MEB2063: ENGINEERING TEAM PROJECT

(EXTENDED PROPOSAL)

PROJECT: ECO AIR CONDITIONER

(EAC)
NAME STUDENT ID PROGRAMME

Izlan Arif Bin Shahrin 18002489 Civil Engineering

Jonathan Khoo Lee Min 18002569 Chemical Engineering

Nur Batrisyia Aina binti 18002286 Chemical Engineering

Muhammad Nazri
Prenessha Maniarasu 18002715 Mechanical Engineering

Wei Jian Wong 18002351 Mechanical Engineering

BY GROUP 52

Approved for submission:

(signature)

Supervisor:
Dr M Mubarak B A Wahab
Date:

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Content Page

Chapter 1: Introduction 3-5

 1.1 Project Background
 1.2 Problem Statement
 1.3 Project Objectives

Chapter 2: Design Thinking

 2.1 Literature Review 6-19
 2.2 Survey Results

Chapter 3: Designing
 3.1 Alternative design concept & Justification 20-26

Chapter 4: Project Management Planning

 4.1 Organization Chart
 4.2 Task Listing and Distribution 27-32
 4.3 Gantt Chart
 4.4 Feasibility of Plan

Chapter 5: Methodology
 5.1 Project flow
 5.2 Identification of Suitable Tools or Software 33-38
 5.3 Justification of Fabrication Choices

Chapter 6: Economical/Business Consideration

 6.1 Capital Cost Consideration
 6.2 Operational Cost Consideration 39-41
 6.3 Alternatives in Materials

Chapter 7: Conclusion 42-43

Chapter 8: References 44-46

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 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Project Background

Air conditioners have become a very crucial piece of technology in homes with the

function of cooling down a room especially in the year-round hot weather of Malaysia. With

climate change becoming a bigger and bigger issue every day, it is important for us to take

the consideration to come up with more eco-friendly innovations to the technologies we use

daily. Being aware of the environment has always been important, now more than ever.

According to Abeydeera et. Al. (2019), the average annual CO 2 emission scales up to 43

billion tonnes annually. Air conditioners are one of the many pieces of technology that

contribute to this huge number. The everyday average air conditioner emits as much as 1

tonne of CO2 a year per unit (Al-Wakerd, 2017). Coming up with innovations that benefit us

and the planet is one of the many steps we can take towards the goal of sustainability and

ultimately, reverse the effects of climate change and global warming. Therefore, our project

is in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 9 (Industry Innovation

and Infrastructure) and 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production). Therefore, we have

come up with an innovation to these problems with the Eco Air Cond.

1.2 Problem Statement

Air conditioners are widely used in a country such as Malaysia and this can result in

an unnecessary consumption of electricity which has the added side effect of damaging the

environment. According to Al- Wakerd et al. (2017), a single air conditioner with a power of

2 kWh produces 1 tonne of CO2 annually. Moreover, conventional air conditioners that are

widely used nowadays can rack up electricity costs especially when used for long periods of

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time. For example, a conventional 1HP air conditioner in Malaysia costs 50 cents an hour

(“TNB Tariffs & Pricing”, 2021). Though that might not seem like much, once the number of

air conditioners and usage time is considered, the cost starts to pile up. With this project, we

intend to directly address the problem of wasted electricity which directly affects the

environment by increasing CO2 emissions and contributing to climate change and global

warming. Therefore, it is important that we take the first step towards this goal one way or

another and we have come to the decision to innovate the Eco Air Cond (EAC) which will

address these problems.

1.3 Project Objectives

 To innovate an Eco Air Cond that is more environment- friendly compared to other

conventional air conditioner models within the intended price range.

- Our project aims to innovate an air conditioner that saves electricity by using a

temperature sensor to alter the intake of air based on the outdoor and indoor

temperature. This will reduce the carbon footprint consumers leave behind leading

to lower emissions of CO2 in the atmosphere. It also has an aromatherapy feature

which makes it different compared to other air conditioners. Therefore, our Eco

Air Cond differentiates itself from other models of air conditioner within the same

price range with eco-friendly features.

 Drastically reduce the electricity consumption of an air conditioner by altering the

intake of air based on the temperature difference of indoor and outdoor air

respectively

- The potential for wasted electricity is a problem with air conditioning units

nowadays. People do not realise that annually, air conditioners can cost as much

as RM 1000 to operate per unit. We intend to provide an innovation that cuts the

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 cost, consuming less electricity and being affordable. Our innovation project aims

to create an Eco Air Cond that lowers electricity usage which can save money in

the long term and reduce carbon footprint from the reduced electricity usage.

 Raise awareness among the public regarding the environment by introducing a new

and inexpensive air conditioner marketed as being eco-friendly.

- A single person cannot change a problem on a global scale such as climate change

However, collectively as the human population, we can make these small changes

stack up. Therefore, by marketing this product as an environmentally safe option

for air conditioning, we expose the public to sustainable pieces of technology

while being able to educate them about being more aware of climate change and

global warming. Since it is relatively affordable, the customers will be able to kill

two birds with one stone by saving money and the environment. One way to

determine the awareness of the public is by conducting future surveys and

interviews.

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 CHAPTER 2: DESIGN THINKING

2.1 Literature Review / Seeking for inspiration

Air conditioning (AC) systems are among the most power-consuming appliances

and appliances used in homes and buildings (Elmoudi et al., 2011). The adoption of air

conditioning increases the use of electricity as it requires a lot of energy to work properly. It

is currently estimated that the world consumes about one trillion kilowatt hours (kWh) of

electricity annually for air conditioner (Kownacki et al., 2017). According to the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency, it is reported that the energy consumed air conditioners

(ACs) and the lighting system is almost the same as that consumed by information

technology (IT) equipment.

In Malaysia where the weather is hot throughout the year, residents are overly

dependent on-air conditioner to cool down themselves and their property. Research shows

that air conditioner is the biggest contributor to electrical consumption, which record an

average electricity consumption of 1167kWh. The high yearly energy consumption of air

conditioner is due to the high electric capacity, which is 518W on average and the long usage

time which is around 6 hours daily (Kubota et al., 2011). Although the use of natural gas

cooking appliances accounts for 45% of the overall energy consumption for Malaysians,

electric power cooling appliances is the second with 29% of overall energy used. This results

in 1.4 times greater energy consumption for air conditioner users compared to non-air

conditioner users (Kubota et al., 2011).

Brager (2015) stated that the use of air conditioning is resource and energy intensive,

thus, it can therefore have a negative impact on climate change and the environment in

general. Air conditioner also contributes to the urban heat island (UHI) effect and directly

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affects outdoor thermal comfort on streets through heat emission. According to the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC 2014), climate change creates higher

outdoor heat exposure levels, leading to an increased demand for air conditioning in the

tropical and subtropical regions. This produces a negative feedback loop related to energy use

and to the urban heat island (UHI) effect. The increment in the usage of air conditioner

consumes a lot of electricity and thus emits pollution that causes global warming. This is

because when fossil fuels are burned, carbon dioxide is also released into the air, commonly

known as a greenhouse gas, which is the main cause of ozone layer depletion and global

warming.

Thus, research proves that the current air conditioning system affects the climate

change which leads to more consumption of energy and increases the green house and the

cycle repeats. This also concludes that the current air conditioning system is not

environmentally friendly enough to overcome the climate related issues. Hence, if air

conditioner can be made more efficient, it will be one of the most effective means to reduce

energy consumption not only for the owner, but also for Malaysia as a whole. Reason for this

is that Malaysia primarily relies on thermal power plant to generate electricity, which

comprises of energy sources such as natural gas, coal, and fuel oil. For the context, natural

gas has become the main energy supplier for Malaysia since year 2000 (M. S. N. Samsudin,

M. M. Rahman, 2016). With the population of Malaysia expanding rapidly, the demand for

electrical appliances increases, hence the need to produce more electricity increases. This

inspired us to come up with our innovation, the eco air conditioner that benefits both the

consumer and the environment.

Our product is driven by the spirit of SDG12, which we aim to reduce the carbon

footprint due to human activity. An increase in efficiency of the air conditioner will results in

an overall major saving of electricity for Malaysia. According to Kubota et al. (2011), the

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ownership of air conditioner in Malaysia skyrocketed from 0.8% to 16.2% in just 30 years. In

accordance with the increase of human population and continuous upward trend of global

warming, the percentage of air conditioner ownership is expected to increase for the coming

decade. The cause of this situation is because people are used to the comfort that air

conditioner provides (Xia et al., 2019). This is a vicious cycle as more air conditioners in the

market results in worse climate changes and thus increase the need of air conditioner to stay

cool. Hence, through improving on the current air conditioner technology, it directly helps to

reduce the load of electricity generation, therefore reducing the pollution resulted from the

operation of such electricity power plant. As a result, our product is expected to be popular

due to its eco friendliness since many people are more environment conscious nowadays such

as Greta Thunberg and Jamie Margolin who are both environment activist. Besides, our

product also has other factors that are deeply linked with the emotions of our that target

customers (Jan Jacobs, 1999). As Malaysians are positive towards product that is affordable

and has high value to price ratio, our invention will be marketable as it brings saving in terms

of electricity bill for consumers in the long run.

The first selling point is the integration of a smart exhaust fan to our product, the eco

air conditioner. A normal exhaust fan is design to rotate in one direction only as its only job

is to exhaust the air inside the building out to the surrounding. Meanwhile, the fan of our

smart exhaust can rotate in clockwise and anticlockwise direction. As the fan blade is

designed with a certain sweep angle, rotation of fan blade will result in the blade pushing the

air in its surrounding, which results in the sucking effect for an exhaust fan (Figure 1) (Wang

et al., 2020). When the rotation of fan blade is reversed, the blade will still push the air in its

surrounding, but in the opposite direction (Figure 2) (Wang et al., 2020). Instead of sucking

the air inside the building and exhaust it outside, reversing the direction of rotation will

results in sucking of air from outdoor and bring the air inside the building (Wang et al.,

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2020). In a conventional air conditioner, indoor air will circulate through the evaporative coil

in the air conditioner indoor unit, which cools down the air. In our product, when the air

conditioner is turned on, the indoor and outdoor temperature sensor will monitor their

respective surrounding temperature. A thermocouple temperature sensor works by calculating

the voltage drop across the sensor, due to the change of resistance across the sensor as the

heat is applied (Figure 3). The higher the temperature, the higher the resistance of the sensor

and hence the higher the voltage drop measured. If the outdoor temperature is detected to be

lower than the indoor temperature, the exhaust fan will be activated to take in cool air from

outdoor and feed them through the evaporator coil to cool them down instead of circulating

the hot air in the building. This process repeats until the indoor air temperature is as low as

outdoor temperature. Consequently, exhaust fan will stop, and indoor air will be circulated

through the evaporator coil to further reduce the temperature of the air. The reasoning behind

this is the application of the formula: energy required to cool down the air to a certain

temperature is the mass of air that need to be cooled, multiply by the energy required to

reduce 1kg of air for 1°C multiply by the difference in temperature between current air

temperature and the final temperature (Kluitenberg, 2018). Hence, by reducing the current air

temperature, we successfully reduce the difference in temperature, resulting in lower energy

consumption. As a result, the operating period of the compressor, which is the most energy

hungry component in air conditioner, is less compared to conventional air con when

performing the similar task. This results in less energy consumption, which benefits the

consumer in terms of electricity bill, and the environment. According to Aqilah et al. (2021),

Malaysian uses air conditioner the most from night starting 7pm to morning 2am regardless

to the income group. Hence, the smart exhaust system is feasible for Malaysian as the

outdoor temperature are cool during night and early morning, which it can help the user

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draws in cooler air from outdoor, therefore reducing the stress on the air con. Besides, the

exhaust fan can operate as a normal exhaust when the air con is not operating.

Figure 1: Sucking effect of fan. Figure 2: Blowing effect of fan.

(Wang et al., 2020) (Wang et al., 2020)

Figure 3: Thermocouple sensor working principle.

The second innovation of our product is about the management of condensate water at

the indoor unit. In the indoor unit, as evaporative coil is cooler than the surrounding, water

condensation will occur. Hence, conventional air conditioner consists of water collection

system and drain the water to outdoor via pipe. Condensate water is low in temperature as

they are formed at the evaporative coil where temperature is lower compared to the

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surrounding. Our eco air con harness these water and channel them to the outdoor unit via

insulated pipe. In the outdoor unit, water is dripped to a membrane, that is porous so air can

flow through the membrane. Conventional air conditional will have a fan in the outdoor unit

to direct air flow through the condenser coil, therefore cooling the condenser coil. However,

in Malaysia where temperature sometimes can be as high as 33.5°C (Tan et al., 2021), the air

conditional system must do more work to remove same amount of heat from the condenser

coil. During a hot day, temperature of outdoor surrounding is high. This effect the cooling

effectiveness of the condenser coil as the temperature difference between the surrounding air

and the coil is less compared to the temperature difference during a cold day. According to

Newton’s Law of cooling (Halpin, 2018), effectiveness of cooling is affected by temperature

difference, more specifically, the higher the temperature difference between the subject and

the surrounding, more heat will be removed per second. This is because the existence of

temperature gradient, which encourage heat to transfer from hot region to colder region. Our

design which harnesses the cold condensate water and pass them through the porous

membrane, act as a heat exchanger. When warm outdoor surrounding air passed through the

membrane, air temperature reduces as the water in the membrane absorbs the heat energy

from the air and evaporates. As water has a very high specific heat capacity and thermal

capacity, it can absorb a lot of heat energy from the air that pass through the water coated

membrane. Then, the lower temperature air will pass through the condenser coil and more

effectively cool the condenser coil. According to Song et al. (2003), the use of water as

evaporative cooling is very feasible and effective. Since the water is a byproduct collected

from the evaporator coil, directed down to the outdoor unit via gravity, no power is required

to operate the evaporative system. Hence, the network will be 100% the work done by the

system. Besides offering the benefit of increase efficiency, it also reduces the work required

to be done by the compressor, hence reduce the stress on the compressor. This system will be

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able to prolong the longevity of the air con, which is a factor of consideration when consumer

shops for air conditioner. Due to the help of the evaporative system, the air that leaves the

condenser coil will be lower in temperature compared to the same scenario in a conventional

air con. Hence, our eco air con produce less heat pollution, which when considering the

amount of people using air conditional daily, we are confident that it will contribute to a

significant reduction of heat pollution if people switch to our eco air con. Moreover, this

system is active all the time when the air con is turned on regardless of the condition. As a

result, it will constantly help to save energy which benefits the consumer.

The next feature of the eco air conditioner is about the fragrance distribution system.

For this system, a gel type fragrance is inserted to the bottom of the indoor unit. Due to the

concept of diffusion, the air around the fragrance will be concentrated with fragrance smell

(Varadhan, 2001). The fragrance smell is isolated from the air output from the air

conditioning due to an independent air duct. The air duct has two opening, which can be

opened and closed. One of the opening is situated directly below the air output of the air

conditioner unit. Following the concept of Bernoulli’s principle, a low-pressure region is

created at the opening of the air duct below the air output from air con. This is because the air

rushes out of the air con with certain velocity, creating a low-pressure region. This then

pushes the air through the fragrance distribution system’s air duct, thus bringing the fragrance

smell air to mix with the air with the output air from air con before reaching the user

(Bernoulli’s Principle.Pdf, n.d.). This system contributes to the wellbeing of the user, which

enforce the application of SDG 3, good health, and wellbeing. According to studies from

Rhind, J. P. (2013), fragrance has a positive effect on the wellbeing of mankind. This is

especially true for the use of plant fragrance as it is natural while maintaining the benefit of

the fragrance. Studies have shown that the use of lavender provide calming effect, which aids

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user to have better sleep quality or to feel calm. Through our fragrance distribution system,

user can choose to turn on and off the system with a click of the button.

Finally, the air flap at the indoor unit is unlike those in a conventional air conditional.

In a conventional air conditioner, the air flap can only perform basic functions like swinging.

Our innovation uses technology to bring the refreshing cold air directly to the user. With the

help of medium range infrared thermal sensor, it can detect the user’s exact location, and

hence, adjust the air flaps accordingly to deliver cold air directly to the users. This system is

feasible as human is warm blooded. Thus, human body temperature maintains relatively

stable. Infrared thermal sensor works by detecting the temperature of everything within that

range (Robert et al., 2020). In the program later, parameters can be set to filter only the

subject with temperature between 35°C to 38°C. These will be the subject of interest.

Meanwhile, our product consists of 4 air flaps, which can be controlled independently. This

system will receive the data from the infrared thermal sensor, interpret it and then works

together with fragrance distribution system to provide not only cold air directly to users, but

also bring nice the smell of fragrance to them. In a conventional air con where the air flaps

swing in constant pattern and cools the room aimlessly, this innovation that directs the air to

the user will facilitate the feeling of coldness for the users. Consequently, user will not need

to set the air con to extreme low temperature to feel cold, and this also reduces energy

consumption of the air con. This is because the users will feel cooler due to a principle known

as convection. Human will produce heat to keep themselves within a certain range of

temperature. Air particle that are flowing and encounters the users will help to bring away

some of the heat, and hence help to cool down a person faster (Swire, 1970). Therefore, the

users do not need to crank down the temperature of the air con to feel cool. As a result, less

work needs to be done by the air con system, and thus help to save electricity. Thus, our team

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emphasize on innovating an air conditioner which helps us to save electricity cost and

environmentally friendly

2.2 Application of Design Thinking

Survey

A survey was conducted for our project entitled ‘Eco Air-Conditioner’. This survey consists

of several key questions which will help us understand the market needs and values. This

survey also helps us to collect the honest reviews from various respondents and also helps us

determine whether the suggested project will be in need in the current era. The total number

of respondents were 132. The list below shows the question asked in our survey.

1. Do you have an air conditioner unit in your house?

2. If yes, do you think the air conditioner in your house releases heat that affects the

climate change?

3. How often do you use the air conditioner daily?

4. Do you think/Are you aware that air conditioner pollutes the environment?

5. Do you wish to have an air conditioner which consumes less electricity?

6. What is the estimated price range that you would consider in purchasing our eco air

conditioner (EAC)?

7. How likely are you willing to purchase our eco air conditioner (EAC) if the price

range stands between 1200-1400?

8. What extra features would you like to see in our eco air conditioner (EAC)?

Results

Question 1: Do you have an air conditioner unit in your house?

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 Figure 1: The pie chart shows the percentage of owning air-conditioner unit in the house.

Based on the survey, 97% of the respondents owns an air-conditioner unit in their house. This

question is important for us to know the amount of people owning on air-conditioner unit in

their house as it coincides our idea to innovate an air conditioner that is more

environmentally friendly.

Question 2: If yes, do you think the air conditioner in your house releases heat that affects

the climate change?

Figure 2: The pie chart shows the percentage of respondents who is aware that air
conditioner releases heat that affects the climate change.
Based on the survey, 91.6% of the respondents are aware that air conditioner releases heat to

the environment that affects the climate change. Regardless of the high levels of awareness

within the respondents, there still does not seem to be any effect on the usage of air

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conditioners. However, the response received to this question helps support our idea that

consumers are fully aware of the negative effects the air conditioner brings and gives a slight

impression that they are willing to make a difference, by supporting our eco air conditioner.

Question 3: How often do you use the air conditioner daily?

Figure 3: The pie chart shows the percentage of respondents on the duration of using the air
conditioner daily.
According to our survey, 45% of the respondents, which is the majority, uses the air

conditioner for about 9 to 12 hours daily, and the pie chart also concludes that more than 80%

of the respondents uses the air conditioner for more than 4 hours per day. This question solely

contributes to the research of our project as the longer the air conditioners is used, the more it

contributes to the depletion of ozone layer and finally cause global warming. Thus, our

innovation is a saviour as it is subjected to reduce emission of gases from air conditioner that

causes global warming.

Question 4: Do you think/Are you aware that air conditioner pollutes the environment?

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 Figure 4: The pie chart shows the percentage of respondents who are aware that air
conditioner pollutes the environment.
Based on the pie chart, 85.6% of the respondents are aware that air conditioner pollutes the

environment. This helps us understand that most people are aware of the pollution caused by

air conditioner and thus we believe the people will make a change by supporting our

innovation.

Question 5: Do you wish to have an air conditioner which consumes less electricity?

Figure 5: The bar chart shows the percentage of respondents, who wish to have an air
conditioner that consumes less electricity.
As can be seen from the bar chart, majority of the respondents wish to own an air conditioner

that consumes less electricity. This coincides our innovation again as the eco air conditioner

drastically reduce the electricity consumption of an air conditioner by altering the intake of

air based on the temperature difference of indoor and outdoor air respectively.

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Question 6: What is the estimated price range that you would consider in purchasing our eco

air conditioner (EAC)?

Figure 6: The pie chart shows the estimated price range the respondent would consider in
purchasing our eco air conditioner.
According to the pie chart, majority of the respondents considered to purchase the eco air

conditioner if it ranges from RM1000 to RM1400. This response tells us that the market

understands our innovation is willing to pay a higher price for our eco air conditioner.

Besides, it also proves that the public trusts our innovation and understands how a relatively

small innovation can have a big impact on the environment and in their lives.

Question 7: How likely are you willing to purchase our eco air conditioner (EAC) if the price

range stands between 1200-1400?

Figure 7: The bar chart shows the percentage of respondents who is willing to purchase our

eco air conditioner if the price range stands between 1200-1400.

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Based on the bar chart, majority of the respondents are willing to purchase our eco air

conditioner if the price ranges stand between RM1200 to RM1400. Based on our research

and innovation, the price of the air conditioner is subjected to cost around RM1200 and

RM1400 if produced in a large amount. This question by far the most important question as it

is important for us to plan the cost of the eco air conditioner which then also meets the budget

requirement of the public.

Question 8: What extra features would you like to see in our eco air conditioner (EAC)?

As this question is subjective, the top two features extracted from the responses is fragrance

and motion sensor. This question also directly helps us with our innovation as we prioritise

fulfilling the customer’s needs. We would like our eco air conditioner to operate as a smart

air conditioner besides only focusing on the environmentally friendly criteria.

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 CHAPTER 3: DESIGNING

The design of eco air con consist of two parts, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. It is an

innovation of the current design of air conditioner.

The first difference between a normal air con indoor unit with the eco air con is the

integration with a smart exhaust fan. Smart exhaust fan works with thermocouple sensor to

detect outdoor and indoor temperature. When outdoor temperature is lower than indoor

temperature, it will push air into the air con to pass through the evaporator coil instead of

circulating the hot air in the room through the evaporator coil.

The second difference with normal air con is the integration of infrared thermal sensor in the

indoor unit to sense the position of people in the room so the air flap will direct the cool air to

the person.

The third difference compared to normal air con is the integration of fragrance distribution

system into the indoor unit. With the help of Bernoulli principle, air will pass through the air

duct of the fragrance distribution system and mix with the output air from the air con. This

system together with the help of 4 independent control air flaps will direct the fragrance cool

air to the person, achieving both direct cooling and pleasant environment for the user.

The final difference with normal air con is in the usage of condensate water. In eco air con,

condensate water is directed to the outdoor unit, where it will then pass-through net mesh.

The fan in the outdoor unit will suck surrounding air through the net mesh, which cools down

the air due to evaporation of water, and then the lower temperature air will pass through the

condenser coil to cool down the refrigerant in the coil.

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The winning design is as such:

Components 3D design

Overall View

Indoor unit

Components in the indoor unit

Water collection system + air duct for

fragrance distribution system

Inside fragrance distribution system +

independent air flap

Outdoor unit

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 Components for outdoor unit

Water duct + net mesh

Net mesh

3.1 Alternative design concept & Justification

There are two design choices for our smart exhaust system. The first option is to place the

system at the side of the air con (figure A1) while the second option is to place the system on

top of the air con (figure A2). The exhaust system has two functions, either to operate as a

normal exhaust system to remove air from the building or to push air through the air con

system. For it to perform the second task effectively, the properties of air flow must be taken

into consideration. When a fan pushes air through the fan blade, pressure is created to push

the air from one region to another. The further a subject is away from the fan blade, the less

air flow he will experience as the pressure gradient is inversely proportional to the distance

from the fan blade. In the first design where exhaust system is located at the left, air is pushed

from the left to the right of the air con system. Hence, the slow of air at the right of the air

con will experience less air flow. This resulted the output air from the air conditioner to be

vary in air flow from left to right, which is not ideal for user. Besides, the arrangement of

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evaporator coil is at the top and front of the indoor unit of air conditioner (figure A3). This is

because it provides a greater surface area for air to pass through them, therefore allow more

air to be cool down. The side mounted exhaust will feed the air from the side of the air con,

which is not ideal as there is no evaporator coil at the side of air conditioner. This results in

less interaction between the air and the evaporator coil, therefore, reduce the efficiency for

cooling the air before outputting them to the user. As a result, it requires the air conditioner

system to operates for longer period of time to cool down the indoor surrounding. In contrast,

the top mounted exhaust fan provides a natural position of air flow through the evaporator

coil. Moreover, this placement is ideal as the cross-blow fan in air conditional system

operates by sucking air from top and front of the air con, not from the side. Hence, top

mounted exhaust system provides a natural air flow for the cross-blow fan, and the two

system works mutually, which reduces turbulence and has higher overall efficiency compared

to side mounted exhaust system.

Figure A1: side mounted exhaust system

Figure A2: top mounted exhaust system

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 Figure A3: evaporator coil placement

Next, there are also two designs for water evaporation system. The first design is a system

that drips the water directly onto condenser coil to coat it with a film of water (Figure B1).

The second design is to drip the condensed water to a net mesh (Figure B2), which allows the

air to move through the net mesh first before moving through the condenser coil. In choosing

a superior design for this system, the consideration is made regarding the effectiveness and

the longevity. For the first design, it is a better design theoretically as water is directly coats

the condenser coil. However, in real life, water is hard to coat the whole surface area of the

condenser coil is tightly packed as thus poses a lot of restriction for water to flow. As this

system uses gravity to guide the flow of water, it will cause part near the top to be coated

with water while most part at the bottom will not get water to dripped down to them. As a

result, the efficiency of this system decreases. Meanwhile, the second design consist of net

mesh to direct the capture the water. This mesh is less packed than the evaporator coil, hence

allow water to drip down it easily, which allows the mesh to be completely coated with water

from top to bottom. Consequently, the overall air that flow through the system increases,

reducing the temperature of air and then increasing heat transfer between the air and the

condenser coil. The second concern about the first design is about the longevity of the air

conditioner. When air is dripped onto the condenser coil, the coil is more susceptible to

damage from corrosion. This is because air pollutants can dissolve easily in water. Gases

such as carbon dioxide that dissolve in water will decrease the pH value of water, which

creates a very slow corrosion of the evaporator coil as the acidic water is contacting directly

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with the coil. As a result, net mesh is used to guide the condensed water instead as net mesh

is cheap and easy to replace if necessary.

Figure B1: evaporative system integrated with condenser coil

Figure B2: evaporative system utilising net mesh

Lastly, there are two design choices for the fragrance distribution system. The first system

utilises ultrasonic diffuser to create fragrance mist (figure C1). For this design, water must be

poured in the container and water-soluble fragrance is added. When ultrasonic diffusor

operated, it creates mist of fragrance. The second design utilise gel type fragrance as the

source of fragrance (Figure C2). The first design is not user friendly as users need to add

water into the container, then add water-soluble fragrance, and lastly, they need to insert the

container to the bottom part of the container. This is not user friendly as water will evaporate

even when the system is not operating. Besides, this system needs refilling more often

25
compared to using gel type fragrance. As indoor air conditioner is generally installed at head

height, it will be very tedious for users to take out the container often. Moreover, this design

is dangerous as water may spill out during removing or inserting the container, resulting in

spill of water onto the floor, which may cause slipping hazard. In contrast, gel type fragrance

last longer and hence requires fewer refilling from users. As a result, it is more sensible to use

gel type fragrance system as water type fragrance system. In addition, gel type fragrance is a

solid based fragrance. When the container slips out of the users' hand during removing or

inserting process, nothing will be spilled, and the gel fragrance can be reused. As a result, this

system is chosen for our design.

Figure C1: water-based fragrance system with ultrasonic diffusor

Figure C2: gel-based fragrance system

26
 CHAPTER 4: PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLANNING

4.1 Organization chart

SUPERVISOR

Dr M Mubarak B A Wahab
(Civil Engineering Department)

PROJECT DIRECTOR
Jonathan Khoo Lee Min
(Chemical Engineering)

ASSISTANT PROJECT DIRECTOR SECRETARY

Nur Batrisyia Aina binti Muhammad Nazri
Izlan Arif Bin Shahrin (Civil Engineering)
(Chemical Engineering)

PROJECT DESIGNER MEDIA AND PUBLICATION

Wei Jian Wong Prenessha Maniarasu
(Mechanical Engineering)
(Mechanical Engineering)

27
4.2 Task Listing and Distribution

Task List Distribution

Introduction Project background and problem Izlan Arif

statement
Project objectives Izlan Arif

Design Thinking Literature review / Seeking for - Prenessha

Inspiration - Wei Jian Wong
Apply Design Thinking Tools Prenessha
(Survey)
Designing Alternative design concepts Wei Jian Wong

Justification in choosing the design Wei Jian Wong

Project management planning Organization chart Nur Batrisyia Aina

Task listing and distribution Nur Batrisyia Aina

Gantt Chart (activities & milestones) Nur Batrisyia Aina

Feasibility of plan Nur Batrisyia Aina

Methodology Project/workflow Jonathan Khoo

Identification of suitable tools or Jonathan Khoo

software
Justification of fabrication choices Jonathan Khoo

Economical / business Capital cost considerations Izlan Arif

consideration Operational cost considerations Izlan Arif

Alternatives in materials Izlan Arif

Conclusion Summary of progress and findings Izlan Arif

Next plan of action Izlan Arif

28
 4.3 Gantt Chart

W W W W W W W7 W W W W W
TASK
S 1 2 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 11 12 MILESTONE

Seminar 1 (ETP Briefing) 7/5

Icebreaking session with team members 11/5

(1 meeting)
st

Project Ideas and Brainstorm session

(2nd meeting)
20/5

Submission of student reflection form every meeting

(SV)
Seminar 2 (Design Thinking) 21/5

Project confirmation with 23/5

supervisor
(3rd meeting)
Task distribution for initializing
project development (3rd meeting)
23/5

Drawing design on Autodesk

Fusion 360
Seminar 3 (Presenting Design Concept) 28/5

Research for proposal

 Survey and data collection

analysis

Update on the assigned task progress

(4th meeting) 30/5

Revising drafts and compilation of

extended proposal

Seminar 4 (Generating Idea for

29
Business and Innovation) 4/6

Project Feasibility and technical

design research
Final check on the extended proposal

Seminar 5 (AutoCAD Fusion) 11/6

Extended Proposal Due (SV and Coord)

Task distribution and discussion of

details of design concept, video, and e-
poster
Seminar 6 (Value Proposition design) 18/6

Creating video of product and E-poster

for poster presentation
Seminar 7 (From Idea to Product) 25/6

Seminar 8 (How to Present Idea) 2/7

Evaluation of Design Concept (SV)

Submission Video and E-Poster (Coord)

Final checking on project report

Submission of Peer Evaluation Form

(SV)
Submission of Final Report (SV and
Coord)

30
4.4 Feasibility of Plan

The feasibility study is a management-oriented study. A feasibility study's aim is to

determine whether an information system project can be completed and to recommend

alternative approaches.

4.4.1 Economic Feasibility

Economic feasibility is the financial and logistical perspective for a commercial undertaking

or venture. Most firms do an economic feasibility analysis before embarking on a new

initiative, which is a research that examines data to evaluate whether the cost of the proposed

new enterprise will be lucrative to the company in the long run. Material and cost analyses

were conducted to ensure that the product's price is reasonable for the target market. We were

able to ensure that the product could be commercialised in the market from the analysis and

survey we conducted. We also looked for a cheaper component on the internet and through an

online shopping platform. For this project, the cost of manufacturing the product, is less than

RM1300 per unit. It is deemed reasonable for most communities because the feature focuses

on saving the electricity where less energy is required to provide power to the Eco Air

Conditioner (EAC) compared to normal air-Cond, hence it is considered an environmentally

friendly product. Overall, we were able to reduce the cost of the product to around RM1200

after considering the economics of scale where we can produce it at a cheaper cost due to

bulk purchasing. Despite many features being offered by our Eco Air Conditioner (EAC),

this price is worth it as it would save a lot of money in a long run considering the cheaper

electric bills when using our product.

4.4.2 Technical Feasibility

Assessing technical feasibility is an important aspect of deciding resources. It considers the

project's technical requirements. If the internal technical competence is sufficient to satisfy

31
the project needs, the systems project is considered as technically feasible. To ensure that this

project is feasible, we developed a 3D modelling by using Fusion 360. By doing so, we can

get a clearer picture on the design of the product. We had also done some literature review

from articles and found that this product will be a functioning product. Besides, we conducted

a survey to get information from our target audience on their thoughts on how our product

will assist in reducing global energy consumption, reducing the impact of global warming,

including saving money on electricity usages. Based on the data from survey collected,

majority of the audience are aware that air conditioner pollutes the environment. They also

would like to have an air conditioner which consumes less electricity in a long run to save

their electric bills. Hence, this project is feasible enough considering majority of them

agreed with the features that we came out for this product. Moreover, we also created a

Gantt Chart from thorough planning according to the feasibility of each task to ensure that we

could keep track of our progress.

32
 CHAPTER 5: METHODOLOGY

5.1 Project flowchart

33
From the flowchart above:

 Ice breaking session

All team members had an ice-breaking session on (11th May) to get to know each other since

most of the team members are from different courses.

· Brainstorm to select best idea

Every member did their own research and came up with design ideas based on the given

SDGs. During meeting, each member briefly explained their idea and exchanged thoughts

and opinions with each other. At the end, voting session was done to select the top 3 best

ideas.

· Proposing idea to supervisor

Meeting with supervisor was done to show him the top 3 ideas from our group. After critical

thinking and brainstorming session with the supervisor, the best idea was selected (Eco Air

Conditioner). Supervisor gave his opinions on how to improve the current idea.

· Proceed with extended proposal

In efforts to complete the extended proposal, tasks were distributed and each members have

their respective roles. Draft of the report were revised to make amendments.

· Project design, e-Poster, video presentation

To visualize how the product will function, a design idea will be generated in Autodesk

Fusion 360. A video presentation and an e-Poster were also made to provide targeted

audiences with a summary of the product.

· Discussion and consolidation

34
Meeting with supervisor will be done to seek approval of the project design. Once approved,

final report will be done. If rejected, amendments will be done to fix necessary parts.

5.2. Identification of Suitable Tools or software

 5.2.1 List of hardware required for Eco Air Conditioner (EAC)

In air conditioner

Copper Condenser Allows the refrigerant to flow.

coil + copper
evaporative coil

Refrigerant Medium that flows inside the condenser and evaporator coil

Scroll type Compress refrigerant in the system

compressor
Temperature Situated at evaporator coil, adjust the restriction of refrigerant flow
Expansion Valve to ensure refrigerant is turned into vapour before leaving the
(TEV) evaporator coil
Cross blow fan Blow consistent air to the room
assembly
Axial fan + motor Pull air through the condenser coil at outdoor unit

rectifier Convert ac to dc for servo motor, sensors and motherboard to work

Step down Step down voltage of electric outlet to operating voltage of the
transformer components

Circuit breaker Break the circuit if abnormal electric surge is detected

Circuit enclosure House electrical component (motherboard, rectifier, transformer)

Indoor unit housing House the components of indoor unit of the aircon

Outdoor unit housing House the components of outdoor unit of the aircon

Remote control Control the aircon

Receiver Receive infrared information transmitted by remote control

35
LCD screen Display information such as selected mode, timer, air con
temperature
Aircon filter To filter dust particles and ease cleaning process

Separate from air conditioner

Plastic flap vent + Close or open to allow or restrict airflow

servo motor
Plastic air vent Vent system for the fragrance distribution

Insulation foam Insulate copper pipe and pvc pipe

Thermocouple sensor Detect surrounding temperature

Infrared thermal Detect where is the source of heat and the temperature of the
sensor source
Exhaust fan Integrate with indoor unit

Custom Motherboard Integrate everything into a harmony system, working together to

(IC, fuse, diode, perform task
transistor, capacitor,
etc)
PVC duct Collect condensate water in indoor unit, distribute water to the
membrane at outdoor unit, collect dripping water at outdoor unit
PVC pipe Direct flow of condensate water

Antenna Receive Wi-Fi signal so the aircon can be controlled via

smartphones
Gel type fragrance Use as fragrance for the fragrance distribution system

Net mesh The membrane in the outdoor unit that condensed water dripped
onto

 5.2.2 List of software required for Eco Air Conditioner

Software Description

Fusion 360 To design the concept idea for the model

in 3D version.
Microsoft Word To write & compile report after running
the project.
Microsoft Excel To calculate the total cost of the product.

36
5.3 Justification of fabrication choices

Component Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3

Fragrance type Gel-based Liquid-based Powder-based

Evaporator and Steel Aluminium Copper

condenser coil type

Piping material Copper PVC Iron

Sensor for temperature Thermocouples RTDs Thermistors

detection

 Type of fragrance

In the selection of the type of fragrance, we have selected the Gel based fragrance

over the liquid and powder-based fragrance. The main reason was because Gel

fragrance can last longer compared to the others since a liquid fragrance might

evaporate at a higher rate. Besides, using a powder-based fragrance might cause the

ducts in the air conditioner to clog up.

 Evaporator and condenser coil type

For this design, we had a few options of materials to be used as evaporator and

condenser coil which consists of steel, aluminium and copper. After research done by

the team, it was found that copper material was the best choice as our evaporator and

37
 condenser coil material. Among the key reasons were, copper pipes are lighter, more

resistant to corrosion and easier to install than steel pipes. Furthermore, it is easier to

bend, and solder compared to aluminium pipes.

 Piping material

There were 3 choices of pipe material such as PVC, iron and copper. All of them are

strong material. However, since it will only be used for condensed water, PVC piping

is the most suitable material considering its cost and durability. It is also lightweight

thus making it an ideal choice.

 Type of sensor for temperature detection

For the selection of sensors, there were 4 prominent choices which are thermocouples,

RTDs, thermistors and semiconductor-based ICs. Based on research done, it was

found that thermocouples are inexpensive, durable, and can measure a wide range of

temperatures. In the case of RTD’s, it provides accurate results, but they are slower

and require an excitation current. Moving on to the thermistors, they are durable and

small, but less accurate. Next, semiconductor-based ICs are easy to install and may be

packaged in incredibly small packaging, however their temperature range is limited.

Hence, the best choice of sensor would be the thermocouples sensor.

38
 CHAPTER 6: ECONOMICAL/BUSINESS CONSIDERATION

 Estimated cost of components for Eco Aircond (EAC)

Product Price

Air conditioner RM 723.81

Net mesh RM 1.60

PVC duct RM 18.50

PVC pipe RM 2.00

Insulation foam RM 33.00

Plastic flap vent + servo motor RM 10.90

Plastic air vent RM 4.56

Thermocouple sensor RM 18.39

Infrared thermal sensor RM 38.00

Motherboard RM 179.00

Gel type fragrance RM 6.90

Antenna RM 14.90

Exhaust fan RM 27.80

39
 TOTAL RM 1079.36

6.1 Capital Cost Considerations

For the Eco Air Cond to be a worthwhile product for the public, the expected return of

capital must be greater than the cost of capital towards the materials and labour to

manufacture the Eco Air Cond.

Since the design of the Eco Air Cond is based on existing technology with the added

innovation of temperature sensors, the baseline air conditioner price was estimated to be RM

723.81. Adding up the prices for all the additional components, the total price of the Eco Air

Cond is RM 1129.36. Assembly of the Eco Air Cond is estimated to be RM 50 per unit.

Capital Costs Price (RM)

Cost of Components 1079.36

Assembly Cost 50

Total Cost of Eco Air Cond 1129.36

With the cost of the Eco Air Cond found to be RM 1129.36, a price round -off to RM

1200 will be the final selling price of the air conditioner with the surplus of RM 70.64 going

towards profit. Compared to other air conditioners on the market, the Eco Air Cond costs

falls in the lower end of the price range. This makes it a wise economical choice especially

considering that it saves electricity therefore reducing cost of electricity bills in the long run

as well as saving the environment.

40
6.2 Operational Cost Considerations

Our Eco Air Cond was innovated with the safety of the environment and reduced

costs in mind. Despite cheaper options available on the market, the electricity consumption

on those models is high. The eco features and electricity saving features are only available on

the more expensive model of air conditioners which is well above the price range of the Eco

Air Cond. It is important to note that the reduced electricity cost is in no way trivial, with a

big amount of money saved annually.

Electricity Cost Price (RM) Electricity Cost Price (RM)

(Normal Air Cond) (Eco Air Cond)

Cost an hour 0.50 Cost an hour 0.35

Annual Cost 1095 Annual Cost 766.5

As established earlier, a conventional air conditioner in Malaysia costs 50 cents an

hour to operate. Assuming that the air conditioner operates for 6 hours a day for a year, the

electricity cost would be RM 1095 compared to the Eco Air Cond which runs at 35 cents an

hour for an annual cost of RM 766.5. This means that the Eco Air Cond saves about 30%

more electricity than most air conditioners at a lower price range.

6.3 Alternatives in Materials

PVC for Pipe

- PVC is a versatile and relatively inexpensive material. However, it is very toxic and

one of the most environmentally damaging plastics. Since safer alternatives are

41
 available for most PVC uses, it is wise to replace the use of PVC with other chlorine

free plastics.

CHAPTER 7: CONCLUSION

7.1 Summary and Findings

The Eco Air Cond is an innovation that is beneficial to not only the environment but

to the mass public as it reduces the cost of electricity in the long run. Despite eco-friendly air

conditioning not being a completely new piece of technology, our Eco Air Cond with the

ability to detect changes in outdoor and indoor temperature with the use of the thermocouple

sensor is a feature that has yet to be mainstream in the market. According to the survey that

we conducted it is obvious that we live in an age of climate awareness where more and more

people take it upon themselves to do their part for the environment as well as for their own

wellbeing. Through the feasibility analysis conducted earlier in the proposal for economic

feasibility, it can be proven that the Eco Air Cond is a product that can hold its own when

compared to other models of air conditioners with a similar price range to average priced air

conditioner models. As for the technical feasibility, the Eco Air Cond was designed with the

AutoCAD Fusion 360 software hence we were able to create a pretty detailed model that

could technically work. Furthermore, there was a literature review of the product conducted

beforehand, strengthening the feasibility of the Eco Air Cond. Therefore, we believe that the

Eco Air Cond will prove to be an excellent innovation capable of differentiating itself from

other conventional air conditioners on the market.

42
7.2 Next Plan of Action

With this proposal, the next plan of action would be the execution of the design

concept of the Eco Air Cond. This would be done through designing software such as

AutoCAD Fusion where further simulations and designing of the Eco Air Cond can be done.

A poster explaining the design and background of the Eco Air Cond will be made followed

by a demonstration of the design concept of our innovation. We will then be presenting the

idea as a group and by our individual selves. Lastly, we end the project on a final report, with

the content being the feedback and results produced by our Eco Air Cond during the length of

the project.

43
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