Materials Update

Update from the Machine Shop

Jess and Andrea made a quick visit to the Machine Shop in the Engineering Design Labs to discuss locations to purchase materials for the Flush Diverter. The Machine Shop has some spare materials lying around, so our group was able to collect some lengths of PVC pipe. The worker there suggested visiting the Lowe's hardware store on Lancaster Ave. to gather the rest of our materials.

Group member Jess with two PVC pipes collected from the Machine Shop.

Week Four

During today's meeting, the group discussed some of the aesthetic changes to the blog, reviewed the updated diverter CAD design, and drafted a list of materials for the flush diverter.

Aesthetic Changes to the Blog:
- Included post about meeting with the EWB Design Team
- Updated the Bibliography page (name changed to Meet the Team)
- Finished the FAQ page

Flush Diverter Design Summary

• Given the level of debris and contaminants in the first flush of collected rainfall, the total volume of the first flush was finalized at 35 gallons (132.4 L). 
• As the diagram shows, water will flow from the preexisting gutter system into the funnel-shaped 3" to 2" reducer to a Tee junction. 
• Using a stretchable inner tube and watertight O-ring gaskets, the bottom end of the Tee junction (the flush diverter itself) will be connected to the fiber drum. Because the drum will need to be emptied following each rain event, the connection to the drum is flexible and designed to withstand the gradual wear of many rainstorms. 
• As rainwater is collected and fills the drum, a buoyant ball (for our uses, a tennis ball) will rise, eventually blocking entrance to the drum when full. To prevent the ball from becoming stuck in different areas of the barrel,  a wire tether or cage will be used to fix the general location of the ball.
• When the drum is completely filled and sealed off, the relatively purer rainwater will flow through the other end of the Tee junction into a rainwater collection tank.
• Group member Tyler was responsible for creating the CAD model of the flush diverter.

Detailed Schematic of the Sustainable Rainwater Flush Diverter Design

List of Materials:

After reviewing the final flush diverter design, we drafted a preliminary list of materials, as the group's focus shifts to prototype construction in the coming weeks. The materials, which should be available either online or in a hardware store, include:

• 35-Gallon Fiber Drum
• PVC 3-Way 2" Valve
• 2" PVC Pipe
• 3" to 2" Reducer
• Tire Inner Tube
• Rubber Accordion Boot
• Screw Cap Receiver
• 2" O-Ring (x2)
• Mesh for Funneling Larger Debris
• String/Wire
• Tennis Ball
• Wire Cage

Andrea and Jessica are planning to go to the workshop Friday to discuss our project with the workers at the Machine Shop. Hopefully, they have useful information about what machine-shop services are available, whether group certification is necessary, and where we should begin to acquire materials.

EWB Design Team

Meeting Notes:

• We had the opportunity to speak with a member of the EWB who created a prototype of a flush diverter. He was able to construct it out of commonly available scrap materials (a ping pong ball, a bottle, and a PVC T-Fitting)
• Members of EWB suggested that we check in with members of the machine shop to see if they have extra materials or suggestions for where to purchase them
• Jessica and Andrea will check in with the machine shop this Friday (4/22/2016) to ask about recommendations for materials acquisition.
• Alternative plan: Research local hardware stores