The Shell
Smoking area using upcycled waste
Personal Project - Individual Work
April - October, 2024
It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Coal Fly Ash: An Underutilized Industial Waste
Coal fly ash is a byproduct of coal combustion, mainly generated by coal-fired power plants. In China, power generation contributes nearly half of national carbon emissions, producing large amounts of CFA every year. Due to disposal difficulties and heavy metal risks, CFA poses long-term environmental and health concerns.
Low Utilization, High Accumulation
Despite its massive output, the utilization rate of CFA remains relatively low. A large portion is landfilled, occupying land and risking secondary pollution when poorly managed.
Can CFA be transformed into a higher-value, functional material instead ofbeing discarded?
CFA contains silica and alumina, which can be activated under alkaline conditions to synthesizezeolite.
Zeolite is chemically stable and has a porous structure, making it suitable for adsorptionapplications.
Experimental results show that alkali-activated CFA can successfully form zeolite with goodadsorption potential.
Turning CFA into Zeolite
SiO2+Al2O3+NaOH+H2O Na2Al2Si2O8⋅nH2O
HydrothermalZeolite Works as a Filter
Cigarette smoke contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as benzene and formaldehyde, which can cause respiratory and neurological health problems. Zeolite is capable of adsorbing VOCs, as well as gases like SO2, NH3, and nicotine. This makes CFA-derived zeolite a suitable material for air filtration in smoking areas.
User Insights on Smoking Spaces
Non-smokers strongly dislike exposure to second-hand smoke.
Smokers prefer designated smoking areas rather than being restricted everywhere.
Existing smoking areas often have poor ventilation and weak filtration.
These insights highlight the need for a smoking space that balances usability, ventilation, andenvironmental responsibility.
Based on material and user research, this project proposes a smoking area system that integrates CFA-derived zeolite as a filtering layer. The design aims to reduce air pollution while giving industrial waste a second life as a functionalmaterial.
To discourage long stays, the device requires users to stand, with a 190 cm interior height and a 160 cm door that forces smokers to lower their heads and remain in a confined space.
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To ensure long-term effectiveness, the filtering layer is designed to be replaced regularly.Staff receive notifications and follow a scheduled process to remove and renew the zeolite filter. This system extends the product's lifespan and prevents secondary pollution from saturatedmaterials.
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Want to smoke when the train stop
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Scan to pay and enter the “Shell”
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Close door and adjust wind speed
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Use the ignition tool to light the smoke
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Smoking in the “Shell”
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Extinguish the smoke before leaving