Ching-Yuan Chang

A Novel Sensor Platform Matching the Improved Version of IPMVP Option C for Measuring Energy Savings

It is easy to measure energy consumption with a power meter. However, energy savings cannot be directly computed by the powers measured using existing power meter technologies, since the power consumption only reflects parts of the real energy flows. The International Performance Measurement and Verification Protocol (IPMVP) was proposed by the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO) to quantify energy savings using four different methodologies of A, B, C and D. Although energy savings can be estimated following the IPMVP, there are limitations on its practical implementation. Moreover, the data processing methods of the four IPMVP alternatives use multiple sensors (thermometer, hygrometer, Occupant information) and power meter readings to simulate all facilities, in order to determine an energy usage benchmark and the energy savings. This study proposes a simple sensor platform to measure energy savings. Using usually the Electronic Product Code (EPC) global standard, an architecture framework for an information system is constructed that integrates sensors data, power meter readings and occupancy conditions. The proposed sensor platform is used to monitor a building with a newly built vertical garden system (VGS). A VGS shields solar radiation and saves on energy that would be expended on air-conditioning. With this platform, the amount of energy saved in the whole facility is measured and reported in real-time. The data are compared with those obtained from detailed measurement and verification (M&V) processes. The discrepancy is less than 1.565%. Using measurements from the proposed sensor platform, the energy savings for the entire facility are quantified, with a resolution of ±1.2%. The VGS gives an 8.483% daily electricity saving for the building. Thus, the results show that the simple sensor platform proposed by this study is more widely applicable than the four complicated IPMVP alternatives and the VGS is an effective tool in reducing the carbon footprint of a building.

Absorption removal of sulfur dioxide by falling water droplets in the presence of inert solid particles

Abstract An experimental analysis of the absorption removal of sulfur dioxide by the free falling water droplets containing the inert solid particles is presented. The wheat flour powder is introduced as the inert solid particles. Tests with and without the flour powder in the water droplets are examined. The mass fluxes and mass transfer coefficients of SO2 for the cases with and without the flour powder are compared to elucidate the effects of the inert solid particles contained in the water droplets on the gas absorption. The results indicate aignificant difference between the two cases for the concentrations of the flour powder in the absorbent droplets (Cs) within the ranges of the experimental conditions, namely 0.1 to 10 wt% flour powder in the absorbent droplets. In general, the inert solid particles of the flour powder as the impurities in the water droplets tend to decrease the SO2 absorption rate for the experimental absorption system under investigation. Various values of Cs cause various levels of the interfacial resistance and affect the gas absorption rate. The interfacial resistance is recognized by introducing an interfacial mass transfer coefficient ks with its reciprocal being proportional to the magnitude of the interfacial resistance. The values of 1/ks may be computed by the use of the equation 1/ks=(1/KOLs−1/KOL), where KOLs and KOL are the overall liquid-phase mass transfer coefficients with and without the inert solid particles, respectively. The values of ks with Cs of 0.1 to 10 wt% are about 0.295−0.032 cms−1 for absorbing 1000–3000 ppmv SO2 with the water droplets. This kind of information is useful for the SO2 removal and the information of acid rain that the impurities of the inert solid particles contaminate the water droplets.

Interfacial resistance in exothermic gas absorption with chemical reaction

Abstract A film-theory model for exothermic gas absorption with chemical reaction, taking into consideration the effect of surface resistance, is presented. A c

Adsorption Removal of Environmental Hormones of Dimethyl Phthalate Using Novel Magnetic Adsorbent.

Magnetic polyvinyl alcohol adsorbent M-PVAL was employed to remove and concentrate dimethyl phthalate DMP. The M-PVAL was prepared after sequential syntheses of magnetic Fe3O4 (M) and polyvinyl acetate (M-PVAC). The saturated magnetizations of M, M-PVAC, and M-PVAL are 57.2, 26.0, and 43.2 emu g−1 with superparamagnetism, respectively. The average size of M-PVAL by number is 0.75 μm in micro size. Adsorption experiments include three cases: (1) adjustment of initial pH (pH0) of solution to 5, (2) no adjustment of pH0 with value in 6.04–6.64, and (3) adjusted pH0 = 7. The corresponding saturated amounts of adsorption of unimolecular layer of Langmuir isotherm are 4.01, 5.21, and 4.22 mg g−1, respectively. Values of heterogeneity factor of Freundlich isotherm are 2.59, 2.19, and 2.59 which are greater than 1, revealing the favorable adsorption of DMP/M-PVAL system. Values of adsorption activation energy per mole of Dubinin-Radushkevich isotherm are, respectively, of low values of 7.04, 6.48, and 7.19 kJ mol−1, indicating the natural occurring of the adsorption process studied. The tiny size of adsorbent makes the adsorption take place easily while its superparamagnetism is beneficial for the separation and recovery of micro adsorbent from liquid by applying magnetic field after completion of adsorption.

Photodecomposition of dimethyl phthalate in an aqueous solution with UV radiation using novel catalysts

AbstractThis study investigates the photolytic and photocatalytic degradation of dimethyl phthalate (DMP) with novel catalysts including the titanium dioxide–coated magnetic poly(methyl methacrylate) (TiO2/mPMMA) and platinum-doped TiO2/mPMMA microspheres. The experiments under the illumination of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at 185 and 254 nm are conducted to examine the effects of the initial DMP concentration, photocatalyst, and Pt doping on the degradation of DMP and its mineralization efficiency. The photocatalyst and initial DMP concentration are important factors for the degradation of DMP, while the Pt doping has a minor effect. On the other hand, the mineralization efficiency would be significantly accelerated by the presence of photocatalysts and the Pt doping. In addition, it demonstrates the remarkable contribution of UV radiation at 185 nm to the elimination of DMP and intermediates via both direct photolysis and photocatalysis. This study provides useful information about the direct photolytic...

Optimizing treatment of benzoic acid by ozone process with recyclable catalyst of magnetism

This study is to optimize the multi-quality performance of magnetic catalyst/ozone process by combining a technique for order performance by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) with the Taguchi method, which simultaneously has the best decomposition rate constant of benzoic acid and removal rate constant of total organic carbon (TOC). The optimal experimental parameters were pH of 7, initial concentration of 75 ppm and catalyst loading of 0.05 g/L. More than 93% of the magnetic catalyst was easily separated and redispersed for reuse by the magnetic force due to the paramagnetic behaviours of the prepared SiO2/Fe3O4. It is believed that through the joint efforts improvement, design and manufacturing, new separation and recycling technologies will be available and more easily recyclable magnetic catalysts will be developed in the future.

Adsorption of 1,1,1‐trichloroethane Vapor by granular activated carbons

A laboratory investigation on the adsorption of hazardous 1,1,1‐Trichloroethane (TCEA) vapor on the granular activated carbons BPL and PCB, which were made from bituminous coal and coconut shell, respectively, was conducted at 283, 293, 303, and 313 K. The experimental results indicate that the adsorption capacity of carbon PCB is higher than that of carbon BPL. The Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin‐Radushkevich adsorption equations were found to well represent the measured adsorption data. The values of the parameters of the adsorption equations were determined for the two adsorbents. The physical properties (e.g. micropore volume) of the adsorbents are consistent with the parameters obtained from the adsorption results.

Gas absorption with interfacial resistance in the case of temperature‐dependent physical, transport and reaction properties

Abstract This work analyzes the problem of interfacial resistance to heat and mass transfer for a gas absorption system with first order reaction when the solubility, the diffusivity, and the reaction rate constant are dependent upon temperature. A film theory model is applied. Two different types of temperature‐dependent solubility relationships, the linear and the exponential approximations, are employed. The temperature‐dependent diffusivity and reaction rate constant are expressed in exponential form. Three cases of different solute concentrations are compared to study the influence of solubility on the system performance. One of these cases with the exponential temperature‐dependent solubility is further examined for the effects of diffusivity coefficient and of surface resistance on the enhancement factor, the temperature rise, and the solubility. The results indicate that the form of the temperature‐dependent solubility relationship plays an important role in the estimation of the surface temperatu...

Absorption removal of carbon dioxide in the presence of inert solid particles (flour powder)

Abstract An experimental analysis of the absorption removal of carbon dioxide with the presence of inert solid particles on the surface of the absorbent liquid is presented. A batch absorber with quiescent absorbent liquid has been applied to study the absorption removal of carbon dioxide by water in the isothermal system. The flour powder is introduced as the inert solid particles in the carbon dioxide absorption system. Tests with the flour powder in water are examined. The mass fluxes of carbon dioxide for the cases with and without the flour powder are then compared to elucidate the effects of inert solid particles on isothermal gas absorption. The results indicate a significant difference between these two cases for the concentrations of the flour powder in the absorbent liquid (WF) being in the range of experimental conditions, namely 0.001 to 0.03 g flour in 10 ml liquid. In general, the inert solid particles of the flour powder as the impurities in water with WF in the range of this study tend to ...

Interfacial resistance in exothermic gas absorption with an instantaneous irreversible reaction

Abstract Exothermic gas absorption accompanied by an instantaneous irreversible reaction is theoretically studied to take into account the effect of the interfacial resistance. The film theory model has been applied to yield a closed‐form solution of the diffusion/conduction equations. The behavior of the enhancement factor is complex due to the variation of the interfacial temperature with the surface resistance, which then affects the solubility. The analysis could be of particular importance for a rational design of the nonisothermal wet scrubbing systems for the gaseous pollutant removal with the impurities contaminating the gas‐liquid interface.