BajaTeam

SolarWaterHeater
ContinuityReport
Spring2016
ClientOrganizations:
LaMisionChildrensFund
(http://www.lamisionchildrensfund.org)
CasademiFamilia
(http://www.casademifamilia.com)

Advisors:
Dr.KurtLund
DianaWuWong

OverallTeamLead:
DohwanKim
(d8kim@ucsd.edu)
SystemDesignTeamLead:
FumikaTakazawa
(fumika.takazawa@gmail.com)
TestingTeamLead:

LongDo
(lpdo@ucsd.edu)
ClientLiaison:
SebastianLee
(sebastianlee@gmail.com)

Treasurer:
WaiYeungAlbertChan
(wychan@ucsd.edu)
TeamMembers:
MarilynSun
(mss008@ucsd.edu)
JessicaJeon
(shjeon@ucsd.edu)
GregoryWong
(wongr3gory@gmail.com)
AaronChien
(a3chien@ucsd.edu)
AlvinTan
(a7tan@ucsd.edu)

IsabelDElia
(idelia@ucsd.edu)
AbrahamGutierrez
(amg041@ucsd.edu)
AyusmaKarki
(ayusmakarki@gmail.com)

TableofContents
I.

Introduction

A. AbouttheClient

B. WhoWeAre
II.

SystemDesignTeam

B. Achievements

TestingTeam

A. Background

B. Achievements

C. Commentary
IV.

A. Background

C. Commentary
III.

ImplementationandInventory

A. ImplementationProcess
B. LaundryRoom

C. Roof

D. Wall
E. Inventory
F. Obstacles&WhatWeLearned
V.

RemainingGoals

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A. ShortTerm
B. LongTerm
VI.

References

15

I. Introduction

AbouttheClient
OurclientistheunderprivilegedyouthinBaja,Mexico.Ourteamhasbeenworkingon
theimprovementinthequalityoflifeinorphanagesacrossTijuanaoverthepast4years,seeking
todesignsustainablecostefficientproductsinhopestoreducefinancialpressureofthe
orphanages,andmostimportantly,toimpacttheyouththrougheducationandempowerment.We
havebeenworkingwithStevenEllisandKathleenDwyer,thepresidentofthe
LaMision
ChildrensFund
(LMCF)sincethefallof2012.LMCFisanonprofit,volunteerorganization
thathelpsprovideessentialaidandnecessitiestotheyouthofBaja,Mexicolivinginareasof
poverty.
WithKathleensandStevenshelp,weidentifiedanorphanagethatcouldgreatlybenefit
fromasolarwaterheater,
CasadeMiFamilia
orphanageinBaja,Mexico.Attheorphanage,
thereare24childrenagedupto20yearsoldmanagedbyTedandKarenSpringer.Tedand
Karenareahusbandandwifeteamwhoworkhardweektoweektokeepthesechildrenhealthy
andhappy.Inaddition,AlejandroandMarcelaaretheretotakecareofthechildrenonadayto
daybasis.Theyplayacrucialroleintheimplementationofthesystem,sincetheywillbe
empoweredwiththeknowledgeofthesystemandthetoolstoworkthesystemthemselves.For
thepast20years,theorphanagehasreceivedminimalfunding,andthenumberofchildren
continuestoincrease.Operatingon$40,000annuallyhaspreventedthemfrombeingableto
affordhotwaterandfulfillbasicneeds.Addingasolarwaterheaterwouldmeangreatreductions
inoperationalcostsofgas,whichmeanstheywillbeabletousehotwaterwithoutworries.

WhoWeAre
TheBajateamispartofGlobalTIES,ahumanitarianbasedengineeringprogramat
UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegothatallowsstudentsofdifferentdisciplinestoworktogether
toachieveacommongoalinengineeringthroughaprojectforanonprofitorganization.This
quarter,ourfocusistoimprovethequalityoflifeandempowerthechildrenattheorphanageof
CasademiFamiliawithfinalizingdesignsolutionofasolarthermalcollectorsystemand
implementingthesystemthatwouldprovidethemwithminimumof40gallonsofheatedwatera
day.Inordertodoso,wespecializedourfocusintotwoteams:SystemDesignTeamand
TestingTeam.TheSystemDesignsSubteamfocusesonbestfittingthesystemtotheneeds,
designlimitations,andexistingconditionsattheorphanage,aswellasdesigningandmodeling
thegeneralpiping,wiring,andlocationofthesystemcomponents.TheTestingSubteamfocuses
onperformingfieldtestingoftheacquiredcomponentsaswellasassessingpossiblechangesthat
mayhavetobeimplementedonthesystembasedoncalculationsofflowrate,pump
performanceetc.Together,wehavedeterminedanoptimaldesignfortheorphanage,ordered
andtestedcomponents,andhavesuccessfullyimplementedtheSolarThermalWaterHeaterin
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CasadeMiFamilia.Inthefuture,wehopetocontinueimplementingmoresustainablesystems
thatcatertotheneedsofthechildrenofMexico.

II. SystemDesignSubteam
(Aaron,Isabel,Fumika)
Background
TheSystemsDesignteamwasformedthisquarterinordertocompilethebasicstructure
oftheentireheatingsystem.Mostofthecomponentshadalreadybeendecidedupon,butthe
teamhadyettodeterminelogisticsoftheentiresystemandanoptimalwaytoconnectthem.For
thisreason,themainresponsibilitiesoftheteamweretoestablishaworkingdesignandtosketch
ablueprintofit.Inordertodoso,thesystemdesignssubteamwasgiventhepurposeof
creatinganAutoCADmodelofthecompiledsystem,includingthesite,andtogeneratea
processflowdiagram,toultimatelyorder,assemble,andimplementthesystem.
TheTeamtookanassessmenttriptoCasademiFamiliaandtookmeasurementsand
picturesofthesiteinearlyApril.TheAutoCADmodelofthesiteservedtoillustratehowour
systemwouldfitwiththeexistinginfrastructure.Itprovedextremelyusefulsincethemodel
capturedeverydetailofeachenvironmentaccurately,providinganidenticalmodeloftheentire
system.Similarly,theprocessflowdiagramservedtoindicatethegeneralflowofthecooland
hotwaterthroughtheequipment.Sincethesystemwasnotaconventionalheatingsystem,the
flowdiagramwasasuitingreferencefortheteamwhenselectingandpurchasingpipingaswell
asconstructingthesystem,sincethefirstfewdraftscapturedminordetailssuchaspipingdetails
anddesignations.

Achievements
OnApril9th,theteammadeameasurementfieldtriptoCasademiFamiliato
investigatehowtoimplementthesolarthermalcollectorandhowlongthepipingsystemshould
bebasedonseveralimplementationoptionsavailable.Fromthistrip,thesolarthermalcollector
systemwasdiscoveredtobemaximizedattheorphanagewiththecollectorinstalledfacingwest
ontheentranceroof,pipingalongthewalls,leadinguptothesolartankstoredinsidethelaundry
room.Basedonthesenecessarymeasurements,computeraidedmodelswithusingFusion360
fromAutodeskwereconstructedtoscaleinordertoestimatetheamountandvarietyof
componentsnecessaryforpurchase.Thesemeasurementswerealsonecessaryforthetesting
teamtocalculateforappropriatepipediameter,whichwaslaterreflectedinthevirtualmodels.
Thevirtualmodelfeaturesthelaundryroom,wall,andentranceroofoftheorphanage,all
ofthecomponentsaffectedbyoursystem.Fig11andFig12showthePVpanelandsolar
collectoronthetopoftheroof,facingthewestside.Therewillbepipesrunningalongthewall
intothelaundryroom,wherethestoragetank,expansiontank,andwaterfilterwillreside,as

showninFig2.Fromthesevirtualmodels,thepipelengthwasestimatedtobeapproximately
over80feet.
AsmanifestedinallofthepreviousfiguresandespeciallyFigure22aand22b,the
connectionsbetweenthetanksaswellastheconfigurationthroughthewallofthelaundryroom
wereexpectedtobecomplicated.Duetotheteamslimitedknowledgeindisturbinganexisting
domesticplumbingsystem,wewerenotabletofullyvisualizethethreedimensionalworkingsof
thisaspect.Thus,weconstructedaflowchartoftheentiresystemforcommunicationwith
plumbersduringtheimplementationtrip,asshowninFigure3.Thiscolorcodedflowchart
providedatwodimensionallayoutofourentiresystem,remindingusofnecessaryconnections
betweendifferingpartsindiameter,material,andangle,andenabledustocollaborateinthe
implementationprocesswithlocalplumbers.
Withthecompletionoftheblueprint,theSystemDesignsSubteamfurtheredthestepto
implementationbypurchasingnecessarycomponentsrangingfromacableforthePVpanel,
elbowsforthepiping,mountsforthepiping,andmountsforthePVandsolarcollector.
ConstructionprocessesappropriateforcompletionintheU.S.werealsocarriedout.Thefittings
forinletandoutletatthesolarcollectorwerechangedtoappropriatelyconnecttothepipes,and
fouroutoftenmountsforthesolarthermalcollectorwereplacedontothecollectorforeaseof
laterimplementationwhilealsoleavingwiggleroomforapotentiallyunevenroofsurface.The
systemdesignssubteamsuccessfullyachieveditsgoalsofaccuratelymappingoutthesystem,
andultimatelyenabledthesmoothimplementationofthesolarthermalwaterheatersystem.

Figure11.OverallCADSchematicForInstallationofSystem
4

Figure12.OverallCADSchematicForInstallationofSystem

Figure2.CADSchematicofLaundryRoom

Figure22aandFigure22b.CADSchematicofLaundryRoomwithPiping

Figure3.FlowChartoftheEntireSystem
6

Commentary
Thisquarter,weworkedontheschematicsforvariouspartsofthesystem,aswellasthe
orphanageitself.Notonlythat,wealsolookedintothedifferentkindsofmountingthatwecould
usetomountthesolarcollector.Westartedoffbymodifyingsomeoftheschematicsfromthe
previousquarters,inordertokeepthediagramsasaccurateaspossible.Wethenproceededto
sketchouttheorphanageitself,tryingtoreplicatethelayoutasaccuratelyaspossible.We
createdaschematicfortheinfrastructureofthebuilding,organizationofthepiping,andthe
positioningofvariouscomponentsofthesystem.Bydoingsketchingoutthewholesystemand
itsenvironmentout,itallowsformoreaccuratepreparationandimplementationofthesystem.In
termsofsupplies,wewillgetabetterideaofwhatweneedtopurchaseforexample,howmany
jointswewouldneedforthepiping,whatsizepipingtopurchase,andvariousother
miscellaneouspurchaseslikethat.Intermsofimplementation,theschematicsgiveusabetter
ideaofwhattoexpectpriortoactuallyinstallingthesystemcomponents.Overall,theworkthat
theSystemDesignsubteammadetheoverallteammoreorganizedandpreparedfortheactual
implementation.

III. TestingTeam
Background
Thetestingteamwasformedthisquarterinordertotestandassessthevarious
componentsofoursolarwaterheatingsystem.Specificallyforthisquarter,thetestingteams
mainresponsibilitywastestingoursystemswaterpumpandselectingofanappropriatewater
filtrationsystem.Regardingoursystemswaterpump,itisthesolemechanismbywhichwateris
circulatedthroughoutoursolarwaterheatingsystem.Inordertodothis,thepumpmustbeable
toprovideenoughdrivingforcetoovercomethefrictioninthevariouspipesandbendsaswell
astoovercometheeffectsofgravityintheverticalpipesectionsofoursystem.Thepumpmust
beabletoovercometheselossesinordertoefficientlypumpwaterfromthesystemsstorage
tankuptothesolarthermalcollectorlocatedontopoftheorphanagesroof.Withoutthisaction,
thesystemwouldbeunabletoheatwater.Therefore,itwascrucialforthetestingteamtoensure
thatthepumpcanprovideasufficientmassflowratethatwouldovercomethesedescribed
losses.Theprocedurebywhichthiswasdoneanditsresultscanbereadfurtherinthefollowing
Achievementssection.
AnotherresponsibilityofTestingTeamwasfindinganappropriatewaterfiltration
system.Awaterfiltrationsystemisneededduetothepresenceofmineralsinthecityswater
supply.Aswithanyplumbingsystem,naturalaccumulationofmineralsovertimecauses
cloggedpipes.Whenthishappens,lesswaterwillbeflowedthroughthesysteminaddition,the
7

speedatwhichwaterwillflowthroughthesystemwillalsobereduced.Theconsequencesofthe
buildupofmineralseffectivelyreducestheefficiencyofoursystemifleftunchecked,itcan
potentiallyreducetheefficiencytothepointthatwaterwillnolongerbeheated.Therefore,a
selectionofafiltrationsystemwasnecessary.Theprocessbywhichthiswasdoneaswellasthe
finalfiltrationselectioncanbereadfurtherinthefollowingAchievementsandCommentary
sections.

Achievements
BasedontheenergybalancecalculationsofWinterQuartersteam,apumpwithflow
rateofapproximately1gallonperminuteshouldtheoreticallybesufficientinpumpingthewater
throughoutthesysteminordertoachievethedesiredtemperaturechangeofabout40degrees
Fahrenheit.Inordertodetermineifthepurchasedpumpcouldfulfillthisrole,asimulationwas
executedtogatherdatanecessarytocomparethepumpscapabilitiesagainstthedesignofthe
wholesystem.
Inthissimulation,wetestedthepumpagainstfrictionandgravitybyexaminingtheflow
rateatvariousheightdifferences.Attachinghoselinestoourpump,wedeterminedflowrateby
pumpingwaterfromaonebuckettoanotherandrecordingtheamountofwatertransportedin
thespanofoneminute.Thisprocedurewasrepeatedforthreedifferentheightdifferencesin
whichthehoseoutletwasraisedbyhand(asdepictedinFig.4)andthecorrespondingheight
wasmeasured.

Figure4.Testing12VPump
TheresultsofthisfieldtestaresummarizedinthePumpPerformancegraphbelow.Note:
pumpdatawascollectedexperimentallycollectorsystemdatawasbasedonapproximated
minorandmajorheadlossesforandinchpipediameters.Thisperformancegraphplotsthe
differenceinpressurehead(internalenergyofthefluidduetotheexertedpressure)againstthe
massflowrateofthethewaterforboththepumpitselfandthewholecollectorsystem.The
intersectionofthepumpcurve(red)andsystemcurves(blue,green)indicatethe
8

correspondingflowratethatwillactuallybeachievedbythesystem:Forapipediameter,a
flowrateof~1gallonspermincanbeachievedforapipediameter,~1.5gallonsperminute
isreached.Basedonthespecsofthepurchasedpump,thesizeoftheCPVCpipingsavailablefor
purchaseatlocaldepartmentstores,andthefactthataslowerflowrateleadstogreatera
temperatureriseforthecirculatingwater,thedecisionwasmadetouseinchpipingthroughout
theentiresystem.

Figure5.PumpPerformanceGraph

Commentary
Aftertestingthepumpandlookingatthepumpperformancecurvetodecidetheoptimal
diameterneededforthedesiredflow,ourteambegantolookintothemaintenanceofoursolar
waterheaterandoneofthekeycomponentsneededtomaintainoursysteminthelongrunwasa
properwaterfiltrationsystem.Theheatcausesmineralsoftenprevalentindomesticwaterto
precipitateoutascalciumcarbonatewhichcanleadtomanydetrimentaleffectsovertime.The
sedimentcanformalayerofinsulationwhichslowstheheattransferprocessandoverheatsthe
tankbottom,weakeningthesteel.Italsocausesjamsincheckvalvesandfostersgrowthof
corrosivebacteria.
Goingintoresearchingthiscomponent,wereadoverthecontinuityreportoftheWinter
QuarterBajaTeamtogetagraspofourdesiredpricerangeandtotakealookatoptionsthat
werepreviouslyconsidered.AfterlookingatHomeDepotsandLoweswebsitesand
consolidatingalloftheinformationgathered,wedecidedontheWhirlpool10inWholeHouse
CompleteFiltrationSystemaftermakingsuretolookthroughthespecifications,reviews,andthe
communityQ&Asection.Notonlywasitpraisedforitsconvenienceandvisiblescreendesign
thateasilyallowstheusertoseetheconditionofthestainlessthreadinserts,butalsoithasa
bypassvalvethatallowsthefilterstobechangedwithoutshuttingoffthewholesystem.

IV. ImplementationandInventory
(Ayusma,Alvin,Albert)
ImplementationProcess

AfterpurchasingrequiredpartsfromHomeDepotinRosarito,Mexico,westartedthe
constructionwithtwolocalplumbers.Sinceitrequiresgoodplumbingskillsforsolderingcopper
pipesanddrillingholesinthewall,weaskedtheplumbersworkingonthelaundryroomarea.At
thesametime,wedecidedtostartinstallationfromtheroofareamovingtowardthelaundry
roomalongthewall..Afterinstallingthesystem,pumpprimingwasdonetomakesurethe
closedsystemdoesnothaveairinsidethesystem.

LaundryRoom
Afterexplainingtheentiresystemtotheplumbers,theysaidthattheycouldfinishallthe
installationwithUSD250.Sincewewantedtoparticipateintheconstructionprocess,weasked
themworkingonthelaundryroomareaforUSD100.Byprovidingthemourflowdiagram,they
implementedoursystemin4hoursbyinstallingtheCPVCpipes,waterfiltrationsystem,flow
indicator,pump,checkvalve,andtheexpansiontank.

Figure6.PictureoftheLaundryRoom
10

Roof
Westartedinstallingaluminummountsofthesolarthermalcollectorwithdrillingholes
ontothecompositeroof.Beforedrilling,Dr.Kurtadvisedusonincorporatingourpanelina
diagonalfashionsothecollectorispositionedatabetterangletoreceivemoresunlight.Wefirst
starteddrillingthecollectortoattachtheLmountsanddrilledontotheroof.Thiswasnta
problemuntilwerealizedthatthetilesontheroofmakeunevensurface.Thiscausedaproblem
withsomeoftheLmountsbeingelevatedandunabletobeattachedtotheroof.Wethentried
drillingatdifferentlocationsontherooftomakesurethemountswerewellinstalledonflat
surface.Afterwards,wewereabletomoveonandattachtheLmountsconnectedwiththe
collectortotheroofusing3inscrewsandapowerdrill.
Oncethesolarthermalcollectorwasattachedfirmlyontotheroof,wemountedthepv
panelandconnectedCPVCpipes.The2x3pvpanelcamewithitsmountingparts,sothatwe
didnothavetoprepareanyotherparts.
Overall,welearnthowimportanttheflowchartisbeforedoinganythingontheroof.It
gaveusaninsightofhowoursystemrunandhowweshouldprepareforthetrip,especiallythe
pipingjoints(i.e.90and120elbows).Throughouttheteamworkworkingontheroof,we
understoodhowtheCPVCcement,Cclamps,screws,andvariouselbowsconnecttoeachother,
andlearnthowthewaterwasbeingheatedoutviathesolarthermalcollector.Oneimportant
thingtonoticeisthattherewasaswingcheckvalveattacheddirectlyaftertheoutletofthehot
waterfromthecollector,Dr.Kurtexplainedtousthatitallowedprimingofthepumptobedone
easilybyleavingthevalveslightlyopentoreleaseairinsidethesystem.ACPVCjointwasalso
placedbeforethecoldwaterinletsothatthesystemcanbedisconnectedwithoutcutting
anythingonthepipingsystem.

Figure7.SolarThermalCollectorandPVPanel
11

Figure8.InstallationofPipeBetweenRoofandWall

Wall

Figure9.CADEstimationofWall
Oncewehadfinishedmountingthesolarthermalcollectorandthepipingontheroof,we
neededtorunthepipelinealongthesidewallasshownintheabovefiguretobeabletoconnect
tothelaundryroom.Sincethepipingonthewallrequiredminimalbendsandmounts,itwas
mucheasiertofinish.Priortoanydrilling,wefirsthadtoconsiderthedifferentpossibilitiesin
pipingrouteswewouldtake.Wecouldeitherrunthepipealongthetopofthewallfromtheroof
tothefirststopandcontinueatthislevelalongtherightaswellorwecouldrunthepipealong
themiddleofthewallandbend90degreesatthefirststop,runthepipeup18inchesandthen
continuestraightalongtherightside.Weeventuallyagreeduponusingaslittlebendsaspossible
toavoidlossofpressurealongoursystemandsowentwithourfirstthought.Intheendwe
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chosefunctionalityoveraesthetics.WeappliedCclampseveryfewfeetofpipingtoholdittight
onthewall.Wealsolinedourelectricalwiringforthepumpwithmostofourpipingsothatit
wasalsosecurelymountedandprotected.Westoppedthepipingattheendofthesidewall
connectingitwiththelaundryroom.Atthispoint,theplumbertookcareofdrillingtheholesin
thewallsofthelaundryroomtocontinuerunningthepipestoconnectthesolarthermalcollector
tothewholesystem.

Inventory
PartswhichwereusedforthesystemaretabulatedinTable1.Thekeyplumbing
components,suchasSharkBitecheckvalvesandtees,werepurchasedintheUnitedStates.The
30gallonwatertankwaspurchasedinHomeDepotRosaritoduringthemeasurementtrip.Other
miscellaneouspipingmaterialswerepurchasedinHomeDepotRosaritoduringthe
implementationtrip.

LaundryRoom

Roof

in(Thread,Female)toin(CPVC)

inCheckValve

http://goo.gl/spnM55

in(CPVC)toin(Thread,Male)

Whirlpool10WholeHouseFiltration

http://goo.gl/yWBSDz

in(Thread,Male)toin(CPVC)

in(CPVC)toin(Thread,Male)

30GWaterTank

http://goo.gl/ko2QdA

in(Thread,Male)toinCPVC

inThermalExpansionTankTee

http://goo.gl/tzIH79

ThermalExpansionTank

http://goo.gl/msSGhc

inCPVCtoinCPVCReducer

inThreadMaleCoupling

12VHotWaterCirculationPump

http://goo.gl/KgtMrt

inFlowIndicator

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10ftx40ftSolarThermalCollector

12VPVPanel

inThreadMaleCouplingx2

inBrassSwingCheckValve

http://goo.gl/sWmQcz

LaundryRoom/Roof/Wall

inPipeMounts+Screws

ElectricWireMounts

in90DegreeElbows

in135DegreeElbows

Table1.TabulatedListofParts

Obstacles&WhatWeLearned
Whenpreparingfortheimplementationtrip,theteamplannedtorunamock
implementationaweekbeforetheactualtrip.However,wehaddifficultyfindingthematerials
neededatHomeDepot,astheywereoutofstockonmanymaterials.Thisresultedincancelling
themockimplementationthenextdayandpossiblydelayingtheimplementationtonextquarter
andfocusingmoreontheeducationalcomponentforthisyear.Afterdiscussingtheissuewith
Dr.Kurt,theteamdecidedtostaywiththeoriginalplanofimplementingthesystemthisquarter.
Attheimplementationtrip,therewereseveralobstaclesthattheteamhadtoface.After
initiallyfinishingthepipingsystem,theinletwaterwasturnedontotestoutthesystem.Aftera
fewminutesoftheinitialrun,therewasaleaknexttothehotoutletteevalveofthethermal
collector.Theplumberwasabletofixtheleakbuttherewerecontinuousleaksneartheinletof
thethermalcollector,theexpansiontank,thefiltrationsystemandtheoutletofthethermal
collectoragain.Themainreasonfortheleakswasduetonotenoughgluingatpipeendsandnot
enoughresistancetowithstandthewaterpressureinside.Anotherobstaclewehadtofacewas
ourbudget.Theteaminitiallywenttothetripwith$176.27butwentoverbudgetof$46.78after
purchasingextramaterialsatHomeDepotMexicoandpayingtheplumber$130forthelaundry
roompipingsystemandpipeleaks.
Basedonourimplementationtrip,welearnedthatitisimportanttorunamock
implementationtopreventpossiblesystemortestingerrorswedidnottakeintoconsideration.It
isalsohelpfulinthatteammembersareabletopracticesomeskillsbeforehandforefficientuse
oftimeattheactualimplementation.Inaddition,thiscanfurtherreduceanybudgetexpensesto
preventgoingoverbudget.Wehadtopayextra$30fortheplumbertofixallthepipeleaks,and
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ifleakswerepreventedbeforehand,theteamcouldhavereducedbudgetexpensesforthe
plumber.Theteamalsolearnedthatmaterialsthatneedtobepurchasedshouldbeboughtatleast
afewdaysbeforethemockimplementationsothatalternativechangescanbemadeincasea
storedoesnothavelistedmaterialsinstock.

V. RemainingGoals
ShortTerm
Ourimmediateshorttermgoalwouldtocheckonthestatusofourdesign.Wewould
wanttokeepinregularcontactwiththeorphanagesothatwecanprepareforanycomplications
thatmayoccur.Thiswouldhelpuscreateamaintenanceplanfortheupcomingfallquarter.We
willalsolooktoreceivesomefeedbackfromAlejandroonourdesign.Thiswillnotonlyallow
ustocomeupwithideasofupdatingtheirsystem,butalsohelpusbuildabetterdesignforother
possibleprojectsinthefuture.Fallquarteralsocomesaroundthetimewhenwewouldneedto
considerchangingafilterforthesystem.Itwillnotonlybeimportanttochangethefilter,butwe
canalsorecordthedepreciationonitaswell.Thiswillallowustogetanestimateonreplacingit
inthefuture.

LongTerm
Similartotheshorttermgoals,wewanttomakesuretheimplementedsystemis
functioningproperly.Alongtermgoalistocreateamaintenancemanualinwhichthereisastep
bystepguideonhowtomaintainthesystem,andwhattodoshouldtherebeanymalfunctionsor
anyneedforreplacements.Thereshouldbeclear,concisedescriptionsaboutreplacementand/or
maintenancetechniquesforcertainpartsofthesystemsuchasthewaterfilter,inletandoutletof
thethermalcollector,andtheexpansiontank.Thismanualwillmostlikelybetranslatedto
Spanishtofacilitatethemaintenanceprocessforboththeplumbersandresidentsatthe
orphanage.
AnotherlongtermgoalfortheteamistorevisittheorphanagepossiblynextFallforthe
educationalcomponent.Oneofthemaingoalsofourteamistoempoweryouthineducation,
specificallyinthefieldsofscienceandtechnology.Aspartoftheplan,forexample,theteam
wouldliketoproposeasmallprojectinwhichsoccergoalsarecreatedonsitewithPVCpiping
sothattheycanbuildastructurefromthesystemsmaterialanduseitforagametheyenjoy.
Also,uponthefirstvisittotheorphanage,itwasveryapparentthatthechildrentherehada
sparkedinterestinourproject,soteachingthemaboutbasicscienceprinciplesrelatingtothe
systemsuchasthegreenhouseeffectcouldperhapsinspirethemtopursuehighereducationin
theSTEMfields.

15

VI. References
1. "TheBasicsSediment."
Sediment,ScaleinWaterHeaters
.Web.01June2016.
<
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/Longevity/sedimentinhotwaterheaters.html
>.
2. "SolarWaterHeatingSystemMaintenanceandRepair."
DepartmentofEnergy
.Web.01
June2016.
<
http://energy.gov/energysaver/solarwaterheatingsystemmaintenanceandrepair
>.

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