantime, here are a few things our team is planning to work on next week:

  • finalizing the CAD and BOM
  • ordering the rest of the parts for the system
  • beginning assembly of the main process units on the frame
  • testing pressure gauges and creating calibration curves
  • preparing for QRB2 on 2/28

That’s our update for the week! Now please enjoy a picture of Ryan and Emily unboxing all our parts from McMaster-Carr that arrived this week. Side note: should we become engineering influencers and start a YouTube channel where we do unboxing videos? Does anyone still watch YouTube? Let us know in the comments below!! (Jk, there aren’t comments) ((Okay, update: there are comments here. Do with that what you will.))