Mechanical Pump
Project Details
Type
Class
Start Date
End Date
Members
Grade
Report
Objective
This was a project for a machine design class. The goal is to create a mechanical pump using a piston-cylinder mechanism to pump water from one reservoir to another at a higher altitude while maintaining a certain water level at the top reservoir. The pump is to be designed without access to the reservoir setup nor the water level sensor.
Responsibility
As project leader, the project was split up into smaller tasks and distributed to each member to ensure equal contribution to the overall project. Some tasks include shaft design, gearing, piston-cylinder, and valving. It was also my responsibility to maintain a project schedule to keep track of progress and deadlines. I was in charge of valving and electronics. The check valve design uses a stopper mechanism operated by the pressures of the water flowing in and out. The pump is powered by a BLDC motor controlled by an Arduino Uno with a proportional controller to maintain water height.
Results
Every member of the team had their own unique design and through collaborative efforts, the project came together nicely at the end. Unfortunately, we were unable to test the project due to the stay-at-home orders to combat COVID-19.