Engineering

Engineering Research Papers/Topics

Environmental and socioeconomic impact of copper slag—A review

Abstract: Copper slag is generated when copper and nickel ores are recovered from their parent ores using a pyrometallurgical process, and these ores usually contain other elements which include iron, cobalt, silica, and alumina. Slag is a major problem in the metallurgical industries as it is dumped into heaps which have accumulated into millions of tons over the years. Moreover, they pose a danger to the environment as they occupy vacant land (space problems). Over the past few years, stud...

Comparison of ageing characteristics of superior insulating fluids with mineral oil for power transformer application

Abstract: Natural Esters (NEs) with a high proportion of Unsaturated Fatty Acids (UFAs) were used in this research. A Superior Insulating Fluid (SIF) is prepared by blending NEs like Baobab Oil (BAO) and Mongongo Oil (MGO) with a pure dielectric like Kerosene (KER) and subjected to ultrasonic wave treatment at 30 kHz. Then, accelerated heating of SIF is carried out in the presence of Kraft Paper (KP) and Copper Plate (CP) for 10 hours a day at 90 °C for 30 successive days. The deterioration...

Modeling a sustainable, self-energized Pine Dust Pyrolysis system with staged condensation for optimal recovery of bio-Oil

Abstract: This simulation study explores sustainable improvements that could be made to a pine dust pyrolysis system to eliminate total dependence on external electrical energy supply and improve the yield of high-quality dry bio-oil. The components, stoichiometric yield and composition of oil, char and gas were modeled in ChemCAD using data from literature and results from biomass characterization and pyrolysis. A fast pyrolysis regime was used to increase the overall yield of dry oil fract...

A review on drones controlled in real-time

Abstract: This paper presents related literature review on drones or unmanned aerial vehicles that are controlled in real-time. Systems in real-time control create more deterministic response such that tasks are guaranteed to be completed within a specified time. This system characteristic is very much desirable for drones that are now required to perform more sophisticated tasks. The reviewed materials presented were chosen to highlight drones that are controlled in real time, and to includ...

The effect of a sulphate-reducing bacteria on the rate of corrosion of steel alloys

Abstract: In this article, we investigate the effect of micro-organisms on the rate of corrosion of stainless steel and mild steel alloys. The three analytical techniques we will employ in measuring the rate of corrosion are the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic polarization and the mass loss method. The test material used is the 316L stainless steel and the mild steel coupons. The microorganism we are going to use for this investigation is the sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB). ...

Application of stage condensation of tar during pyrolysis of high ash semi-bituminous-Morupule mine coal

Abstract: Botswana high-ash semi-bituminous coal produced by Morupule mine is under-utilized due to a lack of knowledge in possible applications of derivative products such as tar, syngas, and charcoal. This study is aimed to determine the possibility of producing tar as the main product via stage condensation in a semi-batch pyrolysis plant. A conventional process that incorporates fractional distillation to refine tar makes the low-quality coal uneconomical for coal to tar application beca...

Non-invasive smart implants in healthcare: Redefining healthcare services delivery through sensors and emerging digital health technologies

Abstract: The adoption of non-invasive smart implants is inevitable due to recent technological advancements in smart implants and the increasing demand to provide pervasive and personalized care. The integration of non-invasive smart implants presents unprecedented opportunities for effective disease prevention, real-time health data collection, early detection of diseases, real-time monitoring of chronic diseases, virtual patient care, patient tailored treatment, and minimally invasive man...

Biomass torrefaction as an emerging technology to aid in energy production

Abstract: Biomass torrefaction has gained widespread attention due to its benefits as a standalone process to improve biomass properties to be at par or similar to those for coal in electricity generation or as a pretreatment step before pyrolysis and gasification processes. It has also found application in other processes like steel production where it is aiming to replace coal or work alongside coal by co-firing the coal with biomass at certain proportions. There have been a lot of papers ...

Methanol synthesis chemistry and process engineering aspects: a review with consequence to Botswana chemical industries

Abstract: In a highly competitive world of commercial production of methanol, it is critical to understand and get methanol (CH3OH) synthesis chemistry and process engineering aspects of methanol production correctly. Methanol synthesis chemistry knowledge is invaluable as it is applied throughout the whole process of process design, plant design, optimization and during operation of methanol plant. A comprehensive review of methanol synthesis chemistry- for synthesizing methanol from syngas...

Optical properties of bimetallic (SrO-K2O) nanofillers

Abstract: In this study, bimetallic nanofiller capable of usage as reinforcement was synthesized from expanded polystyrene (EPS). Bimetallic materials consist of two different metals. The bimetallic nanofiller consisting of SrO and K2O was successfully developed by the hydrothermal method which many researchers have well utilized to prepare nanoparticles in recent times. This study aims to synthesize and characterize bimetallic SrO-K2O, nanofillers from recycled expanded polystyrene (EPS). P...

Development and size distribution of Polystyrene/ZnO nanofillers

Abstract: In this paper, the preparation and characterization of ZnO nanofillers from polystyrene (PS) polymer waste for use as reinforcement was presented. This was done to achieve a better means of upcycling polymer wastes that have become social menace in recent times. The PS/ZnO nanofillers was synthesized through the hydrothermal synthesis of nanocomposites in an enclosed reactor. The reactor was kept in an oven at a specified temperature for a period. A product obtained was characteriz...

Review of dual axis solar tracking and development of its functional model

Abstract: The use of solar energy is in the upswing due to its environmental friendliness and abundance. That notwithstanding, efficiency remains a major problem in many of the applications. Mitigation is normally in the form of tracking systems. This paper therefore investigates dual axis solar tracking systems from two dimensions. Firstly, a review of extant literature was conducted to draw up a trajectory of where we are in the efficiency map, Therefore it was found that the current effic...

A review of the desulphurization methods used for pyrolysis oil

Abstract: In this article we review the different methods that are used for the desulphurization of pyrolysis oil obtained from used tyres. A lot of research has been done on desulphurization of crude oil and its derivatives, mostly diesel. Since pyrolysis oil has similar properties to those of diesel, the methods employed can be extended and applied for the purification of pyrolysis oil. According to the ultimate analysis, pyrolysis oil contains about 1.6 wt% sulphur which is above environm...

Application of artificial neural network model to human body vibrations in large haul trucks

Abstract: The working conditions in oil sand mines in Northern Alberta, Canada, are greatly affected by the climate and geology. The ground is very hard and competent in winter but very soft during summer [1]. This changing behaviour of the ground has a great impact on the truck’s frame and the health of the operator because he is exposed to large Whole Body Vibrations (WBV). When the human body is exposed to large WBV for prolonged periods, it begins to have chronic back problems resultin...

Improving energy detection in cognitive radio systems using machine learning

Abstract: Research has shown that a huge portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is underutilized. Over the years, cognitive radio has been demonstrated as an efficient dynamic spectrum management technique. Energy detection is one of the widely used spectrum sensing techniques. However, its performance is limited by factors such as multipath fading and shadowing, which makes it prone to errors, particularly in low signal-to-noise ratio conditions. Yet, it still has a low computational cost,...


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