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Outstanding user requirements/specifications:
1. Working envelope/ reach of device
Will decide on this later, or base it on your literature study of how large the space is where
the dust is located and how much of this area can be cleaned until your container is full. Also
depends on the flexibility of the compressed air supply point.
2. Suction required
A domestic vacuum cleaner supplies 20kPa of vacuum (or 2m of water lift). This is for no
flow (e.g., when using the hose to pick up a weight). How does this pressure change when
there is flow, and flow with particles. Consult literature.
A typical application in a mine requested 85kPa of vacuum (25 inches of mercury). Is that
realizable? Only the detail design can answer this question.
Consider doing tests using particles and a domestic vacuum to see what the relationship
between suction and the size of particles that are picked up, is.
3. Size of compressed air supply
Assume that the compressed air is available in ½”, 1”and 2”. Will decide later if only a single
size will be used.
Functions identified in class:
Provide suction/suck (should this be pulsating to loosed stuck pieces?)
Be mobile/must be able to move. This function is linked to having a reach, or reaching the
whole working envelope
Filter exhaust/dusty air (this refers to the safety of the operating personnel, in that smaller
particles that are not trapped, get caught as well)
Provide access to storage contained
Store the captured dust
Provide connection/interface to supply
Provide access for maintenance (and upgrades)
Provide monitoring/sensing of load
Be safe (this is a vague function) – be more specific by specifying which safety functions are
required (moving parts, noise, dust, etc.). Allow quick shut‐off
Be robust (this is a vague function) – be more specific by identifying robustness, e.g.,
withstand rough handling, be tolerant to varying humidity in supply air, work equally well
when container is empty and when it is nearly full, etc.
Dampen noise
Sensing in general. Decide what needs to be monitored for automatic or semi‐automatic
operation (pressure, load, flowrate, etc.)
Contain subsystems/provide packaging (in a safe way that provides the required access)
Transport the product (this includes how the containers are carried/moved)
Separate dust from air. This refers to the process after the dust is entrained so that the air
can be cleaner again.
Direct exhaust air
Convert high pressure air into low pressure air
Provide mechanical support for components in device
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Be able to provide own illumination (be able to work in the dark)
Things to do for next week:
1. Classify functions into main functions and sub‐functions (functional analysis)
2. Identify concepts to fulfill functions. This can be done for each main function, or for
identified subsystems that are dedicated to performing the functions.
3. Play with vacuum cleaners and their capacity.
4. Start thinking about criteria and their weights that can be used to rate the performance of
the different functions.
5. Keep on consulting literature. Especially perform a patent search (e.g. www.uspto.org) on
similar devices that have been patented. Also search for literature related to the technical
working of your concepts, especially suction.
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