03. Bachelor's Thesis
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Item Open Access DESIGN OF PLANT FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF STYRENE(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2025-04-25) Abduakhitov Dilshat; Akhmetzhanova Zhibek; Kenzheshov Almaz; Khaidarov Altaiyr; Saiduldinova Dariyana; Shuriyeva AminaStyrene is a key industrial compound extensively used in manufacturing plastics such as crystalline polystyrene, expandable polystyrene, styrene-acrylonitrile resins, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, styrene-butadiene latex, and unsaturated polyester resins, which play a critical role in sectors such as packaging, construction, automotive, and electronics. Its global demand is steadily increasing due to its adaptability, light weight, and cost-efficiency. This capstone project centers on designing a chemical plant capable of producing styrene on an industrial scale, with the goal of supplying roughly 25% of the projected demand within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by 2027. The primary use of the resulting 99.7% pure styrene product is in the polystyrene production. The project encompasses the full development of the plant, from raw material feed to final product, focusing on the integration of both main and minor processing units to ensure continuous operation. Process simulation and optimization were performed using Aspen Plus, with particular attention given to economic viability, energy efficiency, and safety.Item Open Access DESIGN OF PLANT FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION OF STYRENE IN KAZAKHSTAN(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2025) Ingkar, Gulnaz; Askarov, Almas; Bekken, Arailym; Issabek, Kuralay; Kalmakhanbet, Alikhan; Mels, AizadaStyrene is a vital industrial chemical widely used in the production of polystyrene plastics and resins, which are essential across packaging, construction, automotive, and electronics industries. Its global demand continues to rise due to its versatility, lightweight nature, and cost-effectiveness. This capstone project focuses on the design of a chemical plant for the industrial-scale production of styrene, aiming to meet approximately 25% of the forecasted demand in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) by 2027. The main application of the final 99.7% pure styrene product is styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR). The project involves the complete development of the plant, from raw material input to final product output, emphasizing the design and integration of both major equipment and minor supporting units essential for continuous operation. Aspen Plus was utilized for process simulation and optimization, while economic feasibility, energy efficiency, and safety considerations were incorporated throughout the design. The result is a technically and economically viable plant layout that supports regional industrial growth and aligns with environmental and process safety standards.Item Open Access Design of Plant for Industrial Production of Butadiene from Butane(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2025) Rakhimgaliyev, Nurzhan; Akimov, Ulan; Nurbek Khamidulla; Musahanov, Arsen; Amanbayev, Daniyar; Yendibay, BakdauletButadiene is a key chemical in the petrochemical industry, primarily used in the production of synthetic rubber. One of its major applications is in tire manufacturing, a sector experiencing growth in Kazakhstan. Establishing a domestic butadiene production plant could significantly contribute to the country’s industrial and economic development. This project presents the design of a butadiene production plant in Kazakhstan, utilizing the dehydrogenation of butane over a chromia/alumina catalyst under conditions of 700 °C and 0.24 bar. The downstream separation employs extractive distillation with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as the solvent. The plant is designed for an annual capacity of 60 ktons, producing butadiene with 99.5% purity. Economic analysis indicates a net present value (NPV) of approximately $600 million USD and a payback period of 5 years, demonstrating the project's strong financial viability.Item Restricted GPU ACCELERATED MKIDS READOUT SYSTEM(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04) Nassipkaliyev, AzamatMicrowave kinetic inductance detectors or MKIDs, for short, are the devices used for photon detectance. They have a lot of advantages over the other devices like their readout precision and a relatively low readout noise. However, what really makes them irreplaceable is the capability of utilizing the frequencydomain multiplexing over the array of many pixels. The aim of this project is to present a new readout system that utilizes the high computational capabilites of GPU designed for MKIDs and prove its reliabilityItem Open Access DEVELOPMENT OF AN OXYGEN SENSOR INTEGRATED MICROFLUIDICS AND ITS ONLINE MONITORING SYSTEM(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024) Tsoy, YuriyThis paper designs and analyzes a microfluidic oxygen sensor toward the development of organ-on-chip (OoC) technology. It was designed to establish a system that allows real-time observation of oxygen uptake rate by mammalian cells, highly important during the investigation of changes in behavior and viability of cells under different conditions. This project developed and fabricated a microfluidic chip with cell precision monitoring using frontier microfluidic technology and fiber optic sensing. A 3D CAD software-designed chip, integrated with a PICO-O2 oxygen sensor developed by PyroScience GmbH, and an experimental setup have been calibrated and tested with respect to controlled experimental conditions carried out. Calibration and testing of the developed experimental setup were carried out for controlled experimental conditions, and therefore it is very important for the reliability and accuracy of data. Data was collected at a continuous level, measuring the O2 level and cellular responses using PyroScience Workbench for comprehensive visualized plotting. The results from the experiments indicated that the chip could support a viable cell culture; in addition, the cell culture measured oxygen uptake accurately. This really does illustrate the potential to provide tremendous insight into cellular dynamics, which are essential for the success of most biomedical research and therapeutic development, from such integrated systems. They further illustrate that, to help translate this out of the laboratory and into real applications, really high-precision engineering and calibration were going to be needed. This advance does not set any limit for organ-on-chip technologies but rather allows opening new venues in cellular biology research, where in due course, importance has to be given to real-time data acquisition. Further works can be done to integrate more numbers of sensing elements and scale the system to make it work for broader applications.Item Open Access DESIGN OF MULTI-STORY HOTEL IN CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, USA(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2023) Serikbekov, Alikhan; Olzhabekov, Zhaksylyk; Serikbay, Darkhan; Sibekova, Aruzhan; Bolat, Aidos; Kiyashov, Damir; Gazezova, DiaraThis Capstone project's goal is to create a seven-story hotel in Carlsbad, California, that complies with building, safety, and sustainability standards while taking into account the area's moderate seismic activity. There is a demand for an excellent hotel that will start making money soon because the chosen area has good tourism potential but is undersupplied with hotels. This report also includes a sustainable greywater treatment system in addition to preliminary structural, geotechnical, and architectural designs. The structure will have a rectangle building space of 40.7x20.5 m2 and 80 rooms, and it will be built on Carlsbad's west side close to the Pacific Ocean. The structure's architectural design was completed, and subsequently, technical drawings were given. To gather the data for each component and provide the theoretical foundation, secondary data analysis was used. Overall, the report details the need for a parking zone, a 3D view, an elevation view, a parking zone, and any relevant technical drawings in compliance with ASCE 7-10 and IBC standards. Given that Carlsbad is in a seismic zone, reinforced concrete was used for structural members. The structural segment finished estimating member size, choosing materials and structural types, and computing live and dead loads. The soil investigation and liquefaction potential of the soil were evaluated in the geotechnical section, and it was determined that the soil is not liquefiable. It was decided to use precast concrete pile foundations with square cross sections. Given the rising demand for water, it was decided to implement the Greywater Treatment System (GTS) in the environmental section of the water supply analysis. Overall, all project sections, as well as the initial design, calculations, and drawings, have made great progress.Item Restricted MODIFICATION OF THE APEX SEAL DESIGN IN A ROTARY ENGINE USING COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS AND STRESS ANALYSIS(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2025-04) Daniyarov, Sanzhar; Raikhan, Ayan; Bolat, SagyndykNowadays, almost all the vehicles are powered by internal combustion reciprocating engines. Lots of alternative rotary mechanisms were proposed instead of internal combustion reciprocating engines [1]. The main aim of the suggested alternatives is that they had to make it more compact, powerful and lightweight. Suggested alternatives could not survive and gain popularity and trust of costumers because their basic cycle of working and sealing could not have good quality as long as possible [2]. One of greatest alternatives which could withstand previous mentioned problems of the proposed alternatives is lightweight, compact and powerful Wankel Rotary Engine.Item Open Access Design of an Industrial Plant for Production of Monoethanolamine Solution for CO2 Capture in Kazakhstan(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04) Ziyabek, Alikhan; Zhaidarbek, Balnur; Kongilkosh, Bek; Jexenov, Daniyar; Yessengaziyeva, KarinaKazakhstan's significant energy reserves, particularly in crude oil and coal, position it as a major global energy producer. However, the expansion of these natural resources has led to significant environmental degradation. To achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, this Capstone project focuses on designing an efficient and cost-effective production process for a monoethanolamine (MEA) solution, crucial for carbon capture. The project covers selecting the optimal manufacturing pathway, product specifications, reaction kinetics, catalyst choices, equipment design, plant location, and economic analysis. MEA will be produced by reacting ammonia with ethylene oxide using water as a catalyst, targeting an annual production of 68.5 kilotonnes of 30 wt% MEA solution. Validated through Aspen and Python-based simulations, the design includes detailed process flow diagrams and equipment specifications. The plant, to be located in the Pavlodar region, shows a net present value of USD 149.5 million with a 4.15-year payback period. Future enhancements could involve producing diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA), ammonia recycling, and water use optimization.Item Open Access Parking Assistance Application using IoT Devices and Machine Learning on the Edge(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-20) Amangeldina, Aruzhan; Tuleshov, Zhanabek; Baimukhanov, Batyrkhan; Saduakhas, RuanaTraditional parking management systems are inefficient in monitoring large scaled parking slot. This study addresses the growing issue of urban parking inefficiency, where drivers waste significant time searching for vacant spots. This problem is tackled by deploying edge devices in the parking lot, equipped with compact convolutional neural networks for real-time analysis. To evaluate performance, three models (mAlexNet224, mAlexNet32, and Mohan's model) were chosen from other research or adapted for this task. These models were then tested in a simulated parking lot environment on OpenMV or Raspberry Pi depending on the model's input size. While mAlexNet224 on Raspberry Pi achieved the best accuracy among the tested models, other lightweight models running on OpenMV also delivered satisfactory results, exceeding 90\% in accuracy. Based on the results of the study, mAlexNet32 and Mohan's model on OpenMV's camera appear well-suited for real-world deployment and the affordability of OpenMV devices further strengthens this case.Item Open Access Deep Learning-Based Wind Speed Prediction for Optimized Wind Turbine Operation(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-05-03) Alimukhambetova, Sofiya; Kochkarova, AyanaWind energy has been a promising source of clean energy that does not negatively affect our environment. Because of the fluctuations in wind speed, it is crucial to predict its values for wind turbines to have the maximum effective power output. This project aims to develop a way for short-term wind speed prediction based on deep learning technologies, such as CNN, LSTM, RNN, and GRU models, alone and in combination. Through iterative experimentation and evaluation, we develop ten final models and assess their performance based on Mean Squared Error (MSE), score, and computational efficiency. Our findings reveal that the GRU model achieves the highest performance with a MSE of 0.00238 m/s and R2 score of 0.8796. Additionaly, the similarly structured LSTM model demonstrates superior computational efficiency along with high R2 value, outperforming GRU model. By examining the performance of multiple deep learning architectures, the project seeks to identify the most suitable approach for wind speed prediction, thereby facilitating more efficient and sustainable utilization of wind resources for power generation.Item Restricted ADAPTING TO LEARNER’S COGNITIVE DIFFERENCES USING REINFORCEMENT LEARNING(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2023) Nurgazy, Symbat; Issa, Ilyas; Kassymbekov, Saparkhan; Kuangaliyev, ZholamanItem Open Access FINAL PROJECT REPORT DOCUMENT– SPRING 2024(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-05-20) Duzelbay, Alisher; Bakkali, Nurseiit; Issa, Yeldar; Serikbayev, Yermakhan; Bulatov, YernurThe NU Life Hub project aims to address the fragmentation of information and resources for Nazarbayev University (NU) students by offering a centralized platform designed specifically for their needs. The project addresses students' challenges in finding and participating in campus activities, accessing a convenient marketplace to fulfill their needs, and staying informed about various campus events. The NU Life Hub solution will be a comprehensive platform that combines event management, marketplace, and community engagement functions to improve the overall university experience. During the project, extensive research was conducted to understand existing solutions and approaches to address similar challenges university communities face. This analysis informed the design and development of the NU Life Hub, ensuring that best practices were embedded into the platform and critical challenges were effectively addressed.Item Open Access DEVELOPMENT OF BRAIN-BASED SMART-HOME/TYPING SYSTEM(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-19) Yergaliyeva, Aiana; Berikbol, Arnur; Seiilkhan, ArsenOur project combines EEG-EOG signals to develop an efficient Brain-Computer Interface (BCI) spelling system for Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR) environments. This hybrid speller enables users to spell using brain activity by leveraging multi-modal signals and various classification strategies. Aimed at improving the quality of life for individuals with motor disabilities, such as spinal cord injuries, ALS, locked-in syndrome, and the elderly, our BCI system provides an alternative communication channel. Focusing on the well-established P300 Row-Column (RC) speller paradigm, we incorporate convolutional neural network (CNN) classification techniques for enhanced performance. Additionally, we use mixed reality glasses to improve user comfort and EEG signal quality. Our methodology includes comprehensive experimental procedures, from environment setup to data analysis and iterative refinement. By advancing BCI technology and integrating VR and MR interfaces, our project seeks to promote accessibility and inclusivity, enabling individuals of all abilities to communicate and participate more fully in social, educational, and professional activities.Item Restricted DESIGN OF HIGH-RISE HOTEL BUILDING IN RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA, USA(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-12) Aldabergenuly, Magzum; Galymzhankyzy, Anel; Kussainova, Zhanna; Kydyrali, Tolezhan; Temirbekov, Doszhan; Ualiyev, DulatThis capstone project report summarizes our team’s efforts in developing a high-rise hotel in Riverside, California, within a strong wind and seismic zone. Our multidisciplinary approach divided the project into Architectural, Structural & Materials (40%), Geotechnical (30%), Construction Management (15%), and Environmental Engineering (15%) areas. The project's primary challenge was identifying necessary parameters and adhering to professional design procedures. Through a combination of self-study and mentoring, we conducted independent research and literature reviews to set and achieve specific goals in each project area. Our process involved planning the design using knowledge from courses, secondary sources, and faculty guidance, leading to a synthesized and customized design approach. Key accomplishments include load identification, layout design, preliminary member and force-resisting system design, computer modeling (S), suitable foundation type identification and preliminary foundation design (G), project management method establishment, cost analysis, scheduling, risk management (M), and waste generation rate and composition identification (E). Despite challenges in knowledge gaps and sourcing information, we successfully met our objectives, providing a solid foundation for further project development.Item Embargo THE DESIGN OF SELF-CHARGING SENSOR INDUCED SIMPLIFIED INSOLE-BASED PROTOTYPES WITH PRESSURE MEASUREMENT FOR FAST SCREENING OF FLAT-FOOT(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-05) Anash, Adeliya; Oralkhan, Sabyrzhan; Issabek, Moldir; Nuriya, NurbergenovaFlatfoot is an orthopedic foot malformation in which the inner arch of the foot virtually or completely flattens during static or dynamic motions. This abnormal deformation can negatively affect the musculoskeletal system, leading to chronic pains and other conditions that may severely deteriorate a person’s quality of life if not treated timely. Therefore, there is a need for continuous monitoring of food conditions, and currently, available screening methods may not be sustainable in terms of objectivity, time, and money. This research aims to design and fabricate an insole-based screening device that would offer accurate and accessible screening. In order to implement our objectives, the self-powered triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) were used as tactile pressure sensors for the insole since they propose such advantages as uncomplicated fabrication and design operations, cost-effectiveness, extensive lifetime, and high output power. TENGs’ main purpose is converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. In other words, the energy generated from the movement of the object is translated into electric output and recorded by the Arduino circuits. The collected data is analyzed using machine learning algorithms for the system to be able to immediately recognize the flatfoot conditions after undergoing the training sessions. To collect data, 82 participants were asked to march in one place and walk the same amount of time and distance to get similar numbers of outputs from each operation. The analysis showed that the middle sensors of the insoles generated much higher electricity when they were attached to people with flatfoot conditions and that they exhibited relatively uniform equal pressure distribution throughout the foot. In contrast, people with normal feet put more pressure on the front and back side of the foot. The overall accuracy of the machine learning system reached 81%, indicating that the designed insole has a high potential to be used as a flatfoot detecting device commercially.Item Restricted AIR-TO-GROUND CHANNEL MODELING FOR UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-19) Mukhatzhanova, SabinaThe ‘Air-to-Ground Channel Modeling for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’ main goal is to develop a precise and reliable model of the communication channel between unmanned aerial vehicles and ground stations. This project will be mainly focused on the extensive research of recent data and channel simulation using MATLAB. The project will analyze different scenarios and characteristics that may have an impact on the proper work of the channel and find ways to overcome those difficulties. These obstacles can be channel fading, polarization, weather conditions, and hard-to-reach locations. The proposed channel modeling can be beneficial in different spheres of life: safety, surveillance, telecommunication, and national priorities. Overall, the project’s main focus will be based on the enhancement of analytical skills in order to select major types of channel modeling and see the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed model. The results can have a positive impact through the contribution to the advancement of UAV technologies.Item Restricted "MOMENTUM MAYHEM" 3D PUZZLE GAME PROTOTYPE(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-04-21) Yerzhanuly, Azamat; Kabykesh, Dias; Ussoltsev, Vladimir; Serik, Yernar; Rysbek, Yelnaz"Momentum Mayhem" is a 3D puzzle game prototype that aims to develop physics concepts in the game environment. The project comprises four stages: ideation, pre-production, production, and post-production. The ideation phase involved analyzing popular physics-based games such as "Fall Guys" and "We Were Here" to inspire unique gameplay concepts. In the pre-production phase, the team outlined the game's requirements and designed its architecture. The production phase focused on creating and integrating essential game components, including character controllers, environmental objects, UI/UX, level maps, and multiplayer functionality. "Momentum Mayhem" leverages Unity for its game engine and Photon PUN 2 for multiplayer networking. The game features physics-based puzzles requiring cooperative gameplay, aiming to enhance problem-solving skills and teamwork. This project highlights the growing game development scene in Kazakhstan by showcasing creative gameplay and technical skills. The document further elaborates on the background, related work, project approach, execution, and evaluation of the system.Item Restricted MOTION PLANNING WITH OBSTACLE AVOIDANCE FOR ROBOT MANIPULATORS VIA DEEP REINFORCEMENT LEARNING(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-05-03) Sadykov, Zhengisbek; Khussainov, TamerlanThe integration of Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) in robotic motion planning represents a cutting-edge approach to enhancing the adaptability and efficiency of robotic manipulators in complex environments. In this project we trained a UR5 manipulator for autonomous navigation within a 2D environment. Our methodology hinges on the Stable Baselines 3 library and Proximal Policy Optimization (PPO) algorithms, grounded within the PyBullet and Gym simulation platforms. The culmination of our research affirms the thesis that it is indeed feasible to train a manipulator to proficiently navigate a 2D environment using DRL. The implications of this work not only bolster the potential for practical applications in various domains but also pave the way for further advancements in the field of robotics.Item Open Access COMPUTATIONAL ANALYSIS OF FLUID STRUCTURE INTERACTION (FSI) IN HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINES (HAWTS)(Nazarbayev University School of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-05-02) Makshatov, Madi; Nurzhanova, Diana; Sataibekova, Aruzhan; Kussinov, ZhanibekWind power plays a crucial role in the worldwide shift towards sustainable and renewable sources of energy. Wind turbine power generation performances made them a widely adopted method for electricity production, playing a crucial role in the world’s energy resources. Accordingly, optimizing the wind turbine blade’s design is essential for increasing wind turbine performance and reducing expenses. The main aim of this capstone project is to analyze the Fluid Structure Interaction of the HAWTs and to achieve the most effective design of the turbine, in terms of power generation performance and resource requirement by optimizing the blades using low fidelity methods. In engineering and scientific studies, low-fidelity and high-fidelity simulation and optimization have become common concepts, especially in the field of wind turbine design and analysis. These concepts are essential in order to study computational structure and controlling the resource demand, as well as improving the operation of the turbines. This paper focuses on applying low-fidelity optimization techniques with QBlade, which is a commonly used open-source software for creating aerodynamic simulations of horizontal axis wind turbines. A low-fidelity simulation can involve simplified fluid dynamics calculations and simplified structural models, in the context of wind turbine design, in order to forecast the turbine’s effectiveness. Compared to the high-fidelity simulations, low fidelity simulations are economically and computationally reasonable. It means that, in the process of optimization of design parameters of the wind turbine more design alternatives are available in order to reach the most effective parameters. Computational Analysis of Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) within Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs) will be studied on the NREL 5MW and NREL Phase VI turbine. In order to get the optimization results of these wind turbine blades, low fidelity optimization methods, such as Betz and Schmitz theories will be used.Item Open Access EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF DATA TRANSMISSION USING POWERLINE COMMUNICATION(Nazarbayev University School Of Engineering and Digital Sciences, 2024-07-04) Kareibayeva, Gulzat; Kizilirmak, RefikPowerline Communication (PLC) has emerged as a promising technology for data transmission, offering a cost-effective and versatile solution for various applications. The primary objective of the project is to assess the performance of PLC network through the development of experimental setups using PLC adapters. The study tests PLC under different scenarios in real-world conditions. As a result of this project, conclusions were made whether the performance of PLC network is comparable to that of Ethernet network.