ICOM 5047

Project: Roof Water Cooling System

In Puerto Rico, electricity cost is around 27 ¢/kWhr. As of right now, many home/ business owners pay high amounts of power bills just to cool their spaces using air conditioning (A/C) and fans. On the other hand, as outdoor temperatures rise, indoor conditions increase as well, reaching temperatures above 850F. This is because the Sun heats the concrete/zinc roofs and these in turn absorb heat that transfers through the material, turning work/home environments and storages an uncomfortable place. After taking in consideration the roof cooling problems, an automatic roof water cooling system is designed. A pump system which sprinkles water throughout the roof is an alternate method of cooling our indoor spaces. It will use rain water as a primary source and, if it is not available, tap water will be used. As the sprinkled water evaporates, it carries heat energy off the roof, not letting the heat accumulated in the roof be transferred to the indoors. The system will be solar powered; making sure it will not have an impact on the power bill.

Project: Outreach Program Database (OPDB)

Description:

There is a lack of presence in K-12 schools on behalf of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus (UPRM). This perception is due to the absence of a centralized mechanism that can manage and provide information to the UPRM outreach program members. The inexistence of this mechanism manifests itself in various ways, such as conflicting schedules amongst different outreach activities, mismanagement of campus resources and a general lack of communication between the various entities that perform outreach at UPRM. To address this problem, OPDB was proposed; it is a system comprised of a centralized database with an accompanying web portal that will allow users to manage and monitor all outreach efforts within the UPRM campus in an attempt to make these efforts more organized and effective.

Project: Automation System for an Acid-Base Solution Mixer

Description:

This Project consists in the realization of an automation process for a Continuous Stirred-Tank Reactor (CSTR) for an Acid-Base solution laboratory at the UPRM Department of Chemical Engineering. The main objectives are to improve the data acquisition of pH and prevent mistakes in the titration improving the control of the process digitally using a user friendly interface. To achieve the desired performance of the process automation would consist by implementing a flow controller, stirred velocity controller and pH sensor to obtain data.

Project: PR Design Network

Description:

Developing a product in Puerto Rico starting from its design to its manufacturing and exportation is troublesome because there is no specific tool to aid in this process. PR Design Network is a web platform that will give designers, manufacturers, students, businessmen, or any other person with an idea of a product an easy way to find what he needs to design, develop, and commercialise their ideas.

Project: EBSID - Eye-Blinking Switch for Individuals with Disabilities

Description:

In this project, the need of an eye-blink switch to be used as a communication tool for people with severe physical disabilities that only have the ability to blink their eyes to communicate with their environment has been identified. Reason why, an eye-blink switch that differentiates voluntary blinks from the involuntary ones will be developed as a universal switch that improves interaction with, for example, wheelchair control, computer access, and alternative communication.