- Project Title & Role:
Arctic Faucet — Team Lead (Team of 5, CU Boulder) - Problem Statement:
Sub-zero winters cause frozen and burst outdoor water pipes, costing U.S. homeowners billions annually. Existing heating solutions are costly and energy-intensive. - My Solution:
- Designed a passive thermal wax actuator system to release flow under freezing conditions.
- No electrical power required — fully mechanical actuation.
- Prototyped with 3D printing + wax actuators; validated in cold chambers (-7 °C).
- Performed COMSOL simulations for thermal and pressure gradients.
- Key Deliverables/Outcomes:
- Functional prototype prevented freeze damage in test setups.
- Awarded $1,000 Entrepreneurial Grant; presented to VCs and startup mentors.
- Validated market need with local plumbers and infrastructure experts.
- Visuals:
- Prototype installed on outdoor pipe.
- COMSOL thermal gradient simulation.
- Pressure profile validation plots.
Test setup using a chiller to mimic the subzero temperature and checking the antifreeze function of artic faucet on the inline
