Labs

Each lab group does three out of seven possible experiments in a semester. The experiments involve different branches of Mechanical Engineering knowledge, so we try to assign the students for maximum exposure to heat transfer, dynamics, thermo, fluid mechanics, etc. The image galleries below illustrate some of the equipment used in each of the experiments. All images are courtesy of OCW.

Experiment 1: Proximity Heating of Silicon Wafer (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 2: Transfer Line Dynamics (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 3: Heat Exchanger Tube Vibrations (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 4: Pipe Clearing Fluid Transients (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 5: Irradiation Sample Transfer Line Snubbing Section Behavior (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 6: Peak Pressure in Nuclear Containment Vessel (PDF) (Image Gallery)

Experiment 7: Irrigation System Pressure Surge (PDF) (Image Gallery)

The complete laboratory manual, containing all seven experiments listed above plus syllabus, calendar, and tools information, is available here: (PDF)

 

Lab Equipment

Each 2.672 experiment is installed on its own bench. Lab #6 is frontmost in the picture.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 2 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 6 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 1 apparatus: hot plate heater with silicon wafer (right), connected to a temperature probe (left). Hot plate with silicon wafer in initial configuration (before heating). Hot plate with silicon wafer lowered to heating position.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 6 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 2 apparatus (left to right): computer for instrumentation and data capture, storage tank, transfer line system connected to lab's pressurized air supply. Detail of transfer line valve configuration. Bringing pressurized air into the system. Before starting, purge the system of any pressurized water or air. First, Valve B is opened. Then Valve A is opened, bringing water into the line.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 2 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 6 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 3 apparatus: bucket for ice water to adjust pipe temperature (upper left), test pipe welded within black outer pipe. Detail view of sensor to measure the inner pipe's resonant frequency.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 2 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 6 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 4 apparatus: computer for instrumentation and data capture, air storage tank, pipe with bend that collects water. Detail view of solenoid valve and water entry. Force exterted on the pipe is measured by an LVDT supported as a cantilever. Water is poured into the pipe before opening the solenoid.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 2 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 6 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 5 apparatus: vertical transfer line, computer for instrumentation and data capture. Detail view of light sensors at bottom of transfer line. Samples to be irradiated would be packaged in a cylinder like this. Filling the cylinder with lead shot to simulate a sample's weight. Dropping the sample into the transfer line.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 2 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 7

 

Lab 6 apparatus: black tank as reactor vessel, pipes with valves to simulate breaks in the reactor vessel, red tank as simulated containment vessel.

Lab Equipment | Experiment 1 | Experiment 2 | Experiment 3 | Experiment 4 | Experiment 5 | Experiment 6

 

Lab 7 apparatus (right to left): valves for selecting different pipes, water supply control panel, lengths of pipe, valve with pressure gauge port. To begin the experiment, open the water supply valve (black). Select the desired pipe by opening its valve. Each pipe is labeled with its length and inner diameter. The water supply control panel starts water flowing, and allows the system to be filled and drained. The terminal valve is initially open, then closed quickly to create a pressure surge.