Editing Prototype proposal

===Experimental Incubator (ei) - Project Proposal 20/5/2012=== 



'''Abstract'''


Experimental incubator is a device designated to control it’s internal conditions. The prototype is going to allow for a temperature regulation both at constant level and more importantly for controlled temperature oscillation. Another factor included is monitoring of it’s electricity consumption. The temperature is a crucial factor in food&beverage fermentations therefore device which is optimized for these purposes is needed. The novelty temperature oscillation function allows to optimize the growing conditions for cultures comprised from multiple microorganisms with wide range of temperature optimas. Next generations will be more sophisticated aiming for measurement and control of CO2, oxygen levels, stirring, humidity etc. The device will be build to comply with principles of low energy consumption, easy to repair and upgradeable structures, sturdiness in accordance with concept of environmentally friendliness. This project is based on an open source aiming to bring this tool to as many brewers and fermenters being as  affordable as possible.

Key Words: experimental incubator; temperature regulation; temperature oscillation; measurement of electricity consumption; upgradable; environmentally friendly; open source; brewing; fermentations.


==== '''First prototype of ei. presented at Maker Fair 2-3/6/2012''' ====


* Functions

- temperature monitoring

- temperature control - setting up a constant level and allowing for controlled temperature oscillations

- electricity power consumption 


===== '''The design''' =====

The incubator will consist of two separable parts,

* '''the box''' - respective incubator chamber composed from three layers - outer protective, middle insulational and internal protective and insulated doors

* '''central unit''' - arduino clone based microcontroller with display and manual control, peltier heating and cooling element with adjacent heat sinks and ventilation system


====== '''The Box Construction''' ======


'''Dimensions and materials'''  


* External Protective Layer


dimensions - cube: a= 610-710 mm; thickness = 7-13 mm

material - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard MDF board]

cost - $30-40


* Middle Insulation Layer


dimensions - thickness a = 50-70 mm

material - [http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11600 polyurethane foam] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R-value_%28insulation%29#Example_values extruded expanded polystyrene (XPS) high density]

cost - $20 - 30


* Internal Protective Layer


dimensions - cube - a=500 mm; material thickness = 5-10 mm

material - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-density_polyethylene high-density polyethylene (HDPE) sheets] or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polyvinyl_chloride polyvinyl chloride (PVC) sheets].


cost - $50-60


* Additional materials for the box construction


silicon or glue - cost = $2-4

brackets (to connect the MDF boards) - cost = $3-5

doors - door hinge - cost = $2-3; door bolt (magnetic) - cost = $5-6

ventilation duct - cost = $???

brackets for the ventilation duct - cost = ???


====== '''The Central Unit Construction''' ======

This is a part which is not clearly designed and any help is highly appreciated!


'''Dimensions and materials'''  


* External Protective Layer


dimensions - cuboid: a= 400 mm; b = 400 mm; c = 300 mm; layer thickness = 7-13 mm

material - [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medium-density_fibreboard MDF board]

cost - $15-20


* Internal layer

There is probably no need to have additional internal insulation layer because of the ventilation system requirements. Or should be the internal cooling and heating unit with the fan system insulated??? If so how and how much???



* Electronic components


microcontroller: [http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.atmel.com%2FImages%2F7593S.pdf&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNEXejfPb9-DEaMdejkK_IJwiVU7Bg ATMEL 90USB1286-AU]; power requirements - ??? W; cost = donated; otherwise = ???

display: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_crystal_display LCD display]; power requirements - ??? W; cost = $10-15

manual control - numeric keyboard ???; power requirements - ???; cost = $???

temperature sensor: thermistor - type ???; power requirements; cost - $1-2

combined heating and cooling unit: [http://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-60W-TEC1-12706-Thermoelectric-Cooler-Peltier-Module-/230665309463?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35b4b94d17 peltier module (12 V 60 W)]; power requirements - 60 W; cost = $10-20

heatsink: aluminum alloy or copper based; dimensions - cooling smaller (3x4cm), heating bigger (7x10cm), details ???; cost = $10-15 (hot) and $5-10 (cold)

fans: 2 x 60 mm; power requirements - up to 2-4 W; cost = $2-3 (price and power consumption per each fan)

power source: 120-150 W; cost = $10-15


another electronic components:breadboard; relays; resistors; diodes etc. cost = $15-30


* Things to discuss concerning the design of the control unit and it's heating/cooling system controlled by microcontroller.

How to “close up” the ventilation duct to the chamber so the insulation is complete???

How to “switch” the warm or cold air circulation to the incubator and out???



==== '''Ways of collaboration and sharing''' ====

Click on the fallowing link to see the [[experimental incubator newsletter]]. The most up to date version of the project can be shared on this and adjacent wiki pages. For the drafts of documents we can use Google Documents or some open alternative as [http://piratepad.ca/ Pirate Pad]. For discussion mailing list could be a good option for now we could temporarily use Tastebrige or Foodhacking base discuss but own discuss list would be probably better. 

Please comment, suggest and create ways how to make this happen so it is as open as possible.


* [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Prototype_proposal Wiki homepage]

* Google Doc document

* [https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/tastebridge Tastebridge] and [http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/foodhackingbase Foodhacking base] discuss lists.



* NOTES


Materials, literature and Interesting links

Peltier element

commercial cooler hacking - this is a video from Dave Jones where he is checking closely and hacking commercial version of peltier based incubator for reptile eggs


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AI0Q6-h3EGU


cooler kit test- short youtube video about how to test a cooling kit ordered from ebay based on peltier device, heatsink and fan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-noP1nthdE


Links to tools for sharing and collaboration

Pirate Pad  http://piratepad.ca/
@@ Line 128: / Line 128: @@
 another electronic components:breadboard; relays; resistors; diodes etc. cost = $15-30
-====== List of components and materials ======
-{| class="wikitable"
-|-
-!  Component/material!! Quantity !! Final price in US$
-|-
-| MDF board (1220x2440mm) || 2 || 30-40
-|-
-| insulation foam || 1 || 20-30
-|-
-| PVC or HDPE ||  || 50-60
-|-
-| silicon || 1  || 2-4
-|-
-| glue || 1 || 2-4
-|-
-| brackets (for MDF boards)||  || 3-5
-|-
-| ventilation duct||  ||
-|-
-| brackets (for ventilation)||  ||
-|-
-| ATMEL 90USB1286-AU microcontroller || 1 ||
-|-
-| LCD display || 1 || 10-15
-|-
-| DHT22/AM2302 temperature-humidity sensor (온습도 센서) || 4 ||
-|-
-| darlington transistor array - ULN2803A || 6 || ??
-|-
-| diode - 1N4001 || 10 || 2 ||
-|-
-| peltier module (30-100 W) || 2 || 10-30
-|-
-| heatsink (smaller 3-4 cm) || 1 || 5-10
-|-
-| heatsink (large 7-10 cm) || 1 || 10-15
-|-
-| thermal heat transfer compound - heatsink paste (써멀 구리스 or 써멀 컴파운드) || 1 || 5-15
-|-
-| fan (60 mm) || 2 || 2-3
-|-
-| insulation layer (between heatsinks)|| 1 ||
-|-
-|}
@@ Line 184: / Line 135: @@
 How to “switch” the warm or cold air circulation to the incubator and out???
-===== '''The Code''' =====
-This section is about developing the code to allow the arduino microcontroller to control and run the incubator as desired. The basic info for the first steps is here and it will be updated as we progress. The major focus for now will be on measurement of temperature and controlling it by peltier element.
-'''What needs to be done:'''
-* 1. temperature measurement by thermistor
-- temperature needs to be measured by thermistor (10 kohm)
-- frequency should be +- every 3-5 minutes (if the heating/cooling phase is not on, than measure every 30-60 seconds)
-- report/print the temperature so it is human readable (serial monitor?)
-* 2. switching on and off the peltier device based on temperature readings
-- the peltier is 100 W so it will have power source to power it (around 250 W)
-- switch the peltier relay based system on/off by arduino based on temperature reading (more below)
-* 3. switching on and off the fans to circulate the air from peltier to the incubator chamber
-- the fans may have to use the power source/relay circuit too or it may be possible to power them through arduino directly not sure about that yet (small 2x 80-40 mm fans)
-- once the peltier is switched on (based on temperature reading) the fan/s has to switch on (does the fan by the heat sink has to be always switched on???)
-- each fan is pointed to the hot respectively cold heat sink with separated air ventilation systems/ducts to the chamber and out
-- the peltier and fans should go a bit "over the desired temperature/overshoot" like a degree or two so they do not switch on/off all the time
-- once the peltier is on the temperature measurement should be performed every 30-60 seconds
-Well that would be a basic info, if you could have a look on it and please post on Tastebridge discuss or send email to Frantisek Algoldor Apfelbeck and it will be explained in more detail what needs to be, thanks a lot!
-'''Here is a very simple example of what we need:'''
-'''Constant temperature 25°C mode'''
-Goal - keep the temperature of the incubator constant at 25°C +- 1 one degree
-Procedure
-- measure the temperature every 3-5 minutes and display it (serial monitor)
+==== '''Ways of collaboration and sharing''' ====
-- if temperature differs from desired
+Click on the fallowing link to see the [[experimental incubator newsletter]]. The most up to date version of the project can be shared on this and adjacent wiki pages. For the drafts of documents we can use Google Documents or some open alternative as [http://piratepad.ca/ Pirate Pad]. For discussion mailing list could be a good option for now we could temporarily use Tastebrige or Foodhacking base discuss but own discuss list would be probably better.
-- switch on the peltier
+Please comment, suggest and create ways how to make this happen so it is as open as possible.
-- switch on the fan by - heat sink (to warm up) or - cold sink (cool down)
-- increase the temperature measurement to frequency once per 30-60 seconds
+* [https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Prototype_proposal Wiki homepage]
-- switch off the peltier once desired temperature is reached (with one degree over shoot)
+* Google Doc document
-- switch to the one per 3-5 minutes temperature measurement and display it (serial monitor)
+* [https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/tastebridge Tastebridge] and [http://lists.hackerspaces.org/mailman/listinfo/foodhackingbase Foodhacking base] discuss lists.