Proposal

Narrative

This proposal is on behalf of Mr. Gabriel Navarrete. In order to visualize fluids, such as gases, a variety of methods are used. One of the most common methods is infrared visualization. By detecting the surface temperature of a fluid and the emitted infrared wavelength through an infrared camera, it is possible to visualize fluids that cannot be seen with the naked eye. At the moment, the mechanical engineering, ocean engineering, civil engineering, and electrical engineering departments do not have an infrared camera available for students or researchers to visualize gases. Therefore, we are requesting funding to purchase an infrared camera that will be shared between students and researchers in all engineering departments. For mechanical engineering students, an infrared camera will allow them to visualize what they learn in the classroom and how it applies to real world scenarios. For example, the core classes such as thermodynamics, heat transfer, and experimental methodology all cover aspects of temperature detection and energy transfer. With the assistance of an infrared camera, students will be able to visualize the phenomena of heat transfer as objects heat up and cool down. As a result, hundreds of students can benefit from this technology. It can be estimated that more than 200 students just in the mechanical engineering department will benefit from the infrared camera in their core classes per semester. Other engineering departments can also benefit from an infrared camera. Electrical engineering students can use the infrared camera to visualize electrical components under infrared and detect any anomalies in temperature that can be attributed to defective electrical components within circuits. As for researchers, an infrared camera will allow for better detection and quantification of gases during experimental trials. In order to quantify the amount of a gas present in a multi-gas flow, researchers can implement the infrared camera within their experimental setup. This will yield more accurate and substantial results for journal publications. Having a shared infrared camera thus is beneficial for all faculty members and collegiate students. The acquisition of the infrared camera will provide a positive impact to the FAU’s strategic pillars. The pillar of sensing and smart systems will benefit from the infrared camera as the technology will allow for better data acquisition of temperature readings from the environment, which thus yields a more defined course of action. The pillar of undergraduate research and inquiry will benefit from the infrared camera as more complex student projects can be implemented through better sensing technology.

Facilities

No renovation of facilities or upgrades are needed for this project.

Hardware Requirements

Only hardware is requested and detailed price information is attached.

Software Requirements

No software is required.

Personnel Costs

There is no request for personnel costs.

Other Costs

No other costs are expected.

Timeline

The camera will be ordered in the 2017 spring term as soon as the funding is awarded. The faculty and students will be able to access the camera by the end of the 2017 spring.

Sustainability

The equipment will come with manufacturer warranties.

Resource Matching

N/A

Implementing Organization

Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering