Wireless monitoring for combined-cycle solar energy self-sustaining membrane distillation (MD) and membrane distillation bioreactor (MDBR) water production and recycling system

• Main Author: Oon, You Yi.
• Other Authors: Loh Poh Chiang, Andrew
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Control and instrumentation::Control engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/17164
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Global warming and climate changes had always been an impacting issue. It had caught the attention of the world to response and act upon solving it. More engineers and researchers around the globe were aware of the issues and already putting these thoughts into consideration when creating new product for their market. As for Nanyang Technological University, these issues were not forgotten and had always being put into consideration. To elevate the awareness of the need for being environmental friendly, a number professors Electrical and Electronic Engineering had participated the Competitive Research Program (CRP) in the search for new green solutions. One of the CRP project the professors came out with was the designing of “zeroenergy” green water production and recycling system using Membrane Distillation (MD) and Membrane Distillation Bioreactor (MDBR). The student was then involved in this CRP project as part of his Final Year Project which will be included in this final year report. This report covers the research and prototyping of wireless monitoring solutions incorporating into the whole prototype system. In this research, the student had come out with few methods for different types of communication needs. Methods that consist of internet, Global Service for Mobile communication (GSM) and Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) communication were put into the main considerations. He had also done research on the three methods and proceeded with WPAN as part of his first implementation. The primary focus of monitoring the system is by temperature, humidity and light. The student had started off and worked on the first prototype, which was running on one of the WPAN communication methodology by using ZigBee made by JENNIC. ZigBee is a specification for small-in-size and low-powered wireless device for IEEE 802.15.4-2006 standards for the Wireless Personal Area Network (WPANs). The complete ZigBee kit the student had purchased from was Jennic. Reason for choosing ZigBee was also concluded in this report. Student had place ZigBee in comparison with other various communication methods. The methods include Bluetooth and GSM. Student also concluded in this report that he had decided to start off with the on with the most benefits of the rest, the ZigBee. For it is cheap, low-powered and easily fitted onto any part of the system, it has been chosen as the first choice among the rest. Being the pioneer to kick start by using this wireless communication device as a prototype, the student will then have to research on ZigBee device made by JENNIC. This report also concludes his progress for JENNIC implementation for his final year project. The student had also produce a prototype that able to fulfill few of the requirements suggested in the scope of the project. At the same time, the student did some research on GSM communication to provide a back-up solution for the system for monitoring.