Anne Zammit visited the annual exhibition of the Faculty of Engineering and found out about several environment-friendly technologies being developed
by postgraduate students.

Engineering solutions for some environmental problems are being developed at the University of Malta, as seen by visitors to an exhibition at the Faculty of Engineering.

For almost every problem under the sun, engineers look for an answer. Much of the work carried out at the university is health and business related.

Between designing implants for rib fractures and bolts for aircraft, undergraduate and postgraduate students are working on projects with wide implications for the environment.   

Year after year, the amount of electricity being consumed in Malta is increasing at a fast rate with a large portion used for air-conditioning. A final year project in the mechanical stream tested the performance of a solar-assisted air-conditioning unit using refrigerant passed through a water tank.

The study revealed the need to keep tank water at a low temperature and find a use for the flowing water. These are both essential if operating a solar AC unit is to be made cost effective.

Research is being conducted to develop an energy storage system for floating energy-generation platforms, such as floating solar panels.Research is being conducted to develop an energy storage system for floating energy-generation platforms, such as floating solar panels.

Engineering in a sustainable and culturally sensitive way has been inspired by a Unesco programme to foster the concept of ‘humanitarian engineering’. The university has twinned with universities in New Zealand, Tanzania and the UK within this framework to look at ways of improving infrastructure for better urban mobility and thermal comfort in churches.

The thermal performance of Stella Maris Church was analysed to optimise the installation of a new heat ventilation and air conditioning system. Cooling set at not less than 23°C combined with fans was then proposed. This would reduce the required capacity and consumption of the new system.  

Renewable energy installations such as offshore wind farms often experience a mismatch between supply and consumer demand. Wind energy can reach a peak in the middle of the night when demand has dropped to its lowest in a 24-hour cycle. Any generated surplus goes to waste unless the energy is stored for later use. Equally, a seasonal dip in energy generated from solar panels situated offshore may coincide with periods of high demand.  

An ongoing project between the university’s Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Institute for Sustainable Energy aims to smooth out the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources through hydro-pneumatic energy storage.

The Malta Council for Science and Technology, through its research and innovation programme, is funding a similar pro­ject to develop an energy storage system for floating platforms that generate energy from renewable sources at sea. Floating solar panels and energy production by wave action are both areas where this application may be put to good use.

A final year project tested the performance of a solar-assisted unit for air conditioning

A final year project in the mechanical stream is aerodynamic modelling of a wind turbine to get the angle of the blades just right, lessening the drag.

Climate change was the motivation behind a dissertation on the Buskett research centre, which has been exploring ways for the wine industry to use solar cooling technology. Simulation software revealed what modifications to the system could be made.

Energy efficiency has become a serious concern for industry due to rising energy costs and associated impacts on the environment. The industrial sector is responsible for nearly a third of total energy consumption worldwide.

A number of final year pro­jects are centred around energy use in industrial processes. Some have been carried out in conjunction with industrial partners operating locally. 

Generation of compressed air for use in the manufacturing industry consumes large amounts of energy. Making systems that produce compressed air more sustainably contributes to a better environment. It was found that simply addressing leaks in the system was enough to reap a 27 per cent reduction in losses.

Another large consumer of energy is plastic injection moulding. A sustainability analysis has come up with some changes to the process that could cut energy consumption to a quarter of what is needed at present.

A dissertation on purifying biogas determines the best technique for the Maltese islands. The challenge is to separate methane, known for its high calorific value, from seven other gases in the landfill gas mix. Removing these impurities helps make biogas more efficient as a fuel.

A new method was researched for cleaning diesel particulate filters with LPG gas rather than by furnace (or by driving a car at elevated speeds for at least 20 minutes). 

In the electrical stream, designs for a cooling fan for a more energy-efficient racing car were drawn up. The improved design would allow a racing car to carry a lighter battery.

Ongoing Masters and Ph.D research projects at the university include investigation of the effects of a large-scale PV system on the grid and a sustainable approach for production of bottled water.

The Faculty of Engineering has kept up its annual exhibition for 28 years. The popular B.Eng (Hons) course delves into a wide range of areas from nano-scale to satellites in orbit.

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