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AQUASAir QUality Assurance System

CS 410Fall 2004

Feasibility

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Presentation Objectives

Group Introduction Problem Description & Solution System Components Resources & Estimated Costs Time and Management Methods Anticipated Market and Societal Impacts Mitigation of Key Risks

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Team Members

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Problem Statement

A side effect of newer, energy efficient homes is they are too air-tight and insulated and allow airborne contaminants to build to potentially dangerous levels, yet they lack an integral contaminant detection system to offset this side-effect of energy efficiency

Dirty FilterClean Filter

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Problem Characteristics

• No common way to know when airborne contaminants reach dangerous levels

– Numerous odorless gases– No visual cues

• Unique conditions present:– Do you have pets?– Mold?– Gas appliances?

• Some Health Problems aggravated by “dirty air”:

– Allergies (Pets, Dust, Mold, Tobacco Smoke)

– Spread of airborne diseases (viral/bacterial)• Common Cold, Tuberculosis, Measles,

Staphylococcus– In rare cases, death by asphyxiation:

• Carbon Monoxide, natural gas

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Air QUality Assurance System

Develop a system that alerts a residential consumer when airborne contaminants inside the home reach dangerous levels by continually monitoring and testing the quality of the air entering the central HVAC system.

Solution

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Proposed System Will

Detect a reduction in air flow commonly caused by a dirty air filter

Reduce airborne contaminants that contribute to fungal growth *

Alert consumer when select contaminants reach dangerous levels

As a side benefits, reduce household costs by improving heating and cooling system efficiency

Contribute in maintaining a clean, clear, and safe air environment

* http://www.air-care-filters.com

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Proposed System Will Not

Alert the consumer of HVAC system malfunctions

Function without a power source

Determine the source of the contaminant

Require professional installation

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How a Heating Ventilating Air Conditioning System Works

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System Components

Notification system can be constructed with many off the shelf parts

Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) Power Source Mounting Hardware Air Flow Sensor

Pressure Sensor Thin Film sensor

Electronic “nose” Can be configured to detect thousands of types of contaminants

Light Emitting Diode (LED) Typically burn for 10000+ hours.

Wiring To and from sensor and LED

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Resources

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Resources Needed Cost Range

Hardware Components

Programmable Logic Controller ($99-$120)

Power Source Negligible Cost

Mounting Hardware Negligible Cost

Air Flow Sensor? ($28 - $50)

Electronic Nose Currently Unknown

Miscellaneous Components (LED, Wiring, etc)

Negligible Cost

Total Cost Per Unit ($127-$160) + misc items

Overhead Resources

Engineer $67,000/yr

Programmer $67,000/yr

Software Cost (initial software purchase cost) ($1,000-$2,000)

Air Conditioner for Testing ($1000-$5000)

Total Overhead Cost ($69,000-$74,000)

Total Net Cost ($69,127-$74,160)

(Engineer/Programmer)http://www.salary.com(PLC & Ladder Software)http://web1.automationdirect.com/static/full_pl.pdf(LED) http://www.eled.com/product.asp?catalog_name=LEDs&product_id=E1503CB-ID(Sensor)http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html (AC Unit)http://www.alpinehomeair.com(Electronic Nose)http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/logos20-3/smartsensor01.htm

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Conceptual Model

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What we will have to do to complete this goal? Purchase the required components Construct a model, prototype, and working product Test to ensure the final product works as proposed with

various contaminants

We will be able to complete this in the allocated time No time will be spent manufacturing items Items in proposal are readily available Required knowledge is readily accessible Minimal amount of software creation required Majority of time spent on research and testing

Time/Schedule

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Managerial Methods Consistent Weekly Meetings Agenda driven, Open communication Assigned Job Description:

Each team member has a certain role with clearly defined responsibilities Collaborative tools to aid in group work:

Bulletin boards, Email-List Web based Calendar with tasks and milestones Plan to institute a Content Management System (CMS) for central

document sharing and revision control Subversion Code Repository

Monitor Project status: Daily status reports indicating status of current task Weekly status report to asses reaching milestones

Plan to follow a defined process cycle: Aligned with business rules and process Iterative, Requirement Driven, Test Driven

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MarketWho is the customer? Residential consumers that have central heating and cooling systems

As of July 1, 2003, there were an estimated 120,879,390 homes in the United States *

Between 88 and 90 percent of new homes completed in 2003 have air conditioning **

Other considerations? Affordable for the average consumer

Easy to install and operate

* http://www.census.gov/popest/housing/tables/HU-EST2003-01.pdf** http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalac.pdf

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Societal Impacts

Pros: Improvements in air quality within consumer homes Reduction in consumer costs associated with energy/

power consumption Ease of mind

Cons: Over reliance on a technological solution

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Risks

What are some Risks? The existing components are not sensitive enough to effectively

monitor air flow in a typical heating and cooling system

Production costs exceed initial estimates resulting in higher consumer

costs

Market for a comprehensive air quality detection system is too small

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Mitigation of Risks

Risk: The existing components are not sensitive enough to handle the flow of air in a typical cooling/heating system.

Mitigation: Quality control and safety program that implements specific tests verifying our notification system works in a variety of environments.

Risk: Market for a air flow sensor doesn't exist.Mitigation:

Thorough market research through consumer polls. If our product was available and at reasonable cost would the customer be interested?

Risk: Consumers may be unwilling to accept the added expense of the AFNS.Mitigation:

Demonstrate that the cost of adding the AFNS to a new or existing home is very small compared to the costs of not having the AFNS.

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Pro’s

Safer air environment for home owners with central HVAC

Potential reduction in energy costs due to reduced stress on the HVAC system

Eliminates the burden of scheduling routine superfluous air filter replacements maximizing an air filter’s life span

Lack of customized alarm settings may annoy certain consumers

Locations for installation may be difficult to access depending on the home’s architecture

Con’s

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Final Remarks

No integrated air quality system is included in most new residential homes

The Air QUality Assurance System provides a more accurate method

Components and resources required are readily obtainable and for reasonable cost

Large potential residential consumer market exists for this product

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Research Sources

Croom, Miles L., Filter dust collectors, McGraw Hill, Inc, New York, 1995.

Donovan, R. P. Fabric filtration for combustion sources, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, 1985.

McDermott, Henry. Handbook of Ventilation for Contaminate control. Butterworth Publishers, Boston, 1985.

McQuiston, Faye C. and Parker, Jerald D. Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Analysis and Design, Fourth Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1994.

Oughton, D. R. and Hodkinson, S. Heating and Air Conditioning of Buildings, Butterworth- Heinemann, Oxford, 2002.

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Research Sources http://www.air-care-filters.com http://www.air-care-filters.com/faq.htm http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html http://www.stpaultravelers.com/business_insurance/risk_control http://www.eled.com/product.asp?catalog_name=LEDs&product_id=E1503CB-ID http://www.eepn.com/Locator/Products/ArticleID/26804/Action/Issue/26804.html http://doityourself.com/store/buildingwireuf.htm http://www.provantage.com/buy-7CBTB00E-500-ft-solid-cat5e-pvc-jacket-cmr-rated-

white-cables-go-bulk-wire-connectors-27355-shopping.htm http://www.census.gov/indicator/www/newresconst.pdf http://www.census.gov/popest/housing/tables/HU-EST2003-01.pdf http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalac.pdf http://www.deyes.sefton.sch.uk/technology/AS&Alevel/microprocessor_control.htm http://www.salary.com

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More Proposed Changes

Market change market to residential HVAC manufacturers (choose one)

Add new functionality- carbon monoxide detector? Is expandable to detect other contaminants…