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Energy & Sustainability

Radiative cooling

  • Our study addresses global warming and the rising demand for thermal regulation by developing passive cooling solutions through radiative cooling.
  • The coatings we develop can achieve a sustained 2°C below surrounding air temperatures under direct solar exposure in the harsh conditions of the tropical climate.
  • This is achieved by combining high emissivity in the atmospheric window (little absorption by the atmosphere) and high reflectivity in the solar spectrum to reduce surface temperatures.

Airborne particulate matter conditioning

  • In industrial plants, high-efficiency particle removal systems oſten increase energy requirements. To address this, we propose using acoustic agglomeration to pre-condition particulate matter before filtration.
  • Sound waves are used to induce movements and collisions among fine suspended airborne particles, forming larger agglomerates that can be removed more easily. 
  • This approach has broad implications, from treating industrial exhaust like flue gas (pollution control) to enhancing building ventilation systems, resulting in significant cost savings. Additionally, the improved filtration and removal of fine particulate matter can enhance air quality, offering a low-carbon solution.

Energy harvesting

  • Hydrofoil based tidal arrays have emerged as a promising solution for large-scale power generation due to their high efficiency, cost effectiveness, and minimal interferences to the marine environment.
  • In order to further maximize their power production and economic viability, an efficient tandem-hydrofoil based closely-interconnected tidal array is proposed, where the fore and hindfoils are closely spaced and interconnected to achieve constructive foil-foil interactions for energy capture.

Journal Articles

Energy and Sustainability

  • Zhang, X., Liu, J., Wu, H. and Ng, B.F., Impact of pleating on the filtration performance of fibrous air filters. Process Safety and Environmental Protection. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2024.08.110
  • Zhang, X., Liu, P., Liu, G., Lim, S.H., Wan, M.P., Lisak, G. and Ng, B.F., An efficient strategy to enhance air filtration through the synergistic effects of ultrasonics and seed particles. Separation and Purification Technology, 353. Part C, p.128600. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2024.128600
  • Donthu, E.K.K., Long, Y. P., Wan, M. P., Zhou, M., and Ng, B. F., 2024. Dynamics of cool surface performance on urban microclimate: A full-scale experimental study in Singapore. Sustainable Cities and Society, 102, p.105218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2024.105218
  • Liu, P., Zhang, X., Liu, G., Lim, S. H.. Wan, M. P., Lisak, G. and Ng, B. F., 2024. Ultrasonic aerosol agglomeration: Manipulation of particle deposition and its impact on air filter pressure drop. Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, 103, p.106774. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultsonch.2024.106774
  • Fei, J., Han, D., Zhang, X., Li, K., Lavielle, N., Zhou, K., Wang, X., Tan, J.Y., Zhong, J., Wan, M.P. and Nefzaoui, E., Bourouina, T., Li, S., Ng, B. F., Cai, L., Li, H., 2023. Ultrahigh Passive Cooling Power in Hydrogel with Rationally Designed Optofluidic Properties. Nano Letters, 24(2), p. 623-631 . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03694
  • Han, D., Fei, J., Wan, M. P., Li, H. and Ng, B.F., 2023. Investigation of recycled materials for radiative cooling under tropical climate. Nanophotonics, 13(5), pp.593-599. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/nanoph-2023-0593
  • Jing, P., He, G., Chen, B., Zhang, C., Ng, B. F., 2023. Effects of roll motion on linear and nonlinear gap resonances in a moonpool excited by various incident-wave heights. Physics of Fluids, 35 (10), pp. 107120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0171638
  • Arikrishnan, S., Roberts, A.C., Lau, W.S., Wan, M. P., Ng, B.F., 2023. Experimental study on the impact of indoor air quality on creativity by Serious Brick Play method. Scientific Reports, 13, p.15488. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42355-z
  • Wang, G. and Ng, B.F., 2023. Energy harvesting performance of a tandem-hydrofoil based closely-interconnected tidal array. Energy Conversion and Management, 280, p.116796. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2023.116796
  • Gong, L., Zhu, H., Huan, C., Bao, Y., Zhou, D., Han, Z. and Ng, B.F., 2022. Energy harnessing of multiple semi-active flapping ellipses in V-shape formation. Physics of Fluids, 34(12), p.123608. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0127682
  • Han, D., Fei, J., Li, H. and Ng, B.F., 2022. The criteria to achieving sub-ambient radiative cooling and its limits in tropical daytime. Building and Environment, 221, p.109281. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109281
  • Fei, J., Han, D., Ge, J., Wang, X., Koh, S.W., Gao, S., Sun, Z., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F., Cai, L. and Li, H., 2022. Switchable surface coating for bifunctional passive radiative cooling and solar heating. Advanced Functional Materials, 32(27), p.2203582. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202203582
  • Han, D., Fei, J., Mandal, J., Liu, Z., Li, H., Raman, A.P. and Ng, B.F., 2022. Sub-ambient radiative cooling under tropical climate using highly reflective polymeric coating. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 240, p.111723. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2022.111723
  • Ding, S., Lee, J.S., Mohamed, M.A. and Ng, B.F., 2022. Infection risk of SARS-CoV-2 in a dining setting: deposited droplets and aerosols. Building and Environment, 213, p.108888. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.108888
  • Ma, X.Y.D., Zeng, Z., Wang, Z., Xu, L., Zhang, Y., Ang, J.M., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F. and Lu, X., 2022. Robust microhoneycomb-like nanofibrous aerogels derived from cellulose and lignin as highly efficient, low-resistant and anti-clogging air filters. Journal of Membrane Science, 642, p.119977. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2021.119977
  • Ding, S., Teo, Z.W., Wan, M.P. and Ng, B.F., 2021. Aerosols from speaking can linger in the air for up to nine hours. Building and Environment, 205, p.108239. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108239
  • Wang, G., Ng, B.F., Teo, Z.W., Lua, K.B. and Bao, Y., 2021. Performance augmentation mechanism of tandem flapping foils with stroke time-asymmetry. Aerospace Science and Technology, 117, p.106939. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ast.2021.106939
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F., Dubey, S., Henze, G.P., Chen, W. and Baskaran, K., 2021. Model predictive control for integrated control of air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation, lighting and shading systems. Applied Energy, 297, p.117112. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117112
  • Ding, S. and Ng, B.F., 2021. Particle emission levels in the user operating environment of powder, ink and filament-based 3D printers. Rapid Prototyping Journal, 27(6), pp.1124-1132. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/RPJ-02-2020-0039
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Chen, W., Ng, B.F. and Dubey, S., 2021. Experiment study of machine-learning-based approximate model predictive control for energy-efficient building control. Applied Energy, 288, p.116648. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116648
  • Ding, S., Wan, M.P. and Ng, B.F., 2020. Dynamic analysis of particle emissions from FDM 3D printers through a comparative study of chamber and flow tunnel measurements. Environmental Science & Technology, 54(22), pp.14568-14577. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c05309
  • Shang, X., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F. and Ding, S., 2020. A CFD-sectional algorithm for population balance equation coupled with multi-dimensional flow dynamics. Powder Technology, 362, pp.111-125. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2019.11.084
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Chen, W., Ng, B.F. and Dubey, S., 2020. Model predictive control with adaptive machine-learning-based model for building energy efficiency and comfort optimization. Applied Energy, 271, p.115147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.115147
  • Zhou, M., Long, Y., Zhang, X., Donthu, E.V., Ng, B.F. and Wan, M.P., 2020. Sensitivity study of weather research and forecasting physical schemes and evaluation of cool coating effects in singapore by weather research and forecasting coupled with urban canopy model simulations. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 125(13), p.e2019JD031191. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031191
  • Shang, X., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P. and Ding, S., 2020. Investigation of CFD-PBM simulations based on fixed pivot method: Influence of the moment closure. Chemical Engineering Journal, 382, p.122882. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2019.122882
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F., Dubey, S., Henze, G.P., Chen, W. and Baskaran, K., 2020. Experimental study of model predictive control for an air-conditioning system with dedicated outdoor air system. Applied Energy, 257, p.113920. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.113920
  • Xiong, J.W., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F. and You, S., 2020. Quantification of viable bioaerosol emanation from an ACMV system and its impact on indoor bioaerosol pollution. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 20(4), pp.762-775. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2019.05.0253
  • Han, D., Ng, B.F. and Wan, M.P., 2020. Preliminary study of passive radiative cooling under Singapore’s tropical climate. Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 206, p.110270. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2019.110270
  • Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., Ma, X.Y.D., Ang, J., Zeng, Z., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P., Wong, S.C. and Lu, X., 2020. Polymer/MOF-derived multilayer fibrous membranes for moisture-wicking and efficient capturing both fine and ultrafine airborne particles. Separation and Purification Technology, 235, p.116183. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2019.116183
  • Ding, S., Ng, B.F., Shang, X., Liu, H., Lu, X. and Wan, M.P., 2019. The characteristics and formation mechanisms of emissions from thermal decomposition of 3D printer polymer filaments. Science of the Total Environment, 692, pp.984-994. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.257
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F., Dubey, S., Henze, G.P., Rai, S.K. and Baskaran, K., 2019. Experimental study of a model predictive control system for active chilled beam (ACB) air-conditioning system. Energy and Buildings, 203, p.109451. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109451
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Chen, W., Ng, B.F. and Zhai, D., 2019. An adaptive robust model predictive control for indoor climate optimization and uncertainties handling in buildings. Building and Environment, 163, p.106326. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2019.106326
  • Ma, X.Y.D., Ang, J.M., Zhang, Y., Zeng, Z., Zhao, C., Chen, F., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P., Wong, S.C., Li, Z., He, C. and Lu, X., 2019. Highly porous polymer nanofibrous aerogels cross-linked via spontaneous inter-fiber stereocomplexation and their potential for capturing ultrafine airborne particles. Polymer, 179, p.121649. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymer.2019.121649
  • Zeng, Z., Ma, X.Y.D., Zhang, Y., Wang, Z., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P. and Lu, X., 2019. Robust lignin-based aerogel filters: High-efficiency capture of ultrafine airborne particulates and the mechanism. ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, 7(7), pp.6959-6968. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.8b06567
  • Zhang, Y., Zeng, Z., Ma, X.Y.D., Zhao, C., Ang, J.M., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P., Wong, S.C., Wang, Z. and Lu, X., 2019. Mussel-inspired approach to cross-linked functional 3D nanofibrous aerogels for energy-efficient filtration of ultrafine airborne particles. Applied Surface Science, 479, pp.700-708. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apsusc.2019.02.173
  • Shang, X., Ng, B.F., Wan, M.P., Xiong, J. and Arikrishnan, S., 2018. Numerical investigation of spatially nonhomogeneous acoustic agglomeration using sectional algorithm. Aerosol Science and Technology, 52(8), pp.872-885. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02786826.2018.1475723
  • Yang, S., Wan, M.P., Ng, B.F., Zhang, T., Babu, S., Zhang, Z., Chen, W. and Dubey, S., 2018. A state-space thermal model incorporating humidity and thermal comfort for model predictive control in buildings. Energy and Buildings, 170, pp.25-39. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.03.082
  • Ng, B.F., Xiong, J.W. and Wan, M.P., 2017. Application of acoustic agglomeration to enhance air filtration efficiency in air-conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) systems. Plos one, 12(6), p.e0178851. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0178851

 

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