My Design Report

Dear All friends of mine
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To be or not to be that is the question for me, I really cannot understand how I came back to the school and joined the MSC programme in mechanical engineering. However, to be honest here, I am interested in learning more about integrated engineering design. The report showed below was one of my assignments this semester. Although it is not a good report in my point of view or in engineering point of view, it is honourable to earn and hear some constructive comments from yours or from those who have ever browsed this page.
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Introduction

Pollutant from Urban Transport
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Urban transport is essential to social and economic development. It enables movement of goods to markets and provides mobility to people for economic and personal activities. But motorized transport also imposes soical and economic costs, one of the most important of which found in Hong Kong is the deterioration of urban air quality. Not to mention the possible sources that may have been come from these chemical factories built in mainland china. In the coming decades, the level of motorization is expected to increase rapidly with rising income in developing countries, and so will the relative importance of urban air pollution from road transportation.
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The costs of air pollutant include reduced visibility and damage to vegetation and buildings, but by farits greatest toll is on human health. Nowadays, most of the vehicles in Hong Kong are air-conditioned. Air pollutants may accumulate to high levels in vehicle compartment if there is no adequate ventilation to dilute the pollutants, or when the air-conditioning systems of the vehicles are not properly maintained. -
Date: 11 March 2008 / Time: 18:25hrs / Venue: Cross-Harbour Tunnel (Hong Kong)
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There are six pollutants categorized as chemical pollutants in Hong Kong like Lead, Particulate Matter (PM), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone and Carbon Monoxide (CO). Sources of particulate pollutants usually include combustion processes, motor vehicles, smoking and industrial facilities. The other part of air pollutant is the gaseous pollutants including all kinds of of gases which will produce adverse effects on our health and environment.
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Why should cabin air filter be so beneficial to vehicle occupants?

Without cabin air filters, pollens, soots, dust and gases, plus unpleasant odors, would pass directly into your car. Drivers and passengers would then be inhaling unfiltered pollutants. It's not only traffic-related and industrial fumes that can significantly impair the health and wellbeing of drivers and their passengers, natural irritant gases like ozone also have adverse effects. A well functioning active air filter can remedy this, because it effectively protects against pollutants and enables the driver to breathe freely.

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It is noticeable that concentration levels of pollutants can be six times higher than on the outside. This is due to the air flow and the fumes which the car in front creates in traffic. This is so-called tunnel effect therefore affects car passengers to a considerably higher degree than pedestrians on the pavement.Vehicle exhaust containing CO, NOx, VOCs, and dust particles etc. from polluted roadside infiltrated into the vehicle compartment may make passengers feel unpleasant, or sometimes sick. The situtation may worsen when the vehicles are stuck in the traffic jam, or passing through the vehicle tunnel, with a polluted environment.

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In vehicles without a cabin air filter, the unfiltered pollutants reach values up to 6 times as high as at the edge of the roadside. Since the air inside a car contains up to six times the concentration of airborne particulates compared with the air outside it, a suitable and effective air filter is very important. Cabin air filter can protect the passengers and driver of a vehicle from airborne particulate which was revealed to be one of the causes of heart and lung disease. Studies show that effective cabin air filters can remove almost 100% (most new air filters are 97-99.9% efficient) of airborne particles and can dramatically improve the quality of air entering the passenger compartment.

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How did the outside air pass into your vehicle cabin?
Let's imagine if we were the driver and passengers or one of them in the cabin compartment of the mini car (say the golden one, see Figure 1 above). the air mixed with vehicle exhaust containing unpleasant gases and particulate pollutants like CO2, NOx, VOCs and dust particles that enters the passenger compartment through the air inlet of vehicle. (See Figure 2)
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The air entering the cabin compartment through the outlet underneath the glove box (see Figure 3 and 4)

The air entering the cabin of the car through the HVAC system and another air outlet underneath the glove box (see Figure 5). Without having air filters, such pollutants plus unpleasant odors would pass directly into our car. All of us would then be inhaling unfiltered pollutants, it is therefore necessary to improve in-vehicle air quality problems and protect against those small particles and fine dust therein.
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Why should an effective automative cabin air quality controlling device be important to vehicle occupants?

Air filters are not 100 percent efficient to trapping dirt particles and controlling the gases pollutants. In general, most of new air filters are 97-99.9% efficient but a small amount of dust or dirt can still pass into the passenger compartment. In addition, it's not uncommon, very often, for cabin air filter replacement to be overlooked by the drivers, especially after several hours of operations or a long distance of travel. If neglected, a cabin air filter can impair airflow in the HAVC system, possible causing interior heating and cooling problems.

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Despite a variety of devices and filters are in use in current market, few of them are extremely effective to those pollutants. The major types of disadvantages are as follow:

1. The existing cabin air filters are easily to be blocked with dirt which will decrease the efficiency of operation. Air filters may not be able to deal with very fine particulate matters, which are rather critical to human health.


2. The existing cabin air filters are not effective to remove gaseous pollutants including carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, sulphur dioxide and etc.
   
3. Air quality device in combination with a vehicle in using catalysts such as platinum or palladium with rhodium are disclosed to be comparatively expensive to present market.

Those existing filters can only filter particle around PM10 (Particles smaller than 10 micrometers, known as ihalable particles) that may not be able to deal with fine particles (Particles smaller than 2.5 micrometers, also known as fine particles) and it will be blocked after several kilometers of operation. Furthermore they are not effective in dealing with the gasesous pollutants as mentioned above.

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Design Concept for an Automative Cabin Air Quality Controlling Device

It can be seen from the Figures, a synthetic filter media (it is said to be the 1st layer) and a pleated filter material (it is called the 2nd layer) will effectively provide a better filtration with the cabin compartment. It is my team objective to design a high performance and durable device for purifying the airborne substances and filtering toxic and particulate matters whose sizes are smaller than 2.5 micrometers. According to the 1st layer of filter media, it is desired that the media with complex structure will be made of synthetic filter material; all particulate matters (when their sizes are larger than PM10) will be collected or jammed in the filter tissues. After the first layer, it is a second layer of non-woven material that can arrest the remaining dust particles whose sizes are smaller than 10 or between 10 to 2.5 micrometers.

-The stable shape of a sinusoidal curve (see the structure of 2nd layer) which is mechanically stable shape when the condition under normal stage. Two sensible air flow sensors are separately mounted in front of the air inlet and at the outlet respectively. The air flow rate (Q-in) before entering the first layer of synthetic filter and that (Q-out) after leaving the second layer of pleated filter media will be measured and compared with each other. As the major problem found in the existing filters, they are easily to be blocked with dirt or other large scale of particulate matters; not to mention the filtration, such drawback will cause the effiiciency of the filter material not to achieve a longer period of time.

(Figure 7 and 7a: The above sample pictures just demonstrate what the idea I wanted, it is the general filtering materials used in aquarium)
-This device consists of 2 numbers of sensible air-flow sensors, two groups of synthetic filter materials (see figure 7 and 7a), and 1 layer of pleated non-woven material (see Figure 6 above). In normal condition (see Figure 8a), it is said o be the first-four or first-five hours of driving time. The particular matters and other pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and the like shall be insulated from these filters, except for those particles whose sizes are classified as respirable particulate matters, say PM25, two groups of synthetic filters become double filtration and purification to the inlet air. The air with pollutants passing through the first layer of filter media will be collected and the fine particles that suspended in the air also be arrested by the pleated filter. The collapse of the pleated filter will then catch the very fine particles because the pleat geometry it is artful way to effectively insulate the particulate matters.

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When the residual pressure drop is increased, it means the particulate matters or dust particles choke the filter media. The sensors will send a signal to the air quality controlling device to extend filter media (see figure 7). I expected that such doing, it seems to be workable but needs to test the empirical idea, could work well as near the project aim as possible. As a matter of fact, the feasibility and design concept are actually bounded up in the hands-on experience. I have taken about 80-85 hours to design, to write and to plan this air quality controlling device. Last but not least, I thank to the HONDA web site that was providing a tool for creating a 360 degree views of the car (say the golden one) with me. Honestly, the pictures can enhance the quality of my design report.

Best Regards

Ken Ngan

一年一度媽媽節 (Mother's Day)

glitter-graphics.com

Mother's Day is on May the 11th, it is a special day for everyone!

Almost all people will use this day to honor their mothers and they will prepare well for celebrating Mother's Day, such activities like eating at resturant with many delicious foods. As for me, I wrote a prose poem to my mother and hope she will like it.

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My poem is listed below and will send to my mother as a Mother's Day present.

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一年一度媽媽節(作者:強)

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媽; 強!
媽媽; 亞強.
媽媽強; 生亞強.
媽媽起身; 唔叫亞強.
地上的媽媽; 床上的亞強.
準時歎茶的媽; 遲到返工的強.
我的媽媽是最強; 因她生了我亞強.
我的媽媽自主最強; 飲茶竟然唔叫亞強.
我的媽媽是地上最強; 餵魚鍡龜浸龜佢最強.
我的媽媽應是地上最強; 腰粗腳肥超磅佢最稱強.
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Taking intellectual property into account, the above poem made by KEN NGAN will be applied to be "Ken's Copyright", the terms of a copyright is the author's life plus 70 years.

(Just a joke)
With best wishes,

Ken Ngan

THE EXPRESSION OF EASTER

Good afternoon,

Today is the last day of Easter Holiday, 24 March 2008.

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Easter has provided 4 consecutive days of holiday with the poeple beginning from 21 March 2008; in the first day of Easter, Hong Kong has a couple of thousand churches or religious organisations to celebrate this festival because it's a memoriate day. Recalling a joke that happened in my childhood, I only took stock in the festival because this gave me a long vacation to play with friends, classmates and do what i wanted, also it was pretty important for me not to attend the boring lectures in that moment.

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Yet I remember a rabbit carried a basket of resurrection eggs on the street and sent one to each child. Each egg was coated with a riot of colour. Almost all children called its name as "Resurgent Rabbit". It was extremely possible to change the children mind that Easter Holiday was derived from that funny rabbit. Such misunderstanding to the true expression of Easter may be attributing to the advertisers spread widely to the children via the TV programme, not to mention, especially, the children programme. In fact, the school had told the story relating to Easter and how Easter got its name, but we had not paid special attention to what the teacher was saying.

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Anyway, Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christian liturgical year, it is believed by the Christians to be the resurrection of Jesus, which Christians believe the fact occurred on the third day after jesus crucifixion around AD 33.

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Do you know why Jesus preached the people the word of god at the year of his 30-years-old?

If you know the story, please let me know!

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Ken Ngan

Happy Easter 2008

8 Beatitudes

Dear all friends of mine,

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As far as I could understand, growing up is something natural which falls on you sooner or later,. just as the sunshine after every shower or like bud that slowly blooms into lovely flowers.

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Growing up involves a process of both physiological and psychological changes such as changes in our body as well as moral, emotional and physical maturity. It is really wonderful feeling myself grow, both physically and mentally; to learn and experience so many new and exciting things about life. It is fantastic to learn to love and to accept others.

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As a close friend, I give you the Eight beatitudes as a present and hope you ALL could bear in mind in all time.

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1.Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven;

2.Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted;

3.Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth;

4.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled;

5.Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy;

6.Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see god;

7.Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of god;

8.Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Best Regards

Ken Ngan

WISHING TREES IN LAM TSUEN VALLEY

Dear friends
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Last Saturday, it was a good day, my mother and my nephew (Ka Hai) and I visited to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Trees, it is one of the popular shrines in Hong Kong. The trees are located near the Tin Hau Temple in Lam Tsuen. Several years ago, many tourists and the locals enjoyed very much to frequent the two banyan trees, especially the period in Lunar New Year.

(Tin Hau Temple in Lam Tsuen)
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According to the traditional custom, tourists wrote their wishes on joss paper and tied together to an orange, then threw them up to hange in the wishing trees. It was believed that if the joss paper successfully hung onto one of the tree branches, their wishes will come true. However, this practice was discouraged by the authorities after 12 February 2005, when one of the branches gave way and injured two people. Instead, wooden racks are set up in place for the joss papers to be hung while a period of conservation is imposed to help these trees recover and flourish.

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HK government adopted some protective measures to help these wishing trees recover and flourish

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Wooden racks are set up in place for the joss paper to be hung by tourists, 5 dollars for 1 joss paper (but it does not include orange in it).....
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Lam Tsuen Valley is a valley in the New Territories, Hong Kong. The valley is located west of Tai Po. It is where Lam Tsuen and many other villages are situated. Aside from the trees, another place in Lam Tsuen is highly recomended, it is "Fong Ma Po Public Toilet", the toilet obtained an Excellent Award in Hong Kong.

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This toilet obtained an Excellent award from Hong Kong Government, it is spotlessly clean compared to other public toilets. In additon, some plants and beautiful flowers are placed in the toilet. It is impossible but is true at there, the toilet is aromatic, is not niffy, my nephew was enchanted with the aromatic smell of flowers and attracted by its feature.

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Ken Ngan

4 FACTORS CAN LEAD YOU TO SUCCESS.

Good evening my friends,

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There are four indispensible and fundamental principles that worth discussing with you here, they are "Diligence", "Devotion", "Constancy" and "punctuality". If you wish to attain your success, you have to bear in your mind all the time.

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All things that we undertake can be conquered by diligence. It removes ignorance, overcomes difficulties, and enlightens one's mind. Yet, whenever we are learning or working, we must carry out our duties industriously and actively. Quite a lot of people are diligent in the begining but lazy in the end. So a persistent spirit is needed in order to help you to succeed.

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Devotion means to concentrate our effort in doing things. We must distinguish which thing should be done first than the others; and not to do everything at the same time. Giving priority to the important thing.

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Furthermore, constancy also makes success a certainty. If we study and practise day after day there is nothing which cannot be achieved. A man without a rsolute determination is just like a ship without a compass. Moreover, a strong will be able to encourage an aimless man to perform a wonderful deed of valour. Indeed, from doing noble deeds and having noble thoughts, the happiness derived is immeasurable. As happiness is the real success, it is with us only when we are spiritually happy through labouring. We can say with all seriousness that we are living for the betterment of human life, i.e. for success.

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Besides these, there is another rule which helps one's accomplishments, that is, punctually. The habit of keeping a regular time is significant to successful learning. The working principle of "Work while working and Play while playing" does work very well in my opinion. Every man will become stronger and wiser if he observes these.

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Last but not least, hardly could any success be achieved without labouring. Success of any kind is simply the fruit of the work of the group and to a lesser extent, the effort of the individual.

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With best wishes

Ken Ngan

註: 成功的要素是勤奮,獻身,恆心和守時.

What pleases you best?

Dear friends

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There are twelve months in a year, and there are thirthy-one days in March, the 12th in March is a joyful day because I enjoy this so much. Several decades ago, a man who was born on the day of 12th in March..19XX. After several decades, this sparkish man still thinks the day is worth being celebrated. This sparkish man is me!

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Perhaps you are very busy with your work and have forgotten the day, however I am still pleased to invite you to sing a brithday song with me.

Happy Birthday to me; Happy Birthday to me; Hap~py Birth~day to~~ me;

Hap~~py Birth~~day to~~~~ me.

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This birthday cake was sponsored by my mother
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Good Song! & Good Cake!

Many thanks for the cake -

Yours sincerely,

Ken

Ken Ngan on 12 March

GOOD IS NOT ENOUGH IF WE CAN HAVE A BETTER ONE

Dear friends

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The people saying that "Good is not enough if we can have a better one!", such sentence can encourage a person to work well for everything. In the year of 2005, the month was May, that was the last semester of my BEng programme. I had been studying for 3 successive months without taking any stimulant for the final year project. After toiling for so long, not to mention the size of my waist (36 at that moment but now 33; unit in inch), I did not feel any great diappointment to this project because each of our groupmates had done already the best to complete all. Honestly, the score of our group report was not the TOP one, it was not so-called as "Good" as well (we got B+), but the outcome had given our team a satisfactory reward. I didn't know the score (say B+) whether was not enough at that moment as the final year project was the last station of our journey.No another to be compared.

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But it was undoubtedly right to me because our team acquired the top comment "Very Good" from lecturers, such praise and self-identity like an engine itself to be lubricated . I wanna introduce the meaningful sentences herebelow to all of yours, and hope you ALL could get the satisfactory result and great success in the coming years.

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GOOD IS NOT ENOUGH IF WE CAN HAVE A BETTER ONE!

THE BETTER IS NOT ENOUGH IF WE CAN BE A BEST ONE?

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Let's think of them.

Ken Ngan