Proposal

ABSTRACTAir is a basic need in our lives. But as we as humans, move towards globalization, have neglected the importance of preserving the quality of air for our use. Air pollution is increasing day by day. Air pollution is commonly referred to as the introduction of particulates, biological molecules, or other harmful materials into the Earths atmosphere, possibly causing disease, death to humans, damage to other living organisms such as food crops, or the natural or humans or even built environment. (What is Air Pollution, n.d). Steps to contain air pollution is being taken around the world. Through investigation, we have found out that one of the people that are most exposed to air pollution are people working at the toll booths on the highway. Therefore, a new method is being introduced here which is to filter the air that will be going into the toll booth for the inhalation of the toll booth workers. With this method, it is believed that the toll booth workers will have much purified air that will improve their health tremendously.1.0 BACKGROUND STUDYAir pollution involves pollutants in the form of gaseous or particulate matter contaminating the air that we breathe in. It has become an international concern as pollutants generated in one country can be deposited to another. Air pollution comes from various resources, mainly industrial smoke stacks and motor vehicles. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency or EPA (2013), particulate matter from diesel- burning truck or car exhaust has negative effect on the air quality and health of human being.1.1 Air PollutantFirst of all, air pollutants can be classified into few categories. There are primary pollutants and secondary pollutants. Primary pollutants consist of sulfur oxides, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon that are emitted to the atmosphere whereas secondary pollutants are from chemicals that are formed in the atmosphere through photochemical reaction, hydrolysis or oxidation process. Aside from that, there are particulate pollutants. Particulate include dust, fumes, smokes, fly ash, mist, and spray (Harrison, 2005). Air quality can be measured using the Air Quality Index or AQI that calculates the five major contaminants in air which are ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter below 10 micrometer diameter (PM10). In our project, we are trying to cater the problem with particulate pollutants that contaminating the air. Various sources can produce particulate pollutants. Fine particulate which ranges from 2.5 micrometer and smaller is usually produced by industrial processes, power plant and vehicle tailpipe, while coarse particulate that ranges between 2.5 and 10 micrometer is produced by crushing and grinding operations, road dust and agricultural operations (EPA, 2013). Particulate matter is the cause of several health problems like reducing lung function by penetrating into the lungs, asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes. This type of pollutant is also highly hazardous when exposed to children. According to the AQI, when the index measures AQI between 101 and 150, the air is starting to be polluted by the particulate matters and the sensitive groups will first to be affected. The sensitive groups include people with asthma or prone to lungs related disease or heart disease. The early symptoms that can be seen affecting the sensitive groups are coughing and shortness of breath. As the AQI increases higher than index 150, the air that is polluted by the particulate matter will affect everyone and worse to the sensitive groups (Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution, 2013). 1.2 Air Filtration MethodsBased on the design idea that we have come up to counter the problem with the particulate pollutants, we decided to install the air purifiers at a toll booth. The air purifier consists of two types of air filtrations. The air filtrations that we are using are the activated carbon filtration and the High Efficiency Particulate Air filtration or commonly known as HEPA filter. HEPA filters work by filtering 99.97% of 0.3 micrometer particles and larger impurities. In dusty surrounding such as the bus surroundings, it is likely for the HEPA filters to have high efficiency in removing all the impurities and particulate matters without having to clean or replacing it often. The advantage of using HEPA filters is that it does not generate ozone or harmful byproducts. However, the HEPA filter is not able to remove chemicals fumes and smoke cigarette due to their diameters are smaller than 0.3 micrometer. Hence, activated carbon filter is recommended to be included with the HEPA filter to improve its drawbacks. Activated carbon filter functions to adsorb volatile chemicals due to the small absorbent pores designed for the filter that react chemically as pollutants go through the filter. The activated carbon filter works best by capturing chemicals fumes, gases and cigarette smoke. However, the filter cannot remove larger particles. Activated carbon must reach equilibrium in order for the adsorption process to occur therefore it is not easy to remove the contaminants completely. Activated carbon is a process of changing the contaminants from gaseous to solid phase. This process helps to remove the contaminants when there is aggravated or disturbed contaminants regenerated inside of a vehicle (Different Types of Air Filters, 2013). 1.3 Air CurtainAn air curtain or commonly known as air door is a device that functions to prevent air contaminants moving from one space to another. The most common use is a downward- facing blower fan usually installed over the entrance of a building or the openings of two space conditioned at different temperatures. Air curtain consists mainly a fan and nozzle system that can generate a jet of high velocity air that reaches the floor of the opening, providing an air shield. The air curtain pulls in air and pass through the fan and nozzle system, creating a wall of air. The fan adds in kinetic energy which provides resistance against unwanted air or dust particles. Aside from that, the kinetic energy from the discharged air contributes in resisting penetration of outside air causing by the wind or insect invasion (Design and Application Guide : Air Curtain, 2014). For this project, we are trying to separate two different space with different type of environment; one is with clean air while one is otherwise. We want to filter the air that goes into the toll booth so that the personnel that works in the booth will be provided with clean air. However, given the fact that the personnel will be exposed to outside air due to the frequency of the personnel dealing with customer outside the booth will make the objective of this project difficult to achieve. The vehicle that driven by the customer will start to exhaust smoke and dust once the vehicle accelerates after stopping to pay for the toll (Toll Collectors, 2013). Therefore, the air curtain is installed to repel the undesirable contaminants from mixing with the clean air that will be filtered into the toll booth. The air curtain is mounted on the clean side of the space as to ensure the contaminants are not circulated through the unit. It is also to prevent from blowing the contaminants to the clean side (Air Curtain Guide, n.d.).In order to achieve our objective in saving the environment, we have chosen to install the air filtration system at toll booth considering of several reasons. One of the reason mainly is because the person that works in the toll booth is at risk of exposing him/herself to air pollutants that may harm his/her health. This is due to the amount of vehicles that stop by the booth to pay for the toll, the vehicles will emit combusted gases once it accelerates. These gases consist of particulate matters (Toll Collectors, 2013). We decided to use air curtain as an alternative to prevent the contaminant from the environment to be circulating with the clean air that will be filtered into the booth.2.0 PROBLEM STATEMENTThe problem of air pollution seems to be getting more and more concerning these days, with the advancement of transportations resulting in the increase of contamination of the air due to their harmful emissions (Pollution Issues, n.d). Emission from most vehicles are major contributors to the current air pollution issue because they release dangerous gases to the atmosphere such as carbon monoxide, sulfur oxide, and nitrogen oxides which are harmful to human health. According to Amir Sapkota, PhD, lead author of the study and a post-doctoral fellow in the Bloomberg School of Public Healths Department of Environmental Health Sciences, toll booth facilities represent one of the potentially worst case situation for exposure to pollution from vehicle emission. Toll plazas play an important role in managing the highway operation. In most of the countries such as Malaysia, manual toll collection is still widely used even though electronic toll collection is being implemented. At the toll plazas, vehicles decelerate, stop to pay the bill and accelerate away from the toll booth. These are the moments when the engines are operating in their most inefficient state. Lots of emission are released into the air. The situation becomes worse when the traffic is heavy (He et al., 2011). The group of people that are mostly seriously affected by this is toll booth operators. They spend their day being confined in a booth, potentially exposed to high levels of vehicle toxic pollutants due to the closeness to the source and intensity of the source. As the result, they face substantial health hazards and have high possibility of developing lung cancer and other chronic respiratory illnesses (Toll Collectors, 2013). Result had shown that the toll booth operators have higher rate of incidence of upper respiratory tract diseases than those of other people because of the poor air quality caused by toxic pollutant from vehicle emission (Huang et al., 2006). However, little effort has been done to provide protection to these workers from air pollution. Therefore, filtration system is needed to be implemented in toll booth to reduce air pollution for the health concern of the workers.3.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES The purpose of this project is to reduce air pollution and maintain clean air in the toll booth to protect the health of the toll collector. Objectives that we wish to achieve by doing this project are:a. To reduce concentration of particulate matter in the toll booth.b. To maintain a cleaner environment inside the toll booth.c. To ensure that the air filtration system works well and efficient and can release clean air.d. To further enhance our skill base in dealing with environmental problem with engineering approach.e. To create a fast in effect, convenient and easy to install product so that it could be commercialized and widely used in incompletely enclosed small building such as residential guardhouse and parking lot toll booth.

4.0 DESIGN APPROACH/METHODOLOGY 4.1 Procedures Based on our problem statement of our topics, Save the Environment, we decide to focus on reduction of air pollution at toll booth. The cause of air pollution, source of air pollution, and health effect to toll booth operator are identified (Toll Collectors, 2013). After researching and brainstorming, we come up with an idea, toll booth air purification system. This system is meant to filter and purify the air and maintain clean air inside the toll booth. Figure 1 shows the design of prototype.

Figure 1: Design of prototype

Vehicles especially emit a lot of exhaust gas that contains nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and particulate matter (PM) when the vehicles stop to make payment at the booth (Toll Collectors, 2013). The air outside the toll booth is highly polluted with exhaust gas. Moreover, the breathing air for the operator inside the toll booths is supplied directly from the external environment outside the toll booth. To reduce pollutant level in the air in the toll booth, filtration system will be installed to filter the internal air, leaving clean air with low concentration of particulate matter flowing inside the toll booth. An exhaust vent will be installed near the ground inside the toll booth to absorb air inside the toll booth. Fan is installed to suck the air into the duct. The air will then flow up the duct with help of fan and enter the filtration system. The filtration system will contain two layers which can reduce concentration of particulate matter (PM) in the air. Activated carbon filter and High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter were chosen as the purification system. Activated carbon filter can remove odour, smoke and harmful gases and can reduce concentration of carbon dioxide. HEPA filter is used to reduce particular matter, dust and contaminant with size larger than 0.3 microns (Different Types of Air Filters, 2013). After being filtered through HEPA filter and activated carbon filter, cleaner air will then be released into the toll booth through the outlet. Air curtain mechanism will be installed at the window of the toll booth. The air curtain will form a wind screen, which control transfer of dust and particulate matter from car exhaust through the toll booth through window (Air Curtain Guide, n.d.). This mechanism will isolate the toll booth inside space from outdoor space, maintaining clean environment inside the tool booth. Figure 2 shows the flow of air inside the filtration system.

Exhaust vent

Air inside toll booth

OutletFiltration system

Figure 2: Air flow in the filtration system

4.2 Plan and Schematic Flow Process of the Project Select a topicDefine the problemSTART

Brainstorm for ideas and analyse feasibility of the idea

Select an idea and name the idea

NOConsult supervisorand get approval

YES

Complete project proposal

Design Prototype

Design specification

Prototype fabrication

Improve the fabrication prototypeNOQuality of prototypeGood?

TestingYES

Is the prototype function well?

Complete progress report YESTroubleshoot the prototype NO

YES

Presentation and Exhibition

Final report

END

4.3 Hardware/Tools and Software4.3.1 List of HardwareNo.NameDescriptionCost (RM)

1.Activated Carbon FilterTo remove odours, chemical fumes, gases and cigarette smoke50

2.HEPA filterTo remove dust and contaminant that are larger than 0.3 micron90

3.FanTo suck in the air15

4. BatteryTo power up the fan30

5.Plastic To build the air duct-

6.Aluminium barTo build the frame of the toll booth-

7.Connection wiresTo connect electronic parts-

8. MotorTo rotate the fan blade40

4.3.2 List of ToolsNo.NameDescription

1.Multi MeterTo measure the voltage of the system and for troubleshooting purpose

2. Soldering toolTo make wire connection

3. Hand tools, cutting tools and other mechanical toolsUsed to build prototype model, such as saw, measuring tape, knife and etc

4.3.3 List of SoftwareNo.NameDescription

1.AutoCADUsed for 3D modelling.

2. Microsoft ExcelUsed to tabulate and analyse data

3. Microsoft WordUsed for documentation and report preparation

5.0 PROJECT MANAGEMENT5.1 Organization Chart

5.2 Job ScopeGroup MembersDescriptions

Eileen Wong Wee Chin (ME)

1. Planning and managing details of the weekly tasks2. Monitoring the task given.3. In charge in direct communication with supervisor4. Responsible in conducting test and experiment on prototype.

Arevind Chelvan A/L Malaichelvan (CHE)1. Giving assistance to the project manager.2. Documentation.3. Recording of all group activities.4. Providing support in Chemical Engineering related field and beyond.

Nur Shahira Bt. Samsudin (CV)1. Managing the project accounts and settlement of the project claim.2. Make the budget and made sure the prototype is within the budget.3. Applying the knowledge of Civil Engineering on the prototype. 4. Ensuring the team does not miss any requirement of the project.

Luqman Bin Md Saad (CHE)1. Prototype designing and construction.2. Researching on the effect of movement to the connection of the prototype.3. Performing stress and strength analysis4. Providing logistics for the project.

Muhamad Iman Elhasan Firdaus Munasir Putra (PE)

1. Prototype designing and construction.2. Providing logistics for the project.3. Recording data and any errors in experiment.4. Executing additional research on advantages and disadvantages of materials and project.

GANTT CHART

Week1234567891011121314

Seminar 1 (ETP Briefing)24/9

Group Organization & Brainstorming

Research on topic

Consult Supervisor

Seminar II1/10

Data Collection for Proposal

Literature Review

Draft Proposal Submission

Finalize Proposal

Project Proposal Submission10/10

Lab Safety Briefing15/10

Work on Progress Report

Design Solution

Cost Analysis

Fabrication of Prototype

Purchase Required Tool & Material

Construction of The Prototype

Progress Report Due5/11

Seminar IV12/11

Submission of Form 0312/11

Prototype Testing

Poster Designing

Consult Supervisor

Final Check On The Prototype26/11

Poster & Product Demo( Pre- SEDEX)3/12

SEDEX10-11/12

Submission Peer Evaluation Form17/12

Submission of Claim Form & Receipts17/12

Submission of Final Report24/12

5.3 Gantt Chart6.0 APPENDIX6.1 Reference[1] What is Air Pollution? 11 October 2014, from http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/causes-effects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php[2] Research in Action, 2014, 10 October 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/heasd/research/air_pollution.html[3] Harrison, R. M., 2005, Sources of air pollution, 10 October 2014, from http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/78638/E90038.pdf[4] Air Quality Guide for Particle Pollution, 2013, 10 October 2014, from http://www.epa.gov/airnow/air-quality-guide_pm_2013.pdf[5] Different Types of Air Filters, 2013, 10 October 2014, from http://www.freedrinkingwater.com/general-health/air/diff-types-of-air-filters.php[6] Design and Application Guide : Air Curtain , 2014, 10 October 2014, from http://www.marleymep.com [7] Toll Collectors, 2013, 11 October 2014, from http://www.asbestos.com/occupations/toll-collectors.php[8] Air Curtain Guide, 11 October 2014 from http://www.feta.co.uk/uploaded_images/files/HEVAC/hevac-air-curtain-guide.pdf[9] Pollution Issues, 11 October 2014, from http://www.pollutionissues.com/Na-Ph/Petroleum.html[10] He, J., Qi, Z.G., Hang, W., King, M. and Zhuo, C.H., 2011, Numerical evaluation of pollutant dispersion at a toll plaza based on system dynamics and Computational Fluid Dynamics models, Transportation Research Part C Emerging Technologies 19(3): 510-520[11] Huang, Z.N., Pan, J.C., Wu, Y.J. and Huang, C.Y., 2006, Investigation on health effect of indoor air pollution in the toll-gates, Occupational Health and Emergency Rescue 24: 43-441