Biology Investigatory Project
USING AQUARIUM WASTE WATER AS A NUTRIENT SOURCE FOR HYDROPONICALLY GROWN PLANTS
January 2013
Abstract
Have you ever noticed how cold water is in the morning and wondered if this can be somehow be used for air conditioning? The water in underground pipes stays cool because underground temperatures remain constant all year round regardless of what the outside air temperature may be. Conventional air conditioners are heat exchangers that take heat from a room, compress this heat and then radiate it into the atmosphere. Although effective, the compressor of an air conditioner uses a large amount of electricity, and the radiated heat from the air con also increases the ambient air temperature outside. This project will explore if it will be feasible to take advantage of this constant cool ground temperature and use it as part of a low-energy compressor-less air conditioner. To test this, a scaled down mock-up heat exchanger with a fan will be built to absorb the heat from room air and transfer that heat to a coolant liquid. This liquid will be pumped into a water cooler that simulates underground temperature where the heat will be transferred to the ground. The coolant will then be recirculated back into a radiator. The inlet and outlet temperatures will be monitored to see if there is any significant cooling effect. If this project is successful, this may be employed as a low-energy air conditioning system that is good for the environment and does not waste energy and create excessive heat like regular air conditioners.
Chapter I. INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The world is currently experiencing problems involving our energy resources. The problem is the rate that the world’s energy demands are increasing is faster than the rate at which renewable sources are being developed.
So until the time that both renewable and fossil fuelled energy resources can be stabilized to meet
January 2013
Abstract
Have you ever noticed how cold water is in the morning and wondered if this can be somehow be used for air conditioning? The water in underground pipes stays cool because underground temperatures remain constant all year round regardless of what the outside air temperature may be. Conventional air conditioners are heat exchangers that take heat from a room, compress this heat and then radiate it into the atmosphere. Although effective, the compressor of an air conditioner uses a large amount of electricity, and the radiated heat from the air con also increases the ambient air temperature outside. This project will explore if it will be feasible to take advantage of this constant cool ground temperature and use it as part of a low-energy compressor-less air conditioner. To test this, a scaled down mock-up heat exchanger with a fan will be built to absorb the heat from room air and transfer that heat to a coolant liquid. This liquid will be pumped into a water cooler that simulates underground temperature where the heat will be transferred to the ground. The coolant will then be recirculated back into a radiator. The inlet and outlet temperatures will be monitored to see if there is any significant cooling effect. If this project is successful, this may be employed as a low-energy air conditioning system that is good for the environment and does not waste energy and create excessive heat like regular air conditioners.
Chapter I. INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
The world is currently experiencing problems involving our energy resources. The problem is the rate that the world’s energy demands are increasing is faster than the rate at which renewable sources are being developed.
So until the time that both renewable and fossil fuelled energy resources can be stabilized to meet
Bibliography: Cambridge University Press Roy, Robert, 2006 New Society Publishers Winnick, Jack, 1996