Engineering Headway Vol. 18

Abstract: The energy issue is necessary today due to the decrease in fossil energy and its impacts on the environment. It is important to use energy effectively. In the air conditioning sector, the energy consumption of air conditioners is the top energy user in buildings. The air conditioner user needs to find the best way to operate the air conditioner. In the present research, the effect of pressure behavior at start-up conditions on the energy consumption and heat transfer process is analyzed. The result shows that the pressure behavior affects the evaporator temperature, specific heat, and thermal conductivity in liquid and vapor conditions. In the first 20-second AC operation, the energy consumption of the AC compressor increases significantly before the compressor work slowly decreases at 40-second operation and remains constant at steady conditions. The negligible heat transfer at the first 20-second AC operation increases steeply for 40 seconds. The heat transfer is steady at 60 seconds of operation and above.

Abstract: The aim of this research is to determine the thermal insulation efficiency of cashew nut shell (CNS) ash with a mixture of 1:0.25 (tile nut am-53) and 1:0.25 (tile nut am-53):0.25 (sago). The method used in this research is the experimental method. Research resaeach Heater element capacity is 396 W/m².°C, resulting in a thermal conductivity of 0.89 watts/m.°C and 106.58 Watt for conduction heat for sample I; and thermal conductivity 0.150 watts/m.°C and 92.16 Watt for conduction heat for sample II. Where the material in Sample I (mixture of cashew shell ash, Tile Grout AM53, and sago with a composition of 1: 0.5: 0.5) is able to insulate heat by 73% and Sample II (mixture of cashew shell ash, Tile Grout AM53, and sago with a composition of 1:0.5:1) by 76.72%.

Abstract: Substantial temperature disparities between machine components and their environment frequently impede the attainment of optimal system performance. To alleviate excessive thermal loads, the utilization of fins as cooling elements is a widely adopted approach. This research endeavors to numerically examine the temperature distribution within a square fin subject to varying convective coefficients. Numerical simulations employing the finite difference method were carried out to forecast the temperature distribution within the fin during the cooling process. The simulation outcomes reveal that the convective coefficient exerts a significant influence on the temperature distribution and the temporal duration required for the fin to attain a steady state. Elevated convective coefficients facilitate accelerated heat transfer from the fin to the cooling fluid and diminished temperature differentials between the fin base and tip. Conversely, augmenting the convective coefficient also culminates in a reduction in fin efficiency as a larger proportion of the heat is unable to reach the fin tip. The findings of this study can contribute to the optimization of fin design in a myriad of mechanical engineering applications.

Abstract: The design of fins needs to be optimized to ensure effective heat transfer or dissipation from the engine to the surrounding air. The choice of material for the fins is crucial to facilitate unhindered heat dissipation from the fins to the environment. This study employed a numerical simulation using the finite difference method to analyze the temperature distribution within various sections of the fins. The calculations were performed from the transient state until a steady state was achieved. The findings indicate that the fin material significantly impacts the temperature distribution across different sections of the fin. Heat propagation in the fin is predominantly through conduction, thus the thermal conductivity of the material substantially affects the temperature distribution along the fin. Fins made from conductive materials exhibit higher temperature changes over time intervals and reach a steady state more rapidly. Conversely, fins made from less conductive materials fail to transfer heat efficiently to the fin's end, resulting in a higher temperature difference between the base and the tip and a longer time to reach a steady state.

Abstract: This research is an invention of a non-linear sensor measurement process with a non-linear interpolation technique using a method with the Goen constant equation. This invention is not a linearization technique, so a comparison signal technique is not needed from the output of the non-linear sensor. Therefore, the advantage of this technique without a comparison signal is that it is more responsive. In addition, the costs incurred are cheaper because if the non-linear sensor uses a linearization technique, it will require additional electronic devices to support the use of the comparison signal technique. Two-way non-linear sensor measurements can be done simply using one-way measurement techniques using Ivan Newton Interpolation (INI). There are two non-linear sensor measurement process techniques. The first technique measures conditions outside the sensor that are non-linearly correlated to the sensor's characteristic values. The second technique measures sensor characteristic values non-linearly correlated to the condition values outside the sensor. This second technique can be done indirectly using the trial and error (TE) interpolation technique. The non-linear sensor measurement technique using INI will produce a two-way non-linear correlation between the conditions outside the sensor and the sensor characteristic values. This measurement technique will produce a non-linear correlation, so a comparison technique is unnecessary for the linearization process. The output response results from the non-linear sensor measurement process technique with INI can be more responsive when used as a control sensor. More responsive when compared to non-linear sensors using linearization techniques. This can happen because the linearization technique requires a slope comparison process using a comparison signal first.

Abstract: Cinnamon bark drying machine is one of agricultural technology to dry up the cinnamon bark efficiently. Drying machine monitoring is a system to monitor temperature and weight conditions during the drying process through a smartphone. The dryer monitoring system uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology so that the system can be monitored remotely. The proposed cinnamon bark drying machines uses Arduino Mega2560 as the main microcontroller with 4 Arduino nanoas additional microcontrollers to get star network topology and ESP8266 as a communication device. Loadcell Sensor is used as weight sensor, and DS18B20 is used as temperature sensor. There is simple Blynk application on smartphone as an IoT platform. Based on the test results it can be concluded that the cinnamon bark drying machine monitoring system using IoT technology has good performance and capabilities. It can reduce material weight down to 29,93% for the maximum temperature reached during the drying process is 55 ° C. Transmission delay from the serial monitor to Blynk IoT Platform has a poor value based on TIPHON standardization. The average delay was 1.5 seconds. However, data error rate between serial monitor and Blynk is very small. The average data error rate is 0,21%.

Abstract: This study presents the design and accuracy testing of an open-loop control system for an Arduino-based robotic arm, featuring a 3D-printed body made from PLA+ material. The robotic arm is engineered to perform repetitive tasks, which demand high precision and reliability. The use of PLA+ offers a lightweight yet durable structure, essential for maintaining the integrity of the robotic arm during extended operations. The open-loop control system, while simpler and more cost-effective than closed-loop alternatives, poses challenges in terms of accuracy due to the lack of feedback mechanisms. A comprehensive accuracy test was conducted to evaluate the performance of the robotic arm in executing predefined repetitive tasks. The results demonstrate the robotic arm's ability to achieve a high degree of precision under specific conditions, making it a viable solution for repetitive industrial tasks where cost-efficiency and ease of implementation are prioritized. However, the absence of real-time feedback in the open-loop system limits its adaptability in dynamic environments or tasks that require continuous adjustments. Future work could explore integrating feedback mechanisms to enhance the system's accuracy and adaptability, expanding its application potential. This research contributes to the growing field of low-cost, 3D-printed robotic systems, highlighting the potential of open-loop control in applications that do not require real-time feedback.

Abstract: Tobacco is one of the most widely cultivated plants in Indonesia, especially in highland areas. Conventional tobacco drying process relies on solar heat. The biggest problem in drying using the sun is erratic weather and also in highland areas, the chance of rainfall is also high. Monitoring system of tobacco drying machines using Internet of Things (IoT) technology is the answer to the problems that occur. By utilizing IoT technology, this tobacco drying machine can be monitored remotely using smartphone or other mobile device. Monitoring that can be done remotely is temperature inside the drying machine, the weight of tobacco during drying, and also On Off state of the drying machine. In this study, monitoring system for tobacco drying machines uses a BUS topology that connects several Arduino nanoas a slave and Arduino mega 2560 as a master. Arduino nanoplays a role in controlling the DS18B20 temperature sensor, load cell, heater relay, and fan relay. Arduino mega as a master acts as a data processing center and main control in the monitoring system of the temabkau drying machine. ESP8266 is used to connect to the internet using wifi. There is simple Blynk application on smartphone as an IoT platform. After some testing done, it turns out that tobacco drying machine has good performance in terms of tobacco weight reduction, down to to 29,97% (load cell) and 30,56% (digital scales). However, internal machine temperature during drying process only reach 42,75° C. Data transmission delay from the serial monitor to Blynk IoT Platform has a poor value based on TIPHON standardization, which is 1.4 seconds. However, data error rate between serial monitor and Blynk is very small, 0,099% for load cell data and 0,28% for temperature sensor data.

Abstract: Electrical energy is a crucial requirement to support 24-hour service activities in a hospital. Consequently, the cost of using electrical power is very high. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize electrical energy effectively without compromising the quality of service. One way to reduce electricity consumption from the national grid is by using solar power plants. The electrical load in the hospital that can be shifted to the PLTS power source is the water pump. The water pump operates 24-hour a day to meet the water needs for all service activities in the hospital. This study aims to analyze the design of an off-grid power plant for the water pump at Stella Maris Hospital Makassar. The design and analysis is conducted using quantitative methods. Based on the analysis and design results, it was found that to power a 1,469-watt water pump; a solar panel system with a capacity of 2,400 Watt-peak is needed, consisting of 6 units of 400 Watt-peak solar panels.