July 2013

EURECA (Engineering
Undergraduate Research
and Catalysis) Conference 2013

Volume (4), Issue (7)

July

1-2

The inaugural EURECA conference is the first conference in Malaysia that caters
specifically for undergraduate engineering students, giving them a platform to
present their final year research work.
As a requirement for graduation for all Taylors University School of Engineering
final year students, the conference has seen the participation of 73 final year
engineering students from Taylors University and 1 participant from the University
of Nottingham, Malaysia.
The aim of this conference is to help undergraduate students develop their
research skills and experience the networking opportunities with industry and
academic experts. The keynote speakers for EURECA 2013 were Dr. Dian Darina
Indah bt Daruis from the National Defence University of Malaysia, Mr. Arnold Teo
from Shell Malaysia and Professor Iven Mareels from the University of Melbourne.

Official launch of the conference

by Professor Dato Dr. Hassan Said,
Vice Chancellor & President,
Taylors University.

Keynote Speakers

Professor Dr. Iven Mareels

Dean, School of Engineering,
University of Melbourne.

Mr. Arnold
Senior Production Manager,
Shell Refining Companies.

Invited guests and the faculty members of Taylors University School of Engineering in a group photo.

Taylors University Engineering Fair July 2013

July

Judging in progress for the Nanofluid

Cooling System for Solar Panels.

Sem 1

Taylors Engineering Fair is an event held traditionally every

semester to showcase the innovative concepts, groundbreaking inventions and revolutionary ideas of the engineering
students of Taylors University, which are then judged by
academic experts and leading industry representatives
based on various categories. There were 128 groups from all
the three disciplines - Mechanical, Chemical and Electrical
Engineering - taking part in the fair. From Race Car to War
Robots, Pyrolysis Cooking Stove to Bioethanol Production

It Moves!!!
Award:
Taylors Grand Challenge Amphibian
Vehicle Race
Amphibian vehicle is an important mode of transportation
that is used by many all over the world eg: military purpose,
emergency. Realising the importance of this vehicle, desires
to instill students designing skills coupled with a sense of
responsibility, sustainability and creativity.
Team Members: Oh Wei Szin, Chew Hong Jun,
Melvin Mok Poh Chuen, Chong Chiang Hoong,
Ricky Saputra

Plants, Brain Controlled wheelchair to 500 Megawatt Solar

Power Plant in range, these are just a tip of an iceberg of the
already impressive projects that were showcased at the July
2013 Taylors Engineering Fair.
In other words, it is a full-spectrum exhibition of the future
technologies painstakingly designed and crafted by the
engineering students for the future generations.

Sem 2

Taylors Racing Team

Award:
Best Ergonomic Design Project Award
This project is a double-seater racing car powered by a Honda cbr250r
engine, which will compete in the 2013 EIMA race at the Melaka International
Motorsport Circuit.

Easy-Disposal Cat Litter Box

Award:
Highest Marketing Potential Project Award
One of the hassles of owning a cat is to clean its waste from the litter box.
This project is designed to make this process easier, especially for those who
own a lot of cats. Instead of picking the faeces one-by-one, this device will
allow cat owners to rid them all in one go.

Sem 2

Team Members: Muhammad Anas, Tengku Mohamad Faris Bin Tengku

Salehudin, Terry Vun, Lee Jia Hin, Manish Kumar Sing Domun

Chairish Life
Award:
Best Return on Investment Project Award
This chair implements a stretching mechanism that allows
users to flex their muscles within reachable space even in the
midst of a hectic routine. Stretching improves ones blood
circulation when he/she sits down for too long. By applying
ergonomic principles, this chair helps boost productivity and
efficiency of the user.
Team Members: Lee Pak Kee, Kong Ye Kai, Sze Zi Cheng,
Teh Kai Ren, Heng Jing Lei, Wong Jing Jie

Sem 2

Team Members: Justin Moo Xian Yuen, Naresh Jeyapalan,

Jason Law Sie Wei, Ivan Chai Voon Kian, Leroy Liaw Kwok Leung,
Khine Thin Zar Sint, Fatemah Donyamali

Sem 3

Briefcase Size Biodiesel Plant from House Cooking Oil (GG Tank)
Award:
Best Multidisciplinary Project Award
Aimed at converting waste cooking oil into biodiesel,
this is the product of the hard and united work of this
groups members. Made out of recyclable materials,
it is not only environmental friendly but also aids in
generating income for people in rural areas.

Nanocarbon Capture from Diesel Exhaust

Award:
Best Return on Investment Project Award
This project designed a cyclone separator that is able to
separate nanoparticles from diesel exhaust which may be
harmful to human bodies.

Sem 3

Team Members: Yap Zhu Wei, Kok Cher Zheng,

Khor Shern Huong, Tan Yi Jin, Yeoh Woanlin

Pyrolysis Cooking Stove

Award:
Best Environmentally Friendly Design
Project Award
This project develops an environmental-friendly cooking stove
that uses biomass as fuel to generate heat. A secondary air
supply is introduced to ensure complete combustion takes
place.
Team Members: Aiman Bin Yusri, Aisyah Hanis Binti Abdul Aziz,
Justin Leong Chee Mun, Ling Tek Soon, Low Shen Hin

Judging in progress for the Briefcase

Size Biodiesel Plant from House
Cooking Oil (GG Tank).

Sem 3

Sem 3

Team Members: Sun Yeng Joe, Gavin Neo Hung Ming,

Chin Meei Huey, Choon Zhe Shyi, Tan Wei Tar

Snapshots of the engineering projects

displayed at the fair.

Sem 4

Herbal Processing Technology

Award:
Most Innovative Design Project Award
This is a new product using a medicinal herb (betel
leaves) for its known bio-activity, which can be used as
soap and/or toothpaste.

Sem 4

Team Members: Ameena Ali (Jaime), Mariam

Abdul Hafeez, Aisyah Fadhilah Bt Mahmood Azmy,
Chia Wan Teng

Palm Oil Cutter & Collection System

Award:
Best CAD/CAM Design Project Award

Award:
Best Environmentally Friendly Design
Project Award
This project aims to produce activated carbon from oil
palm shell and use it for wastewater treatment replacing
the existing method to reduce the cost for wastewater
treatment.
Team Members: Saravanakumar A/L Rajentheran,
Alicia Cheok Pei Yin, Ma Qianyi, Yong Mun Yee

This project aims to create a smarter way to harvest oil palm

fruits to reduce the difficulties faced by plantation workers.
Team Members: Joshua Chieng Lie Yang, Chia Voon Kui, Tan
Chee Hong, Mok Chui Jet, Lee Neng Yung, Lee Pei Ying

Sem 4

Palm Oil Effluent Treatment &

Preparation of Activated Carbon

Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize
A human powered vehicle (HPV) can be defined as a type of vehicle, which
uses only human muscle power as the input energy to allow movement of
the vehicle itself. This project aims to improve the ergonomic and safety of
the design of a HPV. Besides that, a manufacturing plant is modeled to mass
produce the vehicle.

Sem 5

Team Members: Pang Zong Xin, Chan Jian Sheng, Yap Kian Hoong,
Lim Ze Qian, Lim Ming Tat

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize
The objective of this project is to design a polyvinyl chloride
Semplant
5 that will convert the basic components
(PVC) production
(chlorine & ethylene) into the intermediary product, vinyl chloride
monomer (VCM) and finally to PVC. To complete this project,
application of knowledge regarding flow sheeting, process energy
integration, process modelling using simulation software (i.e.
Unisim) and equipment sizing.

Sem 5

Team Members: Siow Yea Ying, Lai Chooi San, Tsu Weng Huang,
Ho Szu Jie

Biodiesel Production
Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize
This project is to produce biodiesel from extraction of algae
oil via transesterification process.
Team Members: Joanne Chan Wan Rou, Phing Hui Min, Kalananthni,
Chun Eugene

Students demonstrating their

Fit 2 Space project.

Sem 5

Conceive & Design a Human-Powered Vehicle & Its

Associated Manufacturing Plant

Human Powered Vehicle

Sem 6

Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize

Sem 6

This project is to develop human powered vehicle for

the HPV Inter-Uni competition. This vehicle has to purely
operate using human power without engines. The HPV
is required to deliver maximum energy transmission in
order to win the race.

Production of Methyl Tertiary Buthyl

Ether (MTBE)

Team Members: Low Kean Peng, Wong Chyishen,

Pang Chuan Yao

Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize

Team Members: Fang Yan Kai, Khoo Meow Shan,

Nor Azhreeha Binti Abdul Hamed

Human Powered Vehicle (HPV)

Award:
Taylors Capstone Project Prize
This project is a three-wheeler HPV, specially developed
to compete in the race.
Team Members: Dominic Ang Ding Xiong,
Ng Kun Yong, Lim Wei Kit, Gabriel Ngui Kai Zhneg,
Michael Loon Chee Yan

Panel of judges briefing session.

Sem 6

Incorporating chemical process design skills, this design

project covers the production of methyl tertiary butyl
ether (MTBE) that belongs to a group of chemicals
known as oxygenates. The MTBE plant production
capacity of 300,000 metric tonnes per year is utilised
in the automotive industry where the oxygenate acts
as an additive in fuel for gasoline engines to enhance
combustion process and reduce the emissions of exhaust
pollutants. Acting as an octane enhancer, MTBE is an
ideal substitute for lead in the blending of gasoline.

Sem 8
Sem 8

An Application of Research
Methodology Framework Relating
Cognitive Ergonomics to Sport
Science (by Terence Foo Kai Wai)

Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)

Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)

This project was conducted to design an EMA test to

gauge the impact hammer modal testing on multibent
oxidised phosphorus copper tube within the interesting
frequency range of 1Hz to 200Hz. The test fixture needs
to be designed by following the general principles
of vibration of a test fixture design by altering the
resonances out of the range of testing.

Golf is a sport that requires a high level of cognitive

skills where it does not only depend on physical and
mental process. Precision making is also equally
important. This research aims to study various factors
that affects the mental behaviour of the golfer and how
it is affecting their golf performance.

A Structural Investigation on an Electric

Car Chasis (by Teh Ren Yu)

Sem 8

Developing an Integrated Approach

for Experimental Modal Analysis of
Multi-Bent Copper Phosphorous Tubes
(by Cheok Jian Tyng)

This project addresses the method, design, testing and

construction of a Shell Eco Marathon Solar Car Chassis.

Sem 8

Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)

Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)
Suspensions of Nano-sized particles (<100NM) in base
fluid are termed as nanofluids, which are believed to be
the promising collant in heat transfer applications due
to their enhanced thermal conductivity. In this study, the
enhancement in heat transfer of CNT nanofluids under
turbulent flow conditions was investigated experimentally
using carbon nanotube (CNTS) nanofluids of 0.051-0.085
WT%, stabilized by optimum concentrations of gum arabic
in a concentric tube turbulent flow heat exchanger.

CFD Simulation of Forced Convection

Nanofluid Flow inside a Circular
Conduit (by Low Lup Kwan)
Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)
This research aimed to simulate heat transfer
enhancement in a turbulent flow circular conduit with
respect to different nanoparticle concentration and
Reynolds number including the effects of drag and lift
forces, respectively. Simulations were carried out using
single-phase and two-phase (mixture and eulerian) models
in 3-D geometry.

Sem 8

Heat Transfer Enhancements Using CNT

Nanofluids in a Turbulent Flow Heat
Exchanger (by Ong Seik San)

Drying Kinetics & Total Phenolic

Content of Dried Mentha Arvensis
Leaves (by Wong Siew Fan)
Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)

Mems Biosensor: The Elecmagnetism

Approach (by Chan Ching Hong)

Sem 8

Sem 8

Group photo during the closing

ceremony of Taylors Engineering Fair.

Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)
The project uses elecmagnetism theory to test the
hypothesis of MEMS biosensors using inductance to sense
the existance of pathogens.

Automatic Car-Plate Detection &

Recognition System (by Ng Simin)
Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)
This project aims to improve the automatic number plate
recognition system.

Design & Development of Single-Sided

Linear Induction Motor
(by Khumira Ismail)
Award:
Taylors Research Prize (Individual)
Linear motor provides a linear motion of thrust along its
axis. In this project, height to width ratio of the permanent
magnets is varied to investigate the change to the motors
thrust characteristics.

Sem 8

Sem 8

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects

of natural sun drying and infrared drying on drying
characteristics and total phenolic content of MA leaves.
Drying temperature of infrared dried MA leaves was
ranged from 50C - 80C and average natural sun drying
temperature was 30C- 45C.

Taylors Human Powered Vehicle Race

July

Group Photo of the contestants of the HPV Race.

The third year, second semester

students from Taylors University School
of Engineering participated in the
inaugural Taylors Human Powered
Vehicle Race THPV. Four teams
participated in the race, each with their
own human powered vehicle. The HPVs
were conceived, designed, implemented
throughout the year as part of the
Mechanical Engineering Capstone
Project module; and operated in the
race by one of the team members.

and completed the qualifying session in

first place with a time of 25.3 seconds,
10 seconds ahead of the second place
team, Team 2. The HPVs for Team 2,
3 and 4 were piloted by Ahmad Fikri,
Mohaymen Khan and Low Kean Peng
respectively. The race consisted of 5
laps. Team 1 dominated the race and
finished the race a lap ahead of the
second place team, Team 2.

The qualifying session of the race

consists of the each team completing
a lap and locking in the lap time. The
best lap time determined the position
of the team on the starting grid. Team
1s HPV was piloted by Domonic Ang

Team #1s HPV piloted by Dominic Ang.

Team #2s HPV piloted

by Ahmad Fikri.

CO2 Car Competition

July

Carbon dioxide car (CO2 car) competition 2013 was

successfully held on 8th July 2013 at Taylors University,
Lakeside Campus. A total of 48 teams consisting of high
school students in Klang Valley competed in the event.
The objective of the event is to develop critical thinking
skills and cultivate team work among school students via
engineering projects.

Opening address by the Dean, School

of Engineering, Professor Dr. Mushtak
Al-Atabi.

Participating teams were required to construct a model vehicle

which is capable of carrying a 500ml bottle. The model vehicle
must be powered by carbon dioxide (CO2) and travel the
distance specified.
Each team presented and explained their model vehicles
technical characteristics to a panel of judges, who then
evaluate the teams based on their creative design ideas and
initiatives. Next, the cars were released one by one along a

runway to compete against each other according to the

specified travelling distance. Cars were not to travel beyond
the set limit of 5.5 meters. Other than teams presentation
and creativeness of the model, the research model, the cost
effectiveness of building the model and the poster is also
taken into consideration as part of the winning criteria.
During the closing ceremony of the competition, the
following awards were presented to the respective winners:

Awards

Team

School

Best Presentation

Formula 5

Tsun Jin High School

Best Researched Project

Neonites

SMJK Chong Hwa

Most Cost Effective Project

Big Axle Donuts

Sri Emas International School

Most Creative Project

Jetpack Joyride

Wesley Methodist School

Best Supportive Teacher

Pn. Sin

SMK Taman Desa

Best Poster

Moving Forward

Catholic High School

2nd Runner Up

Mighty Minds

SMJK Chong Hwa

1st Runner Up

Big Axle Donuts

Sri Emas International School

Champion

Tsun Jin C

Tsun Jin High School

Prize giving ceremony to

the winners.

Official Visit by Founder and

President of MINDS
July

16

Academician Tan Sri Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr. Augustine S.

H. Ong, the President of the Malaysian Invention and Design
Society (MINDS), and MINDS Executive Secretary, Chrys Tee,
visited Taylors Technology Innovation Centre (TTIC) on the
16th July 2013. Present at the visit to welcome the guests
were Taylors University Vice Chancellor and President,
Professor Dato Dr. Hassan Said; Dean School of Engineering,
Professor Dr. Mushtak Al-Atabi; Dean School of Architecture,
Building and Design, Mr. Tony Liew; Deputy Dean of Taylors
Design School, Mr. Ken Tan; Associate Dean (International
Relations) of Taylors Design School, Charles Naidu; Design
Schools lecturer, Mr. Stephen Poon and Director of TTIC,
Associate Professor Dr. Edwin Chung.

Group photo with Tan Sri Ong (third from

right) at the end of the official visit.

Tan Sri Ong visit was at the invitation of Mr. Stephen Poon
who as a committee member of MINDS noticed similarities
in some of the objectives of the two organisations and how
the two organisations can complement each other. At the
core of this discussion was how the two organisations can
work together to promote the practice of innovation within
the country especially to secondary school students. Possible
research collaboration and the appointment of Tan Sri Ong as
an Adjunct Professor were also discussed.
Tan Sri Ong presented a coffee table publication
as souvenir to Prof. Dato Dr. Hassan.

First Foundation in
Engineering Orientation
July

Professor Dr. Mushtak

Al-Atabi briefing students
during FIE orientation.

23

The inaugural intake of 79 Foundation in Engineering students

kick-started with the orientation week on 23rd to 25th July
2013. Professor Dr. Mushtak Al-Atabi, Dean of SOE, presented
exciting concepts on the need to be an engineer to the new
babies during his opening speech. Ir. Dr. Satesh Narayana
Namasivayam, the Deputy Dean of SOE, also introduced the
academic regulations and code of conduct to the students.

The new students were

engrossed with the talk by
Ir. Dr. Satesh.

Taylors University, Lakeside Campus (JPT/BPP/1000-801/67/Jld.2(32) KPT/JPS/DFT/US/B21)

No.1, Jalan Taylors, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
(603) 5629 5000

(603) 5629 5001

admissions@taylors.edu.my

www.taylors.edu.my