Team:UGent Belgium/Shape

Bootstrap 101 Template



MENU ▤

Shape

Overview

The aim of the shape optimization group is to design a functional, modular water collector. We use the freely available Autodesk Fusion 360 software to make a 3D design in a collaborative fashion. Together with 3D printing, we can rapidly construct prototypes to be tested for functionality, durability, or even esthetics. The water collector is made from polylactic acid (PLA), an environmentally friendly bioplastic.
The other WP’s will enhance the physicochemical properties of the water collector.

Goals

  1. The shape should be able to collect fog, mist, dew and rain from the air into a reservoir.
  2. The collector should be modular: many collector should be able to be combined to one large structure. On the other hand, a single collector should be able to draw a useful amount of water from the air as well.
  3. The water collector should be easily transported and stored. Multiple collector should be able to be stacked compactly.
  4. It should be able to be mass produced cheaply.

Specifications

A shape for water collection

Our shape is inspired by the fogstand beetle (Stenocara gracilipes). Living in Namib Desert in South Africa, this beetle cannot rely on rain or water bodies for its water need. Instead, it tilts its round body in the humid breeze. Small droplets of water are collected against its wings. The wings contain both hydrophilic and hydrophobic patches. The former binds small water droplets, the latter leads larger accumulated drops down to the head of the beetle.

fogstand beetle

Shape simulation

Our basic shape tries to emulate this process: a half sphere which collects water from the air surrounded by a gutter to collect the water droplets. It will be investigated if additional rough spots on the dome help water harvesting by increasing the surface or ‘leading’ the water downwards.

Functional design

The top of the dome has small opening that connects to the four holes places in the gutter. This allows the water collectors to be either stacked in a tower for transportation or as a pyramid to make a larger construction.

Production

The water collector is designed using Autodesk Fusion 360. Prototypes are made using a New Matter 3D printer.