SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS

Centrifugal force

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        Centrifugal force, a fictitious force, peculiar to a particle moving on a circular path, that has the same magnitude and dimensions as the force that keeps the particle on its circular path (the centripetal force) but points in the opposite direction (Britannica, 2023). This is applied in blowers which have a variety of applications. This project uses a blower to sustain the rate of fire output as it delivers air to the fuel which is the used cooking oil, in particular centrifugal blowers. Centrifugal blowers are typically used in applications where there is a need for high pressure and variable flow. These blowers have rotating impellers, which increase the speed of the air (or gas) as it passes through. Additionally, as the air enters the blower’s fan wheel, it rotates 90 degrees and exits the blower at a faster rate than it entered. A centrifugal blower moves the air by means of the transfer of rotational energy from one or more driven rotors, called impellers.  Air enters the rapidly rotating impeller along its axis and is cast out by centrifugal force along its circumference through the impeller vane tips.  The action of the impeller increases the air’s velocity and pressure and also directs it towards the blower outlet.(4) With Centrifugal blower, the air it blows will maintain the need of air and pressure needed for combustion. An experimental study of Zarzecki et al. (2013) demonstrates the evaluation of the combined effects of pressure and oxygen concentration on the burning rate, combustion flow field, and ignition. The results demonstrated that the burning rate was less severe and the mass loss rate was lower at low pressure. The pressure drop, however, resulted in a shorter ignition delay period. As

it sustains the heat output, fire rate can also be controlled by using the blower which is necessary for some cooking processes.

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 Electricity

 

         Electricity is the flow of electrical power or charge. Electricity is a fundamental part of nature and one of the most widely used forms of energy. The electricity that we are currently using is a secondary source, and it is converted from primary sources of energy, such as renewable and nonrenewable sources. (EIA, 2022) In our project, solar energy is one of the primary sources of energy that will be converted into usable electricity. Solar energies are harnessed by solar panels or PV cells. When sun rays hit the solar panel, the electrons tend to lose from their atoms and enable the electrons to flow through the cell and generate electricity. (Just Energy, nd) Matter is made up of atoms with sub-particles - protons, neutrons, and electrons. The center of an atom, which is the nucleus contains neutrons and protons and the electrons spin around the nucleus. Electrons can move from one atom to another atom; when those electrons move, a current of electricity is created. When an electromotive force is applied, the free electrons in a conductor are moving systematically, creating an electric current. Initially, the blower is going to be powered by electricity. This blower is connected to a solar panel through wires, which are conductors that enable the electrons to move freely. The voltage causes the flow of the electricity or the electric current This voltage is created by the solar panel causing the electrons to move from one end to another end, and it will make the blower function. 

 

Filtration

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       Filtration, the process in which solid particles in a liquid or gaseous fluid are removed by the use of a filter medium that permits the fluid to pass through but retains the solid particles (Britannica, 2017). A filter medium, a mixture containing suspended solids, a driving force, such as a pressure difference to enable fluid to flow, and a mechanical device that holds the filter medium, controls the fluid, and allows the application of force are the fundamental needs for filtration. Filtration can be accomplished using a variety of materials, including paper, sand, and cloth. This concept will take process as we filter the residues of foods cooked in the used cooking oil. Simple filtration will take place as we will only use a net filter as the filter medium. This allows less chances of contamination and blockage of substance in the process. 

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Heat Transfer 

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     Heat Transfer will also be observed in this project because kalan de mantika is a cooking tool that uses heat. In an article by Science notes, Heat Transfer occurs when thermal energy moves from one place to another, it is a movement of heat due to a temperature difference between a system and its surroundings. Atoms and molecules inherently have kinetic and thermal energy, so all matter participates in heat transfer. There are three main types of heat transfer, conduction, convection, and radiation. Conduction can be applied in operating the Kalan de Mantika while convection and radiation can occur when using the kalan de mantika for cooking. Conduction is heat transfer directly between neighboring atoms or molecules. Heat transfer through the process of conduction occurs in substances which are in direct contact with each other. It generally takes place in solids. The Kalan de mantika works when conduction takes place, heat transfer from flame to the pan.

Ignition & Combustion

 

       Ignition, defined as the lowest temperature at which a combustible substance when heated takes fire in air and continues to burn (Merriam-Webster, 2023). The ignition temperature of a substance, in a solid, liquid, or gaseous state, is the minimum temperature required to start or cause combustion (Da Ponte Jr, 2021). Combustion, fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion, a type of chemical reaction. It occurs between oxygen and fuel in the air. Only gasses can react in combustion, If the fuel is in solid or liquid form, it is heated to release gasses from its surface. In complete combustion the reaction will produce CO2 and H2O, while in incomplete combustion, it produces CO (Science Learning Hub – PokapūAkorangaPūtaiao, 2009). This concept will be applied in the group’s project used cooking oil (UCO) as an alternative fuel for cooking. As stated in the first sentence of the definition of ignition, the paper will be used as a source of heat as it is a combustible substance, burning paper will be put together with the used cooking oil (UCO) that will serve as fuel. The fuel(UCO) must be heated to reach its ignition temperature for combustion to occur. The oil is a flammable substance that when heated, it will release a gas that will combine with the oxygen/air resulting in burning. The reaction will keep going as long as there is enough fuel, heat, and oxygen.

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Oil Characteristics

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        Any substance must have the capacity to store energy in its chemical bonds in order to be combustible. Since oil itself contains carbon-containing molecules, it possesses chemical energy that has been stored. As it burns, it emits certain elements such as carbon dioxide, which does not burn. As such, oil is not a flammable liquid because it does have enough vapors to catch fire at temperatures below 60°C. Furthermore, oil products do not burn, but rather the gas that comes off from this oil product is what burns (Eric,T.,2019). The flammability of a material is determined by its flashpoint. The flashpoint is the lowest temperature at which a liquid creates easily ignitable vapor on its surface. Cooking oils have a flashpoint of 600°. Every liquid will produce combustible gasses at a different pace depending on its vapor pressure. The rate of vaporization will rise along with the temperature. As a result, the oil burns at higher room temperatures but not at room temperature (Perry,P.,2021). An ignition source can fire the vapor as it is produced; in this project, the ignition source will be burning paper or other materials; this will serve as the heat source for heating the oil, and the blowers will sustain the heat.

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Photoelectric effect

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      The photoelectric effect occurs when light shines on a metal and causes electrons to be ejected from the metal's surface. This process is also known as photoemission, and the electrons ejected from the metal are known as photoelectrons. The concept of Photoelectric effect is one of the vital concepts related to our project because some materials in the solar panel exhibit a property known as the photoelectric effect that causes them to absorb photons of light and release electrons. When these free electrons are captured, an electric current results that can be used as electricity(Knier G.,2008). This concept elaborates on how the solar panel functions as an electrical source and how it supplements electricity from the sun in the form of sunlight, as was previously described in relation to its employment as one of the components of our project which is the solar panel. 

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 Photovoltaic in solar panel

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      Solar panel consists of many small photovoltaic cells–Photovoltaics (abbreviated PV) derives its name from the photovoltaic effect, which is the process of converting light (photons) to electricity (voltage). This phenomenon was first exploited in 1954 by Bell Laboratories scientists, who developed a working silicon solar cell that generated an electric current when exposed to sunlight. Photovoltaic cells, also known as solar cells, are made of semiconductor materials such as silicon, which can conduct electricity while maintaining the electrical imbalance required to create an electric field. For solar cells, a thin semiconductor wafer is specially treated to form an electric field, positive on one side and negative on the other. When light energy strikes the solar cell, electrons are knocked loose from the atoms in the semiconductor material. If electrical conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides, forming an electrical circuit, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current -- that is, electricity. This electricity can then be used to power a load, such as a light or a tool (Knier G.,2008). This concept is relevant to our study for we will use a solar panel as an alternative method or component to power the electric powered blower for our cooking stove in case that electricity is not accessible.

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Recycling

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        As per the European Union’s (EU) Waste Framework Directive (WFD), defined recycling at present as “any recovery operation by which waste materials are reprocessed into products, materials or substances whether for the original or other purposes”. With the fact stated in the previous sentence, the group has identified the application of this scientific concept to be essential as the very foundation of the group’s project is reusing used cooking oil (UCO) as an alternative fuel to LPG for cooking. In addition, the group aims to recycle a significant amount of scrap metal to be used to construct the stove/burner. Though the kind of metal to be used for constructing the stove/burner is negligible, the group aims to use any leftover or scrap metal available to minimize waste and maximize cost-efficiency.