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Recognition for Faculty Members’ Contributions
from Annual Report - 2019
by NUS-CDE
NUS Engineering Faculty Members Recognised for Advancing Engineering and Enhancing Quality of Life of Singaporeans
Two projects from NUS Engineering faculty – Associate Professor Chua Kian Jon, Ernest, from NUS Mechanical Engineering and Assistant Professor Olivier Patrick Lefebvre from NUS Civil and Environmental Engineering – were awarded the IES Prestigious Achievement Awards by the Institution of Engineers Singapore on 29 August 2019.
Hybrid Solar-thermal Air Conditioners
The hybrid solar-thermal air conditioners, developed by Assoc Prof Chua and his industrial collaborators, Ecoline Solar Pte Ltd, represents a new generation of unconventional electrical compression machines which use heat from the sun and ambient surroundings to ease the electrical load of the energy-guzzling compressor. Notably, the collaboration between Assoc Prof Chua and Ecoline Solar demonstrates how research conducted in NUS’ laboratories can impact applications and strengthen the competitiveness of industries.
Key Benefits of the Hybrid Air Conditioner
• Increase sustainability and reduce greenhouse emissions • Up to 30% to 55% less energy consumption compared to some of the best inverted air conditioning systems in the market • The hotter the sun, the more efficient the system is, and the more cost savings consumers will enjoy
Asst Prof Lefebvre (centre) receiving the IES Prestigious Achievement Award from Professor Yeoh Lean Weng, President of IES, Singapore (left) and Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (right).
Electrochemical Treatment of Industrial Wastewater
Assistant Professor Olivier Patrick Lefebvre from NUS Civil and Environmental Engineering came out with a proprietary graphene electrode that can treat all kinds of “hard-to-treat” wastewater, including chemical, electronics, pharmaceutical and waste sludge, for which there is no gold standard.
Wastewater electrochemical oxidation is the new frontier to support a green economy based on “zero-waste” and sustainability-oriented industry. The reagent for purification is produced within the waste itself using electricity instead of chemicals and with no harmful emission.
Assoc Prof Chua (right) and his industrial collaborators receiving the IES Prestigious Achievement Award from Professor Yeoh Lean Weng, President of IES, Singapore (left) and Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (second from right).
