ABSTRACT The use of quality control techniques such as Statistical Process Control (SPC) has become essential for any business to thrive in the modern industry. Statistical quality control is one of the reasons why the Japanese had a significant advantage over their competitors. However, many organizations are still not yet applying this powerful quality control technique (Ben & Jiju, 2000; Helm, 2018). In addition to that, although substantial research has been done to improve electrowinnin...
ABSTRACT Bio-fuels (Biodiesel and Bio-ethanol fuels) are synthesized from various Nigerian crops (palm(Elaeis Guineensis) wine, raffia(Raffia Vinefera) trunk, sugar cane(Saccharum L), physic nut seed (Jatropha Curcas), castor bean seed(Ricinus Communis), sandbox seed (Hura Crepitans) and African bush mango nut (Dika Nut) (Irvingia Gabonensis)) to serve as alternative fuels for internal combustion engines. The direct base-catalyzed trans-esterification process is employed in the biodiesel pr...
Abstract: Each hydropower plant is usually designed for specific amount of discharge and gross head. This paper presents the methods used to measure the discharge and gross head variables with additional of assessment tools. Discharge measurement methods covered include bucket, float, velocity-area, dilution, hydraulic structure and advanced discharge measurement while gross head measurement methods covered include topographic and DEM maps, hose level with pressure gauge, sight level, spirit ...
ABSTRACT Experimental investigation of anaerobic digestion of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (MSW) in an upflow bioreactor with central substrate dispenser (UBCSD) is presented. The UBCSD consists of two similar size bioreactors joined by a central substrate dispenser (CSD). The UBCSD is a component of an integrated system of bioreactors also containing the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor and the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), assembled systematical...
ABSTRACT The Energy - Exergy based performance analysis of the Solid Adsorption Solar Refrigerator is presented. The system comprises the collector/generator/adsorber, the condenser and the evaporator. It utilizes activated carbon/methanol as its adsorbent/adsorbate working combination. The exergy performance analysis of this refrigerator involves detailed assessment of all the following sub-processes that make up the refrigeration cycle, which are isosteric heat-up phase, desorption phas...
Abstract Exposure to CO (carbon monoxide) during cooking in households using LPG (liquefied petroleum gas), natural gas and charcoal as fuels has been conducted. The study aimed at assessing the indoor air quality in order to address potential hazards associated with CO. Carbon monoxide concentrations and flame temperature were measured at an interval of 1 min for 1 h using CO and thermometer data loggers respectively. While the CO concentration from LPG and natural gas were found below 26 p...
Abstract. The hydropower resources have become an attractive means of generating electricity to the off-grid network, especially in rural areas. This article assesses the small, mini and large hydropower resources and identified to reach 5.3GW for electricity generation in Tanzania. The technology development discussed comprises of hydro turbine manufacturers, classification and turbine selection. The barriers presented include the presence of sediment in the hydropower reservoirs, financial ...
Abstract A study on the flow characteristics in the cross-flow turbine model T15 300 has been conducted. The study was designed to examine the fluid flow trajectory in the turbine and identify areas for further improvement. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach was employed and the results were compared with experimental data. The simulation study was conducted at guide vane angle of 20o, 30o, 35o and 41o. The shaft diameter was set at 30 mm, 45 mm, 60 mm, and 75 mm for each head while ...
Abstract Problems associated with boilers are a major contributor to load losses in coal-fired power plants. The boiler furnace exit temperature is a key indicator of the combustion and heat transfer processes taking place and has a profound impact on the operation of the heat exchangers downstream of the furnace. Having a model that can predict the furnace exit temperature and heat flux distributions may enable furnace performance to be predicted without having to conduct extensive experimen...
ABSTRACT This thesis explores the development of a fixed wing unmanned aerial vehicle for delivery given the deplorable condition of roads leading to certain rural medical centers. This unmanned aerial vehicle has to be of the fixed wing type due to the weight to be carried and the distance which is to be covered. The thesis seeks to provide a greener alternative using a recyclable material i.e. strawboard for the body of the UAV, the UAV is also of a modular design hence it can easily be con...
Abstract Machining of Inconel 718 with whisker reinforced ceramic tool gave better performance in terms of tool life under high-pressure coolant supplies up to 15MPa compared to conventional coolant supplies. The use of 15MPa coolant supply pressure tend to suppress notching during machining thus improving tool life, while the use of higher coolant supply pressure of 20.3MPa did not show improvement in tool life due probably to accelerated notch wear caused by water jet impingement erosion. C...
ABSTRACT . The ice-maker freezer) was designed, constructed and tested. The ice-making machine is to freeze 27kg of water in 9 diflerent comparlments in 12 hrs. The quantity of heat lo be rmoved in order to achieve peezing is 12556.89 and this is used to determine the refiigeration tonnage of the machine (0.124 ton).' Polyurethane and Galvanized steel sheets have been selected for insulation and cabinet materials respectively due to their low thermal conductivities and high 'corrosion resista...
ABSTRACT Intelligent Tool Condition Monitoring (TCM) is an essential requirement in the drive towards automated machining operations. In this paper, a Multi-Layered Perceptron (MLP) neural net-work model has been developed for on-line condition monitoring of tool wear in high-speed turning of Titanium-based alloy (Ti-6Al-4V). Machining trials were conducted for typical rough and finish turning operations with cutting speed (90 – 120 m/min), feed rate (0.15 – 0.2 mm/rev), and depth of cut ...
Abstract This paper presents experimental and simulation study of the effects of stress on microstructure and failure morphology of low carbon steel under plane stress conditions. The study has revealed large extension of grains at the point of fracture and, stress and strain looped around the pearlitic faces of the microstructure matrix. The stress and strain distributions in the microstructure have shown that concentration of stress and strain on the pearlite were instrumental to oblique fr...
Abstract This paper investigates the dynamical behaviour of a duffing oscillator using bifurcation diagrams. There has been growing interest and challenges in engineering dynamics to characterize dynamical systems that are chaotic using bifurcation diagrams. The relevant second order differential equations using Runge-Kutta method were solved for ranges of appropriate parameters. The solutions obtained were used to produce the bifurcation diagrams using Microsoft excel 2007. Since an average ...