Control system for air flow distribution

• Main Author: Ng, Yong Hong.
• Other Authors: Lee Peng Hin
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering::Control and instrumentation::Control engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/40883
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In the project, a system consisting of servo motors, temperature sensors and demonstration board will be developed and used to measure room temperature and adjust the surface area of inlet duct in the rooms to obtain an even distribution of air flow into every room. The relationship between the rate of change of temperature in the room and surface area of the inlet duct will be studied. At present, many industries are finding ways to save energy as a means to reduce operation costs. In many work environments, many systems such as host servers in companies are running twenty-four hours, seven days a week. In order to cool down the temperature and prevent the system from overheating, the most suitable method will be to use cold air. In order to obtain a cooler environment, the cold air generator uses a large amount of electrical power. With such high level of power drawn, electricity costs will increase greatly. Uneven distribution of air flow will result in inefficiency and a waste of resources. The project will study how to evenly distribute and maintain the temperature in five rooms (placed in a row) of different distances from the cold air generator with the lowest energy consumption and yet achieving the best efficiency. The studies done in the project will help in energy conservation as well as maintaining a constant temperature and airflow distribution throughout the rooms. At the end of the project, the rooms will be able to receive an equal amount of air flow distribution faster and more effectively. The rooms can then maintain at the desired temperature with lower power consumption. Challenge in the project is to take into consideration the different distance of each room from the cold air generator. The strength and volume of air flow to each room gets weaker as the distance increased. The system will carry out comparisons based on the temperature readings received from the rooms and control the servo motors to achieve an even distribution of air flow. A prototype will be built to simulate the rooms and the system. Servo motors, temperature sensors and demonstration board will be installed onto the prototype.