Introduction

With the arrival of summer heat, many people cannot avoid feeling tired and sultry that brings by the hot weather. The 20 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees temperature torments people outdoors or indoors. This problem wasn’t solved before the Air Conditioner (AC) came out.

History of AC

The concept and the first modern AC were invented by Willis Haviland Carrier in 1902. The motivation for Carrier inventing the AC is for the industrial printing processes; controlling the temperature can maintain paper size and ink alignment.

In 1906, the term Air Conditioner was first proposed; it was proposed by Stuart W. Cramer and adopted by Carrier. Twenty-two years later, when Thomas Midgley, Jr discovered Freon refrigerant, the AC started to be used by humans.

After the new refrigerant was no longer harmful to humans, AC became the best seller in 1946 and the year after. 1957 the first rotary compressor was developed, and the AC became smaller and more efficient. In 1977, the invention of heat pumps allowed AC to create cold air and heat.

However, freon refrigerant is very harmful to the Ozone layer, and it will eventually cause a hole in the Ozone layer and desertification beneath the crater. So, in 1987, the Montreal Protocol for the Protection of the Earth’s Ozone Layer was sign signed in Canada. The problem of replacement for freon refrigerant wasn’t solved until 1991 when Allied Signal created the R-410a refrigerant, and this type of refrigerant is used even today.

Description of CAC

AC gives people many benefits; it allows them to avoid the risk of heat stroke and heat exhaustion, but only when they stay home. However, a sunny day outside always makes people want to go out for a walk, but the protection of AC is only limited at home. So, to solve this issue, we have developed a convenient clip-on air conditioner (CAC).

Unlike the AC at home, which is stationary in the house or a room, CAC works mainly for the individual person, meaning CAC only provides cold air for a singer user. Benefiting from its miniaturization, CAC is easy to carry on, and the energy source of CAC is solar energy. Using intensive micro solar panels, it can quickly collect solar energy and supply it to CAC.

Unlike the AC at home, which is stationary in the house or a room, CAC works mainly for the person, meaning CAC only provides cold air for a singer user. Benefiting from its miniaturization, CAC is easy to carry on, and the energy source of CAC is solar energy. Using intensive micro solar panels, it can quickly collect solar energy and supply it to CAC. Also, the refrigerant inside the CAC is replaceable.

However, because of miniaturization and solar energy, the power of CAC won’t be as strong as a home AC, so the air that comes out from the CAC can only be up to the level that makes people feel calm. When CAC is placed on the back side of the collar, the covering area of CAC will be only the upper body.

Part of CAC

CAC’s internal structure and operating principles are the same as most air conditioners, it is through the process of compressing the heat-absorbing r-410a, the r-410a will be compressed into a gas of eighty degrees and then pass through the cold copper tube blown by the built-in fan, the r-410a will become a liquid of 45 degrees, and after passing through the expansion valve, the temperature of the r-410a will come to 7 degrees and become mist and be blown out by the roller fan. At the same time, the heat will be discharged from the exhaust port outside.

Figure 1 left: McKee (2023). R-410a [Photograph]. McKee. https://mckeeenergyservices.com/uncategorized/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-r410a-shortage/#

18000btu-samsung-rotary-a-c-hermetic-household-compressors_p113.html

The heart of our system is the Refrigerant R-410a (Figure 1 left), a high-performance refrigerant that provides superior cooling capacity while minimizing environmental impact.

Our air compressor (Figure 1 right) is designed to work seamlessly with this refrigerant, ensuring optimal performance and durability.

Figure 2: JMF (2023). Copper tube [Photograph]. JMF. https://www.jmfcompany.com/products/copper-tube.html

The copper tube (Figure 2) is another vital component of our system because it delivers the refrigerant to the evaporator and condenser safely and efficiently. The expansion valve regulates the flow of the refrigerant, ensuring that it reaches the desired temperature without wasting energy safely and efficiently.

Figure 3: Custom Sounds (2023). PAC CF-1 Cross Flow Fan [Photograph]. Custom Sounds. https://www.customsounds.com/shop/other-accessories/pac-cf1

Our crossflow fan (Figure 3) is an additional feature that enhances the cooling experience, delivering powerful and consistent airflow that circulates the cool air throughout the room. This feature is handy in large spaces where traditional homemade air conditioner systems may need help distributing the cool air evenly.

Figure 4: BLUETTI. BLUETTI PV120 Solar Panel | 120W [Photograph]. BLUETTI. https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-pv120-120w-solar-panel

But what sets our cooling system in motion is the solar panels. Our whole system is powered by solar energy, reducing the overall energy consumption of the system and making it sustainable and mobile.

Cost and Time

With the flow line production, it takes 7 hours to make 20 CAC simultaneously, and the cost price to make one CAC is around 70 to 250 dollars. Then on the marketplace, the selling price of a window AC is about 150 dollars to 600 dollars. According to the cost price of the CAC and the price of other AC on the marketplace, the selling price for a CAC is around 120 to 200 dollars and includes a one-year warranty.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our CAC is a game-changer in air conditioning. By combining advanced technology, eco-friendly solutions, and solar energy, we have created a system that delivers superior cooling performance and reduces energy consumption and environmental impact. If You are looking for an efficient, sustainable, and comfortable product, our CAC is the perfect choice.

Work Cited

McKee energy. (2018, February 26). Heating & Air Condition Repairs & Installation: McKee Brothers Cumberland, Ri – what you need to know about the R410A shortage. Heating & Air Condition Repairs & Installation | McKee Brothers Cumberland, RI. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://mckeeenergyservices.com/uncategorized/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-r410a-shortage/.

TILI. (n.d.). 18000 BTU Samsung Rotary A/C Hermetic household compressors. Guangdong Tili Refrigeration Equipment Co., Ltd. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.tiliglobal.com/18000btu-samsung-rotary-a-c-hermetic-household-compressors_p113.html.

JMF company – copper tube. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.jmfcompany.com/products/copper-tube.html.

PAC CF-1 Cross flow fan. Cross Flow Fan – Other Accessories – Custom Sounds & Tint. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.customsounds.com/shop/other-accessories/pac-cf1.

Bluetti PV120 solar panel: 120W. BLUETTI. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-pv120-120w-solar-panel.

JMF company – copper tube. (n.d.). Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.jmfcompany.com/products/copper-tube.html.

Self-Reflection

Engineering Proposal is the first group project I have taken in this course. It is challenging when we have to think of an item, a creation that has not been used or created in this world now. The idea of making a portable AC first came out from one of my groupmates, and after the decision, we confirmed that we would do a portable air conditioner.

However, we need more communication after the first decision, our biggest mistake. With touch, our project will continue; there is nothing else except for some detailed information about the item we do. Learn from this lesson what I know for next time I should not wait until someone starts; I should do my part first and then context my groupmate if they have not started yet. Therefore, communication between group members is essential.

The most challenging part of this project is the design. Miniaturizing an air conditioner isn’t easy as it sounds because we are focused on portable, and where to put the AC is an issue. After doing some research and brainstorming, I decided to make it into a clip that is easy to put on, and the area to install is extensive. This is what CAC looks like; the bottom has three emission ports that release the cold air, then in the middle picture, there is a start button, and next to that button is the screen that shows the temperature of the air it releases.

After all, it is another great experience I have gained from this course. I learn how hard it is to make an original creation and how important a group is.