Final Design Report: Allergen Mixing Assistant (AMA) Micro-Refrigeration Redesigning

Abstract

Abstract Allergen Mixing Assistant (AMA) by Xtract Solutions is a device designed to more “effectively refrigerate, organize, and mix allergenic extracts”. Although Xtract Solutions intended the product to be fully automated, the company has decided against its automation and declared its current design as a minimum viable product whose components are too expensive, difficult to source and complex. Therefore, Cal Poly AMA design team - Mitchell Parks and Minwoo Suh - has decided to replace these expensive components with much more economical alternatives as shown below: Stirling cooler → Thermoelectric (Peltier) cooler Custom Arduino Controller Card → TEC Thermostat *** Original Housing with Wasted Space * → New Housing ** The cost analysis of the new design quotes the Allergen Mixing Assistant at $730, albeit minus the labor cost and manufacturing time, much more economical than the previous design where the Stirling Cooler alone was quoted at$830. Beyond its cost-effectiveness, the new Allergen Mixing Assistant has been improved from its previous design in following categories: 1, more effective cooling; and 2, better packaging - its overall physical dimensions have been reduced. Testing proved that a larger focus on heat rejection is needed to maintain the desired set temperature. Due to insufficient heat dissipation our new unit is unable to run for extended periods of time, but will be a viable option if a larger heat sink can be obtained