Water Capsule: Week 7

The purpose of this project was do use the modified Sea Perch to test water for pH, impurities, and other qualities. Sensors that we looked into for these measurements were all far over budget, and most of the ones available would not be able to operate under water. As an alternative to submarine-mounted sensors, we created a water capture device to retrieve a sample from a specific area in the water and return it to shore for testing.
The capsule is constructed of a three-inch long, half-inch diameter piece of PVC pipe. One end of the pipe is sealed with an end cap an PVC cement. The other end is covered by a sliding cap with a long sleeve that covers most of the pipe. The sliding cap is fitted with a rubber O-ring to prevent water leakage when the capsule is closed. Six holes are drilled into the sleeve, so that when the cap is lifted, water will enter the capsule. The idea is to mount a spring to keep pressure on the cap and keep the capsule closed. A small motor will be used to open the capsule and allow water to enter at the desired moment.

Brian Bucci

Tim Kaack

Justin Goebel