Competency Demonstration Report: Refrigeration Unit Project Analysis

This report presents the design and development of a domestic refrigeration unit, focusing on creating a small, portable refrigerator compatible with DC power for various applications. The project aimed to address the limitations of existing refrigerator sizes and enhance portability. The report outlines the project's objectives, including cost-effectiveness and compatibility for food and medicine storage. The author, Shruti S. Bhavthankar, details her role as a team member responsible for production processes, cost reduction, and problem-solving. The report covers the application of engineering knowledge, skills, and the challenges encountered, such as cost reduction, and the solutions implemented. The project involved collaborative work and a focus on innovation by making the refrigerator DC compatible. The author concludes with a project overview, highlighting contributions to the project's success and adherence to initial objectives, providing valuable insights for mechanical engineering students.

COMPETENCY
DEMONSTRATION REPORT
Career Episode 1
SHRUTI S.BHAVTHANKAR

CE 1.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Design and Development of Domestic Refrigeration Unit
Location of the project: [PLEASE FILL]
Project Duration: [PLEASE FILL]
Organization: [PLEASE FILL]
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member
CE 1.2 Project Background
CE 1.2.1 Characteristics of the project
A refrigerator can be defined as a cooling appliance which is mainly comprised of a
thermally insulated compartment and a process mechanism used for the transferring of complete
amount of heat from the inside of the apparatus to the outside environment. This process cools
down the internal components to a temperature below an ambient limit. The use of a refrigerators
is for the storage of foods to stop them from deteriorating from the growth of bacterial growth. The
designing of the modern refrigerators are based on the basic laws of physics. The two laws used are:
heat flows from a warmer region to a cooler region and with the decrease of the pressure of a gas the
temperature decreases proportionately. All the components are connected to form a fluid current
flow: a condenser, a compressor, an evaporator and an expansion valve. The main problem with the
modern refrigerators is that they are large in size. Transferring of medicines to some remote location,
going out for picnics and for fishing trips requires a small transportation refrigerators.

CE 1.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
For the completion of this project I had set out the following list of objectives to be
followed:
 To develop a small portable refrigerator.
 To develop the refrigerator to run on DC.
 To make it compatible for the storage of food as well as medicines.
 To understand the concept to be followed for the development of a refrigerator.
 To fabricate a prototype of the refrigerator based on the understanding of the research
and the engineering drawing done.
 To make the refrigerator to be compatible with any kind of backup power supply.
CE 1.2.3 My area of work
I was responsible for looking after the production process of the refrigerator. I had
planned and coordinated the daily process and target for the delivery of the best quality products.
I had identified any kind of unsafe measures of usage of the materials for the production
procedure so that there are no problem with the final product. I had also applied my knowledge
of the cost reduction methodology so as to make the project as cheap as possible to be affordable
for everyone. I had analysed all the problems that were being faced during the process of
implementation of the project and found out the best solution to be applied for the project. I had
also looked after the budget prepared at the start of the project along with the expenses that were
being incurred by us for the project.

CE 1.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: Team Member associated in this project
CE 1.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
For the completion of the project I had helped my team mates with the responsibilities of
a production engineer to complete the project and to provide the best project delivery. I had
planned and coordinated the daily target for the project so that the project was delivered on time.
I had applied cost reduction methodology on the project so as to make the project cheap and
affordable for everyone. I had also analysed all the problems that was being faced by the project
during the implementation phase so as to find the best solution for them. I had also kept a track
on the budget of the project. Apart from this I had provided my team members with the positive
support required for the completion of the project with the highest quality.

CE 1.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 1.3.1 Comprehending the theory of the project
The main theory used for the compilation of this project is to make a refrigerator with the
help of materials and the physical procedure of the working method of a refrigerator. The main
theory was to make the project cost effective as well to make the refrigerator smaller in size. I
had worked with my team to first study the working method which has been used for the
previous version of the refrigerators and other research methods and journals o the same topic of
the project. This helped in the determination of the project property to use for the project.
CE 1.3.2 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I was able to apply my production engineer skills on the project so as to make the project
into the best quality work for delivery. I had applied my knowledge in order to improve the
working process of the equipment’s of the project sand to maximize the production of the
project. I had helped my team mates in the production methodology to follow as well as to make
the project into a successful one. I was also able to look after the working procedure of the
project as well as look after the problems and successfully find the required solution for the
problem being faced by the project team. I had also looked after the evaluation of the production
activities and to be used for the reduction of the downtime of the project process. I had also
looked after the project in order to make the project as per the specification of the project.
CE 1.3.3 Accomplishment and task performed
For the completion of the project I had worked on the process of providing my team
members with the help and production engineer skills and knowledge according to the working
criteria of the project. The main objective of the project being to be made compatible to be able

to be executed using DC current as well as to make the project as small as possible keeping the
minimum size intact. The main objectives had been kept in check and followed as per the
deliverables of the project to make the project into a successful one. I had analysed the problems
which were being faced during the implementation process of the project and I had proceeded
with the clearance of the problem related to the project.
CE 1.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
1.3.4.1 Issues
One of the major issue which I had faced during the process of development was the
method to reduce the cost of the production method of the refrigerator. The main objective was
to make the refrigerator smaller in size and also to be able to be compatible with the power input
of DC current method.
1.3.4.2 Solutions
I had worked with my team member to first find the lowest possible cost for the
production of the refrigerator. This method would then be used for the changing the requirements
of the project with the process of the development procedure used in the project.
CE 1.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
In order to make the project innovative I had made the refrigerator compatible with DC
current. This would help the users to use backup power supply or any kind of battery which
would be able to provide the refrigerator with enough power output. This would help to make the
refrigerator cost effective as well as small in size which would then make the objectives of the
project to be met easily.

CE 1.3.6 Collaborative work
For the completion of the project I had received help from my team mates and my project
manager. I had worked with them throughout the project in order to guide them and help them
for the project working procedure. I had worked with my team mates to find a cost reduction
mechanism of the project in order to maintain a high quality standard of the project. I had
maintained the product specification in regards to the engineering technology and the production
process.
CE 1.4 Project Review
CE 1.4.1 Project Overview
The project has been completed as per the requirements and the final project was as per
the objectives which had been set forward by me at the initiation of the project. I had helped my
team mates in the process of development of the project with the help of my production
engineering skills. I had looked after the expenses of the project to make it as cheap as possible
which would help in the future development of the project on a large scale. I had also applied my
engineering analysis skills on the project to find the reduced down time of the project as well as
the outages.
CE 1.4.2 My contribution to work
I was an active member in the completion of the project with the help of my team
members. I had provided engineering support for the process of development of the project. I had
implemented the cost reduction initiatives for the maintenance of the high quality standards of

the project. I had provided training and guidance to the team members for the accomplishment of
the project as well as to keep the project within the objective of the project.