ELECTRIC AIR – COOLER MADE OUT OF

IMPROVISED MATERIALS

ERIC YANCY ESTRABO

ANALYN JOY TRAGICO

SYDNEY GRACE BICOMONG

DASMARIÑAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

SSC GRADE 9 MENDELEEV

SY 2014 - 2015

ELECTRIC AIR – COOLER MADE OUT OF

IMPROVISED MATERIALS

A Science Investigatory Project

Submitted to Mrs. Luzviminda M. Bago

As a Requirement in the Subject Research I

By:

Sydney Grace Bicomong

Analyn Joy Tragico

Eric Yancy Estrabo

Dasmariñas National High School

Special Science Curriculum

February 2014

SY 2014 - 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

I. INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY 1

B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 2

C. HYPOTHESIS 2

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 2

E. SCOPES AND ITS LIMITATION 3

F. DEFINITION OF TERMS 4

II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 5

III. METHODOLOGY

A. RESEARCH USED 7

B. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT 7

C. PROCEDURE 8

D. GANTT CHART 10

E. STATISTICS USED 11

F. EVALUATION PROCESS 11

IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 12

V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION 15

VI. RECOMMENDATION 15

VII. REFERENCES 16

VIII. APPENDICES 17

I. INTRODUCTION

A. BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Many people seek `for ways to cool themselves or cool up an area where

they stay in. Refrigerators and freezers were to cool down our beverages and to

freeze our ice cream and fruit salad. In order to maintain the cold temperature of

beverages, we always bring a pack of ice and put it to the cooler which is made

from a styrofoam or hard plastic. Air conditioning units make our houses cool and

comfortable for our family, friends and your love ones. They are also use in other

establishments such as business establishments, hospitals and medical centers,

classrooms in a school campus and others. In the absence of air conditioning

units, we have the reliable electric fans, DC – operated or AC – operated.

Based on the study “Homemade Air Conditioning,” the air conditioning

unit is constructed with an electric fan attached with a coiled copper tube at the

front and the ends of the copper tube are connected to the ice.

The researchers decided to develop another in which a cooler and an

electric fan are combined.

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B. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Generally, the study aims to develop an air cooler – fan made out of

improvised materials.

Specifically, the study aims to answer the question how effective is the air con

– cooler made out of improvised materials in terms of:

a. acceptability;

b. cooling power?

C. HYPOTHESES

CAUSE AND EFFECT HYPOTHESIS:

If there is a correlation on the effectiveness of air con – cooler made out

improvised materials, then the effectiveness correlated significantly in terms:

a. acceptability;

b. cooling power.

D. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is significantly an innovation in the humankind and also an

initiative to build new knowledge to be applied in technology.

HOMES. Families can cool their beverages in the air con – cooler and they can

relax with the cool air from it.

2

SCHOOLS. In this study, we can meet the needs of the classrooms in terms of

comfortability.

BUSINESSES. Both businessmen and customers can enjoy innovative

experience because it is not comfortable such in carinderias etc.

HOSPITALS AND MEDICAL CENTERS. This product is efficient to meet

temporarily the comfort of the patients inside poor hospitals and medical centers.

This product can be used in transporting internal organs for a surgery and also to

give comfort to those who suffer respiratory disease.

E. SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

The study started from July 2014 and ended until the last week of August. The

experiment was conducted in a household in City of Dasmariñas, Cavite. The product

was constructed with the help of a carpenter. The materials used were recycled ones

from the houses and establishments. The electrical consumption and safety is not test

and it is not durable enough to compete with other appliances.

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F. DEFINITION OF TERMS

Air Cooling. It is a process in which air is cool down and humidity becomes low

in a certain place or area.

Brine Solution. It is the solution of salt and water. It is used to increase the

freezing of the coolant so that the coolant will melt slowly and last for a long

period of time.

Coolant. It is used to cool the beverages inside the cooler and cool the air outside

the cooler.

Copper Tube. It serves as a conductor of cold temperature from the cold flowing

through it and connected with the dextrose tube.

Dextrose Tube. It serves as a passageway for the cold water to be transported

from the water pump to the copper coil and going back to the container.

Plastic Container. It serves as the “ice bank” or place where the frozen brine

solution is kept.

Styrofoam Box. It serves as the housing for the electric air cooler.

Water Pump. It pumps the cold water from the plastic container through the

dextrose tube and copper tube where it will conduct the cold temperature and go

back to the plastic container.

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II. REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

Air cooling is cool by means of air; specifically: to cool the cylinder or cylinders

of an (internal – combustion engine) by air without the use of any intermediate

medium (as water). (Merriam Webster Dictionary).

Air cooling is a process of lowering air temperature by dissipating heat. It

provides increased air flow and reduced temperature with use of cooling fins, fans of

finned coils that move the heat out of a casing such as a computer case (Cory Janssen,

2014).

The air cooler is constructed with dual PC System Unit fan connected with a 12 –

volt battery cell and constructed on the lid of the ice chestbox (Cameron, 2009).

The mini – refrigerator is made up of styrofoam box, copper tube, 2 empty tin

cans, old CPU System Unit Fan and frozen brine solution as a coolant. Two holes

were made on the lid of the styrofoam box for the two empty tin cans. The CPU

System Unit Fan was attached on the lid facing inside the styrofoam box. Then, the

coiled copper tube was attached with the CPU Fan and the two empty tin cans were

filled with brine solution (salt solution) that were put in the freezer within hours..

They were inserted at the two holes and attached to the ends of the copper tube. It will

act as the conductor of cold temperature going to the CPU Fan that will blew cold air

(Eric Yancy Estrabo et. al., 2013)

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There is two methods cooling happened in the mini – refrigerator. One, the direct

cooling method is the method which the object is in contact directly to the ice or the

coolant. Two, the indirect cooling method is the method which the object is not

contact directly on the ice or the coolant. The object is not directly contact with the

ice or the coolant because the object contains small amount of heat which affects the

coldness of the ice and duration of the ice. So, the cold air let them cool them down

(Emmanuel Osbert Cajayon et. al., 2013).

The air conditioning unit is constructed with an electric fan attached with a coiled

copper tube at the front and the ends of the copper tube are connected to the ice

(Ehensel, 2014).

Air conditioning is a system for treating air in buildings, dwellings and other

enclosed structures so as to maintain those conditions for temperature, humidity, and

purity which are best adapted to technical operations, industrial processes and

personal comfort. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)

Air conditioners use chemicals that easily convert from as gas to a liquid and

back again. This chemical is used to transfer heat from the air inside of a home to the

outside air. (California Agency Comission, 2002)

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III. METHODOLOGY

A. RESEARCH METHOD USED

The experimental method of research used in the study. The experimental

method of research according to Kendra Cherry, “The experimental method involves

manipulating one variable to determine if changes in one variable cause changes to

another variable. This method relies on controlled methods, random assignment and

the manipulated of variables to test a hypothesis.” In this study, the hypothesis is

tested to determine the acceptability and the cooling power of the aircon – cooler.

B. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT

The study used one medium – size electric fan, 1 m. coiled copper tube,

one big styrofoam box, 2 pcs. dextrose tube, one Mighty Bond Instant Glue, one

box of Philips screws, one plastic container, one grills, and one water pump.

The study also used pliers, one wire cutter, one cutter, a pair scissors, one

Philips Screwdrivers and two thermometers.

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C. PROCEDURE

A small hole was made at the left phase of the Styrofoam box for the electric

fan. The electric fan was removed from its stand and must be placed at the hole. The

electric fan will act as an exhaust fan that will blow the cold air from the inside. The

coiled copper tube was attached to the electric fan and the ends were placed at the

back of the electric fan. This will act as a conductor for the cold temperature. The

container was placed inside the bigger Styrofoam box as an ice bank. The coolant

(crystal gel or the ice) was placed at the container and the water is placed with the

coolant at the container. The water pump was placed at the container and the dextrose

tubes were connected from the water pump to the ends of the copper tube. The cold

water will circulate to the other end going back to the container through another

dextrose tube. Then the grills were placed at the top of the container. Three holes

were made at the back of the Styrofoam box. The hot air will enter to the three holes

and will circulate the cold air inside the electric air – cooler and push the cold water

to the fan and the fan will blow a cold temperature.

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The acceptability of the air – cooler evaluated by this rubric:

SCORE5 Very Good The air – cooler is made very

durable, very presentable and very effective appearance.

4 Good The air – cooler is made durable, presentable and effective in appearance.

3 Fairly Good The air – cooler is made fairly durable, and fairly effective but not presentable in appearance.

2 Not Good The air – cooler is made not durable, and not presentable in appearance but fairly effective.

1 Not at all The air – cooler is made but not durable, not presentable

and not effective.

The cooling power of the air – cooler evaluated by this rubric:

SCORE

5 Very Good The air – cooler produced very cold temperature.

4 Good The air – cooler produced good cold temperature.

3 Fairly Good The air– cooler produced fairly cold temperature.

2 Not Good The air – cooler produced not enough cold temperature.

1 Not at all The air – cooler did not produce cold temperature.

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D. GANTT CHART

ACTIVITIES JUNE JULY AUGUST

1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 1st 2nd 3rd 4th

1. Problem

Identifiaction

2. Gathering

Preliminary Data

3. Formulation of the

statement of the

problem

4. Conducting the

experiment

4.1. Preparation of

Materials

4.2. Construction

4.3. Four – Hour

Cooling Test

5. Collecting Data

6. Organizing and Data

7. Conclusion and

Recommendation

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E. STATISTICS USED

The data on temperature of the air – cooler will be subjected to measures

of central tendencies.

The data on the evaluation process will be subjected to measures of central

tendencies

F. EVALUATION PROCESS

To evaluate the effectiveness of the air – cooler in terms of acceptability

and cooling power, five evaluators were selected with acceptable qualifications. A

retired elementary teacher, a former high school teacher, an ESH engineer, a

carpenter and an aircon manufacturer were the evaluators.

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IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

This part presents the data collected from the experiment which will answer the

specific question.

1. How effective is the air – cooler made out of improvised materials in terms of:

a. acceptability?

The acceptability is evaluated by 5 persons who tested this product. The

electric air – cooler is made fairly durable and fairly effective but not

presentable in appearance.

TABLE 1 Evaluation for the Acceptability

EVALUATOR SCORE

1 2

2 3

3 4

4 3

5 4

Average 3.2

The data (see Table 1) shows that the evaluators seek more improvements on the

materials being used, and its presentation on the public.

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b. cooling power?

The cooling power is evaluated by 5 persons who tested this product. Based

on the evaluation, the electric air – cooler produced fairly cold temperature.

TABLE 2 Evaluation for the Cooling Power

EVALUATOR SCORE

1 2

2 3

3 4

4 3

5 4

Average 3.2

The data (see Table 2) shows that the evaluators seek some improvements on the

coolant(s) used, and the cold temperature given off.

The cooling power is tested by its cooling power through 6 – hour cooling test. The

electric air – cooler was placed in a room with the temperature of 20 degrees Celsius. The

cold temperature maintained its temperature inside and produced fairly enough.

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1 2 3 4 5 6

Temperature of the Cooler 28 27.5 26 24.9 23 20

Temperature of the Fan 28.5 27.9 27.1 26.5 25.9 25.4

2.5

7.5

12.5

17.5

22.5

27.5

Graph 1: Temperature (Celsius) of the Electric Air Cooler

See Graph 1 The average temperature of the cooler is 24.9 degrees Celsius within 6

hours and the average temperature of the fan is 26.88 within 6 hours. The researchers found out

that the temperature of the cooler and the fan varies to the number of coolant needed.

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V. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Based on the evaluation of five evaluators, the electric air – cooler made out of

improvised materials is fairly effective in terms of acceptability and cooling power.

The electric air – cooler can reach the temperature of less than 26.88 degrees Celsius

(for the fan) and less than 24.9 degrees (for the cooler) varies on the number of

coolant needed.

Therefore, the electric air cooler made out of improvised materials is effective in

terms of acceptability and cooling power.

VI. RECOMMENDATION

This study is recommended for appliance manufacturers and the interested

experts. Further research must be conducted on the materials can be used, electric

consumption and the refrigerant / coolant.

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VII. REFERENCES

California Energy Comission (2002). How Things Work: How does an Air Conditioner Work?. Retrieved July 1, 2014 from http://www.energyquest.ca.gov./how_it_works/air_conditioner.html.

Janssen, C. (2009). Air Cooling. Retrieved July 1, 2014 from www.investopedia.com/air_cooling/

Cameron (2009). Portable Air Cooler. Retrieved from July 1, 2014 from www.instructables.com/air_cooler

Ehensel (2014). Homemade Air Conditioner. Retrieved from July 1, 2014 from http://www.instructables.com/id/Homemade-air-conditioner/

Estrabo, E. (2013), Mini – Refrigerator Out of Recyclable Materials.

Webster, M. (1977). Webster Comprehensive Dictionary: International Edition. J. G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago.

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VIII. APPENDICES

TABLE 1 Evaluation for the

Acceptability

TABLE 2 Evaluation for the Cooling

power

Time (Hours)

Temperature of the Cooler (in

Celsius)

Temperature of the Fan (in

Celsius)1 28 28.52 27.5 27.93 26 27.14 24.9 26.55 23 25.96 20 25.4

Average 24.9 26.88

TABLE 3 Temperature of the Electric Air Cooler

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EVALUATOR SCORE1 22 33 44 35 4

Total 16Mean 3.2Mode 3 and 4

EVALUATOR SCORE1 22 33 44 35 4

Total 16Mean 3.2Mode 3 and 4

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The researchers would like to

thank

Our Parents,

Our Teachers,

The people who saw us carrying the SIP and gave

comments and suggestions,

Mrs. Luzviminda M. Bago,

Our Research I Teacher

and last and foremost

The Almighty God

ABSTRACT