Day 07 Part 1 - Workshop: Eco Campus in Kitakyushu Science and Research Park
The second day of the workshop focused on the eco-technology that the University of Kitakyushu integrated in the overall design of the campus. The presentation was given by Prof. Weijun Gao, Ph. D. (He was the one who sat beside me during the Welcome Party. He's very witty XD)
The presentation was divided into three parts.
Kitakyushu Science and Research Park (KSRP)
University of Kitakyushu
Eco Campus in KSRP
After that was a sightseeing tour of the Eco Campus.
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THE KITAKYUSHU SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PARK
The city of Kitakyushu's master plan's main theme is:
An international city of technology rich in waterfronts and greenery with a friendly atmosphere.
This theme is best exemplified in the Kitakyushu Science and Research Park (KSRP). As it is a park , the surroundings are full of greenery. As it is a Science And Research Park, the universities, the partner companies and the buildings here are for science and research.
The KSRP includes 3 zones - the university complex, the joint-use facilities, and the enterprise/development facilities. Besides the Kitakyushu University where our workshop's held, there are other universities in KSRP namely the Kyushu Insttitute of Technology, the Fukuoka University and the Waseda University.
The Participating Universities:
The joint-use facilities:
All of these buildings - the universities to the joint-use facilities - are distinctly emitting a "research" facility feel. The dull and gray buildings are all seemingly closed or private structures, like experiments are undergoing inside the many rooms and cannot be disturbed by external unplanned elements. There are many windows but few are open. The University of Kitakyushu, in particular, really looked like an "engineering" building because of the exposed structural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. Dynamism, color or purposely designed aesthetic focus are lacking in the designs of buildings.
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UNIVERSITY OF KITAKYUSHU
The Kitakyushu University Faculty of Engineering has 5 departments. 1.) Dept. of Chemical Processes and Environments, 2.) Dept. of Mechanical Systems and Environmental Engineering, 3.) Dept. of Information and Media Sciences, 4.) Dept. of Life and Environmental Engineering, and of course the 5.) Department of Architecture.
Department of Architecture
Curriculum/researches:
- structure and construction
- construction materials
- space design
- energy and environmental building design
^ Sustainable architecture design features in the university were the core of today's workshop.
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ECO-CAMPUS IN KSRP + SIGHTSEEING TOUR
Applied ecological techniques in the Kitakyushu University
Natural Ventilation/Wind
Natural Light
Roof Greening, Vertical Greening
Solar Chimney and Cool Pit
Water-Recycling System
Providing a sustainable habitat for flora and fauna, and conservation of water bodies
Solar cells
Gas engine
Surplus Heat Utilization
Natural Ventilation by Solar Chimney and Cool pit
This by far was the most impressing thing I saw in the university. The concept is simple and effective.
A cool pit system and a solar chimney are used to allow air to circulate throughout the building. The wind enters through vents located at the ground floor of the building (refer to 1st photo below). The wind is then collected in an underground cool reservoir or pit filled with charcoal that makes the wind cool (refer to the 2nd photo below). The wind then goes up through the building's walls, and are then released to the rooms and corridors through vents on the walls. The wind finally exits through the vents on the solar chimneys (3rd photo below).
The natural flow of the wind is from down going upwards following the concept of "hot air rises". The solar chimney's west and south side walls are made of glass, whereas the walls facing east and north are made of concrete. Aluminum that is shaped like a sideways V are then placed over the vents that are on the solar chimney's 2 sides. Because of the glass and aluminum, the solar chimney heats up the air around it. When the wind from the cool pit absorbs heat, it slowly becomes hotter and naturally will rise up and exit through the solar chimney's vents.
Natural Light
Since the whole building was big, several light wells were installed. Besides providing light, wind can also circulate through the windows.
The building also has a large open area facing an open field allowing natural light to penetrate through the glass windows and doors of the building.
Sunshading
The buildings in the KSRP also employ sun braking elements. They are especially useful blocking sunlight during the summer. But because of their designs, either grid-like or vertical strips with spaces in between, sunlight can still pass through during winter.
POWER GENERATION SYSTEM
Besides the normal electricity coming from the Grid, the university also make use of their own power generation systems to save on energy. These systems include the solar cells, gas engines and fuel cells.
a. Solar Electricity System
Lots of solar cells, probably amounting to millions of Yen, are found on the roof tops of the Kitakyushu University. There are two types of solar cells used, the single-crystalline silicon and the poly-crystalline silicon. Solar energy gathered are converted to electricity and is then used by the university.
b. Fuel Cell
The fuel cell works by using the principles of electrolysis but in reverse. An electrochemical reaction of hydrogen from fuel with oxygen in the air produces electricity and water.
c. Gas Engine
Electricity is produced from gas. Heat that is also produced from the gas engine is used for heating and cooling water.
The power generation systems the university utilizes are summarized in the flowchart below:
WASTE WATER PURIFICATION AND RECYCLING SYSTEM
Rainwater and daily waste water of the campus are collected via common ducts. The collected water is treated by a biological system and filtration, and is then recycled for use in toilets, landscape irrigation and as a makeup feed for the cooling tower/s.
The purification of water undergoes 3 stages. At the lowest level, #3, the water is still impure and cannot be drank. By #2, water is still not cleaned purely but is already drinkable like so -->
^ Prof. Gao actually drank from there ^^^ The #2 cleaned water can be used for toilet water already. By the time the water reaches the #1 stage of purification, it is drinkable.
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After we've witnessed the ecological features of the campus, we went underground and saw the pipelines carrying water and electrical wires going around the campus. It stretches so far that we didn't dare to walk all the way. Everything was organized. The pipes with different sizes had color coded marks on them like arrows pointing to whichever direction the water's going to. The electrical wires are grouped accordingly as well.
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We also went to the office that monitors the collected solar power from the solar cells, and also the temperature of the solar chimneys.
The measured electric power collected from the solar cells are seen real-time from the office.
The temperature at the top of the solar chimney should be higher than the rest so as to facilitate the "hot air rises" principle. That temperature is monitored using the computers in the said office.
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And that's that for the Eco-campus!! So much information flowing~~~
