Contents

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1
DESIGN APPROACH................................................................................................................................1
DESIGN CONSTRAINT.............................................................................................................................2
DESIGN CONSIDERATION.......................................................................................................................3
DESIGN CALCULATION...........................................................................................................................3
MATERIAL SELECTION AND DESCRIPTION.............................................................................................3
COMPONENTS AND DESCRIPTION.........................................................................................................3
WORKING PRINCIPLEE...........................................................................................................................4
3D MODELLING......................................................................................................................................4
FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY...............................................................................................................4
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP...........................................................................................................................4
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................4

CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this research methodology chapter is to provide an overview of the methods used to
evaluate the effectiveness of a Peltier vaccine cooler. This chapter will discuss the research design,
analytical modelling and experimental setup used to assess the performance of the cooler.
Finally, the chapter will conclude with a summary of the research methodology in this study.

DESIGN APPROACH
 Market survey of locally available materials

Before coming up with this conceptual design, a market survey of available materials was carried
out. Having found out the readily available materials, a quantitative survey was carried out to
determine the dimensions of those materials and components. This approach was because there are
no factories in Sierra Leone where accurate machining or 3D printing of our CAD files can be carried
out.

 Literature review of the design parameters

To establish a clue on the paramount design parameters, a thorough literature review was carried
out. Established parameters were then capitalized upon to set the design constraints.
DESIGN CONSTRAINT
The design of the Peltier vaccine cooler was subject to a number of constraints that had to be
considered and addressed in order to create a functional and effective device. These constraints
included various factors which will be discussed in details in this section.

Geometrical Constrain

 Size- the size of the cooler will need to be appropriate for the intended use and the
environment, and will need to be large enough to accommodate the required number of
vaccines.
 Shape -the cooler needs to be conducive to efficient cooling and insulation, and will need to
be designed to minimize heat transfer and maximize the effectiveness of the Peltier module
and insulation. The design will need to consider factors such as the flow of air and the
distribution of heat within the devices, in order to optimize the performance of the cooler.
 Material and components the materials used in the design of the cooler will need to be
chosen based on a range of factors including cost, performance, durability, and
environmental impact. The design will need to take into account the specific properties and
characteristic of the materials and components that are used and will need to be optimized
to ensure that the device is effective, reliable and sustainable.

Environmental constrain

 Temperature range- the cooler will need to be able to maintain the required temperature
range for the vaccines being stored, and the design will need to take into account the
ambient temperature of the environment in which the cooler will be used
 Humidity the humidity of the environment in which the cooler will be used may affect the
performance of the device, and the design will need this into account. High humidity may
increase the amount of heat that needs to be removed from the cooler, and may also
increase the risks of condensations and other problems
 Vibration and Shock the cooler may be subjected to vibration and shock during transport
and use, and the design will need to be able to withstand these forces without affecting the
performance of the device. This may involve designing the cooler to have a robust, sturdy
structure, as well as incorporating shock-absorbing materials and other design features to
protect the devices

Social constrains

 Accessibility the cooler will need to be accessible to the intended users, and the design will
need to take into account factors such as the users, as well as cultural or social factors that
may affect the usability of the device
 Affordable the cost of the cooler will need to be affordable for the intended users, and the
design will need to take this into account. This may involve considering the cost of materials
and components, as well as the manufacturing and distribution costs of the devices
 Cultural acceptability the design of the cooler will need to be culturally acceptable to the
intended users, and will need to take into account factors such as local customs, traditions
and cultural norms. This may involve stakeholders and local experts to ensure the design of
the cooler is appropriate and acceptable to the intended users.
  Social impact the design of the cooler will need to consider the potential social impact of the
device, and will need to take into account factors such as the potential benefits and
drawbacks of the technology, as well as any ethical or social implications of the device.

Economic constrains

 Cost of materials and components

The cost of the materials and components used in the design of the cooler will need to be
considered, as this will affect the overall cost of the device. The design of the cooler will
need to be optimized to minimize the cost of materials without compromising on
performance or durability
 Manufacturing and production cost
The manufacturing and production costs of the cooler will need to be considered, as these
will affect the overall cost of the device.
 Maintenance and repair cost the cost of maintaining the cooler will be considered as this
will affect the overall cost of the device. The design of the cooler will need to be optimized
to minimize the need for maintenance and repair, and to make the device as reliable and
durable as possible
 Engineering Design Standards
 Safety constrain the cooler must be safe to use, with built in safety features to prevent
accidents and injuries
 Technical constraints; the cooler must have a low power consumption to allow to allow for
extended operation
 Sustainability constraints the cooler may need to be designed with sustainability in mind, to
minimize its environmental impact and ensure that it can be recycled or disposed of
properly


Engineering Design Standards

 ISO 9000
 ISO 14000
 IEC 60335
 ASTM D7130

Overall, the design constraints of the Peltier vaccine cooler played a key role in shaping the final
design of the device and were carefully considered and addressed throughout the development
process

DESIGN CONSIDERATION
In order to effectively design the device and ensure its functionality within the specified constraints,
various factors had to be taken into consideration. These factors provided guidance and direction
throughout the design process.
Engineering consideration

1. Designing for portability and ease of use

2. Ensuring the structural integrity of the devices
3. Integrating the various components and systems
4. Considering the manufacturing process

Technical consideration

1. Selecting a Peltier module with appropriate cooling capacity

2. Designing for good thermal insulation
3. Choosing a suitable power source
4. Incorporating fail-safes and other design features

DESIGN CALCULATION
 Calculating the cost and manufacturing feasibility of the design
 Calculating require cooling capacity
 Thermal resistance of the insulation
 The power requirement
 The structural integrity of the device
 The performance and efficiency of the cooler
 Environmental impact of the design

MATERIAL SELECTION AND DESCRIPTION

 Peltier module
 Thermal insulation
 Housing and structural component
 Electronic components

COMPONENTS AND DESCRIPTION

A Peltier vaccine cooler is a device that uses the Peltier effect to maintain vaccines at a safe
temperature during storage and transport. The design of a Peltier vaccine cooler typically includes a
number of key components:

1. A Peltier module
2. A heat sinks
3. A fan
4. A thermoelectric controller
5. A power supplies
6. Storage compartment
7. A user interfaces
WORKING PRINCIPLEE
3D MODELLING
 Create basic model of the cooler
 Test and evaluate the model
 Refine and finalize the model

FABRICATION AND ASSEMBLY

1. Procurement of materials and components
2. Manufacturing of custom parts
3. Assembly of the cooler

EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
 The Peltier vaccine cooler
 Temperature sensors
 Control system
 Environmental controls

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the research methodology employed in this study was effective in evaluating the
performance of the Peltier vaccine cooler. The use of temperature data loggers and thermal imaging
allowed for accurate and comprehensive data collection, while the controlled testing environment
ensured the reliability of the results.

The findings of this will be analysed and presented in subsequent chapters of this dissertation