The celebrations during the summer are always my favorite part of the season. Because the days are longer and school is out, summer, especially when I was younger with less responsibilities, was always spent around the barbecue in our backyard with friends and family. The past week was double the fun since both American Independence Day (July 4th) and Malawian Independence Day (July 6th) happened around the same time. And if that isn’t enough Madonna visited the week after to open up a new hospital! However in spite of all the excitement our project still continues; this week we will have another round of tests which will hopefully yield useful results, exciting in a different way.

With the data collected from the previous preliminary testing conducted on the different filtering materials as well as determining possible entry points of dust into the machine we have developed 3 prototypes with attempt to address the problem. The first is simply placing the filter behind the external sponge. While cheap and easy to implement it may not be the best solution since it may block too much air which is used to cool the machine. The second design is a baffled filter box. The folded filter paper has a larger surface area so more air is able to pass through. Finally the last design is an active filter box which uses an external fan to pull air across filtering material into the machine. This design can channel air exclusively from a single area and prevent dust from entering through other vents due to a zone of positive pressure being formed inside the machine as well as force more air into the machine which can be used for cooling. These designs will soon be tested on one of the concentrators hopefully providing good data on which prototype is most effective at allowing proper airflow; internal compressor temperature will be measured after 4 hours of filter testing for each prototype. The results will supplement the week long tests conducted at the end of the week on which proposed solution allows the least amount of dust to enter.

But even with all the fun and festivities around us, as with most great celebrations, they will eventually end. with only a few weeks left we are nearing the end of the testing and the internship. But even though I am feeling homesick right now I have a feeling once I go I’ll be sad to leave this picturesque nation behind. On one hand, I will be happy to spend time with family and friends in the states again, but on the other hand, I’ll miss the new friends I’ve made here at the Polytechnic, Kabula Lodge (the place we are staying), and even the fellow Rice interns which I’ve had the pleasure to get to know better. I’ll just have to make the most of the remaining weeks, making memories and hopefully producing a prototype that will outlive my time here.