全國中小學科展

2023年

二氧化碳高選擇性轉化生成合成氣之碳中和工程

近年來碳排放的淨零是全人類所想達成的共同目標,因此本研究透過油浴將鐵、鈷或鎳離子與配位基配位,並形成以2-甲基咪唑為配體的前驅物沸石咪唑骨架,以及以雙氰胺和葡萄糖反應為配體的前驅物類石墨相氮化碳,再鍛燒形成可導電的催化劑。研究者分別以上述兩系列的金屬單分散催化劑,使用氣液分隔的氣體擴散電極進行電解人工光合作用,將CO2高選擇性地還原為CO,並探討各催化劑產CO效率。本研究發現鎳金屬類石墨相氮化碳對CO2還原反應的選擇性極高,能使產CO效率達到99%。而CO作為合成氣已有成熟的工業製程,能生成許多具經濟價值的產物,工業需求量非常大。未來若實際執行,則有助碳中和目標的達成。

Designing a LiDAR topographic navigation system: A novel approach to aid the visually impaired

The WHO reports 2.2 billion people internationally have a form of visual impairment, with Perkins School of Blind adding that 4 to 8 percent (8.8 - 17.6 million people) solely rely on a white cane for navigation. In an interview by Stephen Yin for NPR, visually impaired interviewees claimed that a white cane was ineffective as it failed to detect moving obstacles (ex. bikes), aerial obstacles (ex. falling objects), and it became physically demanding after a prolonged period. This problem can be solved with a headset that integrates LiDAR technology and haptic feedback to provide a real-time assessment of their environment. Theoretically, the device will determine how far an object is from the user and place it into one of three conditionals based on distance (0- 290mm, 310-500mm, 510-1200mm). As the user gets closer to the object, the haptic will vibrate more frequently. The device has 11 LIDAR sensors, beetle processors, and ERM motors so that when the LiDAR detects an object, the device will send a haptic signal in that area. It not only identifies the existence of an object but it tells the user its relative position with a latency period of approximately 2 milliseconds. When testing the device, a simulated walking environment was made. Ten obstacles were included: five below the waist (72”, 28”, 35” and 8.5” tall sticks) and five above the waist (paper suspended 6”, 10”, 48” and 28” from the ceiling). The white cane detected 4.1 obstacles, whereas the device detected 7.3 on average. The LiDAR navigation system is 178% more effective at detecting objects comparatively. Visually impaired individuals no longer must rely on the white cane; rather, using this device, they can detect small, moving, and aerial objects at a much faster, and more accurate speed.

Synthesize Sodium Sesquicarbonate and Increase Yield

In order to recycle disposable diapers, we investigated the conditions where sodium sesquicarbonate (Chemical formula Na2CO3・ NaHCO3・ 2H2O hereinafter called sesqui) precipitates selectively from sodium carbonate and the conditions for high yield. For the selective precipitation of sesqui, we defined the time required for the reaction solution to pass through the sesqui precipitation area in the Na2CO3-NaHCO3-H2O phase diagram (45°C) as Δ t. As a result, we revealed that Δt is involved in the selective precipitation of sesqui, and that we can synthesize sesqui without the expensive addition of L-Arginine as used in a previous research. Also, we proposed the “Stay method”, in which the supply of CO2 is stopped for 30 minutes to the lengthen the Δ t, and found that we could synthesize sesqui selectively even under conditions in which sodium bicarbonate is likely to be precipitated as well. Regarding the high yield of sesqui, the yield was greatly improved by the common ion effect of Na by adding NaOH to the reaction solution, sesqui synthesis by repeated reactions with CO2, and sesqui recovery by adding the anti-solvent ethanol, reaching a sesqui conversion rate of 95%. This means 109 g of sesqui can be synthesized from 100 g of Na2CO3. Moreover, we confirmed that these synthesized samples have almost the same detergency as commercial sesqui. We did a test calculation to reveal the usefulness of this research. First, if diaper recycling technology is put into practical use and all used diaper waste in Saijo City can be recycled, a reduction of 534 t/year of used diaper waste can be expected. This corresponds to a 2.3% reduction in Saijo City's waste output. From the ash that would ultimately remain after being recycled, we expect up to 35.3 t/year of synthesized sesqui using our experimental method. In addition, a CO2 reduction of 8.2 t/year is possible in the process, which is about equivalent to the volume of one gymnasium.

斜槓元宇宙-智慧新農機:全球首創利用Arduino自動偵測「迴轉耕耘機」犁耕土壤深度的火犁仔(曳引機)、解決人類糧食危機

本研究以機電整合,發明了【曳引機迴轉犁偵測系統】,將大型農業機械智能化,並優化及整合工程技術,設計了六大系統,藉由量化評工程效益及作物的產量變化,觀察設計成效。 根據文獻,水稻管理使用「灌溉系統」+「雜草抑制蓆」+「生物肥料」的機制,可以增加產量[1,2]。因此我們優化這些機制,並設計「精準深耕」、「智慧噴桿」、「滴灌系統」形成六大系統。利用自創的【曳引機迴轉犁偵測系統】,犁耕時就可以在每一寸土地上,精確控制土壤深度在25cm的「精準深耕」。我們也發現,在這六大系統的協同效應下,不僅省下3~12倍的作業時間,同時在加乘效果的作用下,產量可以大幅提高至79%。 本實驗花二年時間,在台中清水地區1.2公頃的農地,實際建構這六大系統。並使用無人機偵測飛行高度的3D立體影像感測器、Arduino微控制器、燒入自行設計的Arduino C程式,成功發明【曳引機迴轉犁偵測系統】,並裝在大型曳引機,用來偵測迴轉耕耘機翻鬆土壤的深度,同步將該數據立即顯示在駕駛室的儀表板。 目前全球六大品牌大型曳引機,造價超過新台幣400萬元,尚無一款具有本研究自創的迴轉犁自動偵測功能。

塑膠發電– PLA降解之燃料電池研究

本實驗主要將PLA塑膠產品以水解降解、光降解方式形成小分子乳酸單體或其寡聚物,作為燃料電池之燃料,使其再循環產生能量,減少塑膠產品對環境之汙染。PLA降解之方法,可將PLA浸泡於低濃度氫氧化鈉溶液或照射UV光進行前處理再置入乙醇中,或直接放入高濃度氫氧化鈉中並加熱將其迅速降解,後者可於5分鐘內將市售PLA產品完全降解。以上述PLA降解溶液作為燃料電池之燃料,同時以自製氧氣供應裝置提供氧氣,作為電池兩極。電極為鍍鉑鎳鉻絲,電解液為0.7M氫氧化鈉溶液,電壓可達0.85V。PLA雖為生物可分解性塑膠,現今仍主要以燃燒方式處理,此迅速降解PLA之方法可解決目前使用後處理之困境。同時本實驗為首次利用乳酸作為化學燃料電池之燃料,並成功使其產生電力,此研究可提供PLA塑膠分解與利用之新思維。

Air quality monitoring project as an educational tool for sustainable development

The research project has an extremely relevant topic - the creation of an air quality monitoring system for general secondary education. In the context of the Covid 19 pandemic, proper air sanitation is a determining factor in counteracting the spread of coronavirus infection. Special requirements for the procedure of systematic ventilation of educational premises are set before teachers and technical staff of schools "Sanitary Regulations for General Secondary Education Institutions", which is mandatory for implementation in general secondary education institutions. Together with measures to counter the Covid 19 pandemic, the new health regulations somewhat neglect resource conservation and energy efficiency issues: ventilation during the heating season can lead to wasteful heat losses. Monitoring the quality of air purification is simply necessary if teachers and parents care about creating a safe educational environment for students at school. Requirements for air safety determine and regulate its characteristics such as temperature, humidity, the presence of dust particles of different sizes, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and formaldehyde vapors. The level of hazardous substances such as formaldehyde, which can be released from building materials, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, should be closely monitored in accordance with the recommendations of sanitary regulations and hygiene requirements of health care facilities. With increased concentrations of carbon dioxide above normal, the human body will experience the negative effects of hypoxia: poor health, drowsiness, decreased cognitive processes, learning becomes less effective. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous substance that can damage the body, poison hemoglobin and cause constant hypoxia of all organs and systems, long stay indoors with it leads to death. Formaldehyde causes carcinogenic effects, and the excess concentration of dust particles worsens the condition of people with allergies and bronchial asthma, as well as dust promotes bacterial growth and the spread of viral particles, which is especially dangerous in a coronavirus pandemic. Our solution allows for a transparent permanent monitor of air quality in the school, makes this monitoring completely inclusive - because any user from among the participants in the educational process has access to up-to-date information about the air in the school and can make informed decisions about proper behavior Our system allows students to become more responsible, independent in terms of sanitary requirements and compliance. Therefore, the main idea of our project is extremely relevant today - to organize a digitalized system for monitoring the quality of air purification in the school, thus preventing inadequate ventilation with wasteful heat loss and reduced energy efficiency of the school building. The project has signs of sustainability - it is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals – 3 «Good health and well-being», 4 «Quality education», 5 «Gender equality», 11 «Sustainable cities and communities», 12 «Responsible consumption and production» and 13 «Climate action»

The effects of Different Synthesis Methods and Catalysts on Crude Aspirin

Aspirin is one of the most used and well-known medicines world-wide. It can be synthesized by reacting acetic anhydride and salicylic acid in a warm temperature of around 60-80°C. This reaction is usually catalyzed by sulfuric or phosphoric acid. This paper will investigate alternative catalysts, safer and more environmentally friendly, as well as compare different synthesis methods with different heat mediums, one using a water bath and the other amicrowave. By doing so, the effects of the catalyst and the method of synthesis on the yield, purity and environmental consequence of crude aspirin synthesis will be deduced. The targeted utcome is to find the alternative method as more energy efficient, and to find a greener safer catalyst to sulfuric and phosphoric acid. Further background information, exploration, and explanation is in the appendix. The targeted outcome will be to find a viable alternative catalyst that is safer and more environmentally friendly, and to find that the microwave synthesis method consumes less energy.

Forming Polygons with Broken Pick-up Chocolate Bars and Spaghetti Noodles

”The broken pick-up sticks problem” is proposed by T. Kyle Petersen and Bridget Eileen Tenner in 2020. We solve the problem by considering the discrete version using random variables, and the limit behaviour of the discrete version gives us a combinatorial solution to the original problem. We also evaluate the probabilities of the triangles formed by the broken/pick-up sticks satisfying some specific geometric conditions with various techniques, including calculus and elementary number theory.

自製模型模擬地震對地球自轉速率變化之探討

為了解地震對地球自轉速率變化之影響,本研究使用自製地球模型、模擬板塊裝置,並運用 Tracker 等程式,模擬地震後地球自轉變化情形。 自製地球轉動時角速度有週期變化,可當作模擬地震發生的背景資料。研究結果顯示,加重板塊負重,角速度無明顯變化趨勢,但自轉一圈所需時間皆增加。改變板塊位置,北緯 22.5 度組角速度圖形高峰值及振幅顯著增加,赤道、北緯 45 度組變化則不明顯。 板塊移動與球體旋轉同向時,角速度變化振幅明顯加大,反向則不明顯。在角速度相對小時移動板塊,角速度趨勢往下,平均角速度減少;反之,在角速度相對大時移動板塊,角速度趨勢往上,平均角速度增加。 本模型模擬之地震所引發之日長改變量,經由換算相當於自轉週期 24 小時的地球改變了 36 分鐘。

Reduction of traffic congestion in España Boulevard using graph theory

There have been numerous studies exploring the applications of graph theory in traffic management, often finding ways to reduce traffic congestion and make traveling more efficient. Such studies will be beneficial when applied to heavily congested areas such as España Boulevard, one of the busiest thoroughfares in Manila. This paper aimed tooptimize the road map of España Boulevard using graph theory. The current road map of España Boulevard was represented as a directed graphand subjected to the mutation method of edge removal, wherein an edge isremoved in each mutation based on a computed fitness function, F(G),which depicts better efficiency at lower values. Edges were removed until the graph got disconnected, which was tested using the Floyd-Warshall algorithm. The 28th mutation resulted in a minimum F(G) value of 144.4; this is a 50.18% decrease from the F(G) of the original graph, which is 290. After the 28th mutation, the removals resulted in an increase in the F(G). As a result, the final mutation resulted in an F(G) of 311.89, which characterized a less efficient graph. This study was able to apply graph theory concepts to optimize the España Boulevard road map using the mutation method, minimizing its F(G) by at most 50.18%. For future studies, the practicality of the alternate road map may be tested in simulations to examine its efficiency when other factors, such as traffic volume, are introduced.