Design and Fabrication of Small-Scale Urban Air Purification Tower

Air pollution has become a significant environmental issue in the twenty-first century, causing a negative impact on the quality of life and human health. Various international organizations have been working to address air pollution issues and provide potential solutions. One of the primary tools used to measure air quality is the Air Quality Index (AQI), which ranges from 0 to 500, indicating levels of different air pollutants in the ambient air. Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most hazardous air pollutants. Outdoor air purification towers are a promising technology to address air quality issues, and this project aims to design and fabricate an air purification tower for Karachi, biggest city of Pakistan and an industrial hub with significant air pollution issues. The lack of air purification devices throughout the country is a significant motivation behind this project, and the main objectives include observing the current situation of ambient air quality in Karachi, testing the performance of the air purification tower, and evaluating the feasibility of the project to be replicated on a larger scale. The project’s methodology includes a review of existing literature and engineering knowledge, followed by design calculations based on heat losses, velocities, and volume flow rates. A parametric study and economic analysis were used to select feasible dimensions, and a CAD model was developed. The report outlines the project’s chronology, including an introduction, literature review, assessment of air quality in Karachi, heat loss coefficient, velocity and flow rate calculations, and a parametric study to reach optimal dimensions for the model used in fabrication. The project’s significance lies in addressing air pollution issues and providing a solution for Karachi’s air quality problems. The success of this project could inspire further replication of air purification towers on a larger scale in Pakistan and other countries facing similar air pollution issues.