Hands-On Fluid Flow Trainer to Support Experimental Learning

Brian Christopher Earp; Kyle Ryan Parker

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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 (ELOS) Technical Session 3: Best of ELOS
Tagged Division: Experimentation and Laboratory-Oriented Studies Division (DELOS)
Page Count: 17
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--43337
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/43337
Download Count: 217

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Paper Authors

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Brian Christopher Earp United States Naval Academy (Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering Department)

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Commander Brian Earp is an Assistant Professor at the United States Naval Academy in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. Brian has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy (1999), an M.S in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Virginia (2001), and a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School (2020). Prior to becoming a professor at the United States Naval Academy, Brian served as a nuclear-trained submarine officer.

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Kyle Ryan Parker US Naval Academy - Submarine Officer

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Lieutenant Parker is a native of Vacaville, California. He earned a Bachelor of Science in both Mechanical and Civil Engineering from California State University Chico and a Master of Science in Coastal and Ecological Engineering from Louisiana State University. He was commissioned in the Navy through the Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program in November of 2015. He graduated with distinction from Naval Nuclear Power School and upon completion of Prototype and Submarine School reported to the USS Alabama (SSBN 731).

Aboard the USS Alabama Lieutenant Parker served as the Chemical and Radiological Controls Assistant as well as the Assistant Weapons Officer. He participated in two Pacific strategic deterrent patrols and one extended refit period including a dry-docking availability. During this period he earned his Submarine Warfare and Prospective Nuclear Engineering Officer Qualifications.

Ashore, Lieutenant Parker served as a Master Instructor at the United States Naval Academy in the Mechanical Engineering Department, teaching Fluid Dynamics and Principles of Propulsion. He was the department’s TAD coordinator, Plebe Academic Advisor, and Submarine Company Mentor. During this time, he completed Joint Military Professional Education Phase 1, achieving a Master of Arts degree in Defense and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He simultaneously earned his Professional Engineering License in the state of Maryland.

Lieutenant Parker is currently enrolled in the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in Groton CT where he is joined by his wife Emma, their son Ford, and daughter Charlotte. Together they enjoy camping, playing board games, and long distance running.

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Abstract

Hands-On Fluid Flow Trainer to Support Experimental Learning

A majority of engineering students will not specialize in fluid mechanics; however, many will take a course on basic fluid flow applications and fundamental theories. The effective use of demonstrations and hands-on learning, can be exceptional tools for solidification of theoretical understanding of fluid flow concepts for students. Several commercially available laboratory trainers for fluid flow focus on a narrow range of applications and are typically at a cost of between $20k to $40k that can preclude the purchasing of multiple trainers and their use as hands-on equipment. This results in the need for a fluid flow trainer that is complex enough to demonstrate a wide range of fundamental fluid mechanics principles for various piping flow arrangements while still making the trainer accessible and relatable to students that are not going to specialize in fluid dynamics. A unique hands-on fluid flow trainer was designed and fabricated to allow students to more easily visualize and internalize the concepts they will likely need in various follow-on fields of study. The developed trainer features a unique flow path arrangement that allows the selection between multiple piping and valve arrangements to support tank-to-tank filling and draining operations instead of the typical recirculating flow paths seen in many fluid trainers. Additionally, the trainer supports the demonstration of qualitative impacts of major and minor head losses through different piping and valve configurations as well as the implementation of vented manometers to allow students to directly see and correlate fluid head terms with pressure. This trainer is robust enough for use in a lab and/or classroom environment and allows complete operation by students with only brief instructor direction prior to use. This is accomplished by incorporating a tank overflow path that allows students to operate with a lab guide, but without constant instructor oversight. The implementation of this hands-on trainer, through the use of developed lab exercises that support small teams of students, has proven to be extremely effective at solidifying concepts learned in the classroom. This paper outlines the development, design, and implementation of a fluid flow trainer that can be fabricated with off the shelf components for approximately $7k, supporting the fabrication of multiple trainers and allowing for smaller lab group sizes and more hands-on learning to improve fundamental knowledge of fluid flow concepts for students.

Citation
Format

Earp, B. C., & Parker, K. R. (2023, June), Hands-On Fluid Flow Trainer to Support Experimental Learning Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore , Maryland. 10.18260/1-2--43337

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Hands-On Fluid Flow Trainer to Support Experimental Learning

     A majority of engineering students will not specialize in fluid mechanics; however, many will take a course on basic fluid flow applications and fundamental theories.  The effective use of demonstrations and hands-on learning, can be exceptional tools for solidification of theoretical understanding of fluid flow concepts for students.  Several commercially available laboratory trainers for fluid flow focus on a narrow range of applications and are typically at a cost of between $20k to $40k that can preclude the purchasing of multiple trainers and their use as hands-on equipment.  This results in the need for a fluid flow trainer that is complex enough to demonstrate a wide range of fundamental fluid mechanics principles for various piping flow arrangements while still making the trainer accessible and relatable to students that are not going to specialize in fluid dynamics.  
     A unique hands-on fluid flow trainer was designed and fabricated to allow students to more easily visualize and internalize the concepts they will likely need in various follow-on fields of study.  The developed trainer features a unique flow path arrangement that allows the selection between multiple piping and valve arrangements to support tank-to-tank filling and draining operations instead of the typical recirculating flow paths seen in many fluid trainers.  Additionally, the trainer supports the demonstration of qualitative impacts of major and minor head losses through different piping and valve configurations as well as the implementation of vented manometers to allow students to directly see and correlate fluid head terms with pressure.  This trainer is robust enough for use in a lab and/or classroom environment and allows complete operation by students with only brief instructor direction prior to use.  This is accomplished by incorporating a tank overflow path that allows students to operate with a lab guide, but without constant instructor oversight.  The implementation of this hands-on trainer, through the use of developed lab exercises that support small teams of students, has proven to be extremely effective at solidifying concepts learned in the classroom.  This paper outlines the development, design, and implementation of a fluid flow trainer that can be fabricated with off the shelf components for approximately $7k, supporting the fabrication of multiple trainers and allowing for smaller lab group sizes and more hands-on learning to improve fundamental knowledge of fluid flow concepts for students.  

AU  - Brian Christopher Earp
AU  - Kyle Ryan Parker
CY  - Baltimore , Maryland
DA  - 2023/06/25
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Hands-On Fluid Flow Trainer to Support Experimental Learning
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/43337
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--43337
ER  -