Objective: The objective of our project is to create a simple, yet effective, model of a solar dehydrator. Our model will have an efficient design and will be easily replicable for a child with the assistance of an adult. We hope that by designing this solar dehydrator we help children learn about solar energy and healthy food choices.
Backround: Client: Locally Delicious
Decision Process
In this section we will compare the alternative solutions listed in section 4.2 based on the criteria listed in section 4.1. A Delphi matrix will be used to compare the solutions and their relative scores will be used to make our final decision. The designs are judged on a 0-50 scale. A higher score means that the design fulfills the specific requirements of that criterion. The criteria are then weighted relative to their importance in the overall design requirements, and these numbers are multiplied together to provide a final score. This final score can then be compared to the final scores of other criteria and used to determine our final decision. The Delphi matrix can be seen below in table 4-1.
| Criteria | Weight | Constraints |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9 | Less than $75 |
| Educational Value | 8 | Teach about measurements, solar radiation, solar dehydration, as well as healthy eating, at a 4th to 8th grade level |
| Reproducibility | 9 | Minimal tool usage, easily obtainable materials |
| Maintenance | 6 | Less than 30 minutes of maintenance required per usage |
| Durability | 7 | Must last at least 12 uses |
| Safety | 10 | Should not exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit, also must be structurally sound |
| Functional | 10 | Must be able to adequately dehydrate fruits and vegetables |
| Portability | 5 | Must be movable by two or less people |
| Quantity | Material | Source | Cost ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Wood | Wood store | 2.20 | 6.60 |
| 1 | Glazing - 3' x 2', Sun-lite | Water Planet | 10.00 | 10.00 |
| Total Cost | $16.60 | |||
Fuji's and Fugees
- David Ullrich
- Jake Lodeen
- Dylan Kahle
- Matt Bruder