Congratulations to all the students who presented their research results at this year's first Student Science and Technology Conference. The Faculty of Computer Science and Engineering participated with 15 projects, all of which won awards, including: 2 first prizes; 3 second prizes, and 10 third prizes. The list of winners can be found here .

The topics presented by the Faculty of Environmental Engineering in this report address numerous environmental and energy issues. These problems are not only occurring in developing countries like Vietnam but also in many countries around the world. For example, how can we improve the efficiency of wastewater treatment systems for industrial waste or polluted rivers and lakes? What is the current state of air pollution from dust in major cities? How can we improve the design and operation of indoor and outdoor engineering systems? How should we plan for hydroelectric reservoirs and dams in our country?

MSc. Nguyen Thanh Trung - Deputy Head of the Faculty of Computer Science, Chairman of the opening council of the conference.

Two first prizes from the Environmental Engineering Department's subcommittee were awarded to two research projects addressing water pollution issues. The first prize went to the group supervised by Ms. Duong Thu Hang . The project was titled " Research on evaluating the influence of pH and the role of methanogens on the ability to decompose protein in food processing wastewater and recover short-chain carboxylates." In the treatment of food processing wastewater, especially that with high protein content, optimizing the decomposition process and increasing the recovery of economically valuable compounds from wastewater is a very important goal. The research group conducted laboratory measurements and then evaluated the influence of pH and the role of methanogen microorganisms in the decomposition of protein in food processing wastewater and the recovery of short-chain carboxylates. A summary of this project can be found here. b85e3&token=portal-2033&encrypt=fA2oIG17tBYFuPOLPlamX3Mp2BQSmyGex9Nmj9kpw1cP2oYFRgJsy5npP65juKwMpBBBjfy0Uq6%252fkPHp Cz5hRk25BI783XuhB4Ot2TqSKa93tkNliEjAKXtDqBJKwwq4f1lvc3qZKvquwKIIzAfEQRaRFs93Rts1x2QzUjVDWzVlqBf50DwlHjqjASu6mXTZaDZh% 252bSigXzyhii90POzTfpRBNVTGxzkYR5C2Yf5TbaxUL8S1mb50yREb5Z3jMitpGO3EhmhaVzAK9GIhK5hUGhLX%252fOwGISu3youP1oHkmE%252bAn nR7rtOWIMVZChdiFvnX8V2QxGu5IQ2eN4GfAIK4pn1fwLPW4jUZ5hgp6%252fiz42wGVaTUprlbY5VlZ%252fjiNQIIgVy9e07j40h5leLLZABdbFMUm% 252fXQ3Yg1RYfV%252fvdX9sKki8tfDui7LmB34qEAiSeeZRvbDfnfsf4hjKwvly1eO0r6B3MJomUzE1PFNQapm4vspkAl4%252fyXD5%252b6aIvAxb aqmqXZejEIPBBetfgTLuerobmJG63FpFdDE2EvpHcB3CAsTMeQEOZqyuMNS94fWDGrtcK%252bfyUGa0%252bfTetju3LurBl0dx8gSA8u0vhqcOyhIFm o4dc2I6uREjQQgFgEsNEgtFC0%252fRHDJLetr6O9ROyNH4tPtY1KDUoZDnsh3OaO%252bX%252b%252b19KqgZtEQTccAa2uiWaTNl6K1mIzMIy6Cvgk tn2JQHgAXrQa8u9%252fLV%252bTU18g%252f768nxNGDf5JQOZJMv2jTanFLn6SWSTjltshLUe7aS3mIA%253d%253d&fileName=mt-2020-08.pdf" style="box-sizing:border-box; background:0px 0px; color:#333333; text-decoration:none; transition:all 0.6s ease 0s"> here .

Another method for wastewater treatment is the application of planted filter beds. One of the important factors occurring in this system is the nitrification process. The project, highly rated by the judging panel and awarded second prize, addresses this issue. The project, titled " Research and Evaluation of the Nitrate Removal Capacity of a Planted Filter Bed Model Combined with a Flow-Shaped Modeling System in the Treatment of Polluted Lake Water ," was supervised by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Tho Bach and Ms. Ung Thi Thuy Ha . A summary of this project can be found here . In wastewater treatment technology using planted filter beds, dissolved oxygen (DO) content is a crucial factor directly affecting treatment efficiency, thus attracting much attention. Another group of students, also supervised by Ms. Ung Thi Thuy Ha, conducted an experimental study on this issue. The research results show that good control of dissolved oxygen content can significantly enhance the treatment efficiency of planted filter beds. A summary of this project can be found here . This project was awarded third prize by the evaluation committee. The results of these studies have high applicability in wastewater treatment, aiming to save costs and be environmentally friendly.

Review Board No. 01 and the students - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Thi Thanh Huyen (Chairperson of the board); MSc. Nguyen Van Sy (Secretary); MSc. Nguyen Huy Tien (Member); Dr. Do Hong Anh (Member); Ms. Tran Hoai Le (Member)

Energy saving, simplifying the design process, and improving the operational efficiency of building engineering systems were the research topics that attracted the most entries (7 out of 15 projects). Ventilation and HVAC – two of the systems considered to consume the most electricity in buildings – attracted 6 projects. The remaining project addressed the issue of reducing water loss and waste in urban water supply pipeline systems. The highest-rated project among these 7 was "Research on heat recovery ventilation solutions to save energy and filter dust for street-facing houses" . This project was supervised by MSc. Nguyen Thanh Trung and awarded second prize . This project carried out the following two main contents: 1) The research team measured and calculated the emission load from traffic vehicles, then simulated the amount of gas released into the atmosphere on two Hanoi roads using Metilis software. The concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 dust were then assessed; 2) The electricity consumption of air conditioning equipment was surveyed, and the electricity cost for each household was calculated daily, monthly, and annually. A summary of this project can be found here .

The next two projects in this group were awarded third prize, supervised by MSc. Nguyen Huy Tien. The research group consulted design guidelines for ventilation systems from developed countries such as the United States and Australia. They then applied and modified these methods, proposing parameter values to be used as design guidelines for calculating airflow in stairwell pressurization systems in high-rise buildings and for operating room ventilation systems, while Vietnamese standards for this type of system design are currently lacking in detail. Abstracts of these projects are being updated.

Review Board No. 02 and the students - MSc. Nguyen Thanh Trung (Chairman of the board); MSc. Hoang Tuan Viet (Secretary); MSc. Hoang Ngoc Ha (Member); Dr. Pham Duy Dong (Member); Dr. Pham Van Dinh (Member)

Another study also quickly updates the trend of using simulation software in research – “A Study on the Application of Flovent Simulation Software to Select the Optimal Location for Outdoor Units in Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) Air-Cooled Air Conditioning Systems” . This research topic was awarded third prize in this subject group, supervised by Dr. Bui Thi Hieu and MSc. Hoang Tuan Viet . The group used Flovent fluid mechanics simulation software – a powerful tool that can quickly and accurately simulate air conditioning systems. The ambient temperature field around the outdoor unit of a 9-story building in Hanoi's VRV air-cooled air conditioning system was simulated by Flovent. Then, the reduction in cooling capacity of the outdoor unit combinations was estimated. From this, the research group pointed out that outdoor air temperature and the placement of the outdoor units (distance between outdoor units) are key factors affecting the system. This affects the cooling efficiency of the air conditioning system. Therefore, an optimal outdoor unit placement plan is proposed. A summary of this topic can be found here .

Combined ventilation and heat recovery is a solution attracting significant attention from investors seeking energy savings. Recognizing this trend, a research team led by MSc. Pham Minh Chinh conducted a study to evaluate the energy savings of ventilation and heat recovery solutions for different functional spaces under Hanoi's climatic conditions. A summary of this project can be found here . Another study, awarded third prize, aimed at optimizing the energy-efficient operation of HVAC systems, was conducted by a research team led by MSc. Nguyen Thanh Trung and MSc. Tran Duc Minh Hai . This study applied CPVC pipes for domestic water supply and central HVAC system water supply to ensure energy-efficient and hygienic operation. A summary of this project is currently being updated .

Operating outdoor water supply systems efficiently and avoiding waste is just as important as operating indoor water supply systems. In this area, the research team, guided by Dr. Pham Tuan Hung and Ms. Ung Thi Thuy Ha, contributed one project to this year's conference. This project researched and evaluated the current state and proposed solutions to reduce water loss rates in the clean water supply system in Dong Da District, Hanoi, and was awarded third prize. A summary of this project can be found here . Although urban clean water supply systems are very important and have attracted much research interest, this year's conference only attracted one project in this category. Therefore, this area is considered quite promising, and more in-depth research should be conducted. pan>

Review Board No. 03 and the students - Dr. Hoang Minh Giang (Chairman of the board); MSc. Nguyen Van Duy (Secretary); Dr. Nguyen Lan Huong (Member); MSc. Nguyen Thi Hue (Member); MSc. Pham Minh Chinh (Member)

Vietnam is entering a period of industrialization and modernization. The promotion of economic development has also led to environmental pollution problems from household waste and emissions from vehicles, causing serious environmental pollution. The following two projects, highly rated by the judging panel and awarded second prize, belong to the following two groups: 1) The group supervised by Dr. Pham Van Dinh (see summary here ) with the research topic on anaerobic decomposition technology of biodegradable organic waste. The purpose of this research is to examine the feasibility of phased anaerobic decomposition methods for treating solid plant waste; and 2) The group supervised by Ms. Nguyen Thi Hue (see summary here ) with the research topic on the concentration of black carbon emitted between motorcycles and cars. These two topics were highly regarded for their contributions in terms of measurement data, practical models, and high applicability in solving the research problems posed.

Ineffective solid waste management and collection systems lead to environmental pollution and negatively impact public health. This study, supervised by Dr. Hoang Minh Giang , aims to determine the composition and characteristics of municipal solid waste in the southern area of Hanoi. See the project summary. y&lang=en&langCode=en&type=Private¤tFolder=%2Ffiles%2F&hash=64164fd58aca9099bd13c139a301a4b3ce0b85e3&token=portal-2033&encrypt=f A2oIG17tBYFuPOLPlamX3Mp2BQSmyGex9Nmj9kpw1cP2oYFRgJsy5npP65juKwMpBBBjfy0Uq6%252fkPHpCz5hRk25BI783XuhB4Ot2TqSKa93tkNliEjAKXtDqBJKww q4f1lvc3qZKvquwKIIzAfEQRaRFs93Rts1x2QzUjVDWzVlqBf50DwlHjqjASu6mXTZaDZh%252bSigXzyhii90POzTfpRBNVTGxzkYR5C2Yf5TbaxUL8S1mb50yREb5Z 3jMitpGO3EhmhaVzAK9GIhK5hUGhLX%252fOwGISu3youP1oHkmE%252bAnnR7rtOWIMVZChdiFvnX8V2QxGu5IQ2eN4GfAIK4pn1fwLPW4jUZ5hgp6%252fiz42wGVaT UprlbY5VlZ%252fjiNQIIgVy9e07j40h5leLLZABdbFMUm%252fXQ3Yg1RYfV%252fvdX9sKki8tfDui7LmB34qEAiSeeZRvbDfnfsf4hjKwvly1eO0r6B3MJomUzE1P FNQapm4vspkAl4%252fyXD5%252b6aIvAxbaqmqXZejEIPBBetfgTLuerobmJG63FpFdDE2EvpHcB3CAsTMeQEOZqyuMNS94fWDGrtcK%252bfyUGa0%252bfTetju3Lu rBl0dx8gSA8u0vhqcOyhIFmo4dc2I6uREjQQgFgEsNEgtFC0%252fRHDJLetr6O9ROyNH4tPtY1KDUoZDnsh3OaO%252bX%252b%252b19KqgZtEQTccAa2uiWaTNl6K 1mIzMIy6Cvgktn2JQHgAXrQa8u9%252fLV%252bTU18g%252f768nxNGDf5JQOZJMv2jTanFLn6SWSTjltshLUe7aS3mIA%253d%253d&fileName=mt-2019-31.pdf" style="box-sizing:border-box; background:0px 0px; color:#333333; text-decoration:none; transition:all 0.6s ease 0s"> here . Survey of the current status and determination of the amount of solid waste generated by households in Phu Ly City - Ha Nam Province aims to determine the amount of solid waste generated and propose some solutions for better management, supervised by Dr. Nguyen Phuong Thao and MSc. Hoang Ngoc Ha . These two projects were awarded third prize. See the project summary here .

The issue of planning reservoirs and hydroelectric dams in our country has also received considerable research attention. The final project among the 15 projects presented this time used the Geographic Information System (GIS) to assess the environmental impact of planning small-scale diversion hydroelectric projects and to provide recommendations for planning the development of small-scale hydroelectric projects to address climate change. The project, supervised by Dr. Nguyen Lan Huong, won third prize. See the project summary here .

All the research topics submitted in this round effectively addressed the research problem, demonstrated high practical applicability, and offered suggestions for future research.

The second round of student scientific research project review conferences is scheduled to take place in October. Students and interested parties should regularly check this website for the latest updates. n>

Environmental Engineering Faculty Communications Team

Hoang Viet

Trong Dai (63HK2)