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: In this study, the effects of reduction ration on different mineral ores was investigated when using common size reduction equipment’s and also factors affecting the working efficiency during crushing. A laboratory model of a unified crushing operation was used as an estimate to account for performance at industrial level, how energy consumption in a treatment plant can be minimized. Prediction on breakage behavior and fracture energy was estimated for common crushers how chemica...
We describe a microfluidic platform that can be used to study the hydroponic growth of Arabidopsis plants with high-resolution visualization of root development and root-pathogen interactions. The platform comprises a set of parallel microchannels with individual input/output ports, where 1-day old germinated seedlings are initially placed. Under optimal conditions, a root system grows in each microchannel and its images are recorded over a 198-h period. Different concentrations of plant g...
In this study, two sets of experiments were conducted in order to investigate the impact of static magnetic fields on the growth and ethanol production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The first experiment ran for 25 hours with a 2% dextrose loading rate, while the second ran for 30 hours with a 6% dextrose loading rate. The magnetic fields used were homogeneous and non-homogeneous, with strengths of 100 mT and 200 mT, respectively. The results showed that the homogenous magnetic field had no sig...
ABSTRACT An Impact Test Apparatus was developed to determine the impact damage and bruise parameters of five fresh agricultural produce, namely: banana (Musa spp), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), cassava tuber (Manihot esculenta) and lemon (Citrus limon) using Impact – Drop Height method. A constant impact energy of 0.9J – 4.5J was maintained as drop heights ranged from 0.20m – 1.00m. The bruise diameter, bruise depth, bruise width, bruise volume, bruise...
Physical and aerodynamic properties of African breadfruit (Treculia africana) seeds were studied at four moisture levels: 12.50, 15.00, 17.50 and 20.10% dry base (w.b). As moisture content increased from 10.50 to 20.10% (w.b), the average weight, major diameter, minor diameter, intermediate diameter, geometric mean diameter, arithmetic mean diameter of the seeds ranged from 0.35±0.08 to 0.60g±0.04g, 8.08±0.90 to 10.05±0.60mm, 4.04±0.53 to 5.00±0.10mm, 2.96±0.43 to 4.60±0.40mm, 4.52±0...
Abstract A survey involving the use of questionnaires and personal communication during field trips was carried out in Western Nigeria with the aim of classifying and assessing the efficiency of the existing structures for the storage of crops. Barns; cribs; trenches; platforms; warehouses and silos are among the important. storage structures. The existing structures could be efficient with proper management but a major limitation of most of them is the low unit capacity which is inadequate t...
Abstract A flat-type, 60-egg capacity incubator was designed, constructed and tested. The incubator differs from existing designs in that the cabinet was made from a 3-ply, 4mm thick interior grade plywood to reduce cost and at the same time enhance heat insulation. Also, two domestic kerosene lanterns were provided to supplement heat generation by three 40 W electric bulbs during electricity outages as commonly experienced in Nigeria. When tested with 30 eggs of a commonly sold chicken bre...
ABSTRACT A gravitational drip Irrigation system was designed and constructed using available materials; and tested for the use of small scale farmers.
ABSTRACT A survey involving the use of questionnaires, personal communication, physical observation and photographic recording was undertaken in South western Nigeria comprising of Ekiti, Ogun, On do, Osun and Oyo states to identify the farm structures popularly used; materials used in their construction, their durability and maintenance culture adopted by the users. Farmhouses, cribs, barns, platforms, warehouses, silos, pens, yards and sheds, deep litter houses, palm fronds woven baskets, ...
ABSTRACT A survey involving the use of structured questionnaires and personal communication was carried out in Western Nigeria to ascertain the type and extent of use of silos for the storage of grains.
ABSTRACT The moduli of elasticity and rupture and the energy to cause failure under impact load of the oil palm trunk were determined.
ABSTRACT Body injuries sustained in sawmill industry as a result of mill site activities in Ondo, Oyo and Osun states in the Western part of Nigeria was investigated. Nigeria Sawmill Industries are essentially distributed between small, medium and large scale in the proportion of 81%: 13%: 6% respectively (RMRDC, 2003). A survey involving the use of questionnaire, participatory approaches, on-the-spot assessments and interviews were used as tools for investigation. A total of 140 injury cases...
ABSTRACT The characteristics of flow over side weirs are taken into consideration to verify the discharge coefficient for subcritical flow conditions under the assumption of constant specific energy. The main channel discharge, length of weir crest and sill height of the weir are treated as controlled variables. The discharge coefficient Cd is found to depend 011 the Upstream Froude No 171 and also on the ratio of sill height to upstream flow depth S/Yl . Simple linear regression analysis was...
ABSTRACT A Survey of the pattern of usage of building materials in the small - to - medium farms in Western Nigeria was undertaken. Wood was the commonest construction material in use, followed by earth products and natural fibres. Decay,and weathering of natural fibres including timber; arid the erosion of earth products were the major problems experienced with their uses. Treatment of the natural products before use was found wanting. Adequate seasoning and preservative treatment of natural...