Environment & Sustainability | Aero & Energy Sciences Research Group

Airborne particulate matter conditioning

Environmental pollution from forest burning and industrial activities have severely elevated the levels of fine particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air that is detrimental to health. Here, we investigate methods to controls the levels of PM by manipulating their size distribution through acoustics with experimental and numerical studies. Through pre-conditioning of the PM, efficiency of particle capture by filtration membranes can be elevated.

Highlight publications

Investigation of CFD-PBM simulations based on fixed pivot method: Influence of the moment closure, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020.
A CFD-sectional algorithm for population balance equation coupled with multi-dimensional flow dynamics, Powder Technology, 2020.
Application of acoustic agglomeration to enhance air filtration efficiency in air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems, PloS one, 2017.

Emissions from manufacturing processes

With the advent of 3D printing, there is increasing risks of ultrafine particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) exposure as a result of emissions through the printing process. Efforts are currently underway to quantify, characterise and control emissions across a wide spectrum of 3D printing technologies. These include on-site. chamber and flow tunnel measurements as well as fundamental understanding of thermal decomposition of printing materials.

Highlight publications

Particle Emission Levels in the User Operating Environment of Powder, Ink and Filament-based 3D Printers, Rapid Prototyping Journal, 2021.
Dynamic Analysis of Particle Emissions from FDM 3D Printers through a Comparative Study of Chamber and Flow Tunnel Measurements, Environmental Science and Technology, 2020.
The characteristics and formation mechanisms of emissions from thermal decomposition of 3D printer polymer filaments, Science of the Total Environment, 2019.