Design, build, and characterization of a platform for testing bio-inspired, pressure-compensating valves

I design and build a testing platform to further the study and testing of bio-inspired, pressure-compensating valves. Research into an inexpensive design for a pressure-compensating valve designed to address the low-cost, high water efficiency needs of subsistence farmers in developing countries has already begun through proof-of-concept prototypes and testing; This project builds on the early-stage testing. A stable test set-up, designed for easy use and repeatability was needed in order to perform tests on valve prototypes with more accuracy and precision. I took into consideration the structural and systems needs of the test set-up, and proceeded to build and run tests on various tubing prototypes. By comparing these test results with previous proof-of-concept tests and analytical models, I show that this test setup can provide meaningful data for the testing of pressure-compensating valves, and could be used for future investigation into the design of such valves to be used in drip irrigation systems in developing countries.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Warren, Anne (Anne Galletti)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Amos G. Winter, V.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/83756

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/83756