Design development of lightweight disc brake for regenerative braking finite element analysis

The automotive industry has for many years identified weight reduction as a way of improving product competitiveness and thus the ability to make profits. One area that has been examined for weight reduction is vehicle with regenerative braking system (RBS). The greatest advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is their ability to recover significant amounts of braking energy using a RBS. Regenerative braking is an effective method to extend brake disc life, minimise disc rotor weight, minimise brake pad wear and to extend the working range of an EV or HEV. Regenerative braking would extend the working range of an EV or HEV provided that any extra energy consumption e.g. from increased vehicle mass and system losses did not outweigh the saving from energy recuperation, also reduce duty levels on the brakes themselves, giving advantages including extended brake rotor and friction material life, but more importantly reduced brake mass, minimise brake pad wear. The objective of this research is to define thermal performance on lightweight disc brake models. Thermal performance was a key factor which was studied using the 3D model in Finite Element Analysis simulations. Ultimately a design method for lightweight brakes suitable for use on any car-sized hybrid vehicle was used from previous analysis. The design requirement, including reducing the thickness, would affect the temperature distribution and increase stress at the critical area. Based on the relationship obtained between rotor weight, thickness, undercut effect and offset between hat and friction ring, criteria have been established for designing lightweight brake discs in a vehicle with regenerative braking

Design development of lightweight disc brake for regenerative braking finite element analysis

The automotive industry has for many years identified weight reduction as a way of improving product competitiveness and thus the ability to make profits. One area that has been examined for weight reduction is vehicle with regenerative braking system (RBS). The greatest advantages of electric vehicles (EVs), and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) is their ability to recover significant amounts of braking energy using a RBS. Regenerative braking is an effective method to extend brake disc life, minimise disc rotor weight, minimise brake pad wear and to extend the working range of an EV or HEV. Regenerative braking would extend the working range of an EV or HEV provided that any extra energy consumption e.g. from increased vehicle mass and system losses did not outweigh the saving from energy recuperation, also reduce duty levels on the brakes themselves, giving advantages including extended brake rotor and friction material life, but more importantly reduced brake mass, minimise brake pad wear. The objective of this research is to define thermal performance on lightweight disc brake models. Thermal performance was a key factor which was studied using the 3D model in Finite Element Analysis simulations. Ultimately a design method for lightweight brakes suitable for use on any car-sized hybrid vehicle was used from previous analysis. The design requirement, including reducing the thickness, would affect the temperature distribution and increase stress at the critical area. Based on the relationship obtained between rotor weight, thickness, undercut effect and offset between hat and friction ring, criteria have been established for designing lightweight brake discs in a vehicle with regenerative braking

High potential of magnet on the performance of dual piezoelectric fans in electronics cooling system

Recently, piezoelectric fan has gained attention as potential active cooling method for electronics devices. Even though the piezoelectric requires high voltage, there are findings to overcome the shortcomings. Adding on a magnet at the tip of the piezoelectric fan to activate other magnetic passive fans is one of the methods to increase the total amplitude generated by the fans. This paper will discuss on the performance of integrated piezoelectric fan with passive fans (later refer to magnetic fans) to enhance the heat transfer in cooling system. A repulsive force produced by the magnets will cause the magnetic blades to oscillate together with the piezoelectric fan. The paper will focus on the optimization parameters of the magnets for selected dimension of piezoelectric fan. The parameters under investigation are the position of the magnet on the piezoelectric fan, number of magnets on each blades and orientation of blades with respect to adjacent blade. Results show that the magnet at middle location of extensive blade with double magnets generate the largest amplitude, 80% better than fan without magnet and for dual integrated piezoelectric fan with magnetic fan, radial orientation gives better result by 25%. By increasing the total amplitude using magnetic force, power consumption can be reduced while the heat transfer performance can be enhanced. it shows a good agreement for positive heat transfer and thermal resistance improvement compared to natural convection

Thermal Analysis of Radial Piezoelectric-Magnetic Fan (RPMF) for Electronics Cooling

Application of piezoelectric fan in electronic cooling system has been proven that it is more efficient than natural convection with least power consumption and has high potential to replace existing rotary fan for its simplicity and longer life. An integration of piezoelectric fan with magnet is to widen the cooling coverage area with similar power consumption and cost of running a single piezoelectric fan. By optimizing the repulsive magnetic force generated in between the magnets, the overall fans oscillate with significant average amplitude. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the performance of multiple piezoelectric-magnetic fan and its significance in reducing temperature while enhance the heat transfer. The parameters under investigation are the distance between magnets and fans orientation. In this study four magnetic fans were activated by a piezoelectric fan.  It is found that at distance between magnets is 14 millimeters; the average amplitude is largest at highest resonant frequency. The multiple fans is better to be arranged in radial orientation for its ability to produce larger repulsive magnetic force to oscillate the adjacent fans. The distribution of repulsive magnetic force in radial orientation is five times better than array orientation. Therefore, radial piezoelectric-magnetic fan (RPMF) produces larger average amplitude of fans which is 111%. 30% of power consumption per unit coverage area is secured. RPMF generates average wind velocity of 0.4m/s compared to array orientation 0.17m/s

Present knowledge and future direction for risk management in offshore oil and gas project

Oil and gas offshore projects generally characterized as very high risk. The activities are well known exposed to a high level of risk that can't be ignored, but it still can be able to manage. In the past two decades since the 1980s, there are many studies in various aspects of managing risk in oil and gas projects have been conducted. The studies conducted includes risk identification, risk assessment, risk response and risk monitoring, and control. Although the number of studies conducted has been increasingly focused on risk management in offshore oil and gas projects, there are still limited number of published studies that summarise the literature. Hence, this paper aims to examine the present published studies on managing risk in oil and gas projects from a holistic outlook which may be used as a future guideline. To fulfil this paper aims, a systematic literature review was carried out by giving the areas focused on areas fields in oil and gas projects, studied approaches used by others researchers, by showing the pattern in research through the previous years. These paper also discussed the research gap found which might be used for future prospective studies

Factors affecting Hvac system maintenance-Abu Dhabi-Uae

While HVAC maintenance is primarily a technical service, it is provided by people who work for other people, and is performed for people who own or occupy a building. A maintenance measure is only effective if technicians have the tools, skills and training to implement it properly. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems consume the largest portion of energy used in a building. Many building faults that occur during a project life cycle hugely contribute to energy loss, including: operational faults from improper installation, poor testing and commissioning, poor integration with building management systems, equipment degradation, sensor offset failures and control logic problems. They can be grouped into several categories, including: (1) control fault, (2) sensor offset, (3) equipment performance degradation, (4) fouling fault, (5) stuck fault, and others. The present study identified seven factors affected HVAC Maintenance performance that increased the energy consumption. These factors are: building design, temperature and humidity sensors, condition of HVAC Units, rules and regulations, engagement with stakeholders and allocation of budgets. Questionnaires were distributed to 150 participants: designers, facility managers and maintenance experts working in companies in Abu Dhabi. Exploratory data analysis using descriptive statistics was used to measure which of the above factors are more important and have significant effects on HVAC maintenance performance and increased the energy consumption. The results showed that the most important factors affecting HVAC system maintenance are: the HVAC system, the building design, and the engagement with stakeholders, in that order

Humanizing the Localizing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Education and Research at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)

Preliminary actions taken by the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) towards the value-added from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework that may relevant in the current indicators, elements, values and impacts, and the also constructive analysis by different sectors at High Educational Institutions (HEIs). Typically, the instrumentation on performances of each element (or indicator) in research and education portfolios are majorly defined as Key Performance Index (KPI) and/or Key Achievement/Amal Index (KAIs). All of instrumentations suitable at the vertical strategic plan to disseminate the workload across stakeholders in the HEIs. A strategic plan by each university will represent the core values and relevancy of niche area in academic and research sectors. However, UTM already is identifying the most critical element, far beyond the KPI/KAI successful story which focusses under the Pelan Global Universiti (PGU I-III) to outstanding values of inclusiveness, synergy and visibility with the important Desired State 2020. The UTM core values will serve Integrity, Synergy, Excellent and Sustainability (ISES) in all operation/services throughout trustworthy engagement with stakeholders. Meantime, the action plan for enVision 2025 institualized the pragmatic roadmaps align with the SDGs at the global benchmark, in order to horizontally manage the great grassroots improvement and further develop unique vision to UTM; named as UTMDNA. This paper describes the proactive strategic plan by UTM management to advocate the next roadmap altogether with high impact sustainable education and research works. Most of the concurrent achievement, action-plan and long-term Industrial Revolution 4.0 (IR 4.0) is emphasized in the life-balance strategy framework. The second wave (2020 - 2030) of SDGs in UTM is among the most recent thoughts towards the sustainability requirements specially to serve the UN SDG and enVision 2025 (UTM). Therefore, Malaysian higher education institutions should take proactive steps in culturing SDG initiatives – guided but not bounded by the specific measures set-out in the UN Conferenc

SOIL TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR GROWING OF HIGH-VALUE TEMPERATE CROPS ON TROPICAL LOWLAND

Low soil temperature (14℃–20℃) favours growing of high-value temperate crops that are known to have higher return per hectare of land than other widely cultivated crops, thereby presenting increased income to farmer. However, due to high soil cooling load, growing these crops on tropical lowland area is a challenge except through greenhouse farming or on few cool higher altitudes with resemblance of temperate climate. Greenhouse farming involves cooling the entire volume of planting zone and is energy intensive, while few cool highlands are not sufficient to achieve food security in this direction. This study aims at application of chilled water for direct cooling of soil, to create favorable soil conditions for optimal performance of planted temperate crops. However, soil cooling using vapour compression refrigeration system may not be economically viable. Solar thermal chilled water production system is presented in this study to supply the cooling. The system consists of absorption refrigeration system and dimensioned size of soil bed with chilled water pipe network. The study includes modeling of soil cooling load to determine the refrigeration power required to overcome such load. The modeled system matched well with the experiment; having standard deviation of 1.75 and percentage error of 12.24%. Parametric analysis of the soil cooling showed that temperatures of cooled soil were significantly affected by chilled water flow rates. The regression equation developed from the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) is suitable for predicting cooled soil temperature. The cooling process is technically feasible, with potential for greenhouse gas emission reduction

Police competency in contributing to the successful implementation of an emergency response plan in football stadiums

This study is intended to focus on the aspects of police competency in implementing Emergency Response Plan in National Stadium Bukit Jalil consequence to the current rising trend of spectator’s violence. This new emerging trend has also given birth to “Ultras Malaya” which is known for their fanaticism and have often cross the boundary of safety and security. The methodology adopted is through the distribution of a set of questionnaire to 150 respondents in Cheras Police District. Questionnaire were divided into four broad categories. Except for demography, knowledge, skills and attitude were measured by using Likert Scale. Knowledge was mainly to gauge the understanding of the personnel on emergency, emergency preparedness and emergency response plan. Skills was to gauge the proficiency to undertake tasks related to emergency response in football stadiums. Attitude was to highlight the perception of the personnel towards training and drill needs, the review of the emergency response plan and the capabilities and the interoperability amongst authorities. Data was analyzed by the descriptive mode such as frequency, mean and percentage. Findings revealed a performance gap whereby majority of officers deployed at national Stadium lacked the necessary experience and exposure to handle such volatile crowd and in a closed area. Hence the understanding that RMP should be the key player in stadium safety should be revisited. The study concluded by recommending a changing face in football policing through increasing the absence of uniformed police, Stadium Management to be responsible for the safety of spectators and appointment of stewards to fill the void created by police withdrawal

Renewable energy harness to uplift the prosperity of Royal Belum Forest

Renewable energy resources exist over wide geographical areas and its technologies are also suited to rural and remote areas where energy is often crucial in human development. As of this preliminary study, a source of renewable energy is in focus to bring benefits to the stake holders of Royal Belum Forest; hydropower. In order to sustain the prosperity of Royal Belum Forest, micro-generation method will be introduced. Micro-generation is defined as a small-scale generation of electric power by individuals or small communities to meet their own needs, as alternatives or supplements to traditional centralized grid-connected power. As one of micro-generation methods, micro-hydro power has been chosen as its importance for its environmental conscious approach that aspire zero or low-carbon footprints. Micro-hydro power can make a large amount of energy out of a small water flow with minimal impact on the environment. Based on obtained preliminary data, an on-grid configuration micro-hydro power electric systems would be able to generate a reliable of electricity supply. Kampung Sungai Tiang has been chosen as it has the suitable rivers to facilitate this study. The presence of a high ground (514 meters above sea level) within Kampung Sungai Tiang vicinity creates a necessity for an observation tower. In addition to wildlife observation and forest fire prevention, this tower can be further exploited by the government or private companies for scientific and commercial activities. The construction and utilization of this tower would encourage the implementation of best practices in order to minimize impact on the environment