Underline Cooling Project
As part of the ITD Program, we worked closely with The Miami Underline to envision a solution to the problems they faced on a daily basis. Our group was tasked with finding the solution to the problem of excessive heat along the metro station.
Problem Statement:
Users and employees of the Underline experience discomfort from extreme heat in the park, and we aim to target key high-heat areas to cool users off while also meeting the Underline’s sustainability goal of being energy efficient.
Our inspiration, the ancient beehive coolant
After finding primary and secondary research on the problem, our team was able to uncover the main problem statement and begin our brainstorming. We eventually decided to go with a solution that was less technological, but more sustainable. We constructed a small-scale working prototype of a terracotta water fountain used to cool down air, which has been used in Ancient India for thousands of years. Not only did we build this device, we tested it for usability and proved that it successfully cooled down air in the close vicinity by a few degrees celsius.
Stakeholders:
1. Commuters
2. Residents/Users
3. Employees
How it Works
The terracotta clay tube cooling system is an ingenious method of ancient air conditioning that utilizes the natural properties of terracotta clay and the principle of evaporative cooling. This system consists of a network of terracotta tubes embedded within the walls of a structure. As air passes through these moistened clay tubes, the water within the clay evaporates, absorbing heat from the air and thereby cooling it before it enters the interior spaces. The porous nature of terracotta allows for efficient water absorption and evaporation, making it an effective medium for reducing indoor temperatures. This method capitalizes on readily available materials and passive cooling techniques, offering a sustainable solution for climate control without the need for electrical energy.
Gathering the Materials
Making the water circulation system
Gathering the materials for the build
Creating the experiment chamber with a heater
Setting up the temperature gauge
Materials:
- Miniature plug-in heater
- Miniature wireless fan
- Repurposed terracotta watering spikes
- Yeti cooler
- Zip ties
- Water pump + tube
- duct tape
- Temperature and humidity gauge (arduino circuit board)
Crafting the Device and Experiment
The clay tubes in place with the zip tiesPlacing the build inside the basin with the water pumpAdding insulation for wiringExperiment Angle 2Experiment angle 1Tracking the temperature and humidity Sealing the chamber for testing
Final representation of the project in action, testing for the cooling benefits
Analyzing The Results
AI Concept art 2 AI Concpt art 1
Pitch Deck
Design Notebook
Poster