Applied Science

Water vortex display from SJ City Hall exhibition -- repair and upgrade (2011x26)

Air date: Aug 14, 2011

I built this project a few years ago with a friend to help get him interested in mechanical design. Later, the project was adapted for display at a "tech and art" exhibition at San Jose City Hall. After 8 months, the painted steel impeller began to rust and discolor the water in the tube. I took the device back to my shop and replaced the original aluminum shaft with a stainless steel shaft, replaced the shaft seal, and changed the impeller to an all-plastic design. If I were designing the device again, I would opt for a spring-loaded PTFE (Teflon) shaft seal, which I have used with great success in other applications. Drill motor control: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yEABsNyRfo Original video showing the WiFi-controlled watering can and vortex tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKrlRJ-GJms