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2027 Setty Family Foundation
Applied Engineering Challenge
Premise | Scope | Constraints | Deliverables | Submission | Timeline | Prizes
Questions? Submit them here
Premise
With the successful mission of the Artemis II, the possibility of lunar exploration and habitation is in the near future. Engineers and scientists have already begun conceptualizing building a base on the moon.
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Scope
Design an HVAC system for an early outpost lunar base. The base will be located at the southern pole of earth's moon. The building will consist of both livable and workable pressurized space and will house 2-4 astronauts for up to 30-day periods. The structure can be part subterranean but there must be above grade structures as well. Hybrid outposts are encouraged. Generate a program of spaces and volumetric dimensions that the astronauts will require. Including but not limited, dining, storage, sleeping, science, bathrooms, MEP spaces.
Early structural concepts of a lunar base are largely based off of the International Space Station. The team will be in charge of researching the size and shape of the habitable space needed and what the structure and exterior membrane and materials will be made of. The team is also encouraged to research and submit their own ideas if it could benefit their design.
A greenhouse area, which will house plants bearing fruits and vegetables in open air (i.e., above ground surface) for harvest, of 270 ft2 or 25 m2 will also need to be included. The team will decide how that space is included or connected and how the greenhouse will be designed for the types of plants to be included. As detailed as possible, provide a mass balance of elements and a plan for re-use. Consider how we can recycle CO2 to help the plant growth in this close loop
Power infrastructure and power generation do not need to be addressed; all systems should be based on solar DC systems. Power consumption and power storage concepts should be provided.
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Constraints
Resources to build and inhabit the base will be limited, so the design should consider conservation, efficiency, use of local materials, and renewability wherever possible. (Example: Think of the uses of wastewater and reusing moon monolith.) Human safety and system reliability will be the top priority.
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Deliverables
- Cover sheet
- Listing of team members and advisors
- Table of contents
- References and Appendices
- Conceptual site plans
- Schedules for any major equipment components selected, including their compliance to ASHRAE Standard 90.1 if applicable.
- Building and Mechanical floor plans.
- Schematic flow diagram indicating components, accessories piping, and examples of how this system is designed in accordance with ASHRAE manuals
- Heating and Cooling Load Calculations
- Filtration, CO2 scrubber systems and OGA (Oxygen generation assembly) should be addressed.
- Summary table of ventilation calculations to demonstrate compliance with ASHRAE 62.1
- Illustrations of compliance to ASHRAE Standards
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Submission
Teams must consist of two to six students with each team member's name and school affiliation listed on the title page of the submission. Teams can consult industry professionals, such as local ASHRAE chapter members, or faculty advisors for mentorship and advice. However, all work, calculations, drawings, etc. that are presented in the final submission shall be generated exclusively by team members.
Entries must be submitted electronically by May 4, 2027 by uploading the entry to the ASHRAE Society FTP site established for this purpose. Only teams who register will receive the FTP site information, so please register at least 30 days prior to this date to allow for processing. The submission must be limited to a 25-page maximum technical report. The document must be formatted to 8.5 x 11 inch paper with margins of 1 inch, a font size of 11 points using either Arial or Times New Roman, and a line spacing not less than the Microsoft Word standard of 1.15. All documents must be delivered in PDF format and should be clearly readable in black and white print.
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Timeline
What is the Evaluation Time Schedule?
There will be three levels of evaluation. Evaluators at all levels will judge the design project reports, not only for content, but also for compliance with the competition rules.
April 4, 2027
Only teams who pre-register will get the FTP site information emailed to them.
May 4, 2027
Entries must be submitted electronically by this date by uploading the entry to the ASHRAE Society FTP site established for this purpose. Only teams who register will get the FTP site information emailed to them, so please register at least 30 days prior to this date to allow for processing. Late submissions will not be accepted so all teams must have their submission uploaded by 11:59pm EDT on May 4, 2027.
Only ASHRAE chapters with registered teams will have the FTP site emailed to them as well. Teams that do not have a local chapter are required to adhere to this same deadline. Your entry will be evaluated by the closest chapter to your school or your Regional Vice-Chair (RVC) for Student Activities.
May 15, 2027
Deadline for local ASHRAE Chapters to forward their selection of the best entry in each category to the Student Activities Regional Vice Chair (RVC). Chapters are to download the necessary entries from the ASHRAE FTP site for local judging. FTP site information is only distributed to those chapters that have teams registered to participate in the competition.
Once your selection is made simply email the names of the winning entries to your RVC with a copy to JMcCray@ashrae.org and amartinez@ashrae.org by the deadline above.
If applicable, chapters should ALSO nominate a "rising star" as well. The Rising Star must be a school that does not qualify for the regional or Society competition but is a quality entry and the school has not had a winning entry in the previous three years.
June 5, 2027
Deadline for local ASHRAE Student Activities Regional Vice Chairs to forward their selection of the best entry in each category to ASHRAE Headquarters for Society judging. Regional Vice Chairs are to download the necessary entries in your region from the ASHRAE FTP site for judging.
Once your selection is made simply email the names of the entries to JMcCray@ashrae.org and amartinez@ashrae.org by the deadline above.
All entries that pass regional judging will be submitted to the Society judging committee for final judging.
If applicable, Regional Vice Chairs can nominate a "rising star" as well. The Rising Star must be a school that does not qualify for the Society competition but is a quality entry and the school has not had a winning entry in the previous three years.
June 18, 2027
Society level competition under the direction of the Student Activities Design Competition Subcommittee will complete evaluation of Society level entries, and will select first, second, and third place winners in each category. In order to encourage additional schools to participate in the competition, a "Rising Star" winner will be chosen within each category from among those schools that have not had a winning entry in the previous three years.
Please Note: The Society level of the competition is conducted during a closed subcommittee session and therefore, team members and/or faculty advisors, or other persons outside of the Student Activities Committee, may not attend. Any violation of this notice can result in a team's disqualification from the competition.
Tuesday, August 3, 2027
Winners announced
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Prizes
Awards will be presented to the winners at the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting to be held in Orlando, FL United States of America as follows:
- 1st place
- 2nd place
- 3rd place
- Rising Star
In conjunction with the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting, members of the winning teams will be invited to meet with ASHRAE’s Executive Committee.
First Place: $5,000 prize plus the entire team will receive free transportation and two nights’ lodging for (capped at $5,000) to attend the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Plenary. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.
Second Place: One representative from the team will receive free transportation, two nights' lodging at the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.
Third Place: One representative from the team will receive free transportation, two nights’ lodging at the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.
Rising Star: One representative from the team will receive free transportation and two nights lodging for attendance at the 2028 ASHRAE Winter Meeting where the award will be presented at the ASHRAE Student Program. A 24 x 36 inch ARCH D, or ISO A1 poster is required for display at the ASHRAE Student Program.
>> View the listing of past winners
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