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Replacing Air Conditioners: Creating an Accessible Energy Efficient Device

Stanford University
Palo Alto, California
EngineeringEarth Science
DOI: 10.18258/67084
Grant: Frugal Science
$1,505
Raised of $1,130 Goal
133%
Funded on 9/13/24
Successfully Funded
  • $1,505
    pledged
  • 133%
    funded
  • Funded
    on 9/13/24

About This Project

3.6 billion people currently live in areas with extreme temperatures! This project explores innovative cooling methods, focusing on modular fans with large diameters to reduce energy consumption. With AC systems using significant power and harmful refrigerants, there's a need for efficient cooling as global demand rises. I aim to develop cheap solutions that align with the growing need for effective and environmentally friendly cooling technologies.

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What is the context of this research?

This past quarter I was enrolled in Manu's class; Frugal Science. In this course, I spent 10 weeks learning about frameworks, solutions, and rapid prototyping. I chose the problem of cooling because I have a background in mechanical engineering courses with an interest in energy. At large, I'm interested in climate problems. This specific focus was the emerging interest in a collection of courses and subjects I'd been interested in. Technologies like ACs and fans are designed very inefficiently! But prior civilizations, societies, and Mother Nature have all faced the issue of hot temperatures (those aren't necessarily new). But the technologies that used to exist have been forgotten. I'd like to re-open and explore those!

What is the significance of this project?

The significance of this project is in its large impact. The number of people experiencing deadly heat will rise from 3.6 billion to 5 billion in 2030! That is just a mere 6 years away. On top of this, we're using a massive amount of power for cooling. 2000 TWh (around the world) are currently consumed by fans and air conditioners. For some perspective, a nuclear plan on average produces 1 TWh a year. Designing cooling systems that use less energy or (no energy at all) can have a massive impact on overall energy consumption.

What are the goals of the project?

Frugality is a key aspect of this project, which aims to develop a cooling system that costs less than $20. The system should effectively cool people down by 10°C, employing methods such as evaporative, radiative, or passive cooling. Additionally, the design must prioritize ease of transportation and installation. The installation process should be straightforward, requiring no professional help and relying solely on pictorial instructions, making it accessible even to those who find textual instructions challenging.

Budget

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I'd need these materials to build prototypes of ideas. Currently, I'm exploring different types of fans, with a focus on large-diameter blades. With this large diameter I'd like to build functioning prototypes in which the blades are built like puzzling pieces. I want the design to be modular and easy to assemble/disassemble. Next, I want to experiment with Punkah designs

Endorsed by

I love this project! There is a temptation to over-engineer solutions to complex problems like climate change, and overlook simple solutions. But simple is often better - more affordable, more robust, more likely to be implemented. I’m always impressed by Nivitha's creativity and scrappiness. Rather than being distracted by the sexiest new technology, she thinks about the most effective way to tackle problems. The problem of efficient cooling is important and overlooked, and I have no doubt that funding this project will help to address it.
Having worked alongside Nivitha in our Mechanical Engineering coursework and taken a class in climate entrepreneurship together, I've witnessed firsthand her earnest passion and resilient work ethic in developing climate-friendly solutions. I admire the way she prioritizes practicality and accessibility for the end user, and is always willing to modify her ideas to meet those priorities. With the right funding, this project can help fill the urgent need for efficient cooling technologies. I'm excited to see where this goes!

Project Timeline

The project timeline spans five months, broken into distinct phases for research, development, prototyping, testing, and refining. Each phase has strict time constraints to ensure the project progresses efficiently. I anticipate troubleshooting to take a few weeks but it's hard to predict exactly how long this will take as unexpected problems often arise. Though I will be working alone, I'm fortunate to have the support of the Prakash lab and peers to brainstorm solutions.

Apr 30, 2024

Market Research: identify existing cooling solutions, their energy consumption, and areas for improvement,

May 30, 2024

Begin prototyping based on the conceptual designs, focusing on ease of assembly, energy efficiency, and performance.

Jun 01, 2024

Initiate pilot testing in real-world settings to evaluate the performance, user acceptance, and energy savings of the cooling solutions.

Jun 15, 2024

Collect and analyze data from pilot testing, identify any issues or areas for improvement, and implement necessary modifications. Reiterate designs! 

Jul 31, 2024

Project Launched

Meet the Team

Nivitha Mavuluri
Nivitha Mavuluri

Nivitha Mavuluri

Hello! My name is Nivitha and I'm an undergraduate at Stanford studying Mechanical Engineering. I got into the field of cooling through an interest in climate tech, which led me to energy efficiency. And believe it or not, cooling technologies are one of the most energy inefficient designs out there! This problem interests me because it falls under the scope of fighting climate change, which I believe is one of the most pressing problem facing humanity today.

Lab Notes

Nothing posted yet.


Project Backers

  • 2Backers
  • 133%Funded
  • $1,505Total Donations
  • $752.50Average Donation
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