Hi everyone!
It’s been a busy and fulfilling week. On Sunday, we hiked up a local mountain called Mount Soche to catch the sunset. It was exhilarating as we had to scramble up a massive rock to reach the summit, but the view of the sun dipping behind the clouds while overlooking the entirety of Blantyre was breathtaking. Mehmet and I are now preparing for an even bigger adventure: a hike up Malawi’s tallest mountain tomorrow!
I’ve been reminded of the story of the Tortoise and the Hare throughout these hikes, as the journey can seem daunting as we try to rush to the top. But I’ve realised that even when the climb feels steep or slow, there’s no need to rush as the destination isn’t going anywhere. Along the way, there are still many beautiful viewpoints and small moments that make the journey richer. In fact, by taking your time, you often gain more from the experience than if you’d hurried through just to say you’d finished.
This also relates to the progress that Bright and I have made so far this week as it has been slow yet steady. On Monday, we put together a list of materials needed to build our prototype including nebulizer masks, cushioning foam, elastic nylon, and more. A key consideration throughout was ensuring that all these materials can be sourced locally. While it might be easier to find components online and have them shipped from places like the U.S. or Europe, our goal is to create a design that’s replicable in resource-constrained settings. It can seem challenging to work without high-end materials or equipment, but it pushes us to also think more creatively and intentionally. At the end of the day, we want our prototype to be sustainable, practical, and accessible for continued use and production where resources are limited.
Additionally, to better understand the power requirements of our push-pull dual jet system we performed a series of fluid dynamics calculations. We first established a baseline by calculating the power consumption of a standard single-jet nebulizer using measurements, flow rates, and pressure data from a model we borrowed from Queen Elizabeth Hospital. From there, we compared three designs: the traditional single-jet, a split-nozzle system powered by one air jet, and our proposed push-pull dual jet design.
Our findings showed that the push-pull design was the most mechanically efficient. While all three designs aim to deliver the same airflow and pressure, the push-pull mechanism required less motor power than the split-nozzle setup. This is because the split-nozzle design only compresses air during the forward stroke, wasting energy on the return. In contrast, the push-pull system performs work on both strokes, effectively doubling output per motor rotation without proportionally increasing mechanical losses. With energy more efficiently utilized, we’ve decided to move forward with the push-pull design, while continuing to gather feedback from professors and advisors at MUBAS to ensure its long-term feasibility.
We’ve also worked on building 3D CAD (computer-aided design) models of our system. Using measurements from the nebulizer we had on hand, we adapted and redesigned components to fit our mechanism. I definitely had a lot of fun learning and tinkering with the software to bring our visions to life.
Looking ahead, our goals for next week include using these CAD models to visualize airflow through the dual jet system using online simulation tools. These simulations will help us confirm whether the airflow is consistent and highlight any adjustments needed. We also plan to begin building and completing our medium-fidelity prototype. While sourcing materials continues to be a challenge, we’re confident that with creativity and persistence we can find a way to work through it and meet our objectives.
While progress hasn’t always been fast, it’s definitely been steady. Like the tortoise in the race, we hope to continue through these last three weeks by not rushing but by moving forward with intention, one step at a time.
Until again!