Abstract/Overview Virtual learning systems are becoming an increasingly common form of education due to the need for a platform that provides ability to connect people with required sets of skills, regardless of their location in the world. However, user satisfaction has always been a major factor in the success of software, regardless of whether the software is proprietary or freeware (such as open source software). Although user-centred designs are gaining recognition among virtual lear...
Abstract In this research, comparative investigation of the effect of selected natural polymers with the chemically synthesis imported polymer on threaded assemblies was carried out. The investigation involved the extraction of rubber and cashew resin using the continuous tapping method and ackee aril resin by the soxhlet extraction method, respectively. Stabilization of resin density, pH and viscosity was carried out by the addition of ZnO in different weight percentage of 3, 5, 7, and 10% ...
Abstract/Overview Tea, produced from the evergreen plant, Camellia Sinensis, is the most widely consumed beverage in the world after water. Although tea processing has now diversified into various speciality end products such as instant, white, oolong, iced, flavoured, and various blends, the most abundantly produced tea product in the world is fermented black tea. Black tea production is essentially a “dry” process, as no water is used at any of the production process steps. However ...
Abstract/Overview Energy availability at domestic level is a challenge across the world and especially in Africa. Firewood is the major source of energy for cooking for households in Kenya and there is need for a friendly sustainable environmental fuel. Carbonized biomass materials (briquettes) are considered a substitute. This study thus evaluated effect of selected briquetting techniques on briquettes’ performance properties. Milled charcoal dusts mixed in a ratio of 1:1:1 (Rice husk,...
Abstract Modern vertical axis wind turbine is a promising technology, appropriate for small scale applications in urban areas and isolates sites for different uses. Including pumping water, producing electrical power, passive starting others turbines and purposes. The Savonius wind turbine is a robust and reliable mechanical device, easy to build, produces less noise. The formation and growths of cracks in this system reduces its stiffness and yield strength, which lead to a poor performance ...
Abstract: This research is aimed at developing a Setswana grammar checker for Setswana declarative sentences using Long Short-Term Memory Recurrent neural networks (LSTM-RNNs). The research was motivated by the fact that Setswana is recognized as one of the under-resourced languages in the world and the language lacks Natural language processing (NLP) tools such as grammar checkers; this delays the language’s technological progress. A Setswana grammar checker is a pre-requisite to th...
Abstract: The presence of harmonics in solar Photo Voltaic (PV) energy conversion system results in deterioration of power quality. To address such issue, this paper aims to investigate the elimination of harmonics in a solar fed cascaded fifteen level inverter with aid of Proportional Integral (PI), Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic (FL) based controllers. Unlike other techniques, the proposed FLC based approach helps in obtaining reduced harmonic distortions that intend to an...
Abstract: It is anticipated that laser cladding assisted with preheat (LCAP)-deposited Tribaloy (T-800) composite coatings enhances resistance to structural degradation upon exposure to elevated-temperature oxidation service environments. The oxidation kinetics of LCAP T-800 composite coatings deposited on EN8 substrate and its mechanisms have not been explored in severe conditions that are similar to operational parameters. The isothermal oxidation behaviour of the T-800 composite coating d...
Abstract: Fossil fuels, particularly crude oil, have proven to be a source of energy to households, transportation and power industries over the past decades. This natural reserve is diminishing at an alarming rate with crude oil having reserves to last the earth for the next half a century. As a result, researchers are constantly seeking remedial technologies to close this gap. Thermochemical conversion processes such as pyrolysis, gasification and liquefaction (PGL) offer an alternative so...
Abstract: Al2O3.TiO2 ceramic composites exhibit versatile properties such as high hardness and excellent wear, chemical, thermal and corrosion resistance. As such, they have been used in various applications such as optical and electronic, gas separation, biomedical processes, and support for transition metal catalysts, wear resistant coatings in machinery, textile and printing industries. However, alumina and alumina-based composites often exhibit high brittleness which limits their potenti...
Abstract: Coal due to its relatively large quantities and wide distribution worldwide has generated renewed interest in research and development with the aim of establishing coal conversion technologies that are technically reliable, environmentally and economically feasible. It has proved to be a prominent energy source in emerging markets with increasing energy demand by accounting for the largest increase in the demand of energy amongst all other energy sources. Furthermore, with its high...
Abstract: Before disposal of any metallurgical waste to the environment, it is the responsibility of mining institutes to adhere to the permissible metal content limits. Base metals, especially iron and copper, have adverse effects of reducing the soil pH and excessive concentrations of these in the disposed waste may result in soil pollution and toxicity, with adverse effects on plant growth and animal health. Copper slag is a metallurgical waste that is disposed by way of stockpiling at de...
Abstract: The research presents a comparative study on the effectiveness of blending plant based natural coagulants (Cactus Opuntia and Moringa Oleifera extracts) and a synthetic coagulant (aluminium sulphate or alum) in treatment of raw water. The low production rates of natural coagulants has derailed their commercialization this has driven the idea of blending synthetic coagulants which is envisaged to be the more appropriate means of application in this study. To measure the effectivenes...
Abstract: In this review, the role of surface modification of nanoparticles to enhance their performance as adsorbents was explored. Performance was assessed by comparisons on adsorption capacities of differently modified nanoparticles (silica, iron, and alumina based nanoparticles) on different heavy metal ions (Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Pb, As, Cr, Zn, Mn, and Hg). A comparison of pure and modified materials revealed that the modified materials gave superior adsorption capacities. A close relationsh...
Abstract: The disposal of sludge processes accounts for 60% of the total operation and 40% of total emissions of greenhouse gas from wastewater treatment plants operations. Moreover, sludge contains pathogenic microorganisms, organics, inorganics, trace metals and emerging micropollutants, which can be a public health menace. To comply with the Environmental Protection Agency standards, sludge must be stabilized and detoxified before being disposed or reused. This study focuses on the use of...