Making 4th of July Safe for the Environment

This is my project for the Green Future Student Design Challenge, and I will be using Fusion 360 previews to show clear examples. Since 4th of July is coming up, I decided to design a better way to see the fantastic fireworks without harming the environment. On July 4, the amount of pollutants in the air is increased by 42% compared to a normal day, and 461.7 million pounds of non-recyclable fireworks were bought in 2022. There are alternatives to the bright and colorful fireworks, but will they satisfy the crowd's desired light show?

Triboluminescence Jar

• Plastic container
• Quartz x2

Magnet Firework

Electromagnet

• Copper wire
• Battery/Arduino/Raspberry Pi
• Temporary magnet
• Plastic axle
• Piezoelectric motor
• Piezoelectric motor controller
• Copper plate x2

Internal Parts

• Wiring
• Battery
• OLED light stripes
• Code reader
• Electromagnet

External Parts

• Jar + Lid
• Magnet
• Iron powder/Ferrite putty stones
• Packaging
• Battery charger

You're probably curious as to why we need quartz, but it's a piezoelectric and triboluminescence mineral. The piezoelectric effect is when a piezoelectric object generates an electrical charge when subjected to mechanical stress. And by giving the piezoelectric material electricity, it expands and contracts, reversing the effect. The triboluminescence phenomenon is cold light emitted by a triboluminescent material being rubbed, fractured, scratched, or ripped. We only need the triboluminescence effect to light things up, but it probably won't be enough for fireworks. Sparklers are still a great option, made with just a reused plastic bottle and replaceable quartz crystals. Then, when kids shake it, light will be generated.

Pros

• Non-polluting
• Not connected to fire
• Quartz is everywhere

Cons

• Wears out over time
• Not very big or bright
• Eye hazard if not contained

Magnets might be another alternative to fireworks, but how might we design a magnetic firework? Luckily, I have already planned it out. An electromagnet will be inside the firework, and iron powder will be surrounding it. The electromagnet can quickly switch north and south poles to get the powder off the firework. Some way of transporting code can be installed in the firework too; that way, the code would be editable. The firework would read the changeable code to make a different magnetic pattern each time. Also, a magnet and container would come with the firework. The magnet would pick up all the powder, and then it would be stored in the container for later use. But what about seeing the show at night? LEDs can't be used since the electromagnetic field will interfere with the brightness of the lights. OLEDs are a great option, as they won't be affected by the electromagnetic field. Except I can't find them in strips; the same factory might be able to make them, though. And the firework could be displayed during the day too; just turn off the lights! Who wouldn't want this firework?

Yes, who simply wouldn't want this firework? A quick look at electromagnets, and they appear to be pretty expensive. But since we want the magnet to quickly reverse its magnetic poles and to fit in a 6.5-inch diameter sphere, I figure it might be best to make them in the same factory. That would lower the cost, ensure strength, and help with refurbishing broken products.

Prices of Needed Materials

$9.69 3D Printed Firework Base

$0.55 Mason Jar ($6.09 / Case of 12)

$0.20 Mason Jar Lid

$0.20 Magnet (19.99 / 100 Pieces)

$39.38 Ferrite Putty Stones +1000

$2.00 Packaging Estimate

$2.00 Copper Plates Estimate

$4.88 Copper Wire

$1.00 Plastic Axle Estimate

$35.00 Arduino/Raspberry Pi Estimate

$100.00 PI Piezo Motor Controller Estimate

$50.00 PI Piezo Motor Estimate

$15.98 Soft Iron Temporary Magnet

$25.00 Code Reader Estimate

$5.00 Wiring Estimate

$25.00 OLEDs Estimate

Total Estimate: $310.8

There are a few fireworks my family tries to buy every year, the most prominent being the Snow Cone. But on this site, it costs $103.10, about a third of my reusable firework's price of $310.8 as an estimate without tax, shipping, distributor markup, or retail. It's reusable, but my estimates are probably too low or high.

Before I design this in Fusion 360, I'd prefer to have a list of what I need to include, so I gathered the information from Step 3: Making a Better Firework. I am going to model what the firework base will look like, just without the internal components.

Included in Package:

• Iron powder
• Firework base
• Chargeable batteries
• OLEDs/LCDs
• SD card
• Code reader
• Code application
• Packaging
• Electromagnet parts
• Wiring
• Motor
• Container for iron powder
• Magnet

Firework Base

The firework base is the thing that contains the electromagnet and protects the lights from the iron powder. It will need glass sections for the lights to shine through, and preferably fit within a 5 by 5 inch box. The dome's thickness might affect how the electromagnet affects the powder, so let's keep it thin for now. It will also need a flat spot, so it doesn't roll around.

Electromagnet

This contains copper wire, an electromagnetic material, a piezoelectric motor and some of the chargeable batteries. The copper wire will be wrapped around the electromagnetic material in a coil, both ends of the wire will be connected to a thin plate of copper much like a penny. The battery would sit in between the pieces of copper, barely touching both pieces. The battery will be connected to the motor's axle too. When the motor spins 180 degrees, the battery will swap the positive and negative sides. This also flips the electromagnets north and south poles, making the iron powder move in different ways. The battery may be replaced with something like the Arduino, of which can be easily turned off.

Piezoelectric Motor

Back to piezoelectricity: this motor uses the piezoelectric effect. The motor provides electricity to a line or circle of piezoelectric materials. The expanding and contracting of the materials act like fingers, moving the desired object. These motors can be used for photonics and optics, as shown on this webpage. If this motor doesn't have an extreme reaction to the electromagnet, it may be one of the only motors that works for a project like this. From what I've gathered, the motor's speed, strength, and response time can be affected by the electromagnet. Most piezo motors are made to work under magnetic fields, not electromagnetic fields, however.

I have found one video of someone using what I think we need, except I couldn't find the price. The video had a link to the website he bought the motor on, but the closest motor I found had almost no information listed. I searched for other products of the same type, and I found another on a much better website. Still no price; there were quotes, though. But while looking on the website, one of the links that led to the right motor said low cost as part of the description. Quotes probably mean they're expensive, so let's assume maybe less than $100. The price of other types of motors goes down the more you buy, but if it's a factory, this is great! The controller for this motor is about 5.4 inches wide, though. So the size minimum must go up because there isn't a smaller motor or controller that will work.

Battery

This would probably be replaced with an Arduino board, but it would still be connected to a battery. The Arduino would allow control over the piezo motor and lights, and would help with coding it. I found someone making an electromagnet that was controlled with a Arduino, so I think they'd be unaffected or have minor reactions to the electromagnet.

OLEDs

These are lights that aren't affected by electromagnets, they also have good contrast. But these will have to be manufactured with the fireworks, since I can't find any online.

Internal Components

This includes the wiring, chargeable batteries, and the code reader. All of this will have to not be affected by the electromagnet, which might be a problem. Besides that, these are pretty basic parts, and they're not that expensive.

External Components

This would be the packaging, the iron powder, the container for the powder, the magnet, and a battery charger. The container would probably just be mason jar, and the logos could be melted off if copyright is a problem. The magnet is to help pick up all the iron dust and then the dust will be put in the container. Packaging can be recyclable, and needs the warnings and hazards section.

SD Card

The code will be downloaded onto this, then the firework will read it. They'll have to use a laptop or something else that the card can go in, but that's fine.

Code Application

The code application would have to not be affected by magnets, or it would read the code before the electromagnet turns on. The app would probably be simplified, so that children and people who don't code can do simple block coding. There are probably be people who would share their code, then others just have to download it. But I don't know if this is possible, because I don't code.

The 3D preview for the firework base is at the bottom of this step, and this is just the final design. The link to the other model is below, and you can see the timeline in the photo above. The holes will be filled with glass or plastic for protection of the internal components, so the OLEDs can shine through. I have some screenshots of what I did in each sketch.

Firework Base #1

Pros

• Not related to fire
• Does not explode
• Does not pollute
• Does not litter
• One time purchase
• Many different lighting options
• Changeable code
• A fun coding experience for kids
• Different magnetic patterns
• Does not make a lot of sound
• Might be able to be used year round
• Works in the day too

Cons

• Has a chance to damage some electronics
• When turned on the iron powder/ferrite putty stones is a possible eye hazard
• Probably expensive
• Consumes energy
• May interfere with compasses

Eco friendly fireworks don't just have to use magnets, so I made a list of neat ideas you could try to build or design on your own.

Ideas

• Water with LEDs behind or in it
• LED inflatable tube man
• Water explosion firework
• Soap explosion firework
• Disco ball
• LED drone

Here, I have information about how most fireworks are dangerous, and that a magnetic firework would decrease the dangerous aspects of normal fireworks.

Safety Precautions

• Never allow young children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers. Sparklers burn at temperatures of about 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit—hot enough to melt some metals. 
• Make sure fireworks are legal in your area, and only purchase and set off fireworks that are labeled for consumer (not professional) use.
• Keep a bucket of water or a garden hose handy, in case of fire or other mishap.
• Light fireworks one at a time, then back away quickly.
• Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not ignited fully.
• Never use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs.

Observations from the Annual Report and More

In 2022 an annual report published by CPSC.gov showed 11 non-occupational deaths due to fireworks, I have a count of how many were caused or worsened by the victims actions. 7 out of 11 deaths were illegal, unsafe, or related to alcohol.

Where known, the fireworks types with the highest estimated emergency department-treated injuries in 2022 were firecrackers (1,300) followed by sparklers (600)

Fire officials throughout the country have warned about increased dangers during the Fourth of July from improper handling of fireworks. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said 11 people were killed by fireworks in 2022. The agency also said 10,200 people were treated for firework-related injuries last year.

All non-underlined data in this step is collected from CPSC.gov.

Created: May 6, 2024 8:40 AM

Finished: May 24, 2024

Submitted for Green Future Design Challenge: May 24, 2024

I have not created this myself, as I don't have the needed materials. So if you try to make this, double check that everything is compatible and won't cause fires, damage to your workspace, or injuries.

Have a happy 4th of July!