Modelling Thermal Stratification in Atrium Using TAS Program and Verification of Prediction Results

This paper reports the TAS computer simulation of the three-storey atrium in Southern China. It was an attempt to correctly model thermal stratification of a large multi-level space within the atrium using TAS program. The prediction results of modelling with blinds and without water spray, particularly indoor air and mean radiant temperatures, and roof blind surface temperature, were compared and verified with the results from the site measurement to evaluate the capability and accuracy of the developed TAS model in simulating atrium’s indoor thermal environmental performance. The simulation results have shown that TAS program tends to overestimate its prediction results. For hot and overcast day simulation, the difference in air temperature over the 24 hours between measured and predicted is in the range of 0.1 K to 1.8 K on the first floor and 0.2 K to 4.3 K on the second floor respectively. Whereas for hot and clear day simulation, the difference is in the range of 0.1 K to 1.5 K on the first floor and 0.1 K to 2.7 K on the second floor respectively. Despite moderate discrepancies between the measured and predicted results, it is evident from the study that the created TAS model is capable to model thermal stratification within multi-level atrium, with reasonably accurate results

Modelling Thermal Environmental Performance In Top-lit Malaysian Atrium Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) programs are powerful design tools that can predict detailed flow movement, temperature distribution, and contaminant dispersion. This paper reports the steady-state 3-D CFD modelling of air movement and temperature distribution due to thermal buoyancy within top-lit three-storey representative Malaysian atrium forms using the computer code PHOENICS. Details of temperature distribution, airflow patterns and other comfort parameters would provide a better picture of the resultant thermal performance within the atrium in response to the changes of design variables. The CFD modelling studies were to investigate quantitatively the effects of varying inlet to outlet opening area ratios and also the outlet’s arrangement on the atrium’s thermal environmental performance in relation to occupants’ thermal comfort. The simulation results have revealed that sufficiently higher inlet to outlet opening area ratio (i.e. n>1) can improve the thermal performance on the occupied levels; while with an equal inlet to outlet opening area ratio (i.e. n=1), changing the outlet’s arrangement (i.e. location and configuration) has not significantly affected the atrium’s thermal performance

The Role of an Aligned Curriculum Design in the Achievement of Learning Outcomes

The importance of learning outcomes (LOs) as a central component of LOs-based curriculum design has been emphasized by many higher education experts and researchers (Biggs, 1999; Adam, 2006; Kennedy et al., 2006; Biggs and Tang, 2007; Warnier et al., 2010). However, the important role played by program and course curriculum design in securing a successful shift from the intended learning outcomes (ILOs) to the achieved learning outcomes (ALOs) or simply (LOs) still requires further attention. This study highlights the tight relationship between learning outcomes and LOs-based curricula and argues that an appropriately aligned curriculum design can facilitate and optimize the successful achievement of the intended learning outcomes. A practical model of the implementation of Biggs’s theory of ‘‘Constructive Alignment’’ (CA) is, also, presented through an application on the course (Theories of Translation) delivered under the code (ENG 371) by the department of English language and translation, Faculty of Arabic Language and Social Studies, Qassim University, KSA. The focus on HE systems in countries which are not part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), like KSA, could contribute to a better mapping and evaluation of the effects of the implementation of Bologna reforms outside Europe. This research mainly outlines, John Biggs’s constructive alignment method, theoretically, and then, puts to practice its operational model through a practical case study of course curriculum design. The main question this research aspires to answer is: “How to implement the constructive alignment method in a course curriculum design to best support the achievement of learning outcomes?

XRD, AFM and UV-Vis optical studies of PbSe thin films produced by chemical bath deposition method.

PbSe thin �films have been deposited on microscope glass substrates by chemical bath deposition technique. The chemical bath consisted of lead nitrate, sodium selenate and triethanolamine solutions. The influence of bath temperature on the properties of PbSe �lms was investigated. The X-ray diff�raction, atomic force microscope and UV/Vis Spectrophotometer were used to obtain the structural characterization, surface morphological and absorbance data, respectively. Based on the X-ray diff�raction results, the thin �films obtained were found to be polycrystalline in nature with cubic structure. The intensity of the (111) peak showed a signifi�cant increased as the bath temperature was increased from 40 to 80C. The �films deposited at 80C indicated that the crystallinity was improved and more PbSe peaks were observed. On the other hand, the grain size, fi�lm thickness and surface roughness were increased while band gap energy decreased as could be observed in atomic force microscope and UV-Vis optical studies, respectively

Development of Wireless Electronic Nose Using NRF24L01 RF Transceiver for Toxic Gases Monitoring

Exposure to toxic gases will affect the well-being of people in the nearby area if it is not carefully monitored. This study proposes a Wireless Electronic Nose (e-nose) System to monitor some toxic gases, temperature and humidity in the environment. The environment is monitored by using four units of wireless e-nose known as node, positioned at pre-determined locations. The node consists of toxic gases sensors as well as temperature and humidity sensor that acquired data from the environment in 30 minutes interval. The acquired data is sent wirelessly to the main node through NRF24L01 Radio Frequency (RF) transceiver. The main node transmits the data to a web of things system via Mobile Communication/General Radio Packet Service (GSM/GPRS) module. The acquired data is analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) and Radial Basis Function (RBF) of the Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Initial result shows that the system is able to monitor the toxic gases in the testing area

Off-line Arabic Character-Based Writer Identification – a Survey

Off-line writer identification requires transferring the text under consideration into an image file. This represents the only available solution to bring the printed materials to the electronic media. However, the transferring process causes the system to lose the temporal information of that text, which it can be gathered in  on-line writer identification. Various techniques have been implemented to achieve high identification rates. These techniques have tackled different aspects of the identification system. Importance of writer identification system is to help mainly in forensic fields, historical document analysis and  handwriting recognition system enhancement. Unfortunately, the Arabic writer identification system not achieves a satisfaction rate yet whereas certain process of features and classification still not recognized

Electronic Nose Calibration Process for Monitoring Atmospheric Hazards in Confined Space Applications

Confined space is an enclosed area with limited space to perform work activity which could contribute towards atmospheric hazards accidents. The atmospheric air sample can be monitored using the integration of electronic nose (e-nose) together with mobile robot. In this work, we reported the calibration of e-nose which consists of three individual Metal Oxides Semi-Conductor (MOS) gas sensors together with oxygen, temperature and humidity sensors for environmental monitoring. The sample gas is using two different gas cylinders. Gas cylinder 1 contains of hydrogen sulphide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO) and methane (CH4) while gas cylinder 2 contains air with zero grades. The analogue to digital converter (ADC) readings from the MOS gas sensors response is converted into parts per million (ppm) and percentage (%) readings. The concentrations of gas in cylinders were validated using commercial gas detector. The difference readings between the MOS gas sensors in e-nose and commercial gas detector to the gas cylinder 1 is calculated as calibrated value. The gas cylinder 2 exposed is to identify the ability of MOS gas sensors to back in baseline level. Results proved the ability of the developed e-nose to be use in environmental gas detections and monitoring

Closed House Chicken Barn Climate Control Using Fuzzy Inference System

The hazardous gases in chicken barn such as Ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) are the health threats to the farm animals and workers which influenced by climate changes. The chicken barn requires real-time control to maintain the barn climate and monitor hazardous gases. The outdated on-off and proportional control are not so efficient in energy saving and productivity. The solution to monitor environment of the chicken barn is using wireless electronic nose (e-nose) and Short Messaging System (SMS). The e-nose system is used for the barn’s temperature and humidity data acquisition. The chicken barn climate control is utilizing fuzzy interface system. MATLAB software was used for the model which is developed based on Mamdani fuzzy interface system. The membership functions of fuzzy were generated, as well as the simulation and analysis of the climate control system. Results show that the performance of the fuzzy method can improve the system to control the barn’s climate. This system also provides real-time alerts to farmers based on specific limit value for the climate. It makes it easier for farmers to follow up on-site or remotely control the environmental conditions in the barn by using the SMS system

Automatic Irrigation Monitoring System Using Android Based Application

The irrigation system is a method that ensures that all plants get enough water for growth. However, due to the climate exchange, especially in dry season, the soil tends to lose its moisture. Although the Automatic irrigation system has been applied in the agriculture sector, water consumption and energy cannot be controlled through this system due to the system operated under time delay. Usually, farmers only can switch on or off the system manually depends on the weather. Therefore, this paper introduced the automatic irrigation system using android based application wireless communication. The system has a distributed wireless network of soil-moisture, humidity and temperature sensors. As the technology is growing and changing rapidly, Long Range (LoRa) communication helps to upgrade the technology where automation is playing an important role in human life. Using this system, the monitoring and controlling irrigation can be done via Android application and web server from any location