Production and characterization of oil from fishes

M. Abdulkadir, G. I. Abubakar and A. Mohammed

Production and characterization of fish oil were carried out using soxhlet apparatus and n-Hexane as the solvent for extraction. The extraction was carried out at the boiling point of the solvent. Five different species of fishes were used for the experiment. From the result of the extraction, it was observed that the fish A (Mormyrups deliciousus) and fish E (shawa) have a good percentage of oil content of about 30.22% and 24.02% of its dry mass, respectively, while cat fish, tilapia and mud fish have 6.72, 14.52 and 17.92, respectively. Adeyemo F.A. (2004) reported a similar observation. The iodine and refractive indexes of this study is in agreement with those obtained by Adeyemo F.A. (2004), and also falls within the specification of the standard value. These values, therefore, show that fish oil is a non drying oil, a good lubricant and a cure for goiter, while saponification and acid values were found to be higher than the standard value. However, the boiling points of the oil were close to the boiling point of water.

Effects of current density on electrodeposited CoMnP thin films

M RM Krishnappa, N. Rajasekaran, S. Ganesan and R. N. Emerson

CoMnP Thin films alloys were fabricated by Electro deposition and the dependence of their Magnetic properties on the Current density were investigated using Vibrating sample Magnetometer (VSM). Structure and the Morphology of the film were studied using X-Ray diffractometer (XRD) and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Elemental compositions of the film were studied using Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS). Films are shiny and smooth. The deposited Cobalt (Co) increased from about 77 to 97 Mass % with increasing current density until 7 mAcm^-2 whereas the deposited Manganese (Mn) decreased from about 0.67 to 0.17 Mass % with increasing current density till 7 mAcm^-2. The deposited Phosphorous (P) of about 0.5 Mass% was independent of the current density. The X-Ray diffraction measurement showed that all peaks of CoMnP films were consistent with those of a typical Co hcp phase. An increase in the current density yielded a decreased sharpness of the major peaks. Also the peak position shift to lower angle which means the lattice constant increased with increasing current density. The magnetic saturation value decreased from about 0.97 to 0.5 emu with increasing current density. The coercivity measured in the perpendicular direction increased from about 300 to 900 Oe with increasing current density. Reasons for variation in magnetic properties and structural characteristics are discussed.

Wave energy potential of peninsular Malaysia

Muzathik AM, Wan Nik WB, Ibrahim MZ and Samo KB

Wave power potential along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, facing South China Sea, bounded by latitudes 3.5⁰ N and 6.5^o N and longitudes 102⁰ E and 104.0^o E, is investigated based on two-hourly data,  covering a 12-year period. Total wave energy was 17.69 MWh/m in an average year, whereas the average wave power varied between 0.15 kW/m and 6.49 kW/m. More than 60% of the annual wave energy is provided by significant wave heights (H_s) between 0.2 m and 1.2 m and with wave peak periods (T_p) between 2 and 8 s accounted for more than 70% of total wave energy. The main directions in terms of wave energy for whole year are north, which accounts for more than 40%, followed at some distance by northeast, southwest and south.  During northeast monsoon season, in general main directions in terms of wave energy are north and northeast, which accounts more than 80% of total wave energy. The correlation between maximum wave height (H_max) and H_s for the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia can be given by H_max = 1.494H_s + 0.01324 and the values of T_p and mean periods can be correlated with “Gaussian 3” general model.

Optimizing the process parameters on tool wear of wc insert when hot turning of AISI 316 stainless steel

S. Ranganathan and T. Senthilvelan

In this work, the influence of the cutting parameters namely cutting speed (Vs), feed rate (fs) and depth of cut (a_p) at 200⁰ C, 400⁰ C and 600⁰ C hot turning of 316 stainless steel on tool wear are studied. The optimum results can be achieved in the experimental study by employing Taguchi techniques. Combined effects of three cutting parameters i.e. cutting speed, feed rate and depth of cut on the performance measure, tool wear (VB) are investigated by employing an orthogonal array and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) at 200⁰ C, 400⁰ C and 600⁰ C hot turning. Optimal cutting parameters for each performance measure were obtained; also the relationship between the parameters and the performance measure is determined using multiple linear regression equation.

Septic B-spline collocation method for sixth order boundary value problems

K.N.S. Kasi Viswanadham and P. Murali Krishna

Abstract:

In this paper sixth order boundary value problems is solved numerically by collocation method. The solution is approximated as a linear combination of septic B-spline functions. The septic B-splines constitute a basis for the space of septic polynomial splines. In the method, the basis functions are redefined into a new set of basis functions which in number match with the number of selected collocation points. To test the efficiency of the method, several numerical examples of sixth order linear and nonlinear boundary value problems are solved by the proposed method. Numerical results obtained by the proposed method are in good agreement with the exact solutions available in the literature.

Simulation analysis of passive solar structures using heat transfer equations

M. Faruqi and P. Ghavami

Abstract:

Passive solar design is an economical way of using solar energy in buildings. The thermal behavior of the buildings within its environment over a period of time can easily be predicted using accurate and simple analytical tools. This provides designers the information necessary to satisfy the occupant’s needs, reduce peak cooling/heating power demands, reduce the size of air conditioning/heating equipment, and the period for which it is required. There by, increasing the possibility of a successful design. The main goal of this study is to present modeling of passive solar structures using heat transfer equations. The simulation model results correlated well with the experimental data.

Modeling the impacts of urbanization on river flooding using the saint venant equations

Alayande Adegoke Waheed and Agunwamba Jonah Chukwuemeka

Urbanization and expansion of structural developments into traditional flood prone areas of a natural river channel modifies the channel shapes, reduces the width of the flood prone areas relative to bankfull width at every point along the river channel and modifies the flood flows containment characteristics of the channel. These impacts are manifested the entrenchment ratio. In this study the Continuity equation in the St. Venant hydrodynamic equations was modified for the geomorphological parameter called the entrenchment ratio. The modified model was applied to investigate the extent of inundation of the floodplain by floods of various frequencies over the section of the Kaduna River adjoining the Kaduna City where urbanization has over the year caused the floodplain to be developed for residential accommodation, recreational and agricultural activities. Results obtained indicated that the 2yr, 5yr, 10yr, 25yr, 50yr, and 100yr floods when occur can cause maximum inundation of between 82.53% to 94.48% of the floodplain area between the Eastern Byepass bridge and the Kaduna South Waterworks with Ungwan Rimi, Kabala Doki and Kigo road extension as the  most critical areas.

Lithologic characteristics of parts of the crystalline basement complex of northern Nigeria in relation to groundwater exploitation

I. O. Olaniyan, J. C. Agunwamba and J. O. Ademiluyi

Abstract:

The extent of relationship between lithologic characteristics and productivity of crystalline aquifers has been considered with respect to rural water supply in the Galma river basin in northern Nigeria. Five lithologic units delineated across the basin were lateritic top soil, silty clay, kaolinitic sandy clayey silt, the weathered granite and the lowermost fresh basement rock. The crystalline Basement rocks were found to have areas of weathered and deeply fractured regolith which constitute useful aquifers. The overburden thicknesses were observed to be larger at the central and western parts of the basin than at the south eastern tip. Statistical evaluation showed that the regression line of yield on weathered zone thickness has a regression coefficient of +0.232, while the Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis gave a correlation coefficient of 0.233. This revealed a weak, linear and direct interrelationship between the yield and weathered zone thickness, which suggests that the thickness of the weathered zone has a low but positive level of influence on well yield, but yield is not entirely dependent on weathered zone thickness.

Comparative analysis of SPWM and SVPWM control for three phase inverter

K. Vinoth Kumar, Prawin Angel Michael, Joseph P. John and S. Suresh Kumar

Abstract:

A voltage source inverter is commonly used to supply a three-phase induction motor with variable frequency and variable voltage for variable speed applications. A suitable pulse width modulation (PWM) technique is employed to obtain the required output voltage in the line side of the inverter. The different methods for PWM generation can be broadly classified into triangle comparison based PWM (TCPWM) and Space Vector based PWM (SVPWM). In TCPWM methods such as sine-triangle PWM, three phase reference modulating signals are compared against a common triangular carrier to generate the PWM signals for the three phases. In SVPWM methods, a revolving reference voltage vector is provided as voltage reference instead of three phase modulating waves. The magnitude and frequency of the fundamental component in the line side are controlled by the magnitude and frequency, respectively, of the reference vector. The highest possible peak phase fundamental is very less in sine triangle PWM when compared with space vector PWM. Space Vector Modulation (SVM) technique has become the important PWM technique for three phase voltage source inverters for the control of AC Induction, Brushless DC, Switched Reluctance and Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motors. The study of space vector modulation technique reveals that space vector modulation technique utilizes DC bus voltage more efficiently and generates less harmonic distortion when compared with Sinusoidal PWM (SPWM) technique. In this paper first a model for Space vector PWM is made and simulated using MATLAB/SIMULINK software and its performance is compared with Sinusoidal PWM. The simulation study reveals that Space vector PWM utilizes DC bus voltage more effectively and generates less THD when compared with sine PWM.

Effect of differential settlements on nonlinear interaction behaviour of plane frame-soil system

Ramakant Agrawal and M. S. Hora

Abstract:

The building frame, foundation and soil mass form a complete structural system to resist the external loads. The mechanics of soil-structure interaction takes place between these components. The superstructure, foundation and soil mass can be considered as a single integral compatible structural unit for carrying out the interaction analysis to predict more realistic behaviour. The stress-strain characteristics of the supporting soil play a vital role in the interaction analysis. The resulting differential settlements of the soil mass are responsible for the redistribution of forces in the superstructure. In the present work, the nonlinear interaction analysis of a two-bay two-storey plane building frame-soil system has been carried out using the coupled finite-infinite elements. The nonlinear constitutive hyperbolic soil model available in the literature is adopted to model the nonlinear behaviour of the soil mass. The structural behaviour of the interaction system is investigated as the shear forces and bending moments in superstructure get significantly altered due to differential settlements of soil mass.

Solving difference equations by forward difference operator method

Odior A. O., Charles-Owaba O. E. and Fadare D. A.

Abstract:

In this paper a forward difference operator method was used to solve a set of difference equations. We also find the particular solution of the non-homogeneous difference equations with constant coefficients. In this case, a new operator call the forward difference operator Δr,s, defined as Δ_r,s y_n = r y_n+1 - s y_n, was introduced. Some of the properties of this new operator were also investigated.

Finite element simulation of deep drawing of aluminium alloy sheets at elevated temperatures

G. Venkateswarlu, M. J. Davidson and G. R. N. Tagore

Abstract:

More and more automobile companies are going for weight reduction of their vehicles for fuel economy and other features. They have started using more tailored blanked bodies using advanced joining techniques. Such material combinations usually called as “Tailor Welded Blanks” offer better characteristics. However, owing to the presence of different materials their formability is a challenge. The objective of the present study is to determine the effect of blank temperature on forming behavior of sheets and damage factor of such aluminium sheet alloys of 6061 and 7075 at elevated temperatures. An insight into such a study will throw light on the different temperatures required by the above materials when they are made into TWBs. In this present investigation, a series of simulations were carried out on the formability behaviour of cylindrical deep drawing of aluminium alloys in the temperature range 50-500 ⁰ _C using DEFORM-2D. The damage factor based on Cockcroft Latham algorithm was taken as the constraint for defect free product. The results show that forming at elevated temperature can yield significant increase in product height, especially for aluminium 7075. The deep drawing of aluminium 6061 alloys show very good formability in a temperature range between 150-250⁰c and 400-500⁰c for aluminium 7075. Both the metals gave identical cup heights when drawn at 475⁰c.