Biodesign Concept
Environment Regulator
Product design | Design Research | Prototyping | Concept design | Bio-Design
Team : Sashi , Zubin
This was a five-day sprint project done as a group under the guidance of Brendan Georges Cawley ( IDE - RCA ) as an initiative to conceptualise a product based on the principles of bio-design.
Our project was aimed at designing a substitute for air conditioners.
Problem Statement:
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Replacement for energy consuming green house gas emitting product a.k.a Air Conditioner.
Context
It is expected that by 2030 there would be 5578 million units of AC in demand requiring 6205 twh of energy.
2030
Why ?
Room heaters
Room heaters burn oxygen and reduce the humidity in the air
Air conditioners
Air conditioners collectively contribute to the greenhouse effect and to global warming
(The tech has been stuck since 1920’s)
Lack of Ventilation
With many building being built everyday in close proximity the proper flow of air for ventilation is reduced
Air purification
Air is being polluted due to harmful gases being released by vehicles and industries.
Inspiration / Mood Board
Research
The right combination of plant and it’s microbiome may be an effective in cleaning polluted air in urban areas
Bio-skin
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MIT Media Lab- Biologic material
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Bacillus Subtilis
Clothes created from the BioLogic fabric have vents that open in response to sweat
The ability of bacteria to Contract and Expand with moisture
Plant Microbiome
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Several microbes breakdown toxic chemicals ,including the ones present in atmosphere
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Scientists are trying to categorise the most efficient combination of plant and microbe to decontaminate air.
Mint cooling effect
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The cooling effect of mint is an illusion
Contains protein that regulates movements of ions across membrane of cells (TRPM8)
Microbial fuel houses
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Inserting bacteria into bricks and concrete could help generate heat, circulate air and repair cracks
Bricks containing microbial fuel cells
Building with reduced environmental footprint
Several methods explored to cool down the air by natural means and to circulate that cool air throughout the residence.
COOLING AIR BY MAKING IT TRAVEL 8-10 FEET DOWN THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH
The Coanda Effect is the tendency of a fluid jet to stay attached to a convex surface due to the creation of a low pressure area.
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Termite mounds use this principle to cool their tall towers of sand, clay and soil. Little convex cups are made on the ground that open up to tunnels that run a whole network inside the mound. They carry the air that is sucked in using the same principle for ventilation.
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Concept
The idea was to have a product that merges with the architecture. The inner part of the curve will contain provisions for either a seating unit for relaxing or a plant unit which will contain desiccant dehumidifier plants that help regulate room temperature. All of this will be possible without the requirement of any external energy.
The curves would become part of the architecture automatically squeezing in fresh air from the outside using the coanda effect.
Unit that can be installed in place of windows to circulate air within the house. The curves inculcated in the architecture boosts circulation.
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In addition the glass windows would have a self cleaning bacteria that would help clean the air that passes through it. The bacteria would have controlled growth and would feed on nutrition we provide in the form on chemicals.
Mock-up
