ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document.

Nanyang Technological University Library

MP4D06
NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2007-2008
MP4D06 - Clean Technology and the Environment

April/May 2008

Time Allowed: 2 hours

INSTRUCTIONS
1. This paper contains FOUR (4) questions and comprises THREE (3) pages including an
Appendix.
2. Answer ALL FOUR (4) questions.
3. All questions carry equal marks.

1 (a)

ISO 14000 basically helps organisations assess their environmental standing through
the Environmental Management System (EMS). What are the two key components of
the EMS? Briefly elaborate on them.
(5 marks)

(b)

Write down the SEVEN (7) actionable strategies for waste minimisation. Briefly
discuss EITHER Design for minimal consumption OR Minimise impact of disposal.
(10 marks)

(c)

Life-cycle Assessment (LCA) evaluates the environmental impact of a product from its
design to ultimate disposal.
(i)

What are the FOUR (4) primary phases of any LCA?

(4 marks)

(ii)

The three primary inventories are air emission, liquid effluents and solid waste.
Write down the main air emissions associated with energy generation.
(3 marks)

(iii) What are the FOUR (4) main impact categories?

(3 marks)

ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

MP4D06
2 (a)

Explain, with the aid of graphs, the physics on the mechanism for global warming
phenomenon.
(8 marks)

(b)

Show that the efficiency of a gravity settler using the mixed flow model is given by
VL
= 1 exp t
HVavg

where Vt is the particle terminal settling velocity due to gravity, L and H are the length
and the height of the gravity settler, respectively, and Vavg is the average gas velocity
in the gravity settler.
(7 marks)

(c)

Using the expression for efficiency for the gravity settler given in part 2(b), derive
the efficiency for the centrifugal separator. State any assumptions.
A cyclone separator has a tangential inlet of width 150 mm and height 300 mm. The
tangential gas velocity around the circumference of the cylindrical body of the
separator is 20 m/s. The particle density is 1750 kg/m3 and the gas dynamic viscosity
is 1.8 10-5 Ns/m2. Assuming that the gas makes five turns around the cyclone
before it leaves the collecting area near the wall, calculate the collection efficiency for
5 m diameter particles.
(10 marks)

3 (a)

Describe an ultrapure water sub-system with the help of a diagram and explain the
functions and the operational principles of all the hardware involved in the ultrapure
water sub-system.
(10 marks)

(b)

Describe, with the aid of diagrams, the sources of HC (hydrocarbons) emission from a
spark ignition engine. How is the emission eliminated from the exhaust of a modern
automotive spark ignition engine?
(7 marks)

(c)

Explain why ethanol is considered to be a renewable engine fuel and in what ways it
affects the performance of an automotive spark ignition engine.
(8 marks)

4.

A chimney of effective height 100 metres emits soot at the rate of 10 kg/hr. The
acceptable level of the said pollutant on ground level is 10 g/m3 and the wind
velocity, in the direction to a populated area, from the chimney, is 3 m/s. Calculate
the safe distances, in the downwind direction, from the chimney under different
atmospheric stability conditions. Explain why under a particular atmospheric stability
condition, the safe distance is the longest. You may use the equations, table and chart
provided.
(25 marks)

ATTENTION: The Singapore Copyright Act applies to the use of this document. Nanyang Technological University Library

MP4D06
Appendix
Equations:
Point Source on Ground Level
C ( x, y , z ) =

1 y 2 z 2
exp 2 + 2

u y z
2 y z
Q

Point Source at Elevation H above Ground Level (no reflection)

1 y 2 ( z H )2
Q
C ( x, y , z ) =
exp 2 +

2 u y z
z2
2 y

Point Source at Elevation H above Ground Level (with reflection)

Q
C ( x, y , z ) =
2 u y z

( z H )2
( z + H )2

y 2
+ exp

exp 2 exp
2
2
2 z

2 z

2 y

Line Source at Elevation H above Ground Level (with reflection)

Q
C ( x, z ) =
2 u z

( z H )2
( z + H )2
+ exp

exp
2
2
2 z

2 z

Table 1: Approximate Values of y and z as a Function of

Downwind Distance For Various Stability Classes In Metres
Distance
(km)
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.7
1.0
2.0
4.0
7.0
10.0
20.0

Stability Classes and y Values

A
B
C
D
E
27
19
13
8
6
50
36
23
15
11
94
67
44
29
21
155
112
74
48
36
215
155
105
68
51
390
295
200
130
96
550
370
245
180
880
610
400
300
1190 840
550
420
2150 1540 1000 760

F
4
8
14
24
34
64
120
200
275
500

End of Paper

Stability Classes and z Values

A
B
C
D
E
14
11
7
5
4
29
20
14
8
6
72
40
26
15
11
215
73
43
24
17
455
110
61
32
21
1950
230 115
50
34
500 220
77
49
780 360 109
66
1350 510 135
79
2900 950 205
110

F
2
4
7
11
14
22
31
39
46
60