Papers by Author: Neng Zhu

Abstract: The major volatile components in two solvent-based paints, two thinners, and four adhesives have been identified by a method involving pre-treatment by solvent dilution, filtration, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The non-volatile components in these wet building materials have been determined by infrared spectroscopy. The results have shown the major volatile organic compounds in one-component polyurethane varnish and alkyd paint thinner to be nonane, decane, undecane, xylene, ethylbenzene and ethyltoluene. The main film-forming matter in cement floor paint has been identified as styrenated acrylic emulsion, with the volatile components being mainly butyl acetate, decane and benzene series. The basic substances in these adhesives were polychloroprene, styrene butadiene carboxylated latex, or polyvinyl acetate emulsion. The primary volatile compounds in two adhesives were methyl acetate, and many branched-chain and normal alkanes, while those in the other two adhesives were toluene and benzene.

Abstract: This review summarizes the organic pollution in the indoor air of Chinese urban residences according to the order of time. Generally, Chinese researchers paid more attention to organic pollutants such as formaldehyde, the benzene series and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in dwellings. Their concentrations were analyzed in urban residences, especially in newly decorated residences on the basis of field tests previously reported in the Chinese literature. The results indicate that there are obvious differences in the concentrations of the same kind of components in different urban residences. The concentrations in excess of the concentration limits for formaldehyde, the benzene series exist in the initial stage following completion of interior decoration. The concentrations of the different components for PAHs are obviously different in urban dwellings.

Abstract: The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from single-component polyurethane varnish applied to beech plywood at two temperatures (33°C, 43°C) has been investigated in a small environmental chamber. The experimental results indicated that the concentration of each compound, as well as the total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), increased rapidly after the start of experiment, and attained their maximum values at 0.5 h. The concentrations decreased rapidly after 0.5 h, and then decreased more slowly in the period 2 – 24 h. The concentrations of isopropylbenzene, n-decane and TVOC were higher in the 43°C test than in the 33°C test within the first 1.5 h. The influences of temperature on the concentrations of these pollutants were different during the period 1.5 – 24 h.

Abstract: According to the features of energy utilization in campus buildings, a hybrid system based on heat sink form with solar energy and ground source heat pump is introduced in this paper. By theoretical calculation and experimental validation for heat transfer effect of the heat sink and economic analysis of fuel cost, it was confirmed that the system could efficiently match solar energy with ground heat. Renewable energy storage was realized and operation cost was saved.

Abstract: According to the phenomenon of insufficient utilization of the geothermal water in the heat supply system of a campus in Tianjin, an optimization retrofit scheme with cascade utilization of the geothermal water is introduced in this paper. The energy efficiency of the heat supply system was improved after the retrofit: 30% of the electricity consumption was saved and an extra building area of 120,000 m2 could also be served by the same heat supply system.

Abstract: The widely use of the heating system results in the sharp increase of the heating energy consumption. The optimization of the regulation methods for the heating system can efficiently save energy and improve the indoor temperature of the heat users. The traditional regulation methods include quality regulation, quantity regulation, intermittent regulation etc. The actual operation mode was compared with the actual operation mode, which proved that the traditional regulation methods were all static theoretical regulation methods. The regenerative property of the buildings was simulated using the fluent software. A new regulation method which is called quantitative regulation method is proposed in this paper.