Volume 1 Series 2021

This study developed a hydro-electric energy device that harvests energy using flowing water which makes the turbine rotate continuously. The device is intended to be used as a water faucet which can be a viable energy source for small appliances rated five volts. It is composed of a generator, turbine, step-down voltage, charger module, rechargeable battery, and volts booster converter. From the different tests conducted, the device was able to generate an average voltage, current, and power of 4.705 V, 399 mA, and 1.877 W, respectively. The power efficiency of the device was 18.77%. The percent charge of the built-in battery increases after an average of 25.5 minutes. The device was able to generate enough power to charge low-voltage devices such as smartphones, power banks, portable lamps, and portable electric fans.

Solar energy has massive potential to address energy shortage problems and elevate living standards. More and more people are starting to invest in solar power systems by installing solar panels on their roofs. It is a way to generate electricity for homes and businesses without increasing the negative impacts on the environment. However, the fact remains that some buildings will not benefit from solar panels as they are not located in the right area or position. For this reason, this study developed a method of generating a map showing structures suitable for solar panel installation. The method was applied in the town center of a third-class component city in the Philippines. Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Geographical Information System (GIS) tools, and digitized structures were used to generate the map along with different criteria which served as a guide in identifying suitable structures. The criteria used were the rooftop’s slope, orientation, solar radiation, and surface area. The results show that 24.23% of the structures in the town center are suitable structures for solar panel installation with a potential energy generation of 7681.796135 MWh.

Vermiculture is a fast way of converting waste into organic fertilizer. It is an excellent soil enhancer and bioactive fertilizer for organic farming. Unfortunately, the conventional method practiced by vermiculture farmers cannot guarantee to sustain the preferred worm activity. For this reason, an automated vermicasts production machine was built to maintain the environmental parameters required in the production of vermicasts without human intervention. The machine includes a substrates shredder, watering system, harvester, and soil sifter and is supported by the use of a microcontroller which receives data from the soil moisture and temperature sensors to monitor the environmental parameters. After conducting trials, it was evident that the vermicast production machine was able to produce vermicasts. The watering system employed showed an efficient response to the unstable conditions of the vermibed. Apparent in the system was the operational monitoring of soil moisture and temperature which controlled the desired environment of the worm activity. With an initial vermiworm weight of 500 grams, the machine produced 2.5 kilograms of vermicasts and increased the worm production to 745 grams. The fish amino acid was also able to increase the vermiworm and vermicast production rate by enhancing the development and size of the African Nightcrawler. The machine yielded vermicasts with nutrient contents of 0.77% Nitrogen, 0.26% Phosphorus and 0.46% Potassium. With these nutrient contents, the machine is considered to be more desirable than the conventional method since it can produce more nutritive organic fertilizer for farmers.

Many diseases are associated with excess abdominal fat like cardiovascular diseases. Monitoring and controlling abdominal fat is one of the many factors that can change the status of a person’s health. Awareness of the waist-to-height ratio can be a guide to adjusting to a person’s lifestyle and maintaining a normal waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) value. This study developed the WHtR assessment device that automatically calculates the WHtR value, displays the health status, and suggests the ideal waist circumference. The device is composed of a microcontroller that interconnects the other components of the device. A touchscreen liquid crystal display component was used as an input and output unit at the same time. The several tests that were conducted revealed accurate WHtR value calculation. The device is effective in assessing the health status of all age groups. The ideal waist circumference from the device was compared to manual computation and found that the success rate was one hundred percent (100%).

Watering the plants is one of the most labor-intensive tasks in household activities which cause wastage of water if unexpected circumstances occur like sudden rain. For this reason, a weather-based automatic watering device was developed in this study to automatically water the plants. The device determines the soil moisture percentage and the weather conditions in the area. These data are checked by the microcontroller, whether they meet the specified conditions before sending the command to the relay which triggers the water pump. The device continuously measures soil moisture percentage and weather conditions automatically without human assistance. After conducting the series of tests, the researchers verified that the device was accurate in collecting weather information. It was able to trigger the water pump accordingly based on the detected parameters. The device will give the users the convenience of automatically watering their plants and saving water at the same time.

The paper presents a multiparameter aquaculture water quality tester and decision support system. The device was developed to aid aquaculture farmers in monitoring water quality parameters and maintaining or achieving optimal levels by suggesting ways on how a farmer can respond to such measurements. The Aquacision device measures six different water quality parameters; temperature, practical salinity, pH level, total dissolved solid (TDS), oxidation-reduction-potential (ORP), and algae density. Measurements were sent to the Aquacision application where they were processed to determine the course of action that was best to maintain or achieve optimal levels through the use of fuzzy rules. The Aquacision sensor measurement accuracy for temperature, practical salinity, pH level, TDS, and ORP are 99.746%, 99.465%, and 99.406%. 99.705%, and 95.575%, respectively during the actual testing. The AQUACISION application using the ISO/IEC 25010 software quality model evaluation with a 1-5 rating scale received an average of 4.633, 4.667, 4.525, 4.750, 4.525, and 4.450 for characteristics of functional suitability, performance efficiency, compatibility, usability, reliability, and portability, respectively. The application also received an average satisfaction of 4.750 which is highly satisfactory.

The researchers developed a multipurpose and portable thermoelectric generator that maximizes the waste heat generated from different sources to provide electricity that could power up low-voltage devices. Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) module converts heat energy into electric energy through temperature difference generated from both the hot and cold side of the module itself. This study used eight thermoelectric modules for the accumulation of waste heat to the hot side of the module and as for the cooling side; the researchers used a radiator as a medium to hold the cold substance. Based on the result of the testing, the device works best on waste heat sources from transport systems. For the cold side of the TEG device, cold water exhibits better performance in charging the batteries. Practically, the device can be used anytime and anywhere by anyone as long as the source can generate sufficient heat.

This research aimed to assess the compressive strength of load-bearing concrete hollow blocks with varying proportions of horse, cow, carabao, and goat manure. Standard materials for concrete hollow blocks were utilized alongside dried farm animal manure, which was prepared by drying and pulverization. The mixture ratio adhered to typical standards: 1/2 cement, 1 bucket of water, and 7 buckets of sand and aggregates. Following creation, the blocks were left to cure for 7-14 days according to Philippine standards, then subjected to compressive strength testing using a Universal Testing Machine (UTM) and pH evaluation. Results indicated that the addition of animal manure generally met the Philippine standard compressive strength of 5.14 MPa and exhibited proper bonding, with pH levels falling within the 9.0-9.5 range. However, blocks containing carabao manure failed to meet both the compressive strength and pH standards.

In recent years, the widespread use of wall panels in construction has underscored their industrial convenience. However, various panels exhibit weaknesses in practical applications, including significant dead weight, poor seismic performance, high water absorption, susceptibility to cracking, and failure to meet stringent energy-saving standards for thermal insulation. While gypsum boards have emerged as popular choices due to their economy, quality, and ease of use, their vulnerability to water damage remains a significant drawback. Consequently, this study aimed to produce 12 wall panel boards using coconut fiber (coir) and pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), comprising four distinct mixtures (GP, GPCP10, GPCP15, and GPCP20). The objective was to identify the optimal mix ratio through assessments of water absorption capacity and bulk density. Dry weight, wet weight, and volume measurements were obtained for each sample, enabling calculation of water absorption capacity and bulk density using prescribed formulas. These metrics were then compared to control samples (GP). Results revealed that GPCP10 exhibited the lowest water absorption, averaging 46.05%, and the highest bulk density, averaging 1.17%. This suggests that the composition of GPCP10 may offer the desired properties, demonstrating minimal water absorption and potentially superior flexural strength.

This research investigates the efficacy of utilizing pulverized agro-waste materials alongside cement for soil stabilization purposes. Specifically, the study focuses on rice husk, corn husk, and coconut husk powders as potential alternatives to lime, aiming to enhance both the economic and ecological aspects of soil stabilization processes. Through comprehensive testing, including strength assessments, various mixtures incorporating agro-waste powders at levels of 92% and 96% by weight of soil were evaluated, with lime replacement rates reaching up to 50%. Results demonstrate that all treated mixtures exhibited significantly improved strength compared to untreated soil samples. Remarkably, the substitution of lime with agro-waste powder at a 20.21% rate yielded superior strength properties, indicating its practical viability for widespread adoption. This study underscores the potential of agro-waste materials as sustainable alternatives in soil stabilization applications, offering promising avenues for environmentally friendly construction practices.