A simplex search method for a conductive–convective fin with variable conductivity

An inverse problem is solved for simultaneously estimating the convection–conduction parameter and the variable thermal conductivity parameter in a conductive–convective fin with temperature dependent thermal conductivity. Initially, the temperature field is obtained from a direct method using an analytical approach based on decomposition scheme and then using a simplex search minimization algorithm an inverse problem is solved for estimating the unknowns. The objective function to be minimized is represented by the sum of square of the error between the measured temperature field and an initially guessed value which is updated in an iterative manner. The estimation accuracy is studied for the effect of measurement errors, initial guess and number of measurement points. It is observed that although very good estimation accuracy is possible with more number of measurement points, reasonably well estimation is obtained even with fewer number of measurement points without measurement error. Subject to selection of a proper initial guess, it is seen that the number of iterations could be significantly reduced. The relative sensitiveness of the estimated parameters is studied and is observed from the present work that the estimated convection–conduction parameter contributes more to the temperature distribution than the variable conductivity parameter.     

Fatigue in Ti–6Al–4V–B alloys

The addition of small amounts of B to Ti–6Al–4V alloy reduces the as-cast grain size by an order of magnitude and introduces TiB phase into the microstructure. The effects of these microstructural modifications on both the high cycle fatigue and cyclic stress–strain response were investigated. Experimental results show that B addition markedly enhances the fatigue strength of the alloy; however, the influence of prior-β grain size was found to be only marginal. The presence of TiB particles in the matrix appears to be beneficial with the addition of 0.55 wt.% B to Ti–6Al–4V enhancing the fatigue strength by more than 50%. Strain-controlled fatigue experiments reveal softening in the cyclic stress–strain response, which increases with the B content in the alloy. Transmission electron microscopy of the fatigued specimens indicates that generation of dislocations during cyclic loading and creation of twins due to strain incompatibility between the matrix and the TiB phase are possible reasons for the observed softening.     

Influence of Coating Granulation Process on Iron Ore Sinter Quality and Productivity

For better blast furnace performance, there has always been a need for better quality raw materials like sinter, lump ore, and pellets. Among these raw materials the usage of sinter in blast furnace is at higher side compared to other iron bearing materials. As the quality of sinter product improves, its usage in blast furnaces also increases. Iron ore fines are the main source for sinter making. To improve the sinter properties it is necessary to provide good quality of iron ore fines. Due to depletion of high grade iron ore resources, goethite and limonitic ore content in iron ore fines is expected to increase gradually. Usually limonitic and goethite ore are associated with higher alumina and LOI. The conventional sintering process is one of the well established processes for high quality hematite ore. It does not fully respond to the low grade iron ore associated with goethite and limonite. This has led to deterioration in sinter properties and productivity. In recent years the improvement in the quasi‐particle structure with the granulation process is an effective method for improving sinter quality and productivity. To improve the sinter quality and productivity for low grade iron ore fines, different granulation processes like the conventional one, and other two advanced granulation processes like coke breeze, and flux & coke breeze coating granulation were studied in detail by conducting laboratory pot grate sintering experiments. From the test results it was found that sinter productivity, physical and metallurgical properties of the sinter improved with flux & coke breeze coating granulation process compared to conventional and coke breeze coating granulation process. Proper selection of the granulation time is very important to achieve the desired sinter properties. In the present work detailed laboratory experiments have been carried out by varying the coating time from 30s to 110s to study the influence of flux & coke breeze coating granulation time on mineralogy, productivity, physical, and metallurgical properties of sinter. With a coating granulation time of 50s, higher productivity, higher yield, and stronger sinter (higher T.I) with lower RDI and ‐5mm size sinter were achieved.     

利用人工神经网络模型预测球团矿还原粉化指数

印度JSW钢铁公司是一家年产钢700万t的联合钢铁企业,其炼铁单元由2座COREX和3座高炉组成。COREX和高炉用球团由一个年产420万t的带式焙烧机球团厂供给。作为一项重要的冶金性能指标,球团的还原粉化指数(RDI)要求满足COREX和高炉冶炼的要求。通过建立神经元网络模型和敏感度分析,研究了给料率、料层高度、焙烧温度、干透点温度、COREX煤气单耗、膨润土的添加量、生球水分、生球碳含量、以及成品球的MgO、Al2O3含量和碱度等12个因素对球团RDI指标的影响,并对焙烧机生产球团的RDI(-6.3mm)和RDI(-0.5mm)进行了预测。结果表明,球团中MgO、CaO/SiO2,生球碳含量和Al2O3含量对球团RDI指标影响较大。预测结果与实际的数据误差低于4%。研究得出:①生球的MgO、氧化铝和碳含量以及二元碱度对球团RDI有重要影响。②随着球团MgO含量和球团二元碱度的升高,球团RDI(-6.3mm)和RDI(-0.5mm)得到改善。③随着生球中氧化铝含量的增加,球团RDI升高,因此应尽量使用低氧化铝含量的铁矿粉来降低球团中的氧化铝。随着生球中氧化铝和碳含量的增加,球团RDI(-6.3mm)和RDI(-0.5mm)有所降低。④提高球团二元碱度和MgO含量的同时,降低生球碳含量可以改善球团的RDI。因此需要对它们的配比进行优化。⑤二元碱度0.50～0.55,MgO质量分数0.35%～0.45%,生球碳质量分数1.15%～1.20%,焙烧球氧化铝质量分数低于2.5%,FeO质量分数低于0.60%时,可望得到较低的RDI。⑥相对于球团中的碳和CaO含量,最优的焙烧温度可以改善球团的RDI(-6.3mm)和RDI(-0.5mm)。⑦高给料率和较高的料层高度会使球团的RDI(-6.3mm)和RDI(-0.5mm)升高。     

煤的粒度对Corex生产指标的影响

Corex工艺用煤的粒度分布是最重要的,它决定了半焦床的透气性和稳定性,因而影响气化炉的生产指标。煤的粒度可以用平均粒度(MPS)和小于6.3mm入炉煤粉比例来监测。降低煤中小于6.3mm煤粉比例和提高煤的平均粒度,都有利于改善气化炉的状况和性能。MPS和小于6.3mm入炉粉率的波动会影响燃料比,并使气化炉炉况不稳定,减少产量。采用工厂数据进行了理论计算,可知煤的粒度对熔融气化炉(MG)料床透气性的影响。采用统计分析方法研究了煤的粒度对Corex生产指标的影响,并尝试建立了入炉煤的粒度与Corex生产指标间的关系。研究结果表明:要使炉况稳定,并改善Corex的性能,要求煤的平均粒度控制在19～22mm范围内,小于6.3mm的粉末比例15%。得出了燃料比与煤的粒度等因素关系的回归方程式。讨论了煤的粉率和平均粒度对Corex生产指标的影响。     

Corex风口破损分析

Corex是一种使用非炼焦煤及纯氧代替焦炭和空气的熔融还原炼铁新工艺。与高炉工艺相比,Corex风口区域的温度更高,风口的使用寿命是一项重大挑战。在JSW公司,更换烧坏的风口所造成的休风几乎占工厂休风时间的15%。详细分析了风口破损及生产操作参数对破损的影响,以了解破损机理和根源。所有形式的风口破损不可能用一种普遍的原因来解释,但主要的原因集中在:入炉煤粉(6.3mm)过多、煤的平均粒度偏小、渣铁倒灌、关闭风口、结瘤脱落及滑料等。     

Emission characteristic of hydrogen and gasoline blend in spark-ignited engine

Hydrogen is an energy carrier that can transform our fossil fuel-dependent economy into a hydrogen economy, which can provide an emission-free transportation fuel. Hydrogen-fuelled engines are known for several advantages, among which is the very low concentration of pollutants in the exhaust gases compared with internal combustion engines using traditional or other alternative fuels. Hydrogen-driven vehicles thus reduce both local and global emissions. It is an energy carrier that can be used in internal combustion engines or fuel cells producing virtually no greenhouse gas emissions when combusted with oxygen. The only significant emission is water vapour. The effect of blending of hydrogen with gasoline is analysed in this current paper. Both HC and NO_x concentration decrease with the increase in hydrogen fractions. The results were analysed by collecting data on different crank angles and at 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% of hydrogen introduction into combustion chamber along with gasoline as base fuel.     

Potential biomass supply for agro-pellet production from agricultural crop residue in Nepal

Nepal, a country rich in biomass, still does not have any commercial pellet production plants and is wasting large amounts of agricultural crop residue. The current study showed that about 5.61 million tonnes (Mt) of biomass in the form of pellets are potentially available from agricultural crop residues. The brick and cement industries could use these agro-pellets. Co-firing of pellets in such industries could play an important role in reducing the import volume of coal and minimize the related environmental loadings.     

Effects of thermal load on wheel–rail contacts: A review

This article presents a technical review on the effects of thermal loads evolved at the wheel–rail–brake contact interfaces. These dynamic contact interfaces develop heat transfer conditions of widely varied thermal level. Their modeling to identify the sources for a variety of defect formation, observable on wheel tread or rail surface, is very important. The railway system, in general, has to bear axle load, friction load, and thermal load arising from their contact conditions in addition to traction and dynamic loads. The defects arising from the interaction of thermal load and other loadings may be identified as hot spots, shelling, spalling, rolling contact fatigue (RCF), and corrugation. The mechanisms for the formation of such defects are pivoted over the existing thermal environment of dynamic interacting surfaces. This review summarizes the works of early investigations and recent advances in modeling the heat transfer conditions required to estimate the temperature distribution at the contact zone. The heat partitioning method for both drag and stop braking conditions, in the presence of rail chill effect, is emphasized. Thermal gradient, introduced by localized temperature rise in the contact zone, in the presence of variable friction coefficient, promotes the RCF process. These alter the residual stresses in the contact region to cause a structural shakedown, aggravate plastic flow and activates ratchetting phenomenon in rails. The evolution of thermomechanical surface and subsurface fatigue cracks are also discussed for the completeness of this article. The effect of all such defect formation, emerging from thermal loading condition, and their countermeasures for defect mitigation are presented in this review. This abridged technical documentation envisions attracting more research in the area to improve wheel–rail set design and performance standards to extend enhanced safety and comfort to rail transport operation. It is opined that the thermomechanical loading, their effects on promoting defect formation and propagation should be studied in combination instead of the current practice of treating them separately.     

Milk Derived Antimicrobial Bioactive Peptides: A Review

In recent decades, bioactive peptides have attracted increasing interest as health promoting functional foods. A variety of naturally formed bioactive peptides have been found in fermented dairy products such as yogurt, sour milk, and cheese. Initially these peptides are inactive within the sequence of the parent protein molecule and can be generated by gastrointestinal digestion of milk, fermentation of milk with proteolytic starter cultures, and/or hydrolysis by proteolytic enzymes. Milk derived peptides exert a number of health beneficial activities, even upon oral administration. Bioactive peptides have a great impact on major body systems including the digestive, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, diabetes type II, obesity, and immune systems. Antimicrobial peptides are also an important ingredient of innate immunity, especially at mucosal surfaces such as lungs and small intestine that are constantly exposed to a range of potential pathogens. Therefore, it plays an important role in boosting natural immune protection by reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Bioactive peptides are considered as potent drugs with well-defined pharmacological residues and also used to formulate health-enhancing nutraceuticals.