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Energy & Sustainability

Radiative cooling

Sub-ambient cooling can be achieved through radiative coolers that selectively emit radiation within the atmospheric window to outer space and suppress absorption/emission of other wavelengths. This study explores the principles and performance behind radiative cooling through both numerical and experimental investigations.

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Wind energy systems

Horizontal axis wind turbines (HAWT) have been steadily increasing in size since they were first considered for large-scale energy production, both in terms of tower height and rotor diameter. Larger blades are necessarily more flexible, and as a result, aeroelastic effects previously not seen in smaller rotors are beginning to surface. This has brought about new needs in terms of modeling requirements and poses new technological challenges, in particular, with respect to an increased need for methods of load alleviation to prolong fatigue life.

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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.

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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.

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Journal Articles

Energy and Sustainability

  • Liu, Y., Wang, L. and Ng, B.F., 2024. A hybrid model-data-driven framework for inverse load identification of interval structures based on physics-informed neural network and improved Kalman filter algorithm. Applied Energy, 359, p.122740. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.122740
  • 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, 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. 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. 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. 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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