Chemical Engineering Competitions

Advisors 

Jennifer Weiser (ChE)

VIP Course Section Number 

F

Goals 

The goal of the Chem-E-Car VIP is to design and fabricate a small-scale "car" powered and stopped entirely by chemical reactions. The competition is part of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Chem-E-Car competition. The competition challenges university students from across the globe to construct a shoebox-sized vehicle that must travel a specified distance given at competition. Success in the competition means masterfully assembling a working car while also having a quantitative understanding of the chemistry that both drives and stops it so the vehicle’s performance can be precisely calibrated on demand. 
University teams must first compete at the AIChE regional conference, where usually the top three teams qualify for the national competition, held at the AIChE Annual Student Conference. However, students as part of the VIP learn far more than just competition experience. Simply registering for the competition has rigorous process safety practices modeled on industry standards, including hazard analysis and safety documentation. The Engineering Design Package (EDP) is a large document the entire team works on that documents and details every aspect of the car. It must be reviewed months prior to competition and approved before a team is permitted to compete. Right before competition, it is presented to safety judges at the poster competition, where teams compete to see who can present their scientific findings and their car the best.

Desired outcomes of the project include, but are not limited to: 

  • Design and fabricate an electrochemical system (electrochemical batteries, fuel cells, pressure cells) that powers the propulsion of the vehicle and can be adjusted under competition constraints
  • Design and fabricate a chemical stopping mechanism (reaction kinetics-based timing such as an iodine clock reaction) that can be calibrated to stop the propulsion mechanism and stop the car at a specified distance
  • Design and fabricate a mechanical system, chassis and drive train using digital fabrication tools such as CAD to create the physical car system
  • Application of chemical process safety principles, including hazard identification, risk assessment, and preparation of formal safety documentation (Engineering Documentation Package, Management of Change Forms, Safety Data Sheets)
  • Integration of each of the sub teams to form the functioning vehicle
  • Teamwork, collaboration, project management, experimental planning, technical communication, technical writing, and interdisciplinary engineering exposure

Issues Involved or Addressed 

There are many rules and restrictions as outlined by the AIChE Chem-E-Car Competition, such as size, energy sources, materials, and safety mechanisms: 

  • All vehicle components must fit inside a box no larger than 40 cm × 30 cm × 20 cm box
  • The selected reactions for both the propulsion and stopping mechanism cannot use caustic chemicals or produce off gasses. 
  • All chemicals must be accounted for as listed on the EDP, and must have double containment during poster competition and competition day. Kinetics modeling must also be done prior to competition. 
  • The car must stop at a given distance on competition day, meaning reagent quantities and concentrations must be calibrated beforehand
  • Process safety and hazard analysis, including chemical handling, storage, and transport procedures must be well documented and rigorously enforced 
  • Engineering documentation (EDP, safety data sheets) is required for competition eligibility
  • Mechanical design, electrical design, control circuitry, fabrication, and integration of the chassis and drivetrain

Subteams 

Subteams follow the functional structure of the vehicle: a Propulsion team (energy-generating reaction and power delivery), Control team (stopping mechanism team using reaction kinetics and electronics to stop the vehicle), and a Structure team (chassis, drivetrain, fabrication). Everyone also plays a role in safety and documentation, which means everyone has a say in the Engineering Design Package and learns proper hazard analysis. 

Methods & Technologies 

Electrochemistry (batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers), reaction kinetics and calibration experiments, chemical process safety and hazard analysis (JSA, EDP preparation), CAD, 3D printing and machine shop fabrication, circuit design and microcontrollers (Arduino, Raspberry Pi), data collection and statistical analysis, laboratory technique and analytical instrumentation.

Majors Looking for on this Team 

All majors are welcome!

Preferred Interests, Preparation, Skills 

1. Background/interest in chemistry, electrochemistry, or chemical engineering applications.
2. Experience with or willingness to learn laboratory techniques, reaction characterization, and safety protocols.
3. Experience with or willingness to learn mechanical design and fabrication (CAD, 3D printing, machining) or electronics and microcontroller programming, depending on subteam.
4. Experience with or willingness to learn technical writing and safety documentation.
5. Commitment to safe laboratory practice; no prior competition experience required.

Team Contact Information

Justin.zhou@cooper.edu
conor.andrews@cooper.edu

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

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  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.