BYOE: A Laboratory Experiment with a Stirling Engine for Troubleshooting Education in Mechanical Engineering

Ahmet Can Sabuncu; Mitra Varun Anand; Curtis Abel

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Conference: 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition
Location: Baltimore , Maryland
Publication Date: June 25, 2023
Start Date: June 25, 2023
End Date: June 28, 2023
Conference Session: Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (DELOS) Technical Session 4: Bring Your Own Experiments +
Tagged Division: Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (DELOS)
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43287
Permanent URL: https://strategy.asee.org/43287
Download Count: 321

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Paper Authors

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Ahmet Can Sabuncu Worcester Polytechnic Institute orcid.org/0000-0001-7905-421X

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Dr. Sabuncu holds a Ph. D. in Aerospace Engineering from Old Dominion University. Dr. Sabuncu's professional interests spans from engineering education research, history of science and engineering, thermo-fluids engineering, and microfluidic technology.

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Mitra Varun Anand Worcester Polytechnic Institute orcid.org/0009-0000-3081-6367

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Mitra Anand serves as the Associate Director of Makerspace, and Innovation and Entrepreneurship, in addition to being an Adjunct Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Anand's research interests lie in combining hands-on Maker skills with an entrepreneurial mindset and value creation, aiming to develop practical solutions for real-world problems. He is enthusiastic about innovation in engineering education, design thinking, prototyping, program development, crafting interactive curricula, and bringing ideas to fruition.

With over 8 years of experience in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, Anand possesses a solid background in Innovation and Entrepreneurship education, Additive Manufacturing, and Digital Fabrication technologies. He has taught lectures and workshops on advanced subjects to more than 1000 undergraduate engineering students and 150 graduate students, while advising on over 500 student and faculty research projects.

His academic credentials include an M.S. in Mechatronics and Robotics Engineering from New York University and a B.E in Mechanical Engineering from Anna University.

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Curtis Abel Worcester Polytechnic Institute orcid.org/0000-0003-4061-5467

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Curtis Abel, PhD, MBA is the Executive Director of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (I&E) at WPI. He is responsible for the I&E eco-system, Value Creation Initiative, Maker Space & Rapid Prototyping Lab, and Massachusetts Digital Games Institute. He joined WPI in 2015 as a Professor of Practice through the support of the Kern Family Foundation to create a vibrant entrepreneurial mindset culture on campus with both faculty & students. Prior to WPI, Curtis has 20+ years of experience in leadership positions at large corporations, including American Express, MasterCard, United Retail, and Bethlehem Steel. He’s held full “Profit and Loss” responsibility for several multi-million-dollar businesses, generating double-digit annual growth for each. He also held positions in new business development, marketing, strategic alliances, and R&D implementing new technology into manufacturing facilities. Curtis holds a Ph.D., ME and BS from Carnegie Mellon University in Materials Science & Engineering and Chemical Engineering, respectively, and an MBA from Cornell University. He also held international Postdoctoral Fellowships at Cambridge University and Technische Universität Wien.

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Abstract

Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem solving that involves identifying the root cause of a problem and finding a solution to address it. Strong troubleshooting skills requires not only a combination of technical knowledge and critical thinking skills, but also strong communication skills to collaborate with others to efficiently solve complex problems. For instance, team must find a faulty component in a malfunctioning machine by using a systems approach, and then develop a solution to make it functional. Whether it is a technician performing routine maintenance on an engine, an engineer trying to solve technical problems on a production line, or a medical doctor trying to diagnose a disease given symptoms, troubleshooting is an essential, transferrable life skill that can be applied to nearly any complex problem in any discipline or industry. While troubleshooting is a sought-after skill in engineering industry and academia, traditional mechanical engineering curricula does not have formal instruction for developing troubleshooting skills.

In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a propeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft.

We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at 500 rpm. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work. In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a impeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft. We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at a given speed. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work.

Citation
Format

Sabuncu, A. C., & Anand, M. V., & Abel, C. (2023, June), BYOE: A Laboratory Experiment with a Stirling Engine for Troubleshooting Education in Mechanical Engineering Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43287

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Troubleshooting is a systematic approach to problem solving that involves identifying the root cause of a problem and finding a solution to address it.   Strong troubleshooting skills requires not only a combination of technical knowledge and critical thinking skills, but also strong communication skills to collaborate with others to efficiently solve complex problems.  For instance, team must find a faulty component in a malfunctioning machine by using a systems approach, and then develop a solution to make it functional.    Whether it is a technician performing routine maintenance on an engine, an engineer trying to solve technical problems on a production line, or a medical doctor trying to diagnose a disease given symptoms, troubleshooting is an essential, transferrable life skill that can be applied to nearly any complex problem in any discipline or industry.  While troubleshooting is a sought-after skill in engineering industry and academia, traditional mechanical engineering curricula does not have formal instruction for developing troubleshooting skills.

In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a propeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft.

We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at 500 rpm. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work.
In this “Bring Your Own Experiment” (BYOE) work, we present an experimental Stirling Engine setup and introduce different and multiple flaws into the system to teach troubleshooting to undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The experimental setup consists of a two-cylinder Stirling engine, a heat source, and a impeller that is used to mix a fluid. The engine uses the thermal energy at the hot end to produce mechanical work at the impeller shaft output. We use a resistance wire with variable input electric current to adjust the energy input to the machine. To alter the torque output of the engine, we change the fluid viscosity at the propeller end. Sensors are employed in the experimental setup to measure the operating conditions of the machine. A thermometer measures the temperature of the hot cylinder. An in-house built tachometer quantifies the rotational speed of the impeller shaft.
We offer students a troubleshooting exercise in an engineering experimentation course at a mid-sized technological university. Students are given a scenario in the troubleshooting exercise. According to the scenario, the Stirling engine is used to mix a fluid at a given speed. We create a sub-standard output by using a higher viscosity liquid at the impeller end and as well as by decreasing the input energy. Students identify symptoms of the sub-standard system, formulate hypotheses for causes, identify faulty components, devise solutions, and validate their solutions. In this work, we describe the experimental setup and the engineering knowledge that relates to the system. Students’ performance on troubleshooting is presented subsequently. Average time to resolve troubleshooting errors, sample student hypotheses and how they relate to engineering knowledge are given in this work.

AU  - Ahmet Can Sabuncu
AU  - Mitra Varun Anand
AU  - Curtis Abel
CY  - Baltimore , Maryland
DA  - 2023/06/25
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - BYOE: A Laboratory Experiment with a Stirling Engine for Troubleshooting Education in Mechanical Engineering
UR  - https://strategy.asee.org/43287
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--43287
ER  -