Project
| # | Title | Team Members | TA | Documents | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | Smart Meat Defroster |
Ben Civjan Brad Palagi Payton Thompson |
Prannoy Kathiresan | design_document1.pdf design_document2.pdf final_paper1.pdf other1.pdf photo1.png photo2.png photo3.png presentation1.pdf proposal2.pdf proposal1.pdf video |
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| # Smart Meat Defroster ## Team Members: - Payton Thompson, pthomp22 - Brad Palagi, bpalagi2 - Ben Civjan, bcivjan2 ## Problem: Defrosting meat is a very tedious process. There are a few tactics to do so all with their own issues. One can leave the meat in the fridge to thaw, but that takes around two days. Next, one can heat the meat in the microwave, but that results in the meat being partially cooked and frozen. Also, one can run water over the meat to help defrost, but it is a hands-on process that still takes a while to do. Lastly, one can leave the meat out on a [defroster plate](https://www.amazon.com/Evelots-Rapid-Defrosting-Frozen-Naturally/dp/B01K3A5X26?th=1), but the length of time varies with the quality of the plate, and it is required that the meat is used very soon after defrosting since it is outside the refrigerator. ## Solution: We propose a meat defrost container that resides in a refrigerator so that the meat is quickly defrosted and kept below 40 degrees Fahrenheit at all times. Once the meat is defrosted, the container will use a fan to recirculate the inside air to keep the food at a safe temperature. This will maintain freshness and prevent bacteria from growing if the container is in the refrigerator. Also, It can also be used outside of the refrigerator for quick defrosting and immediate use. The container would use a heating device above and a conductive plate beneath to defrost the meat, while a heat sensor uses the surface temperature of the meat to detect when it has defrosted. This allows for a hands-off, quick and versatile approach to defrosting meats. Solution Components: ## Heat Subsystem: In order to provide fast defrosting, we need to implement a power system to support the heating of the container. Since our system is designed to be portable, we will rely on battery power for heating. We anticipate that battery power will be sufficient since our product isn’t meant to reach very high temperatures (like a toaster/oven for instance). The heating element we will use is a conductive heating coil. This will be wrapped around the inside of the container in a way such that the user can’t easily burn themselves. ## Ventilation Subsystem: Since we want to prevent the meat from reaching above 40 degrees Fahrenheit (as per FDA safety regulations), we need a way to replace the hot air inside the container with the colder outside air in the refrigerator. For this, we will use a small fan that is activated by our sensor system and draws power from the battery. ## Sensor Subsystem: Our sensor subsystem will be connected via PCB to moderate the ventilation and heat subsystems. We plan to use an infrared temperature sensor such as an [Omron Electronics D6T Series MEMS Thermal Sensor](https://www.mouser.com/c/?marcom=103485542). The sensor will be placed at the top of our Defrosting container and will be used to automatically monitor the temperature of the meat being defrosted. There are a few differences amongst the models of these thermal sensors which we will use to select the one we order in the future. First is the operating temperature, we plan to allow for this device to be used inside a refrigerator or in a room temperature area. Some of these sensors are rated for a minimum of 0 C, but others are rated up to a minimum temperature of -40 C. All of these options appear like we should not have an issue with overheating. The accuracy of this sensor is also important as we need to ensure the temperature of the meat remains below 5 C. Some sensors are accurate +/- 3 C and others are +/- 1.5 C. We will have to consider this accuracy to ensure safe food temperatures. Also, of course, we will consider costing to ensure we create a low-cost design. ## Display Subsystem: To allow the user to interface with our product, we will offer a user-friendly digital display. This will show the current temperature of the meat, allowing the user to see the progress of the defrost. It will also include a power button so the user can turn the device on/off. We are keeping the user interaction to a minimum to make the defroster as simple and intuitive as possible. ## Criterion for Success: - The container is refrigerator and heat safe - Hot air within the container is removed once defrosting is complete - The meat stays at a safe internal temperature - The meat is defrosted faster than at room temperature - Heat sensor data gives a safe estimation of internal temperature ## Potential Enhancements: - Easy-to-store design - The compact form factor is easier to store inside and outside of the fridge - Interchangeable Rechargeable battery - To allow for immediate reuse after an item has been defrosted rather than waiting for the entire device to recharge - Estimated time of defrosting remaining - Add to the current temperature display, or design a mobile app - Add weight sensor to have more accuracy with defrost time calculation |
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