Meeting Start Time: 12:14
Meeting called to order
Website Updates
We’re trying to target 1 post per week of updates to the website, so we can show our progress real-time. This is a great opportunity to write up what you want to discuss at the next meeting!
A page has been created for all the sub teams we’ve seen so far. Please keep this updated as necessary! Current 316 teams are working on the HYPER lab website, and will move their information over before/during spring break.
We will have to make decision about what content to put on the static component pages at some point – make them fit a standard, so everyone is sharing the same information we deem important.
Things we need right now – filler text for Team and Personal Bios. Please send changes to Eli or make changes to update this information if you have access to the site. If you want access to the site, talk with Eli after the meeting and he’ll add you as an editor.
Eli is building out a people page with a liked table of contents to allow jumping to each person. (Think Wikipedia TOC at the beginning of the page – allows you to jump to a section on the page or in a link you send someone.)
Question on how we should be communicating – use Slack for communication between group, website is our public presence to share what we’re doing with the world. The more we share outside the group, the more interest we can get from people who may want to help us out. That being said, if we’re able to find something another group is doing through the website without having to ask them – all the better!
Poll Interest in Wild Horse Wind Facility Tour:
There is significant interest, a Schedule matrix will be posted.
Steven Bell Updates on Club administration:
Steven attended the VCEACC meeting about Level one and two funding. The next meeting is required and on March 24. See VCEACC website for details. March 1 deadline to submit for Level Two matched funding.
Matching money goes into an RSO account. Can match funding that was either put into the RSO account or a departmental account.
Jake suggests approaching Pullman Building Supply, Fastenal, others about funding sponsorship – if we do this before March 1, we may be able to include it to get matched funds.
Jake is applying for a Cyber Grant in the $10k to 50k range from Boeing to help the project out.
Development of a crowd funding video continues, Johnny Wang leads production. Some people may be asked to provide sound bytes or video for this.
Team Updates:
[Four from the compressor group show up to the meeting] Eli requests the compressor team post updates weekly, and send the same bios that we discussed earlier.
Purification:
Conference call with Ability engineering. Safety, safety, safety. Skeptical of schedule and surprised at the attempt to run at 300 psi. Expansion to liquefy N2 without liquefying H2. Jake asks they engage with their client (Jake) to define scope. No longer thinking about using a distillation column or membrane seperation. Recommended Soltzer, etc. Jake: molecular sieve approach. Palladium requires 600 C. Jake is free 10:30 to 1:30 Tuesday. Schedule talk.
Vortex:
Global model with variable, honeycomb, flow sim., Jake suggests they talk to Kevin. Need fine fins and lots of catalyst. We could print a vortex tube if it seemed useful. Eli has two months to show 5% conversion using catalyst in the tube. Flow straighteners will give higher performance with shorter/longer tube. Our biggest target will be to get surface area up to allow for increased ruthenium plating. Kevin has CFD. Mitchell discusses the need for rapid iteration.
Heat Exchanger:
A flange is being designed, the hope to have a working SolidWorks model by end of week. Simulations should be done by Spring Break. Eli shares that a representative code run yesterday with Marshall showed a final quality of 70% with tank pressure of 2 atm. Jake states that the best performance in hydrogen will be at 28 K, but we can still operate warmer than this if it is unreachable. Currently looking for optimal pressure ratio. Also looking for a design that avoids plugging issues. Ask for a CAD model of the vortex tube, which the Vortex Team will provide after the meeting.
Open Forum:
Jake has some updates to finish the meeting. We will be building this summer, there are a handful of spots for backup work this summer. 316 will start fast on building. We are attempting to create a process for open lab time. See Jake’s tweet – Google validates much of what Dr. Chuck and Jake have been teaching in ME 316 and ME 416. We need to implement a plan for an approval process – buddy system, mentors, with an effective, but not restrictive chain of command. People are more expensive than components. Our #1 rule – nobody gets hurt.
In the tour last week, Chris Ainscough of NREL saw the container and got very excited – we’re starting to show containerized H2 liquefaction is future!