Assessing the impact of indoor plants towards physical indoor office building environment in hot and humid climates

Several studies have shown that plants with a variety of performance categories can improve indoor air quality (IAQ). In addition, it has positive impacts on occupants’ concentration ability, work efficiency, job satisfaction, mental health, stress reduction, and sense of well-being. However, there is few research that have focused on the impact of indoor plants towards physical indoor environment. Therefore, this study performs several experiments to examine the impacts of indoor plants on physical indoor environment in Malaysia. This study further observes the use of five different species of potted plants and its effects on the IAQ concerning the physical parameters of air temperature and relative humidity in a classroom and an office room setting environment. Moreover, this paper explores the function of plants as a natural air purifying agent and temperature regulation, as it helps to cool down the internal temperature of a building while providing areas of the building with an aesthetic element. This study involves the assessment of plant and indoor space benefit studies, as well as the description of plant varieties and characteristics. Finally, the overall findings from several experiments show significant differences in relative humidity and total target volatile organic compound (TVOC) in the room. With intervention, it can be concluded that the inclusion of potted plants in a room have improved all parameters measured compared with that in normal condition. For future works, it is proposed that further study is done on the form of species, including the importance of understanding the need for positioning the potted plants in indoor environments

A Review of Optimization Techniques Application for Building Performance Analysis

Optimization techniques (OT) are tools to find the best solution during a decision making process. Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on their objectives and focus areas. Early application of OT was recorded as early as the 1930s with the introduction of the Monte Carlo Method, which is widely used in business studies. The idea was conceived due to poly-objectives, or multi-objectives, in identifying the best solution. OT theories and methods have evolved to cover various fields of study. This paper aims to provide a brief review of OT through a comparison of the pros and cons of each OT technique. The findings emphasize the suitability of each technique for different applications in various fields of study. Finally, this study aims to select the most suitable OT for building performance for energy optimization. In conclusion, the summary of findings and recommendations from Tables 2, 3, and 4 need to be combined during the process of selecting the most suitable OT. Regardless of the various categories and their multiple applications, it is the summary of characteristics of each optimization technique that determines their suitability for adoption depending on the research objectives, strength of the researcher, and availability of data. ANN is suitable for optimization for building energy performance covering energy use, energy cost and energy prediction which offer a high level of accuracy. However, it is a complex model that requires historical data input and can produce only short-term predictions. For broader optimization objectives which cover energy load, a hybrid of ANN and kNN is recommended. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-04-014 Full Text: PD

A Review of Optimization Techniques Application for Building Performance Analysis

Optimization techniques (OT) are tools to find the best solution during a decision making process. Each of these techniques has its own advantages and disadvantages depending on their objectives and focus areas. Early application of OT was recorded as early as the 1930s with the introduction of the Monte Carlo Method, which is widely used in business studies. The idea was conceived due to poly-objectives, or multi-objectives, in identifying the best solution. OT theories and methods have evolved to cover various fields of study. This paper aims to provide a brief review of OT through a comparison of the pros and cons of each OT technique. The findings emphasize the suitability of each technique for different applications in various fields of study. Finally, this study aims to select the most suitable OT for building performance for energy optimization. In conclusion, the summary of findings and recommendations from Tables 2, 3, and 4 need to be combined during the process of selecting the most suitable OT. Regardless of the various categories and their multiple applications, it is the summary of characteristics of each optimization technique that determines their suitability for adoption depending on the research objectives, strength of the researcher, and availability of data. ANN is suitable for optimization for building energy performance covering energy use, energy cost and energy prediction which offer a high level of accuracy. However, it is a complex model that requires historical data input and can produce only short-term predictions. For broader optimization objectives which cover energy load, a hybrid of ANN and kNN is recommended. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2022-08-04-014 Full Text: PDF</jats:p

Assessing The Impact of Indoor Plants Towards Physical Indoor Office Building Environment in Hot and Humid Climates

Several studies have shown that plants with a variety of performance categories can improve indoor air quality (IAQ). In addition, it has positive impacts on occupants’ concentration ability, work efficiency, job satisfaction, mental health, stress reduction, and sense of well-being. However, there is few research that have focused on the impact of indoor plants towards physical indoor environment. Therefore, this study performs several experiments to examine the impacts of indoor plants on physical indoor environment in Malaysia. This study further observes the use of five different species of potted plants and its effects on the IAQ concerning the physical parameters of air temperature and relative humidity in a classroom and an office room setting environment. Moreover, this paper explores the function of plants as a natural air purifying agent and temperature regulation, as it helps to cool down the internal temperature of a building while providing areas of the building with an aesthetic element. This study involves the assessment of plant and indoor space benefit studies, as well as the description of plant varieties and characteristics. Finally, the overall findings from several experiments show significant differences in relative humidity and total target volatile organic compound (TVOC) in the room. With intervention, it can be concluded that the inclusion of potted plants in a room have improved all parameters measured compared with that in normal condition. For future works, it is proposed that further study is done on the form of species, including the importance of understanding the need for positioning the potted plants in indoor environments.</jats:p

Latent Defects: Approaches in Protecting House Buyers’ Right in Malaysia

The aim of this research is to identify suitable approaches in order to create awareness of the house buyers on how to prevent economic loss due to latent defects. Semi-structured interviews with fifteen respondents had been conducted. Findings showed that there are three suitable approaches namely Collateral Warranty, Latent Defect Insurance and Contract Act (Rights of Third Parties) that can be applied. However, the applications of these approaches are significantly low or none exist in Malaysia. Steps that should be taken include create awareness among house buyers regarding their rights and expose them to the benefits of the recommended approaches

A review: Partial discharge detection using acoustic sensor on high voltage transformer

Abstract Partial discharge (PD) is an electrical discharge which is one of the most critical breakdown factor that is affecting the electrical equipment. The loss of the power will affect consumers and system operation. High voltage (HV) transformer is one of the equipment’s subjected to phenomena PD. In this paper reviews an application of acoustic methods in transformer and piezoelectric sensors application on PD detection in HV transformer. Based on this review, the new design in acoustic sensor is required in order to improve the sensitivity and bandwidth for PD detection at HV transformer. The valuable parameter such as materials, size, and PD frequency range were discussed in this paper and can be used for early stage on designing new acoustic sensor. This detection method given some benefits on preventing the power electrical system from breakdown.</jats:p

Modelling of Piezoelectric Sensor with Different Materials Approach for Partial Discharge Detection on Power Transformer: PZT-5H, ZnO and AlN

Abstract The acoustic emission (AE) technique is one of the unconventional methods of partial discharges (PDs) detection. It plays a most important role in oil-filled power transformers diagnostics because it enables the detection and online monitoring of PDs as well compared to the conventional method for PDs detection which are not suitable for on-site measurement due to electrical disturbance. In this paper, the acoustic based on piezoelectric sensor by different material is modelled in order to be able to obtain PDs signal occurred in power transformers. Modelling of a piezoelectric sensor with different material which is PZT-5H, ZnO, and AlN is approached in order to investigate the performance of resonant frequency, electric potential, and the performance in processing in order to match the range of AE detection. Piezoelectric materials have become very useful in processing devices because of their electrical-mechanical mutuality. Study was performed on frequency target of PDs should be higher and in the range of 10 kHz -300 kHz in order to prevent the power transformer from failure or breakdown and it has been found out by proven from analytical and simulation result by using the Finite Element Method (FEM). Based on this information, acoustic sensor is analyses with different types of cantilever beam and piezoelectric material and different length dimension of the beam in order to analyses the performance between them. Based on the result, the piezoelectric material that be chosen in this project is ZnO due to its high piezoelectric coupling and environmental friendly is used in order to support green technology compared to others material discussed which is harmful even though produced high performance. This detection method gave some improvement in monitoring system PD activities in the transformer’s tank.</jats:p