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Designing an electric shower using thin film layer technology

Lise, E. (2013) Designing an electric shower using thin film layer technology.

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Abstract:This report represents a bachelor project about designing an electric shower with the innovative technology, provided by a research organisation. The goal of the project was to design an electric shower for the Brazilian market, using a thin film layer technology. The technology is about using a transparent thin film layer (SnO2 ) that is applied to glass; this layer will heat up when electricity runs through. The project starts by analysing the Brazilian market, the products and the mindset. One of the results is the discovery that the quality of the water that runs out of the shower could contain deposits; this will be disturbing because glass is used. The target group where the shower will focus on is upper class people. The environment is also a point of focus, since the technology promises to be efficient. Over 75% of the electricity in Brazil is generated by sustainable energy; this is a suitable theme for the design. In the design phase the technical elements are pointed out. The shower will be made out of glass. A systematic illustration of the shower is designed. To know what the size of the shower will be, the dimensions of the glass plates are calculated by assuming a particular heat transfer. This results in a space between the glass plates of 2 to 3 mm, and a surface of the glass plates of 0.2 to 0.3 m². The thin film layer will reach a temperature around 50°C, which is favourable because of safety and because there will not be any steam bubbles in the water which negatively influence the efficiency (a problem of nowadays used showers). The appearance of the shower is generated by using several tools; mind maps, a collage of sustainable energy, form studies of natural and mechanical shapes and a scenario of how to use the shower. From these ideas three concepts are derived. These concepts are elaborated and eventually converted into one concept. The appearance of the shower became a simplified version of an organic natural shape. This way the shower obtained a clean and elegant appearance. It is a curved shape that protrudes from a rectangular backside and leads to a square water distribution. The water and electricity enter the shower on the top of the backside. A user interface to control the temperature of the water is added on the bottom of the backside. The interface intends to create ecological awareness for the user. The materials that are used are: aluminium for the frame, glass for the heating element and silicone rubber for insulating tracks and the water distribution. The innovative shape and the display will contribute to an economical appearance. The designed product is meant for a pilot run. There are things that need to be improved. There are several recommendations: The connecting element needs to be elaborated because the current shape cannot be assembled. To avoid the visibility of deposits, the glass could be coloured. When glass is coloured on the inside, the glass will still have its smooth and clean look. Another option is to turn the glasses into mirrors. This will have another advantage. Mirrors can become steamed from the hot water of the shower. When the mirror is heated, which happens when the shower is turned on (because it is the heating element), the water will not condensate. A function that could be elaborated is adaptability of the height of the shower. There also could be a hose with a nozzle added; to have more degrees of freedom of the water spray. The result is a design of a shower that can be use to show what is possible with the thin film layer technology.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:ET: Engineering Technology
Subject:20 art studies
Programme:Industrial Design BSc (56955)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/63150
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