Exercise: Concept generation
In the previous videos, you explored three different concepts for the wave-powered pump. However, it was shown that for the solutions matrix shown below, the number of possible solutions’ combinations, or concepts, is (4 times3 times3=36).
Feasibility of concepts
However, not every one of these 36 different concepts is feasible. For example, a concept that uses solutions 1 or 2 for harnessing the boat’s kinetic energy cannot use solution 3 for storing it because batteries cannot store mechanical energy.
Likewise, a concept that uses solutions 3 or 4 for harnessing the boat’s energy cannot use solutions 1 or 2 for storing it.
Since pumps can either be directly driven by mechanical power, or through an electric motor that converts electrical power to mechanical, solutions 1, 2, and 3 for the pump water function can be combined with any of the other solutions.
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Exercise: Generating concepts from a solutions matrix
- Using the above solutions matrix, derive all feasible concepts for the design problem.
- You can download a text description of the solutions matrix [pdf] if you wish.
- You can use the table below to help you think about your answers. (The first four rows have been filled in for you as examples.)
- You can download the table: generating concepts from a solutions matrix [pdf] if you wish.
| Concept serial number | Solution number for energy conversion function | Solution number for energy storage function | Solution number for water pumping function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | |||
| 6 | |||
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 11 | |||
| 12 | |||
| 13 | |||
| 14 | |||
| 15 | |||
| 16 | |||
| 17 | |||
| 18 |
Model answer
Here is a list of all feasible concept variants that can be generated from the solutions matrix.
| Concept Serial Number | Solution No. for Energy Conversion Function | Solution No. for Energy Storage Function | Solution No. for Water Pumping Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 8 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 11 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 12 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 14 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| 15 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
| 17 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 18 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
Fundamental Skills in Engineering Design
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