Aulex

1. Yes, we want to transfer as much heat from the co2 enriched air as possible, using cooled air would be better because it would mean that co2 enriched air would be slightly less hot, slowing the rate of rising and increase the time for the co2 to transfer the heat to the water (i'm not sure about this) 2. We want to keep it as simple as possible to try and lower margin of error, we were originally going to do this, but we scratched it due to it's complexity 3. We want to keep the tubes as narrow as possible, but still wide enough for the co2 to leave, so we'll probably experiment with different sizes 4. it is connected (the clear portion is where the flame is and blue is the water), along with the heat transferred from the flame directly, we are trying to absorb as much heat and absorb some heat from the co2 5. Higher temperature means more vaporization meaning more heat loss, lower the calculated heat transferred (we're going to try and remove this issue as much as possible by using an air sealed container, or as close to this as possible)

For a science project after my AP chemistry test we are supposed to design a calorimeter (not bomb). For fuel we are burning a cheese puff and you can design the calorimeter however you want. I attached a crude blueprint of what we've come up with. So design is that the cheese puff is in a container with a low heat capacity such as aluminum which will dissipate the heat from the flame to the water. The co2 from the flame will rise through the copper tubing (there will be two more on the sides not seen in the 2d drawing) so some of the heat will dissipate from the co2 to the water while keeping the co2 from smothering the flame. The copper tubing will be sealed with most likely a solder and the bottom of the aluminum container holding the cheese puff will be a mixture of solder and epoxy. The entire calorimeter will be raised on stilts allowing for oxygen to flow from the bottom, and the tiny bit of heat that falls will be reflected by the aluminum or any other material back up towards the water. The cheese puff will sit on a wire mesh making it easier to burn and transfer the heat. The entire container holding the water will be covered in insulation all around except for the openings and around the flame (this includes the bottom exposed to where the oxygen is going to flow through). All the materials can be changed accordingly Now what i'm most worried about is lighting cheese puff efficiently, allowing for the most amount of heat to transfer from the co2 to the water while minimizing margin of error and for the cheese puff not suffocate. Do you guys have any suggestions on how to make this design more efficient.