Science and Engineering Concepts Investigated
We investigated, and our advisor/mentor suggested using stainless steel as our casing for the cooler, He suggested to form the box because welding it might be unsanitary. We also need to know how the water inside the tank will freeze, and not deform the stainless steel when it expands. We also need to use Fusion/inventor to make a 3D plastic tub with dividers that will sit inside the stainless steel casing.
Construction Phase
The first step in our prototype stage will need to decide what materials we will need for the main part of our product, and we will figure that out during our meeting with our mentor. After we figure it out we then have to mold it into the shape we desire, create a vacuum for maximum insolation, get a thermometer for temperature monitoring, and then get plastic for the lid. We also need to acquire hinges to keep the lid attached to the device. Once it is all assembled we have to test how long it will stay cold to make sure it is a reasonable device for restaurants to purchase. To do this we will put our product in a freezer overnight then the next day we take it out and put it in a hot shaded environment to simulate an outdoor bar which will be the hottest environment our product will need to last in. We will monitor the product throughout the time it is outside the freezer by using the thermometer on the outside of the device to make sure it is staying at a low enough temperature for the fruit to stay fresh for an extended period of time.
Letter To Advisor
Software, Technology, and Equipment
We will need equipment that will be able to form metal into shapes, and we need thermometers and timers. Materials will include some type of metal, and plastic for the cap and lid.