Design Criteria
1. Heat Retention (Taste)
2. Effortless Brewing Ending
3. Visible Colour Change
4. Undemanding Cleaning
5. Reference to Feminin
2. Effortless Brewing Ending
3. Visible Colour Change
4. Undemanding Cleaning
5. Reference to Feminin
1 Heat Retention
Clay and glass have similar heat capacities:
Clay = 0.92 kJ/kg K
Glass = 0.84 kJ/kg K
Source = http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-solids-d_154.html
This means that they are equally likely to take in the warmth, but since clay would be thicker and has a slightly higher capacity, it would take in more heat than glass overall.
Thermal conductivity of both materials is as follows:
Glass = 0.7 - 1.5 W/m * K
Clay, dry = 0.930 W/m * K
Source = http://www.scribd.com/doc/30589475/Heat-Transfer-Appendix-tables
Thermal conductivity = A measure of the ability of a material to transfer heat. Given two surfaces on either side of the material with a temperature difference between them, the thermal conductivity is the heat energy transferred per unit time and per unit surface area, divided by the temperature difference. It is measured in watts per degree Kelvin.
Source = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thermal+conductivity
This would mean that the perfect material would be that of low heat capacity and low heat conductivity. Glass has a lower heat capacity than clay but only the window glass has smaller thermal conductivity than clay. This means that other types of glass, that might be more accessible to use, let go of heat more easily than clay.
Idea for modeling = see if air bubbles in the thick layer clay can make it a substantially better isolator.
Clay = 0.92 kJ/kg K
Glass = 0.84 kJ/kg K
Source = http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/specific-heat-solids-d_154.html
This means that they are equally likely to take in the warmth, but since clay would be thicker and has a slightly higher capacity, it would take in more heat than glass overall.
Thermal conductivity of both materials is as follows:
Glass = 0.7 - 1.5 W/m * K
Clay, dry = 0.930 W/m * K
Source = http://www.scribd.com/doc/30589475/Heat-Transfer-Appendix-tables
Thermal conductivity = A measure of the ability of a material to transfer heat. Given two surfaces on either side of the material with a temperature difference between them, the thermal conductivity is the heat energy transferred per unit time and per unit surface area, divided by the temperature difference. It is measured in watts per degree Kelvin.
Source = http://www.thefreedictionary.com/thermal+conductivity
This would mean that the perfect material would be that of low heat capacity and low heat conductivity. Glass has a lower heat capacity than clay but only the window glass has smaller thermal conductivity than clay. This means that other types of glass, that might be more accessible to use, let go of heat more easily than clay.
Idea for modeling = see if air bubbles in the thick layer clay can make it a substantially better isolator.
2 Brewing
Effortless stopping of brewing is achieved with the infuser:
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/0/25309750/1386804923.png)
The infuser is transparent so that the tea leaves can be seen from outside and the change of colour showed more explicitly.
The infuser has a set of wholes that allow for mixing of leaves with water.
The bottom of infuser is not permeable and serves as a space for storing leaves once the brewing is done.
This happens with a help of the stick pictured below.
The infuser has a set of wholes that allow for mixing of leaves with water.
The bottom of infuser is not permeable and serves as a space for storing leaves once the brewing is done.
This happens with a help of the stick pictured below.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/0/25309750/1386805314.png)
This picture shows the process of stoping the brewing.
The infuser stick (silicon) pushes down the tea leaves into the container.
This method is easy and does not require cleaning the teapot straight away, which is important for keeping the whole experience enjoyable.
*Note: This changed later on in terms of the infuser stick (see Detailed design) principle working of the infuser stayed the same, but the shape of the stick changed into a cylinder.
The infuser stick (silicon) pushes down the tea leaves into the container.
This method is easy and does not require cleaning the teapot straight away, which is important for keeping the whole experience enjoyable.
*Note: This changed later on in terms of the infuser stick (see Detailed design) principle working of the infuser stayed the same, but the shape of the stick changed into a cylinder.
3 Visible Colour Change
4 Undemanding Cleaning
This mostly refers to not having to clean before one has even had tea.
In other words, there is no having to pull out and throw in the bin a dripping tea bag or taking out the infuser.
This criterion has been mostly accommodated to by the infuser.
In the post-drinking process, the infuser is made so that it is easy to reach the pressed tea leaves with a finger or a tea spoon. This facilitates emptying the infuser if the leaves are still stuck to the bottom when you turn it upside down.
In other words, there is no having to pull out and throw in the bin a dripping tea bag or taking out the infuser.
This criterion has been mostly accommodated to by the infuser.
In the post-drinking process, the infuser is made so that it is easy to reach the pressed tea leaves with a finger or a tea spoon. This facilitates emptying the infuser if the leaves are still stuck to the bottom when you turn it upside down.
5 Reference to feminine
The initial idea was to have symbol of women incorporated in the design, but I decided to make more subtle implications to feminine. Xi Shi teapot has served as the inspiration for feminine features that would be incorporated into my design.
![Picture](/uploads/2/5/3/0/25309750/9323399.jpeg)
"The lines of these classic Xishi teapots are therefore very round and feminine. The only part of the teapot that could symbolize masculinity (the spout) has been 'cut short'!
The lid prolongs the shape of the body and alludes to the most maternal part of a woman's body..."
http://teamasters.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/3-yixing-xishi-teapots-are-back.html
The lid prolongs the shape of the body and alludes to the most maternal part of a woman's body..."
http://teamasters.blogspot.co.uk/2011/02/3-yixing-xishi-teapots-are-back.html