This document outlines the design of an active temperature controlled shipping container for laboratory mice. It discusses the current passive shipping containers that can expose mice to unsafe temperatures during transit. The proposed design will use active cooling and humidity control to maintain stable and safe conditions for mice. Various materials and components are considered, including a thermoelectric cooling system, humidity sensors, and phase change materials for thermal regulation. Testing will evaluate the design's ability to keep temperatures within a safe range for mice being transported.

1. Small Animal Transporter
MSE 499 Senior Design Final Report
Ben Reardon
Daina Gwyn
Ebrahim Zuaiter
Mikal Hayes
April 22, 2013
Abstract:
The
care
and
shipping
of
lab
mice
has
become
a
major
concern
for
scientist
and
veterinarians
alike
because
of
the
health
and
safety
threats
posed
on
animals
during
shipping.
It
is
important
to
design
a
shipping
container
that
provides
ultimate
comfort
to
reduce
heat
stresses
during
transit
as
well
as
a
sterilized,
humidity
free
environment
for
maximum
pathogen
resistance.
During
the
preliminary
phase
a
solid
design
concept
was
developed
to
ensure
the
concerns
and
safety
regulations
were
addressed.
During
the
final
manufacturing
design,
careful
attention
was
given
to
the
material
selection
of
the
container,
the
passive
cooling
system
for
the
unit
and
the
proper
implementation
of
new
technologies
such
as
biodegradable
phase
change
material.
Different
material
considerations
will
be
discussed
outlining
the
reasons
why
one
would
be
superior
over
the
other
for
the
manufactured
design
verses
the
prototyped
design.
Calculations,
thermal
and
FEA
analysis
will
be
presented
along
with
a
complete
profile
for
a
marketable
unit.

2. 2
Table
of
Contents
Abstract:
.....................................................................................................................................
1
Introduction
..............................................................................................................................
4
Problem
Statement
............................................................................................................
6
The
Client
&
Interaction
...................................................................................................
7
Brainstorming
&
Alternate
Designs
..................................................................................
7
Method
Selection
&
Ranking
.........................................................................................
11
The
Peltier
Effect
of
Cooling
..............................................................................................
12
The
History
and
Equation
of
the
Peltier
Effect
.......................................................
13
Active
vs.
Passive
Cooling
...................................................................................................
14
The
advantages
of
using
active
cooling:
....................................................................
15
The
disadvantages
of
using
the
active
cooling:
......................................................
15
Material
Considerations
.....................................................................................................
15
Polypropylene
....................................................................................................................
15
ABS
.........................................................................................................................................
16
Polycarbonate
....................................................................................................................
16
Space
Accessible
Composite
(SAC)
..............................................................................
17
Acrylic
...................................................................................................................................
17
Final
Material
Choices
.....................................................................................................
18
The
Phase
Change
Material
...........................................................................................
19
CES
Material
Analysis
..........................................................................................................
20
Stages
of
Design
.....................................................................................................................
20
Design
&
Construction
.........................................................................................................
22
Physical
Components
......................................................................................................
22
Valspar
Reflective
Paint
.................................................................................................
25
Heat
Transfer
Principles
............................................................................................
25
Definitions
of
key
terms:
............................................................................................
26
Selection
of
coatings
....................................................................................................
26
Electrical
Components
....................................................................................................
27
Electrical
Schematic
.....................................................................................................
28
Lithium
Battery
.............................................................................................................
28
Microcontroller
.............................................................................................................
29
Temperature
&
Humidity
Sensor
............................................................................
30
Computer
Fan
................................................................................................................
31
Thermoelectric
Cooling
System
...............................................................................
32
USB
Temperature
&
Humidity
Datalogger
...........................................................
32
GPS
Datalogger
..............................................................................................................
34
Bill
of
Materials
.................................................................................................................
34

3. 3
Large
Container
Equations
........................................................................................
34
Acrylic
Cage
Equations
...............................................................................................
35
Bio
PCM
Equations
.......................................................................................................
35
FEA
Analysis
............................................................................................................................
36
Thermal
Analysis
..................................................................................................................
37
The
Thermal
Environment
............................................................................................
37
Thermal
Stresses
..............................................................................................................
37
Thermal
Profile
of
the
Design
.......................................................................................
38
Conduction
..........................................................................................................................
43
Safety
&
Shipping
Regulations
..........................................................................................
44
The
Animal
Welfare
Act
(AWA)
....................................................................................
47
The
Lacey
Act
.....................................................................................................................
47
Semester
2
The
Building
Process
....................................................................................
48
Manufactures
Final
Material
Selection
..........................................................................
48
Aluminum
Honeycomb
...................................................................................................
48
Curv®
........................................................................................................................................
49
The
AeroPlaz™
Honeycomb
...............................................................................................
51
Electronic
Components
.......................................................................................................
54
Final
Design:
.......................................................................................................................
54
Changes
from
Original
Design:
.........................................................................................
58
Electronic
Changes
Recommended
Due
to
Testing:
..............................................
58
Testing
......................................................................................................................................
62
Conclusion
...............................................................................................................................
65
References:
..............................................................................................................................
67
Appendix
..................................................................................................................................
68
CES
Material
Index
Graphs
............................................................................................
68
CES
Mechanical
&
Thermal
Property
Tables
...........................................................
68
FEA
Analysis
Data
.............................................................................................................
68
Final
Gant
Chart
................................................................
Error!
Bookmark
not
defined.
Resources
............................................................................................................................
68

4. 4
Introduction
The
purpose
of
this
project
is
to
develop
an
active
temperature
controlled
shipping
container
that
provides
a
stable
temperature
and
humidity
environment
for
rodents
and
small
exotic
animals.
In
the
initial
development
stages
the
team
has
narrowed
down
a
design
based
on
the
needs
of
the
customers
and
the
problems
that
arise
as
a
result
of
using
the
current
design.
Rodents
used
in
research
are
currently
transported
inside
HEPA-­‐filtered
shipping
containers
of
various
sizes.
When
the
shipping
containers
are
placed
in
unregulated
conditions
during
transit,
hypothermic
and
hyperthermia
events
can
occur
that
are
sometimes
fatal.
Survival
is
affected
by
many
environmental
factors,
including
ambient
temperatures,
relative
humidity,
water
availability
and
exposure
time.
Providing
active
environmental
controls
on
the
shipping
container
would
offer
stable
temperatures
and
reduce
humidity
during
uncontrolled
environmental
conditions,
which
would
help
ensure
safe
passage
for
the
lab
mice.
When
starting
a
project
it
is
important
to
understand
the
customer
and
market.
After
much
research
and
investigation,
it
was
found
that
much
of
veterinary
medicine
and
medical
experiments,
rely
on
mice.
Figure
1:
Pie
chart
of
2010
usage
of
lab
mice
in
the
European
Union
[15].

5. 5
In
the
27
states
of
the
European
Union,
they
use
mice
60%
of
the
time
in
their
laboratory
experiments
(Figure
1).
In
the
United
States
it
is
estimated
that
85-­‐90%
of
the
animals
used
in
medical
research
are
mice.
The
vast
use
of
lab
mice
in
the
United
States
has
not
led
to
them
not
being
counted
in
the
annual
statistics
that
the
USDA
collects
on
the
use
of
animals
in
the
United
States;
nor
are
they
covered
under
the
Animal
Welfare
Act.
This
means
that
because
they
are
used
more
than
any
other
animal,
their
use
is
not
regulated
and
they
do
not
have
protections
and
rights
that
other
animals
would
have.
Figure
2:
Pie
chart
illustrating
the
percentage
of
mice
used
in
the
US
in
2010
[16].
From
Figure
2
it
is
estimated
that
mice
account
for
95%
of
animals
used
in
medical
research
in
the
US.
Precise
statistics
are
not
available
because
the
Animal
Welfare
Act
does
not
protect
lab
mice,
but
this
amounts
to
approximately
25
million
a
year
being
used.
Mice
are
used
in
research
study
for
various
diseases:
• Tuberculosis
• Cancer
• Parkinson
• Hypertension
• Obesity
• Diabetes
• And
more

6. 6
There
is
not
a
disease
that
lab
mice
have
not
been
a
part
of.
A
recent
article
was
published
analyzing
the
use
of
mice
in
experiments
to
study
every
disease.
It
stated
a
danger
is
being
done
when
researchers
use
one
animal
to
study
all
disease
and
fears
that
much
advancement
is
being
missed
because
of
the
lack
of
versatility
done
in
the
choice
of
animal.
Whatever
it
may
be,
the
fact
is
clear
that
mice
are
used
extensively
in
the
industry
and
developing
a
product
that
protects
the
investments
made
in
these
animals
has
become
our
number
one
priority.
Understanding
the
use
and
importance
of
these
animals
to
our
lives
and
disease
advancement,
helps
us
to
tailor
a
product
that
satisfies
the
goals
of
the
industry
and
offers
a
solution
in
shipping
these
animals
amongst
researcher
safely.
Problem
Statement
The
current
design
being
used
to
transport
lab
animals
offers
one
major
concern;
it
does
not
have
any
mechanisms
in
place
to
control
the
temperature,
which
in
turn
will
regulate
the
humidity
and
circulate
the
air
for
the
mice.
Figure
3:
The
Jackson
Laboratory
patented
shipping
container
for
lab
mice
[1].
It
is
a
container
that
is
made
out
of
an
all
plastic
(ABS)
construction
with
holes
on
each
side
and
the
top
to
promote
airflow.
If
the
mice
are
shipped
in
this
container
during
extreme
heat,
the
container
will
hold
the
heat
inside
which
yields
the
fatal
conditions
the
veterinarians
and
scientist
fear.
This
current
design
poses
the
following
challenges:
• Creating
a
proper
temperature
mechanism
that
is
battery
powered
long
enough
to
sustain
animals
for
up
to
a
week.
• Creating
a
proper
temperature
mechanism
that
is
sensor
controlled
through
a
thermostat.
• Creating
a
shipping
container
that
holds
up
to
10
small
mice
and
separates
males
from
females
and
provides
even
distribution
of
food
while
limiting
exposure
to
diseases

7. 7
• Developing
the
proper
fan
and
installation
system
that
controls
humidity
within
the
unit.
• Adhere
to
shipping
regulations
The
Client
&
Interaction
The
initial
client
and
consultation
has
been
with
Dr.
Joan
Cadillac.
Dr.
Cadillac
is
the
Sr.
Clinical
Lab
Animal
Veterinarian
for
the
Animal
Resources
Program
at
the
UAB
Research
Building.
Dr.
Cadillac
provides
oversight
of
the
animal
medical
services
for
the
UAB
research
animal
colonies.
She
also
oversees
the
importation
and
quarantine
of
all
incoming
rodents
from
non-­‐commercial
vendors.
Dr.
Cadillac
received
her
degree
in
veterinary
medicine
from
Kansas
State
University.
She
completed
her
residency
training
and
received
a
Masters
of
Public
Health
from
the
University
of
Michigan.
Dr.
Cadillac
serves
as
a
diplomat
of
the
American
College
of
Laboratory
Animal
Medicine
and
has
over
19
years’
experience
in
veterinary
medicine.
Dr.
Cadillac
serves
as
mentor
and
client
in
this
project
based
on
her
extensive
knowledge
of
the
industry
as
vast
amount
of
experience
in
the
proper
transportation
of
lab
mice
and
other
lab
animals.
When
asked
why
this
project
was
so
important
to
researchers
and
veterinary
medicine,
Dr.
Cadillac
responded
that
proper
transporting
units
are
important
to
the
field
of
animal
research
because
numerous
animals
are
transported
between
institutions
(both
domestic
and
international),
and
due
to
a
recent
spike
in
transportation
issues,
animals
sometimes
die
during
transport.
Dr.
Cadillac
has
made
it
clear
that
her
goal
and
her
aim
are
to
work
closely
with
us
to
see
this
project
till
the
end
to
ensure
its
success.
There
was
several
design
constraints
that
were
made
presented
to
the
design
team.
One
of
them
was
to
avoid
paying
the
heavy
shipping
costs
to
rent
out
a
climate
controlled
vehicles
to
transport
the
animals
which
cost
upward
of
thousands
of
dollars
per
shipping
container.
Another
limitation
is
to
make
the
material
where
the
rodents
aren’t
able
to
chew
their
way
out.
Finally,
the
when
rodents
are
shipped,
they
are
regulated
to
a
certain
amount
of
living
space
during
their
journey,
as
evidenced
by
Animal
Welfare
Act
in
table
12.
Brainstorming
&
Alternate
Designs
Our
approach
into
this
design
during
the
preliminary
stages
was
unanimous,
such
that
the
current
container
being
used
is
inferior
and
insufficient.
After
countless
debates
and
critical
thinking,
it
was
determined
that
the
approach
to
this
is
that
each
member
in
this
group
does
initial
sketches
of
what
they
think
would
be
beneficial
to
the
group
design.
It
was
concluded
that
the
best
approach
to
this
design
is
to
implement
an
exterior
temperature
change
structure
with
the
interior
being
held
up
by
the
cages
for
the
animals.
This
would
substantially
cut
down
the
cost
of
shipping
by
eliminating
the
need
to
ship
it
via
critical
freight.
This
would
save

8. 8
tremendously
by
eradicating
the
climate
controlled
vehicles,
and
handling
extreme
care
because
of
the
soft
plastic
and
cardboard
material
being
used
right
now
for
these
rodents.
Our
idea
is
to
construct
containers
that
would
be
made
out
of
extreme
durability
and
strength
to
withstand
impact
and
the
duration
of
the
journey.
Also,
in
each
of
the
member’s
sketches,
there
is
a
self-­‐sufficient
device
that
can
help
control
the
temperature.
Each
member
in
the
design
team
had
different
components
that
were
taken
from
their
preliminary
sketches’
and
incorporated
into
the
final
design.
Figure
4:
These
preliminary
sketches
are
for
the
housing
units
for
the
interior
and
exterior
views.
In
Figure
4,
the
approach
was
to
build
an
outer
cooling
system
case
which
would
have
handles
on
the
sides
to
pick
up
and
have
a
door
that
opens
up
from
the
top.
The
unit
will
be
insulated
with
phase
changing
material
to
absorb
the
heat.
Also,
a
computer
fan
will
be
used
that
will
act
as
an
exhaust
to
help
circulate
air
throughout
the
case.
It
will
all
be
powered
by
a
small
rechargeable
battery.
Finally,
there
will
be
two
different
thermostats,
one
that
will
detail
the
clients
of
the
temperature
outside
the
housing
unit,
and
the
second
one
will
be
used
to
trigger
a
resistor
for
the
exhaust
fan
to
kick
in
if
it
falls
below
a
certain
threshold.
The
phase
changing
material
concept
was
adopted
for
the
final
design,
as
well
as
the
thermostats,
and
the
computer
fan
exhaust
fan.
However
the
case
itself
was
discarded
due
to
discomfort
of
opening
up
a
latch
that
may
get
in
the
way.
Also
the
material
that
was
desired
to
make
the
case
out
of,
plastic
storage
case
(thermoplastic)
would
end
up
being
too
heavy
for
the
client
to
carry.

9. 9
Figure
5:
These
preliminary
sketches
are
for
the
housing
units
for
the
interior
and
exterior
views.
In
Figure
5,
the
approach
was
to
design
a
housing
unit
that
will
contain
mesh
style
bins
to
hold
the
animals
and
their
food.
The
mesh
promotes
air
flow
to
the
animals.
Also,
the
unit
would
be
made
out
of
plastic
material
with
phase
changing
material
incorporated.
The
design
itself
will
have
three
different
shelves,
to
segregate
the
animals
to
prevent
breeding
and
interaction.
It
will
be
divided
to
males,
females,
and
exotic
creatures.
The
door
will
be
one
that
opens
from
the
side
with
a
hatch
to
provide
extra
air
tight
security.
The
concept
of
segregation
for
the
animals
to
prevent
breeding
and
spreading
diseases
was
taken
from
this
preliminary
sketch
and
incorporated
into
the
final
design.
Also
the
idea
of
having
a
door
that
opens
from
the
side
prevents
any
accidents
and
constant
observation
over
all
of
the
animals
and
easy
removal
of
the
cages.
However
the
overall
design
was
not
used
because
the
mesh
style
bins
for
the
cages
will
not
be
strong
enough
to
withstand
the
forces
erected
by
the
creatures
inside.
Also,
the
container
itself
made
out
of
plastic
will
not
be
used
because
it
would
not
be
durable
enough
to
withstand
the
journey
of
shipment,
as
well
as
being
too
heavy.

10. 10
Figure
6:
These
preliminary
sketches
are
for
the
housing
units
for
the
interior
and
exterior
views.
In
Figure
6,
the
method
in
this
preliminary
design
is
to
keep
the
existing
rodent
cages
that
are
being
used
in
today’s
market,
and
just
design
an
exterior
housing
container.
Some
of
the
things
that
he
incorporates
are
an
HVAC
system
to
regulate
humidity.
A
computer
fan
with
heat
sink
for
cooling,
and
heat
reflective
material
on
the
outside.
Durable
plastic
is
the
material
that
will
be
used
for
the
housing
unit,
as
well
as
highly
insulated
material
within
the
casing.
The
concept
of
having
air
flow
inside
the
housing
unit
for
additional
ventilation
was
used
for
the
final
design.
Also,
a
HVAC
system
is
going
to
be
used
a
hybrid
in
the
final
stages,
except
it
will
be
replaced
with
a
thermo-­‐electric
system
in
the
final
design.
The
concept
is
still
the
same.
However
it
was
concluded
in
the
critical
design
report
that,
the
existing
plastic
casings
is
not
ideal
for
the
rodents
because
it
doesn’t
provide
enough
ventilation
as
well
as
temperature
controlled
climates.
Also,
stacking
plastic
cases
on
top
of
each
other
isn’t
ideal
as
indicated
in
this
preliminary
sketch,
because
it
may
prevent
airflow
going
in
from
each
cage.

11. 11
Figure
7:
These
preliminary
sketches
are
for
the
housing
units
for
the
interior
and
exterior
views.
In
Figure
7,
this
design
shows
different
views
with
several
air
vent
and
channels
for
air
to
flow
freely
to
circulate
fresh
air
from
the
outside.
Mikal
also
adds
in
a
fan
on
the
lid
to
combat
humidity
which
is
a
huge
problem
in
certain
places
around
the
world.
Some
of
the
concepts
were
added
into
the
final
design
such
as
cross
ventilation
that
is
much
more
ideal
then
the
current
market
design.
The
reason
is
because
more
air
flows
and
circulates
fresh
air
to
fight
humidity.
The
fan
on
the
lid
was
used
for
the
final
design
to
help
ease
the
burden
and
drainage
of
a
potential
battery
that
will
be
used
to
power
the
thermal
electric
system.
The
overall
exterior
unit
was
discarded
because
it
doesn’t
solve
the
problem
of
having
enough
space
for
the
rodents
to
being
shipped
across
the
world.
Method
Selection
&
Ranking
Method
selection
was
taken
between
the
original
designs
compared
to
using
an
exterior
housing
unit
that
is
climate
controlled.
The
results
depicted
in
Table
1
show
that
by
having
an
exterior
housing
unit
that
is
climate
controlled
makes
more
sense
than
going
by
what
it
is
in
the
current
market.
Table
2
depicts
the
method
selection
for
cages
whether
or
not
having
isolated
rodent
cages
from
the
container
rather
than
putting
all
the
animals
inside
the
same
unit.
It
is
shown
that
by
having
separate
rodent
cages
to
eliminate
breeding,
diseases
and
interaction,
as
well
as
giving
the
client
more
comfort
ability.
Table
3
describes
the
idea
of
having
a
phase
changing
material
or
not,
but
it
is
shown
that
the
criteria
for
having
phase
changing
material
is
extremely
important
to
control
temperature
and
humidity.

12. 12
Table
1:
Method
Selection
of
Unit
Original
Plastic
Container
Temperature
Regulated
Exterior
Housing
Criteria
Weighting
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Cost
5
2
5
5
25
Acquirement
Difficulty
3
1
3
2
6
Weight
4
3
12
5
20
Production
Difficulty
2
1
2
1
2
Production
Length
1
2
2
1
2
Functionality
6
4
24
6
36
Totals
48
91
Table
2:
Method
Selection
of
Cages
No
Separate
Rodent
Cage
Separate
Rodent
Cage
Criteria
Weighting
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Cost
1
2
2
2
2
Acquirement
Difficulty
5
1
5
4
20
Weight
2
3
6
3
6
Production
Difficulty
4
1
4
5
20
Production
Length
3
2
6
1
3
Functionality
6
4
24
6
36
Totals
47
87
Table
3:
Method
Selection
of
Phase
Changing
Material
No
Phase
Changing
Material
Phase
Changing
Material
Criteria
Weighting
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Relative
Compliance
Weighted
Value
Cost
5
5
25
5
25
Acquirement
Difficulty
3
1
3
2
6
Weight
4
5
20
5
20
Production
Difficulty
2
1
2
1
2
Production
Length
1
1
1
1
1
Functionality
6
1
6
6
36
Totals
57
90
The
Peltier
Effect
of
Cooling
For
the
new
design,
the
Peltier
effect
of
cooling
was
utilized
because
it
is
a
trusted
method
for
solid
state
cooling
systems
and
conventional
refrigeration
techniques
known
as
thermoelectric
cooling.
These
solid-­‐state
cooling
systems
use
a
thermoelectric
device
that
consists
of
a
heat
sink,
semiconductor
and
DC
power.
The
semiconductor
component
is
soldered
between
two
ceramic
plates,
with
bismuth
telluride
particles
sandwiched
in
between
the
plates,
Figure
8.
This
unit
is

13. 13
then
doped
to
create
N-­‐P
junctions
or
semiconductors
with
charge
carriers
of
different
polarity
as
seen
in
Figure
8.
The
negative
electrons
in
the
n-­‐type
semi-­‐
conductor
will
be
drawn
towards
the
positive
holes
in
the
p-­‐type
semi-­‐
conductor
and
vice
versa.
These
charge
carries
will
subsequently
diffuse
until
thermal
equilibrium
is
reached.
Figure
8:
(a)
Thermoelectric
cooling
schematic
based
on
the
Peltier
effect
using
n-­‐type
and
p-­‐type
semiconductors
(b)
A
p-­‐n
couple
can
be
used
as
a
thermoelectric
couple
based
on
the
Peltier
effect
(left)
or
a
thermoelectric
generator
based
on
the
Seebeck
effect
(right).
[7].
The
purpose
of
a
temperature
control
system
is
to
maintain
a
device
at
a
constant
temperature.
Solid-­‐state
cooling
systems
have
no
moving
parts.
For
that
reason,
they
offer
high
reliability
and
low
maintenance
over
other
types
of
cooling
or
heating
devices.
Solid-­‐state
cooling
systems
offer
low
noise
performance
and
are
ideal
for
use
in
medical
offices,
laboratories
and
all
other
places
where
noise
reduction
is
a
factor.
Solid-­‐state
cooling
systems
are
ecologically
clean
-­‐
no
other
types
of
refrigerants
(CFC,
HCFC
or
even
HFC)
are
involved
in
the
process.
The
History
and
Equation
of
the
Peltier
Effect
The
Peltier
effect
is
the
presence
of
heat
at
an
electrified
junction
of
two
different
metals
and
is
named
for
French
physicist
Jean-­‐Charles
Peltier,
who
discovered
it
in
1834.
When
a
current
is
made
to
flow
through
a
junction
composed
of
materials
A
and
B,
heat
is
generated
at
the
upper
junction
at
T2,
and
absorbed
at
the
lower
junction
at
T1.
The
Peltier
heat
𝑄
absorbed
by
the
lower
junction
per
unit
time
is
equal
to:
𝑄 = Π!" 𝐼 = (Π! − Π!) 𝐼
Where
ΠAB
is
the
Peltier
coefficient
for
the
thermocouple
composed
of
materials
A
and
B
and
ΠA
(ΠB)
is
the
Peltier
coefficient
of
material
A
(B).
Π
varies
with
the
material's
temperature
and
its
specific
composition:
p-­‐type
silicon
typically
has
a
positive
Peltier
coefficient
below
~550
K,
but
n-­‐type
silicon
is
typically
negative.
(a)
(b)

14. 14
The
Peltier
coefficients
represent
how
much
heat
current
is
carried
per
unit
charge
through
a
given
material.
Since
charge
current
must
be
continuous
across
a
junction,
the
associated
heat
flow
will
develop
a
discontinuity
if
ΠA
and
ΠB
are
different.
Depending
on
the
magnitude
of
the
current,
heat
must
accumulate
or
deplete
at
the
junction
due
to
a
non-­‐zero
divergence
there
caused
by
the
carriers
attempting
to
return
to
the
equilibrium
that
existed
before
the
current
was
applied
by
transferring
energy
from
one
connector
to
another.
Active
vs.
Passive
Cooling
Passive
temperature
control
applies
to
packages
that
do
not
have
any
intelligence
to
regulate
the
cooling
process.
The
phase
change
material
(PCM)
used
in
passive
systems
is
always
cooling
no
matter
what
the
internal
temperature
is.
The
system
is
designed
based
on
the
premise
that
the
heat
leaking
into
the
package
will
be
approximately
equal
to
the
cooling
capacity
of
the
phase
change
material
in
the
package.
The
equilibrium
condition
resulting
from
this
situation
will
keep
the
internal
temperature
within
the
desired
temperature
range.
Active
temperature
control
applies
to
packages
that
have
intelligence
to
start
and
stop
cooling
based
on
the
internal
temperature
of
the
package.
Active
temperature
control
packages
fall
into
the
following
types:
• Uses
a
compressor.
A
thermostat
starts
and
stops
the
compressor
to
regulate
the
temperature.
This
package
is
battery
powered.
• Uses
a
fan
to
circulate
air
over
dry
ice
or
frozen
water
containers.
A
thermostat
starts
and
stops
the
fan
to
regulate
the
temperature.
This
package
is
battery
powered.
• Uses
a
mechanical
thermal
switch
to
control
cooling
using
frozen
water
as
the
cooling
medium.
A
thermostat
causes
a
mechanical
thermal
switch
to
open
or
close
a
thermal
conduction
conduit
to
regulate
the
temperature.
This
package
does
not
require
battery
power.
Passive
temperature
cooling
is
a
poor
solution
for
high
value
payloads
on
international
shipments.
The
package
does
not
have
the
intelligence
to
make
adjustments
for
different
ambient
environments.
Probably
the
most
challenging
shipment
is
to
ship
from
the
northern
hemisphere
to
the
southern
hemisphere
or
vice
versa
in
February.
The
reason
is
because
of
the
opposite
seasons
both
hemispheres
experience
at
all
times.
While
winter
in
North
America
during
February,
South
America
experiences
summer
during
February.
The
exposure
of
such
contrast
different
climates
for
the
rodents
could
be
stressful
and
lead
to
trauma
and
heat
stress.
This
will
be
an
international
shipment
of
several
days
including
customs
clearance.
On
the
other
hand,
an
active
temperature
controlled
package
has
the
intelligence
to
stop
cooling
when
the
internal
temperature
is
low
and
to
start
cooling
when
the
internal
temperature
rises.
The
pack
out
protocol
for
an
active
temperature
controlled
package
is
the
same
for
any
shipment
since
the
package
adjust
its
cooling
or
heating
automatically.

15. 15
For
relatively
low
value
domestic
shipments
in
predictable
shipping
situations,
the
passive
shipping
container
is
still
a
viable
option.
However,
for
international
shipments
where
the
shipping
situation
becomes
unpredictable
with
customs
delays
or
long
2-­‐week
deliveries
and
the
temperature
differences
from
environment
to
environment
may
be
more
challenging,
it
was
evident
that
an
active
temperature
control
system
was
needed.
The
advantages
of
using
active
cooling:
• No
moving
parts
• Do
not
require
the
use
of
chlorofluorocarbons
• Safe
for
the
environment,
inherently
reliable,
and
virtually
maintenance
free
• Can
be
operated
in
any
orientation
The
disadvantages
of
using
the
active
cooling:
• Cannot
simultaneously
have
low
cost
and
high
power
efficiency.
Many
researchers
and
companies
are
trying
to
develop
Peltier
coolers
that
are
both
cheap
and
efficient.
Material
Considerations
When
selecting
material
for
the
active
controlled
shipping
container,
it
is
important
to
analyze
choices
based
on
cost
and
application
efficiency.
We
have
narrowed
it
down
to
a
few
tried
and
tested
materials
that
are
known
for
performance
in
units
that
use
lab
products
for
transporting
or
those
are
reliable
in
properties
that
require
thermal
sensitivities.
We
would
need
to
choose
three
of
the
material
choices
we
have
narrowed
it
down
to.
Two
of
the
choices
will
be
for
the
main
housing,
and
the
other
for
the
internal
cases
that
house
the
mice.
A
comparison
of
properties
for
all
the
materials
in
the
Appendix
to,
refer
to
throughout
the
project
and
material
selection
process.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene
is
a
thermoplastic
that
is
manufactured
from
propylene
gas
in
presence
of
a
catalyst
such
as
titanium
chloride.
It
is
a
by-­‐product
of
the
oil
refining
processes
as
well.
Polypropylene
is
highly
crystalline
and
most
commercial
grades
are
isotactic
or
geometrical
in
structure
which
is
opposite
to
an
amorphous
thermoplastics,
which
lacks
long
range
order,
such
as
polystyrene,
PVC,
polyamides,
etc.,
also
known
as
atactic.
Polypropylene
is
normally
tough
and
flexible,
especially
when
copolymerized
with
ethylene.
This
allows
polypropylene
to
be
used
as
an
engineering
plastic,
competing
with
materials
such
as
ABS.
Polypropylene
has
good
resistance
to
fatigue
and
is
reasonably
economical.
It
can
be
made
translucent
when
uncolored
but
is
not
as
readily
made
transparent
as
polystyrene
and
acrylic.

16. 16
Polypropylene
is
lightweight
and
has
lowest
density
(0.90-­‐0.92
g/cm3)
of
the
resins
used
in
packaging
as
seen
in
TABLE
4.
TABLE
4:
Density
and
melt
index
comparison
of
polypropylene
and
polyethylene.
Polymer
Melt
Index
Density
(gr/ml)
LDPE
(Low
Density
Polyethylene)
0.2
-­‐
20.0
0.916
-­‐
0.930
HDPE
(High
Density
Polyethylene)
0.2
-­‐
25.0
0.950
-­‐
0.960
Polypropylene
2.0
-­‐
50.0
0.910
-­‐
0.928
Polypropylene
was
considered
for
several
reasons
in
being
our
premiere
choice
of
material
for
our
housing
for
several
reasons:
• It
is
excellent
in
resistance
to
stress
and
high
resistant
to
cracking
(i.e.
it
has
high
tensile
and
compressive
strength)
• High
operational
temperatures
with
a
melting
point
of
160°C
• Excellent
dielectric
properties
• It
is
highly
resistant
to
most
alkalis
and
acid,
organic
solvents,
degreasing
agents
and
electrolytic
attack.
On
the
contrary
is
less
resistance
to
aromatic,
aliphatic
and
chlorinated
solvents
and
UV.
• It
is
non-­‐toxic
and
is
used
in
thermo
cooler
applications
• A
non-­‐staining
material
• Plus
it’s
easy
to
produce,
assemble
and
its
economical
ABS
Acrylonitrile
butadiene
styrene
(ABS)
is
a
type
of
acrylic
that
is
tough,
resilient
and
easily
molded.
It
is
usually
opaque,
although
some
grades
can
now
be
transparent
and
it
can
be
given
vivid
colors.
ABS
–
PVC
alloys
are
tougher
than
standard
ABS
and
in
self-­‐extinguishing
grades,
are
used
for
the
casing
of
power
tools.
ABS
has
the
highest
impact
resistance
of
all
the
polymers.
By
adding
glass
fiber
the
rigidity
can
be
increased
dramatically
which
may
prove
beneficial
in
our
unit.
If
we
use
this
as
our
housing
material
it
would
need
a
protective
coating
because
sunlight
causes
yellowing
and
loss
of
strength.
The
good
news
is,
if
we
use
this
material,
we
will
have
the
manufacturing
processes
of
extrusion,
compression
molding
or
vacuum
thermo
forming
available
to
us.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
is
a
clear,
colorless
polymer
used
extensively
for
engineering
and
optical
applications.
It
is
available
commercially
in
both
pellet
and
sheet
form.
Outstanding
properties
include
impact
strength
and
scratch
resistance.
The
most
serious
deficiencies
though
are
poor
weather
ability
and
chemical
resistance.
Typical
properties
include:

17. 17
• Glass transition temperature: 145°
C.
• Melting temperature: 225°
C.
• Amorphous density at 25°
C: 1.20 g/cm3
.
• Molecular weight of repeat unit: 254.3 g/mol.
Space
Accessible
Composite
(SAC)
Space
Accessible
Composite
is
a
glass
epoxy
made
of
woven
glass
fibers
and
a
non-­‐woven
glass
core
that
is
then
combined
with
the
epoxy
resin.
This
material
is
highly
used
in
the
electronics
industry
for
products
like
printed
circuit
boards
for
cellular
phones
and
computers.
The
properties
of
the
material
are
listed
in
Table
5
and
a
full
list
from
CES
is
available
in
the
appendix
as
well.
SAC
is
attractive
to
us
because
it
is
flame
retardant,
a
low
moisture
absorber;
it’s
very
high
in
strength
and
very
low
in
weight
and
cost.
Table
5:
ASTM
properties
of
space
accessible
composite
Specifications
of
Space
Accessible
Composite
Compressive
Yield
Strength
8.00
MPa
1160
psi
ASTM
C365
Shear
Modulus
12.0
Mpa
1740
psi
ASTM
C273
Shear
Strength
1.50
Mpa
218
psi
ASTM
C273
Glass
epoxy
materials
can
operate
under
heavy
electrical
and
mechanical
stress
as
well
as
high
temperatures.
According
to
our
FEA
and
thermal
analysis
found
later
on
in
this
paper,
it
is
shown
that
we
need
a
material
to
withstand
temperatures
of
over
110°F
and
the
glass
epoxy
has
a
thermal
resistance
well
above
that
to
329°F.
Acrylic
Although
not
as
strong
as
polycarbonate,
acrylic
poses
some
benefits
that
makes
it
a
good
contender
for
use
as
our
material
of
choice
for
the
inside
rodent
container.
Keep
in
mind
the
inside
rodent
container
will
have
holes
throughout
for
air
circulation
and
will
be
the
container
that
the
receiver
keeps;
this
is
discussed
more
in
the
design
and
construction
section
of
this
report.
Since
acrylic
is
as
hard
as
polymers
go
then
we
wanted
to
plot
the
hardness
versus
the
maximum
service
temperature
in
CES.
The
material
may
not
be
comfortable
enough
for
the
mice
to
lie
in
for
up
to
two
weeks.
However
the
comfort
ability
of
the
mice
will
be
dictated
later

18. 18
in
the
paper,
about
how
the
importance
of
reducing
stress,
trauma,
and
heat
stroke
on
the
mice.
Final
Material
Choices
The
initial
housing
construction
of
our
design
was
slated
to
be
made
out
of
a
aluminum
honeycomb
sandwiched
between
¼
inch
Curv®
sheets.
This
material
was
chosen
because
it
is
strong
lightweight
and
freely
available
to
us.
The
time
devoted
to
design,
papers
and
meetings
has
sacrificed
the
time
spent
on
fundraising
so
we
resolved
to
just
use
the
$600
budget
and
gain
as
many
donations
as
possible.
This
design
just
recently
received
$5000
in
grant
money,
if
an
appropriate
prototype
can
be
made
by
the
end
of
January
using
the
Space
Accessible
Composite
as
well
as
Polycarbonate
that
was
donated
to
the
project.
Mentors
and
investors
have
requested
to
expedite
the
delivery
of
a
prototype
so
therefore
we
will
begin
building
December
17th.
We
will
use
the
thermo
forming
process
to
construct
the
container
and
will
be
able
to
use
an
array
of
materials,
test
them
and
decide
on
the
best.
We
will
still
begin
with
the
space
accessible
composite.
We
will
also
use
Curv®
and
a
polypropylene
honeycomb
because
it
has
a
density
that
is
17
times
lower
than
the
density
for
the
SAC
material.
The
fact
that
weight
reduction
is
one
of
our
main
objectives,
makes
the
Curv®
and
polypropylene
honeycomb
very
attractive
to
use
in
our
final
working
unit.

19. 19
The
Phase
Change
Material
Figure
9:
The
bioPCM
(phase
change
material)
used
for
insulation
in
the
animal
transporter
unit.
The
BioPCM™
is
the
key
ingredient
for
the
active
cooling
container.
It
is
the
one
material
we
are
certain
of
at
this
point
in
the
preliminary
design
process.
The
BioPCM™
is
insulation
with
pockets
of
phase-­‐changing
material
(soy-­‐based
chemicals
that
change
from
liquid
to
solid
and
back
again
at
different
temperatures,
allowing
the
material
to
absorb
and
release
heat).
Its
performance
is
comparable
to
that
of
the
thermal
mass
of
12"-­‐thick
concrete.
The
product
increases
the
time
it
takes
for
a
building
to
warm
up
or
cool
down.
BioPCM™
is
easily
integrated
into
existing
designs.
The
product
can
be
easily
trimmed
around
wall
outlets
and
fixtures
with
scissors
or
a
utility
knife.
BioPCM™
has
a
thermal
storage
capacity
of
approximately
190
joules
per
gram,
or
180
BTU
per
kg.
This
capacity
is
reflected
in
the
thermal
analysis
and
FEA
provided
in
the
appendix
This
product
stores
the
equivalent
of
a
574-­‐Watt
air
conditioner
or
heater
placed
in
each
square
meter
of
wall
and
ceiling
space
running
for
one
hour
continuously.
While
acting
as
an
air
conditioner,
its
peak
resistance
to
heating
begins
at
21.1
°C
and
it
has
completely
reached
capacity
at
25
°C,
all
the
while
keeping
the
area
cool.
While
acting
as
a
heater,
its
peak
resistance
to
cooling
begins

20. 20
at
25
°C
and
it
has
completely
discharged
all
of
its
stored
heat
by
21.1
°C,
all
the
while
keeping
the
area
warm.
This
phase
changing
material
absorbs
heat
which
expands
the
pellets
that
it
contains,
and
releases
the
heat
if
the
temperature
is
lower
than
target
(21.1
°C).
(The
product
is
sold
in
bags;
each
bag
covers
1m2
and
weighs
9.8
kg
per
bag.
Each
bag
cost
$195
-­‐
$230
depending
on
the
vendor
you
order
from.
Fabral,
a
national
company
based
out
of
Atlanta,
GA
has
graciously
decided
to
sponsor
our
project
and
donate
the
BioPCM™
to
us.
CES
Material
Analysis
Using
the
CES
EduPack
software
we
were
able
to
plot
the
properties
of
each
material
and
compare
them
for
best
fit
to
our
application.
See
graphs
in
Appendices
for
all
materials.
Stages
of
Design
Manufacturing
is
the
process
of
converting
raw
materials
into
products;
it
incorporates
the
design
and
manufacturing
of
goods
using
various
production
methods
and
techniques.
Use
of
quality
and
precision
must
be
held
into
account
into
this
project
at
every
stage,
from
design
to
assembly.
For
designing
the
small
animal
container,
the
10
stages
of
the
Engineering
Design
Process
will
be
implemented
to
complete
the
course
of
designing
this
project.
The
first
stage
is
identifying
the
problem,
which
uses
critical
thinking
to
thoroughly
understand
the
background
of
the
problem.
The
problem
can
be
traced
to
the
original
rodent
container
called
HEPA-­‐filtered
shipping
containers.
The
container
is
placed
in
unregulated
conditions,
hypothermic
and
hyperthermia
events
that
occur
that
could
lead
to
fatality.
These
rodents
are
very
delicate
and
don’t
have
the
ability
to
sustain
in
conditions
that
are
not
ideal
to
them.
This
leads
to
the
second
stage,
defining
working
criteria
and
goals.
There
must
be
established
preliminary
goals,
and
developing
criteria
that
are
ideal
to
make
sure
these
animals
make
it
to
their
destination.
Survival
is
affected
by
many
environmental
factors.
Therefore,
the
criteria
for
this
project
are
to
set
ambient
temperatures,
relative
humidity,
water
availability,
and
exposure
time
for
the
rodents.
By
providing
active
environmental
controls
on
the
shipping
container,
it
will
then
offer
stable
temperatures
and
humidity
during
uncontrolled
environmental
l
conditions.
The
task
with
setting
the
temperature
criteria
is
creating
a
temperature
mechanism
that
is
battery
powered
long
enough
to
sustain
animals
for
up
to
a
week
with
a
sensor.
Another
criterion
that
is
taken
into
account
is
developing
a
shipping
container
that
holds
up
to
10
small
mice
or
4
rats
and
separates
the
gender
apart.
The
next
criteria
are
to
develop
the
proper
fan
and
installation
system
that
controls
humidity
within
the
unit.
Finally,
the
most
important
criteria
are
to
ensure
a
safe
and
healthy
journey
for
the
animals
traveling.

21. 21
The
third
stage
of
the
engineering
design
process
is
researching
and
gathering
data
by
staying
regularly
with
the
working
criteria
while
researching.
It
was
concluded
with
extensive
research,
that
most
rodents
find
the
temperatures
most
hospitable
for
living
is
between
70◦F-­‐80◦F.
Also,
it
was
discovered
that
rodents
have
a
harder
time
being
able
to
chew
metal
and
composites,
rather
than
plastics
is
the
current
norm
shipping
container
being
used
currently.
In
addition,
battery
packs
can
be
executed
onto
fans,
and
tracking
devices
to
increase
the
duration
of
these
electronics
during
the
journey.
Research
also
shows
that
companies
want
to
try
and
cut
down
the
cost
as
much
possible,
therefore
that
has
to
be
taken
into
account
when
building
for
this
project.
Recyclable,
energy
saving
techniques,
rental
rather
than
buy,
are
all
preferable
methods
for
companies
to
save
money.
After
several
days
of
researching
and
compiling
all
the
data,
ideas
start
to
pop
up
to
produce
several
potential
concepts
for
the
project.
This
leads
to
the
fourth
stage,
which
is
brainstorming
and
generating
creative
ideas
for
the
project.
One
idea
was
to
create
temperature
controlled
housing
for
the
current
shipping
container
that
incorporates
batteries,
cooling
system,
and
installation
and
fan.
That
approach
would
surprisingly
decrease
the
shipping
cost
for
the
customer,
because
they
wouldn’t
have
to
pay
for
the
refrigerated
trucking
cost.
Another
idea
was
developing
a
maze
with
passages
for
mice
and
rats
to
roam
free,
while
there
are
several
small
computer
fans
along
the
walls
to
keep
them
cooled.
A
third
idea
that
was
proposed
was
to
have
ice
packs
to
keep
the
animals
cooled,
or
a
modified
air
conditioning
unit.
With
careful
analysis
of
potential
solution,
developing
models,
the
final
design
chosen
is
to
build
is
to
construct
an
exterior
housing
material
made
out
of
metals
and
composite
material
painted
with
heated
reflective
painting.
The
interior
of
the
housing
material
will
be
equipped
with
recyclable
bio
phase
changing
material
to
keep
the
temperature
inside
the
housing
under
relative
room
temperature
70◦F-­‐80◦F.
The
housing
can
be
accessible
with
a
door
that
opens
with
hinges.
Inside
the
frame
of
the
housing,
is
a
thermostatic
fan
with
dual
speed
option
equipped
with
a
thermostat
that
has
a
resistor
that
triggers
when
a
certain
temperature
is
achieved.
The
fans
sole
purpose
is
to
circulate
the
air
and
keep
humidity
out
through
ventilation
ports.
Also,
equipped
with
the
entire
housing
equipment
is
a
GPS
tracker
device,
which
enables
the
client
to
track
the
shipment
wherever
they
may
be.
It
would
be
accessible
through
email,
or
whatever
is
convenient.
Also
available
inside
the
housing
unit,
is
a
shock
logger,
which
will
be
able
to
record
pressure,
humidity,
and
temperature
of
the
environment
throughout
the
duration
of
the
journey.
Implementing
and
commercialization
is
done
with
company
sponsorships.
Fabral,
will
be
providing
the
recyclable
phase
changing
material,
and
as
well
as
the
heat
reflective
paint.
Also,
Piedmont
Plastics
will
be
providing
the
composite
materials
necessary
to
build
the
device.
The
GPS,
thermostatic
fan,
and
the
shock
logger
will
be
purchased
from
a
third
party
vendor,
put
into
the
housing
unit
to
record
data
and
keep
the
animals
comfortable.
The
cages
used
to
hold
the
rodents

22. 22
will
be
made
completely
of
acrylic
to
ensure
cheap,
light,
recyclable
metal,
yet
very
durable
and
tough
to
handle
the
animals.
The
cages
will
have
holes
to
ensure
breathing
and
ventilation
for
the
rodents.
The
cages
will
be
designed
through
precision
forging
and
laser
precision
through
precision
forging;
special
dies
are
made
to
increase
accuracy
than
in
ordinary
impression-­‐die
forging.
The
housing
unit
will
be
designed
with
extrusion,
which
will
induct
production
of
long
lengths
of
solid
or
hollow
products
with
constant
cross
section;
the
product
is
then
cut
to
desired
lengths.
The
labor
and
operator
skill
is
usually
very
low.
Commercialization
rights
will
be
handed
over
to
shipping
companies
that
will
rent
out
these
devices
to
clients
in
need
of
transporting
rodents.
Both
the
shipping
companies
and
the
clients
sending
out
animals
will
have
a
positive
outcome.
This
gives
the
clients
shipping
animals
a
cheaper
option
of
being
able
to
rent
equipment
and
sending
them
back,
without
being
responsible
for
buying
or
creating
containers
to
house
the
rodents.
Also,
the
patrons
will
be
saving
hundreds
for
not
paying
refrigerated
trucks
to
pick
the
animals
and
deliver
them.
As
for
the
shipping
companies,
it
gives
the
company
a
gateway
of
a
whole
world
of
potential
customers
to
tap
into
giving
the
customers
the
ability
to
rent
out
their
product
ensures
money,
as
well
as
shipping
charged
to
the
customer.
This
device
can
be
used
into
the
military
industry
for
shipping
food,
or
experiments
around
the
world.
This
can
also
be
used
for
space
industries
to
ship
experiments
and
other
testing.
There
is
a
limitless
amount
of
ways
to
maximize
and
commercialize
this
product.
Design
&
Construction
Physical
Components
The
physical
components
of
the
system
include
the
polypropylene
main
casing
with
a
door.
The
phase-­‐change
material
will
insulate
not
only
the
casing
but
will
also
be
inside
the
door.
The
housing
will
have
hollow
walls
to
allow
space
to
insert
out
the
phase-­‐change
material
as
shown
in
Figure
10
shown
below.
The
phase-­‐change
insulation
is
an
innovative
and
effective
way
to
insulate
the
housing.
The
polypropylene
will
provide
a
hard,
lightweight
shell
to
protect
the
animals
and
the
electrical
components
from
any
accidents
that
may
occur
while
shipping.
The
polypropylene
was
all
chosen
due
to
its
affordability.

23. 23
Figure
10:
Insulation
of
the
phase
change
material
in
the
walls
of
the
active
cooling
container.
The
door
must
ensure
an
airtight
seal
to
keep
a
steady
temperature
inside
the
unit.
To
accomplish
this,
the
door
will
be
equipped
with
a
rubber
seal
common
to
a
lot
of
refrigeration
units
to
ensure
no
air
is
escaping
or
entering
the
unit
through
cracks
in
the
door
jam.
The
door
will
also
have
rubber
latches
that
will
leave
no
doubt
of
a
tight
seal
throughout
the
shipment.
Both
of
these
features
are
pointed
out
in
Figure
11.
Figure
11:
Creo
schematic
of
the
door
assembly
with
arrows
pointing
to
the
seal
around
the
door
and
the
custom
designed
rubber
latches.
To
allow
for
more
floor
space
the
container
will
be
able
to
function
upright,
or
on
its
side,
as
shown
in
Figure
12.
For
mice,
the
carrier
would
be
upright
with
a
shelf.
Mice
are
smaller
in
size
so
there
will
be
a
shelf,
so
that
two
separate
containers
can
be
stacked
one
on
top
of
the
other.
If
the
carrier
is
set
on
its
side,
with
the
air
vents
aiming
upward,
then
there
will
be
more
floor
space
to
transport
a
larger
number
of
rats.

24. 24
Figure
12:
Showing
the
versatility
of
the
unit
to
convert
to
mice
(left)
and
rat
(right)
configuration.
The
size
of
the
rodent
carrier
needs
to
be
large
enough
to
hold
enough
to
house
a
substantial
number
of
rodents.
However
the
size
of
the
container
must
not
be
so
large
that
it
is
impossible
to
transport
(refer
to
TABLE
12).
To
accommodate
these
two
constraints
the
carrier
size
is
30
inches
tall
with
a
24x24
inch
base.
From
TABLE
12
there
will
be
plenty
of
volume
to
safely,
and
legally
ship
a
large
number
of
animals.
Currently
the
mice
containers
have
an
18x18
inch
base,
or
324
square
inches.
With
this
amount
of
floor
space
each
container
could
safely
hold
21
large
mice
(>25
grams),
and
since
there
are
2
containers
that
would
allow
for
42
mice
to
be
shipped
per
climate
controlled
carrier.
Originally
the
container
was
designed
to
be
10
inches
tall,
from
TABLE
12
this
value
could
be
cut
in
half.
This
would
allow
for
more
shelves
to
potentially
be
added
to
the
housing,
and
therefore
more
animals
per
carrier
could
be
shipped.
The
rat
containers
have
a
24x18
inch
base
or
432
inches2.
Since
large
rats
require
70
square
inches
of
floor
space
per
animal,
this
equates
to
6
large
rats
per
container.
Once
again
since
the
rats
only
require
a
height
of
7”,
it
would
also
be
possible
to
put
a
shelf
with
another
container
for
rats.
A
carrier
could
potentially
hold
up
to
12
large
rats
per
shipment.

25. 25
Figure
13:
New
active
cooling
container
(a)
vs.
the
original
passive
cooling
container
(b).
Originally,
the
carrier
was
intended
to
house
the
current
rodent
transport
boxes.
However,
the
original
boxes
did
not
utilize
the
space
to
its
full
potential.
The
new
acrylic
container
will
improve
on
the
current
design.
There
will
be
holes
cut
into
the
acrylic,
Figure
13a,
which
will
provide
improved
airflow
over
the
current
shipping
containers
Figure
13b,
which
use
mesh
walls
for
airflow.
With
the
larger
holes
moisture
inside
the
container
will
no
longer
be
an
issue.
The
door
of
the
container
is
small
so
that
the
mice
cannot
jump
out,
which
can
be
an
issue
when
removing
the
animals
due
to
their
elevated
anxiety.
The
bottom
of
the
container
must
be
solid
with
no
holes
because
the
animals
require
enough
food
and
water
to
survive
during
their
transit.
The
new
design
for
the
shipping
containers
will
improve
airflow
(Figure
14)
in
a
cross
ventilation
style,
and
provide
better
utilization
of
the
space
inside
the
carrier.
Figure
14:
Schematic
of
cross
ventilation
vs.
single-­‐sided
ventilation
which
stifles
airflow.
Valspar
Reflective
Paint
Heat
Transfer
Principles
The radiation balance for a semitransparent medium averaged over the entire spectrum is,
ρ + α + τ = 1
Where
ρ = reflectivity; α = absorptivity; τ = transmissivity (all are unitless)
(a)
(b)

26. 26
If the medium is opaque, there is no transmission, and absorption and reflection are
surface processes for which
α + ρ = 1; when τ = 0
Also, Kirchhoff’s law states that in an isothermal enclosure, the total hemispherical
emissivity is approximately equal to its total hemispherical absorptivity, or
ε ≅ α
The net rate of radiation heat transfer from the surface, is
q = εσA T!
!
− T!"#
!
; Watts
Where
ε = emissivity; σ = Stefan − Boltzman constant; A = area of container
T! = Temperature of the surface; T!"# = Temperature of the surrounding
The group is looking for a coating for a container that will not absorb much heat.
Therefore, we want to
minimize q for both T! > T!"! and T! < T!"# .
Also, the group wants the coating to reflect solar rays. Therefore, we want to
Minimize α and maximize ρ in the equation α = 1 − ρ.
Note: we want to minimize ε also since α ≅ ε
Satisfying the above conditions will result in a bright and shiny surface.
Definitions
of
key
terms:
Absorption: The process of converting radiation intercepted by matter to internal thermal
energy.
Absorptivity: Fraction of the incident radiation absorbed by matter.
Hemispherical: Modifier referring to all directions in the space above a surface.
Kirchhoff’s law: Relation between emission and absorption properties for surfaces
irradiated by a blackbody at the same temperature.
Radiation: Energy transfer by electromagnetic waves
Reflection: The process of redirection of radiation incident on a surface.
Reflectivity: Fraction of the incident radiation reflected by matter.
Semitransparent: Refers to a medium in which radiation absorption is a volumetric
process.
Stefan-Boltzmann law: Emissive power of a blackbody.
Transmission: The process of thermal radiation passing through matter.
Transmissivity: Fraction of the incident radiation transmitted by matter.
Selection
of
coatings
The following chart shows the reflectivity and absorptivity for various coatings.

27. 27
Table
6:
Material
Composition
chart
for
reflectivity
and
absorptivity
An aluminum coating (highly polished finish) was selected due to:
• High reflectivity, 0.96
• Low absorptivity, 0.04
• Low price, $0.91
The aluminum coating would be in the form of paint because of ease of application and
long life of the application with proper maintenance. The paint selected is “Valspar
Heavy Duty Aluminum Paint”. This paint is bright and reflective and is non-toxic when
it dries. A primer would be needed in order for the paint to stick to the plastic container.
The primer selected is “Rust-Oleum Plastic Primer”. This primer is specialized for
applying a coat of paint to plastics.
Electrical
Components
The
electrical
components
that
will
be
included
in
the
design
are
the
microcontroller,
temperature/humidity
sensor,
fan,
and
battery.
There
will
also
be
a
temperature
data-­‐logger
and
GPS
system
included,
these
components
will
act
as
stand-­‐alone
devices.
The
microcontroller
will
be
the
brains
of
the
electrical
components.
It
will
be
able
to
gather
information
from
the
temper/humidity
sensor,
and
then
take
that
information
and
activate
or
deactivate
the
other
devices
(thermoelectric
device/fan).
Most
of
the
time
spent
during
flight
the
phase-­‐change
material
should
provide
ample
insulation
to
maintain
an
internal
temperature
inside
the
desired
range.
Analyzing
the
thermo
profile
from
Figures
23
and
24
that
was
obtained
from
previous
shipments,
the
problem
areas
occur
during
layovers
and
international
shipping.
During
these
times
there
possibly
could
be
a
need
for
active
cooling.
This
Material Composition Cost (USD/lb) Emissivity (ε) Absorbtivity (α) Reflectivity (ρ)
Highly polished, Film 0.91 0.04 0.04 0.96
Foil, bright 0.91 0.07 0.07 0.93
Anodized 0.91 0.82 0.82 0.18
Chromium Polished or plated 1.15 0.10 0.10 0.90
Copper Highly polished 3.54 0.03 0.03 0.97
Highly polished, Film 779.89 0.03 0.03 0.97
Foil, bright 779.89 0.07 0.07 0.93
Silver Polished 15.31 0.02 0.02 0.98
Black (Parsons) ~30.00/gallon 0.98 0.98 0.02
White, acrylic ~30.00/gallon 0.90 0.90 0.10
White, zinc oxide ~30.00/gallon 0.92 0.92 0.08
Aluminum
Gold
Paints

28. 28
is
when
the
thermoelectric
air
conditioner
would
turn
on.
The
electric
thermostat
will
gather
information
on
the
temperature
inside
the
case,
and
if
the
temperature
rises
too
high,
trigger
the
thermoelectric
air
conditioner
to
power
on.
The
thermoelectric
AC
functions
mainly
as
a
safety
net,
to
ensure
there
is
no
situation
within
the
limitations
of
the
design
that
the
carrier
cannot
handle.
Electrical
Schematic
Figure
15:
Electrical
Schematic
Figure
15
is
an
example
of
how
all
the
electrical
could
potentially
be
connected
to
the
pin
configuration
to
microcontroller.
The
position
of
the
ground,
power,
input,
and
output
pins
will
not
be
known
until
the
microcontroller
arrives,
this
is
just
an
example
for
visualization.
There
will
be
ample
open
pins
for
any
upgrades
to
design.
One
example
is
an
outer
temperature
display.
The
24
pin
configuration
should
provide
more
than
enough
pins
to
accommodate
any
more
future
additions
to
the
electrical
components.
Lithium
Battery
The
K2
Energy
K2B12V7E
12V
7Ah
Lithium
Iron
Phosphate
Battery
[8]
is
the
ideal
battery
for
this
project.
Its
lightweight,
battery-­‐life,
safety
standards
and
volumetric
dimensions
were
reasons
this
style
of
batter
was
chosen.
LiFePO4
are
a
little
more
expensive
than
the
lead-­‐acid
battery,
but
with
that
cost
comes
performance
and
a
smaller,
more
lightweight
battery.
The
more
volume
that
can
be
conserved
can
potentially
house
more
rodents,
and
the
lighter
in
weight
the
design
makes
it
easier
to
transport.
All
the
other
electric
components
will
be
run
off
the

29. 29
battery,
so
that
the
system
is
a
stand-­‐alone
system.
The
specifications
are
displayed
in
Table
7.
Figure
16:
12V
7Ah
Lithium
Iron
Phosphate
Battery
[8]
Table
7:
12V
7Ah
Lithium
Iron
Phosphate
Battery
[8]
Specifications
Terminals
F2-­‐1/4
inches
Volts
12
Amp
Hours
7
Length
5.94
inches
Width
2.53
inches
Height
3.83
inches
Weight
1.98
pounds
Chemistry
LiFeP04
Lithium
Iron
Phosphate
Microcontroller
The
BasicX-­‐24
microcontroller
was
the
optimal
microcontroller
for
our
design.
The
cost
was
affordable
at
$49.95,
and
the
simplicity
in
which
the
coding
is
compiled
for
the
device
was
another
factor
in
choosing
this
microcontroller.
This
microcontroller
will
provide
ample
input
and
output
pins
for
controlling
the
fan
and
thermoelectric
device,
and
any
future
improvement
that
are
made,
for
example
an
outer
LED
display
of
the
temperature.
A
kit
for
this
microcontroller
will
also
be
purchased
($129.95)
to
provide
examples
of
code,
a
circuit
board,
and
software;
this
price
will
also
include
the
microcontroller
itself.

30. 30
Figure
17:
BasicX24
Microcontroller
[9]
Temperature
&
Humidity
Sensor
The
temperature/humidity
sensor
provides
a
way
to
measure
the
temperature
and
transmit
that
data
electronically
to
the
microcontroller.
The
way
the
device
works
is
relates
temperature
and
humidity
to
voltage.
The
sensor
will
connect
to
an
input
pin
to
the
microcontroller
and
output
a
voltage
that
the
microcontroller
can
measure.
Once
the
voltage
exceeds
the
maximum
voltage,
the
microcontroller
will
turn
on
the
thermoelectric
device
to
control
temperature,
or
the
fan
to
control
humidity.
The
maximum
temperature
the
animals
prefer
is
79o
Fahrenheit.
The
specifications
are
displayed
in
Table
8.
Figure
18:
DFRobot
DHT11
Temperature
and
Humidity
Sensor
[10]
Table
8:
DFRobot
DHT11
Temperature
and
Humidity
Sensor
[10]
Specifications
Supply
Voltage
+5
voltage
Temperature
range
0-­‐50◦C
error
of
±
2◦C
Humidity
20-­‐90%
RH
±
5%
RH
error
Relative
humidity
and
temperature
measurement

31. 31
Display
of
Data
Digital
output
Stability
Excellent
long
term
Compatible
interchangeable
Computer
Fan
A
fan
is
not
only
needed
to
circulate
fresh
oxygen
into
the
transporter,
but
also
to
reduce
humidity
through
the
ventilation
holes
located
in
the
side
of
the
outer
container.
The
fan
chosen
was
the
ADDA
AD0612LB-­‐A70GL.
This
fan
was
chosen
due
to
its
low
power
consumption,
so
the
battery
life
can
be
preserved
in
the
event
that
the
thermoelectric
device
needs
to
be
activated.
The
current
needed
to
power
the
fan
is
0.08A
and
a
voltage
of
0.96V
[11].
This
fan
will
be
connected
to
an
output
pin
on
the
microcontroller.
If
the
humidity
rises
above
the
desired
level,
the
fan
will
then
be
turned
on.
The
microcontroller
will
also
be
programmed
to
activate
the
fan
using
a
time
delay
to
ensure
the
animals
are
breathing
fresh
air.
The
specifications
are
displayed
in
Table
9.
Figure
19:
The
ADDA
AD0612LB-­‐A70GL
fan
[11]
Specifications
Manufacture
ADDA
Product
Category
Fans
&
Blowers
Product
Fans
Current
type
DC

32. 32
Airflow
13.2
CFM
Bearing
type
Ball
Noise
16.1
dBA
Speed
2500
RPM
Power
rating
0.5
W
Frame
dimensions
60
mm
x
25
mm
x
60
mm
Series
AD6025
Supply
Voltage
12
V
Table
9:
Computer
Fan
ADDA
AD0612LB-­‐A70G
[11]
Thermoelectric
Cooling
System
The
transporter
will
also
have
a
thermoelectric
cooling
module
incorporated
in
the
design.
The
phase
changing
material
should
provide
ample
insulation
for
our
purposes,
but
if
the
temperature
goes
above
the
rodents
thermal
comfort
zone
then
the
microcontroller
will
activate
the
thermoelectric
device.
The
thermoelectric
device
will
act
as
a
safety
net
in
cases
in
which
the
phase
change
material
is
unable
to
maintain
the
desired
temperature.
Figure
20:
Thermoelectric
device
[12]
USB
Temperature
&
Humidity
Datalogger
The
installed
temperature
and
humidity
data
logger
can
operate
independently
of
the
rest
of
the
unit.
This
device
will
enable
the
customer
the
ability
to
see
if
the
rodents
ever
experienced
temperatures
outside
of
their
comfort
zone.
The
data
logger
can
be
hooked
to
computer
via
a
USB.
The
user
can
then
program
the
data

33. 33
logger
to
collect
the
temperature
and
humidity
data
every
10s
or
every
12
hours.
This
feature
will
hold
the
shippers
accountable
for
their
shipping
practices.
The
specifications
are
displayed
in
Table
10.
Figure
21:
Temperature
and
Data
Logger
[13]
Table
10:
USB
Temperature
&
Humidity
Datalogger
[13]
Specifications
Product
Type
Temperature/Humidity
Datalogger
Temp
range
-­‐31
to
176◦F(-­‐35
to
80◦C)
Temp
accuracy
±0.9◦F(±0.5◦C)
Humidity
accuracy
±3%
Logging
intervals
Once
every
10
sec
to
12
hours
Memory
32,764
data
points
Power
3.6
V
lithium
battery
Dimensions
3
inches
L
x
1
inch
W
Connection
USB
Battery
life
1
year