ACCRETION TECHNOLOGIES

Heat Resilience Challenge

The Heat Resilience Challenge, undertaken in 2022 through ASU’s EPICS program, aimed to mitigate urban heat island effects for Arizona’s mobile home residents, a community vulnerable to extreme temperatures. As a mechanical engineering student, I collaborated with a team to evaluate cooling solutions, later independently designing a PC-inspired ventilation system using SolidWorks and ANSYS. This project reflects my commitment to sustainable engineering, blending thermal dynamics and community-focused design to improve livability in harsh climates.

Our team conducted a comprehensive market analysis using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to compare portable ACs, misters, and solar panels for cost, efficiency, and scalability. I contributed to weighting criteria (e.g., energy use, installation cost), identifying portable ACs as the most viable for short-term relief. We presented findings to community stakeholders, securing feedback that shaped my independent design phase. This collaborative effort honed my ability to balance technical and social considerations in engineering solutions.

Inspired by PC cooling systems, I designed a mobile home ventilation unit in SolidWorks, integrating high-efficiency PC fans (120 mm, 80 CFM) and protective flaps to enhance airflow while blocking dust. The system, modeled for a 400 sq ft home, used a continuous loop to circulate cool air, with ANSYS simulations predicting a noticeable temperature reduction. I optimized fan placement to minimize power draw (15 W), making it solar-compatible, aligning with the project’s sustainability goals and community budget constraints.

ANSYS fluid dynamics simulations, validated with colored smoke visualization in a scaled prototype, confirmed the cooling loop’s efficacy, achieving consistent airflow. I iterated the design to reduce turbulence, adjusting flap angles based on CFD results. The system’s low-cost materials (e.g., ABS plastic, aluminum mesh) ensured affordability, with a projected cost of $150 per unit. This phase demonstrated my proficiency in thermal engineering and simulation-driven design optimization.

The Heat Resilience Challenge showcases my ability to deliver practical, scalable solutions for environmental challenges. The ventilation system offers a low-energy alternative to traditional cooling, directly improving quality of life for mobile home residents. My skills in CAD, CFD, and stakeholder engagement position me to advance sustainable engineering. Future steps include prototyping the unit and testing in Arizona’s summer heat, a tentative goal for broader deployment in urban heat-vulnerable regions.

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