Randi Purnama, recipient of Doctoral Degree at ITS, when delivering his dissertation in an open session of doctoral promotion

ITS Campus, ITS News – In the construction of tall buildings, it was found that air conditioner took the highest energy consumption compared to other electronics. This has come to the attention of Randi Purnama Putra, doctoral student at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS) and responded by conducting research on energy efficiency in the air system.

Through his dissertation entitled “Numerical Studies and Pressure Drop Reduction Experiment at a 90 Degree Square Elbow with Circular Turbulator”, Randi succeeded in achieving his Doctoral degree at ITS after the open session in Room D-201 of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology and Systems Engineering (FTIRS) ITS on last February.

This man who successfully completed his doctoral studies in only seven semesters explained that the ducting is an important component in the air system. That is because ducting plays a role to circulate air from one room to another.

Randi Purnama (right) when attending an open session for him to achieve Doctoral degree at ITS

In the use of air conditioners, according to Randi, ducting contributes a big amount to energy consumption, as much as around 10 percent of the total energy needed by the AC. “If the energy consumption by the ducting system can be reduced, the AC energy consumption will be more efficient as well,” stated Randi in his dissertation presentation.

This student has crowned the 13th doctorate graduate from the ITS Mechanical Engineering Department continued that the ducting construction itself consists of various supporting components; a valve that regulates the flow of air, guide vane that can direct the flow, and the 90 degrees elbow to deflect the direction of airflow.

Elbow installation can adjust the flow direction so that it is installed according to the conditions needed. “But the installation of elbows has another impact when viewed in terms of energy use,” revealed this lecturer of the Padang State University.

Randi Purnama (middle) with the examiners after the open session of doctoral promotion

Randi also explained that the loss of energy consumption in systems that use elbows occurs because of a pressure drop; there is a pressure drop due to friction due to the resistance of the pipeline to the flow.

Through numerical studies and experiments in his dissertation, Randi proved that the pressure drop can be reduced by using a circular turbulator. “With a decrease in pressure drop, the system will be more efficient in consuming energy,” revealed this doctor who successfully graduated with a 4.00 GPA and holds a very satisfying predicate.

Promoted by Prof. Ir. Sutardi M.Eng., Ph.D., and Dr. Wawan Aries Widodo, S.T., M.T., Randi hopes that he will be able to develop his research again in the near future. “Hopefully, more research can be conducted using turbulators of various versions,” he concluded. (rys/ory/ITS Public Relations)