DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

Rashid Bin Mahmud

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours 'l1I

(Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing Systems) 7011

R222 2004 2004

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Borang Penyerahan Laporan Projek Tahun Akhir Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

BORANG PENYERAHAN LAPORAN PROJEK TAHUN AKHIR

Judul: DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTfNG WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2003/2004

Saya RASHID BIN MAHMUD

(HURUF BESAR)

mengaku membenarkan tesis ini disimpan di Pusat Khidmat Maklumat Akademik, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak dengan syarat-syarat kegunaan seperti berikut:

I. Hakmilik laporan adalah milik penulis dan UNIMAS.

2. Naskhah salinan di dalam bentuk kertas atau mikro hanya boleh dibuat dengan kebenaran bertulis daripada UNIMAS atau penulis.

3. Pusat Khidrnat Maklurnat Akademik, UNIMAS dibenarkan membuat salinan untuk pengajian mereka.

4. Laporan hanya boleh diterbitkan dengan kebenaran penulis atau UNIMAS. Bayaran royalti adalah mengikut kadar yang dipersetujui kelak.

5. • Saya membenarkan/tidak membenarkan Pusat Khidmat Maklurnat Akademik membuat salinan laporan ini sebagai bahan pertukaran di antara institusi pengajian tinggi.

6. •• Sila tandakan ( ... ) di mana kotak yang berkenaan

D

^SULIT (Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarjah keselarnatan atau kepentingan Malaysia seperti yang terrnaktub di dalam AKT A RAHSIA RASMI 1972).

D

^TERHAD (Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang telah ditentukan oleh organisasil badan di mana penyelidikan dijalankan).

o

TIDAK TERHAD

B~ \

U LlttL , ,--

(TANDATANGAN PENULIS) ;J'ANDATANdAN PENYELIA)

Alamat tetap: 73, KAMPUNG MELA YU EN. A. RAHIM MD. AMfN TEBAKANG, 94700, SERIAN, SARA WAK.

Tarikh:

CATATAN * Potong yang tidak berkenaan.

** Jika laporan ini SULIT atau TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasal organisasi berkenaan dengan menyertakan sekali tempoh laporan. Ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT atau TERHAD.

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This Final Year Project attached here:

Title Design, Construction and Testing Water-based Air Cleaner.

Author's Name Rashid bin Mahmud Matric Number 5297

Has been read and approved by:

En. A. Rahim Md. Amin (Date)

(Supervisor)

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

P.KHIDMA TMAKlUMA TAKADEMIK UIIMAS

1111111111111111111111111

1000133633

RASHID BIN MAHMUD

This project is submitted in partial fulfillment of

the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Mechanical and Manufacturing Systems)

Faculty of Engineering UNIVERSITI MALAYSIA SARAWAK

2004

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Dedicated to my beloved family and friends

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First, I would like to thank Allah the almighty for gIvmg me an opportunity to accomplish this Final Year Project. Special thanks to my supervisor, Mr. A. Rahim Md.

Amin for being a very good instructor. Thanks for all the guidance that have been given to me in order for me to successfully finish this project. To my parents and siblings, there are no words that can describe how deeply appreciated I am for all the supports and encouragements. Without all of you, I don't think I can ever complete this Final Year Project. Not forgetting, to my dearest best friends Hafiz Fadillah Alhadi, Mohammad Hasbullah Haris, Ibrahim Bujang, Nurlizah, Fitri Othman, Mizan Morshidi, Mat Arzuan Adenan, Norazmanillah Haini, Azlina Anuar, Mohd Syukri, Salihin who have struggled with me during this final year and other individuals which their name not listed here.

Thank you very much. All your helps are greatly appreciated and may Allah bless you.

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WATER- BASED AIR CLEANER

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ABSTRACT

Clean air is very important to human health. It is known that air that contains dust particles will cause harmful effect to human breathing system. The main problem to maintain clean air system in a closed working space is filter use. The objective of this project is to design suitable low cost air cleaner using water as filtering medium but effective to filter dust particles. The rational of this project is to take the advantage of the characteristic of water that can cause dust particles to become wet and cannot fly as passed through it. This thesis is about to design, to construct and to test the efficiency of air cleaner using water as filtering medium. The efficiency of air cleaner water-based system is compared to the efficiency of air cleaner without any filtration. This thesis also to test the efficiency of vacuum cleaner compared to efficiency of air cleaner using water as filter media. This thesis proves that water acted as filter medium can filter most of dust particles in the air and also proves that air outlet of vacuum cleaner not clean enough compare to air outlet of air cleaner water-based system. Air outlet that comes from the air cleaner with water-based system is definitely safe to breath. Through this project, clean air can be supplied to home or closed working space.

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ABSTRAK

Udara bersih adalah sangat penting bagi menjamin kesihatan tubuh badan manusia.

Seperti yang kita sedia maklum udara yang berhabuk boleh mendatangkan penyakit yang berkaitan dengan sistem pemafasan. Masalah utama untuk mengekalkan sistem udara yang bersih dalam ruang keIja tertutup adalah penapis udara yang digunakan.

Objektif projek ini adalah untuk merekebentuk penapis udara berasaskan air yang sesuai dengan harga berpatutan tetapi berkesan untuk menapis habuk. Rasionalnya projek ini dengan mengambil ke1ebihan terhadap ciri-ciri air yang boleh menyebabkan habuk menjadi basah dan tidak dapat terapung diudara se1epas melaluinya. Tesis ini adalah betujuan untuk merekabentuk, memasang dan menguji keberkesanan penapis udara yang menggunakan air sebagai bahan penapis. Keberkesanan penapis udara berasaskan air dibandingkan dengan keberkesanan penapis udara tanpa sebarang bahan penapis.

Tesis ini juga untuk menguji keberkesanan hampagas berbanding dengan keberkesanan penapis udara menggunakan air seagai bahan penapis. Tesis ini membuktikan bahawa air yang bertindak sebagai bahan penapis boleh menapis hampir keseluruhan kandungan habuk di udara dan juga membuktikan bahawa udara tapisan dari hampagas tidak begitu bersih jika dibandingkan dengan udara tapisan dari penapis udara berasaskan air. Udara yang keluar dari system penapis udara berasaskan air adalah sangat selamat untuk pemafasan. Melalui projek ini udara bersih bolehlah disalurkan ke rumah atau ruang keIja.

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Pusat Khidmat Maid

UNIVEI\Sliii~'" umat AkademD.

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94100 ^KOla S4Imarahaq

LIST OF TABLES

,....

Table Page

2.1 Class A filter Efficiency 20

2.2 Experiment results by Gary Rolf 26

5.1 Experiment result for water as filter medium. 47 5.2 Experiment results for without any filtering medium. 49 5.3 Experiment results for testing model in closed working space. 51 5.4 Experiment results for testing the efficiency of vacuum 52

cleaner.

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WA TER- BASED AIR CLEANER

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LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1.1 Death factor 3

2.1 Aerodynamic deposition of particles by size in the respiratory tract 8

2.2 Throwaway viscous impingement panel 17

2.3 Replaceable medium panel 17

2.4 Replaceable medium extended surface supported 18 2.5 Self supporting soft cartridge, extended surface 18 2.6 Rigid cartridge pleated medium with separators 18 2.7 Rigid cartridge pleated medium no separator 19

2.8 Zigzag cartridge, no separation 19

2.9 Roll filters 19

2.10 Self cleaning viscous impingement curtain 20

2.11 Two stage electrostatic air filter 20

2.12 High efficiency pleated air filters 22

2.13 Disposable pleated air filters 23

2. 14 Disposable fibreglass air filters 23

2.15 Space gard replacement filter 23

2.16 Honeywell Fl 00 replacement filters 23

2.17 Example of permanent air filters on the market 24

2.18 A water-curtain system 29

2.19 A steam system 30

2.20 Spray nozzles system 31

3.1 Design 1 32

3.2 Design 2 33

3.3 ^{Design 3} ³⁴

3.4 Chosen design 34

3.5 Water based air cleaner with double tank 36

3.6 Testing of model in closed working space 39

4.1 Water-based air cleaner with filtration 41

4.2 Water-based air cleaner with filtration and without filtration. 42

4.3 Detail design of water based air cleaner. 43

4.4 Prototype model of Water-Based Air Cleaner. 44

4.5 Example of piece white cloth that will be used in the experiment. 44

4.6 Turmeric powder work as dust particle. 44

5.1 Comparison of air outlet with water as filter media, without filter media 55 and vacuum cleaner.

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WA TER-BASED AIR CLEANER

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ABBREVIATIONS

~

cm P G E Q*

g

kg

ABBREVIATIONS

Micrometer Centimetre Pressure

Flux of particles Efficiency Filter quality Gram

kilogram

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER!

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Air pollution poses hannful impact on our environment. It is not just limited to outdoor environment. Significant pollution can occur in occupational environment, the construction of our homes and offices and by our own habit such as smoking. [Thad Godish, (7)]

Air pollutants are divided into 3 groups depending on their toxicity:

1. Most reflex 2. Mostly resorbtive

3. Reflex-resorbtive toxicity

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CHAPTER l lNTRODUCTlON

Single threshold limit of short-tenn exposure is established for the first group of chemicals, which reflex toxicity. Second group, two standards are recommended: daily exposure and for short-tenn exposure at 99% probability level of its detection in a long lasting experiment. In the third group of substances, the short-tenn exposure standard is established for reflex toxicity and daily exposure standard for resorbtive toxicity.

Concentrations of chemical pollutants in ambient air:

1. By carcinogenic substances

Research by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (lARC), chemicals produce carcinogenic effect through inhalation which have been proven by epidemiological studies to cause cancer where the seven chemicals are asbestos, benzene, vinyl chloride (VC), arsenic, nickel, chromium, benzo(a)pyrene, cadmium and fonnaldehyde.

2. By classical pollutants

• Suspended particle

• Nitrogen dioxide

• Sulphur dioxide

• Carbon monoxide 3. By inorganic substances

• Lead

• Copper (oxide)

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTlON AND TESTlNG OF A WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

•

^Mercury

•

Hydrogen sulphur

•

Carbon disulphide

•

Fluoride compounds

4. ^Bychlorine compounds Hydrogen chloride

•

^Dioxins

5. By other chemical substance

•

^Ammonia

•

Methyl Merkaptan

•

^Styrene

Phenol

•

Health risks caused by air pollutants

Other kinds of death risk

Various diseases accidents nature disaster

Figure 1.1: Death factor [Courtesy ofIgor Linkow et aI, (8)]

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CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION

According to the chart, air pollution has greatest impact on human health. Examples of air pollution-related diseases are cancer, pulmonary irritation and impaired lung function such chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Majority of people spend most of their life indoor, therefore indoor quality is of greater importance than outdoor air quality. Pollutants or dusts are introduced into closed space through several ways such dust from beds, shirts, soil, carpet, pet's fur and other small particles. It is therefore important to provide clean air in closed space. This depends on ventilation and air filter use.

1.2 Rational

In designing a filtering system a design engineer must know the size of filtering system need to provide sufficient ventilation air to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. Besides, because of energy concerns, a design engineer also need to know the minimum rate of ventilation necessary to provide comfort at reasonable energy cost. Therefore an expensive filtering system is not the best solution to install in a small office or for domestic use.

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER.

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CHArTER I INTRODUCTION

1.3 Problem statement

The main problem to maintain clean air system in a closed working space is filter use.

If a filter with effective, low cost and save a lot of energy this mean that consumer will save a lot of budget rather than buying an expensive filter system and also save a lot of energy usage.

1.4 Objective

The objective of this project is to design a suitable low cost but effective air filter using water as filtering medium. The rational of this project is as the conventional filter media have pores where the smallest particle or dusts in air can pass through the filter.

While in the case of water not even the smallest particle in air it might be can't get through it because the particle have been wetted by the fluid and then the particle trap in the filter.

The other objective of this project is also the possibility of designing a low cost filter and an air filter that work efficiently.

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WA TER-BASED AIR CLEANER

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CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

1.S Scopes and Limitation

The scope of this project is to design and provide a clean air in closed working space such office, house or other small room. Besides, this research is also according to Malaysia condition and weather and it not be applicable to countries with 4 seasons where air condition changes according to season. Because of weather in Malaysia, heating system ofHVAC system will not be included to this filtering system.

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CHAPTER 2 LITERA TURE REVIEW

CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW

In this chapter will review the past research and study about topics that are related to air quality, ventilation, filter, dust measurement and water as a filter media.

2.1 Air Quality

Thad Godish (8) in his book mentions that, the health consequences of atmospheric PM depend on is ability to penetrate respiratory defence mechanism. In general, defence mechanisms are adequate to remove inhaled particles larger than 1

o

11m from the inhaled air stream. Particles smaller than this are described as 'inhalable' that is they can enter and be deposited in the respiratory system. Particles less than 2.5!lm are called

'respirable' they can enter and deposited in pulmonary tissue. Particles larger than 2.51Jlll are mostly

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CHAPTBR2 LITERA TURE REVIEW

removed in the upper respiratory system. Deposition of particles as a function of particle size is illustrated in figure 2.1

1.0 0.9 0.8 0.7

3 ^Pulmonary

0.1

Mua Median Diameter Jfm

Figure 2.1: Aerodynamic deposition of particles by size in the respiratory tract [Courtesy of Thad Godish (8)]

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WA TER-BASED "AIR CLEANER

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CHAPTER 1 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.2 Ventilation System

According to George Clifford (3), ventilation is the process of supplying or removing air by natural or mechanical means, to or from any space.

Richard D. Rivers (14) mention that indoor air quality can be maintained by ventilation alone provided outdoor air for ventilation is itself acceptable. A minimum fresh air supply of about 5 fe/min (8.5m³1h) is needed for each occupant of a space, just to carry away carbon dioxide and supply oxygen. This cannot be made up by recirculation without the very complicated systems used in spacecraft and submersibles. Such minimal ventilation is not, however, adequate to eliminate odours, internally generated contaminants such as cigarette smoke or in some cases radon infiltration.

Anthony L. Hines and friends (9) have classified air ventilation into 4 types infiltration of Outdoor Air, Natural Ventilation, Mechanical Ventilation and Local Ventilation.

2.3 Studies on Filtering Technology

Filter comes from Latin wordflltrum and the meaning is felt or compress wood. [Clyde Orr, (13)]

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CIIAPTBR2 LITERATURE REVIEW

Early filters were made from natural fibre or plant, animal or mineral origin, similar to the fibre to make cloth and ropes. [Richard G. Dorman, (5)]

According to Clyde Orr (13) the first patent on a filter issued by the French government in 1789 where sponge was used as a basic filter. A British patent of 1791 describes an operation identified as filtration by ascend, the invention here being a vessel containing coarse gravel at the bottom followed by graded sand above.

Air filters remove pollutants entering buildings and industrial processes or recirculated within them. It is common to use the terms "air cleaner", "air filter", or merely "filter" to refer to this type of device, regardless of whether air or some other gas is the working fluid.

[Richard D. Rivers, (14)]

Filtration is divided into 2 main categories:

1) Liquid filtration - known as solid-water filtration. This is the process of filtering impurities in water usually solid impurities. In chemical plant, water filtration is used to filter contaminant in it.

2) Gas filtration - the process of filtering out dust and dangerous gaseous from the air. Gas filtration is very important in chemical plant as well as in radioactive plant.

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CHAnBR2 LITERATURE REVIEW

2.3.1 Basic Air Filtering Theory

Clyde Orr (13) defined filtration as the process of separating dispersed particles from a dispersing fluid (water or gas) by means of porous media. Some properties have to be looked at when designing a new filtering system such as:

1. Efficiency of filter 2. Penetration of filter 3. Filter capacity 4. Economic indexes

5. Filter Quality, Q*

2.3.1.1 Efficiency of Filter

Consider the pressure drop of a filter P is defined by:

P=PI-P2 Where:

PI = Pressure before the filter P2 = Pressure behind the filter

If, Gl =Flux of particles into the filter G2 = Flux of particles from the filter

G3 =Flux of particles retained by the filter in unit time

For a monodisperse system of particles, the filter efficiency, E is the defined by:

E

=

G3/G2

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DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING OF A WA TBR-BASED AIR CLBANBR'

DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING WATER-BASED AIR CLEANER