Research Details

Development of Porous Ceramics Utilizing Ilocos Norte Red Clay Deposits for Evaporative Cooling Application

Dionesio Pondoc

Category: Study

Status: Completed

Duration: March 1, 2017 - April 1, 2018

Brief Description

The proposed plan of work of this project will be done through experimental activities which includes the following:

  1. clay sampling/gathering from the location of clay deposit and other materials
  2. preliminary evaluation on the physical characteristics/properties, chemical and mineralogical composition of clay and other materials
  3. formulation studies of porous ceramic body
  4. fabrication of test specimens, testing and data analysis to determine the best body formulation
  5. prototype fabrication and testing of porous ceramic media pad
  6. fabrication and testing of prototype evaporative cooling system installed with newly developed porous ceramic media pad
  7. report writing on the results for future utilization.
Significance:
 
The results of this development project of porous ceramics for evaporative cooling system application will contribute to the environmental and health benefits of human civilization by adopting the technology.
 
The development project that will be undertaken utilizing local red clay deposits for evaporative cooling based from the knowledge of ceramic science and technology will give significant milestones on the development of ceramic raw materials for advanced applications.
 
Methodology:
  1. Preparation of Clay and other materials 
    • Clay and other materials will be gathered from its location deposit from the different municipality of Ilocos Norte by digging
  2.  
  3. Forming and Fabrication of Porous Ceramic Materials
  4. Design and Fabrication of Prototype Porous Ceramic Media Pad
  5. Design and Fabrication of Prototype Evaporative Cooling System
Major Activities (Phases)
  1. Acquisition of supplies and materials; setting-up the laboratory; survey and gathering of clay and other materials; preliminary evaluation and characterization (XRF, XRD, and TG-DTA analysis); Preparation and beneficiation of clay and other materials.
  2. Development and body formulation of porous ceramic test samples
  3. Design, fabrication and testing of porous ceramic media pad; Design, fabrication and testing of evaporative cooling system installed with developed porous ceramic media pad
  4. Data analysis, interpretation of results, report writing and submission, technical journal writing, patent documentation if possible.

Expected Output

Several expected output of thsi research includes:

  1. Publications for clay-based porous ceramic processing technique in ISI-listed scientific journals.
  2. Presentation in ceramics/clay-focused local, regional, national and international conferences
  3. Production of a porous ceramic that can be utilized for wet media pad application for evaporative cooling system.
  4. Fabrication of prototype evaporative cooling system installed with the newly developed porous ceramic wet media pad.