Cathodic electrodeposition of SnS thin films from aqueous solution

SnS thin films were prepared by cathodic electrodeposition on ITO/glass and Ti substrates from a solution containing SnCl₂ and thiosulphate ions. Cyclic voltammetry experiments were performed to elucidate the electrodic processes occurred when potentials were applied and to determine the optimum potential for electrodeposition. The photoactivity of the deposited films and their conduction types were evaluated using the photoelectrochemical technique. The bandgap energy and type of optical transitions were determined from optical absorbance data. Structural and compositional analysis were accomplished using X-ray diffractometry, electron dispersive analysis of X-ray, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The morphology of the films were examined using scanning electron microscopy.     

Study of mixed convection in an annular vertical cylinder filled with saturated porous medium,using thermal non-equilibrium model

The present study deals with numerical investigation of effects of different parameters on enhancement or retardation of the heat transfer rate in an annular vertical cylinder filled with saturated porous medium. The heat transfer is assumed to take place by mixed convection mode. The thermal non-equilibrium approach is considered. The inner surface of the annular cylinder is maintained at constant wall temperature whereas the outer surface remains at ambient temperature. The governing partial differential equations are solved using finite element method. The results are discussed for the effects of Peclet number, interphase heat transfer co-efficient and thermal conductivity ratio.     

The availability of daylight from tropical skies—a case study of Malaysia

In Malaysia, no long-term daylight data are measured. It was only recently that the need to measure the availability of daylight became urgent when the importance of daylighting in buildings was rediscovered. The hourly daylight availability has been simulated for the Malaysian sky using daylight modelling techniques based on empirical and measured solar irradiation and cloud cover data. This paper presents the techniques involved in producing exterior illuminance data. These data were then compared with measured illuminance at Shah Alam and Bangi, Malaysia. The global illuminance levels are generally high, with values exceeding 80,000 lux at noon during the months when solar irradiation is highest. Even during the months when the ground receives less solar irradiation, the peak illuminance can reach 60,000 lux. Applications and uses of such data are in daylighting design, both for visual and thermal comfort, task illuminance and energy-conscious design of buildings. Recommendations are made at the end of the paper on the various climatic data that are required to be measured for overall daylighting design applications.     

Simulation of producer gas flameless combustion with fresh reactant diluted by hot flue gas

Flameless combustion is considered as a flexible and efficient combustion process for low heating value gas fuel. This paper presents numerical simulations of premixed flameless combustion using producer gas as a fuel. Different initial conditions of the premixed fresh reactant (air/fuel mixture) and dilution levels are taken into account for the investigation. The numerical simulations were investigated using a network of chemical reactor models with the detailed reaction mechanism of GRI‐Mech 3.0. A threshold dilution level for flameless combustion fuelled by producer gas was determined. The numerical results show that dilution of the fresh reactant with hot combustion products and initial fresh reactant temperature play important roles in flameless combustion formation and its auto‐ignition behaviour, rather than equivalence ratio of the fresh reactant. In the flameless combustion regime, temperature and chemical concentrations were reduced while chemical kinetics process was decelerated, resulting in delay of the auto‐ignition process.     

Characterization and challenge of development of producer gas fuel combustor: A review

Producer gas, which derived from a biomass gasification process, is considered as one of the alternative fuels, which is suitable for the heating process and power generation. Due to low heating density and impurities, combustion in an external combustion chamber constitutes an obvious option for the utilization of producer gas via the combustion process. This paper reviews the technical challenges and the development of the producer gas combustor. Various combustion techniques are reviewed. A stable flame combustion with low emissions (both CO and NO_x) constitutes a main requirement of the producer gas combustion. Flame stabilization techniques such as swirl-vane coupled with bluff-body, swirl flow configuration, and staging combustion were successfully employed to enhance the stability and performance of the producer gas combustion. As shown in the results of the studies, the combustion process can operate in a wide range of equivalence ratios with the exhaust gas temperature >600 °C. This temperature is sufficiently hot for the power generation and heating applications. Overall, NOx and CO emissions were below 700 ppm and 1.3%, respectively. In the flameless combustion mode, ultra-low emission for both CO and NOx were recorded. However, higher emission can be found when operated at a higher thermal load combustor. Homogeneity of the thermal field and low polluting emissions make flameless combustion a promising lean and clean combustion technology. Integration of the benefits of flameless combustion and producer gas fuel is an outstanding contribution in reducing emissions and enhancing the efficiency of the combustion systems.     

Heat transfer in a conical cylinder with porous medium

In this paper, numerical study of heat transfer in a conical annular cylinder fixed with saturated porous medium is presented. The heat transfer is assumed to take place by natural convection and radiation. The inner surface of conical cylinder is maintained at uniform wall temperature. The governing partial differential equations are non-dimensionalised using suitable non-dimensional parameters and then solved by using finite element method. The porous medium is divided using triangular elements with uneven element size. A computer software is used to solve the coupled momentum and energy equations in an iterative manner. The results are discussed for various values of geometric and physical parameters of porous medium with emphasis on cone angle of the cylinder. It is seen that the cone angle plays a vital role in heat transfer from the hot surface to porous medium.     

Corrosion of high purity Mg, Mg2Zn0.2Mn, ZE41 and AZ91 in Hank’s solution at 37 °C

The CO₂ partial pressure required to maintain a synthetic body fluid (SBF) at a constant pH, based on the initial bicarbonate concentration, was evaluated to be 0.013 atm for Hank’s solution and 0.083 atm for SBF27. Corrosion of high purity Mg and three Mg alloys in Hank’s solution was studied using hydrogen evolution, weight loss and Tafel extrapolation. The solution pH was maintained constant by CO₂. There was initially an incubation period with a low corrosion rate, a period of increasing corrosion rate, and subsequently steady state corrosion. Some hydrogen dissolved in the Mg metal.     

Removal of TDS from Cooling Tower Water by Using EDTA-Modified Bagasse Fibers

Modified by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) salts and unmodified bagasse fibers were tested for the removal of total dissolved solids (TDSs) from cooling tower water. Parameters such as hydrogen ion concentration (pH), particle size of bagasse fibers, and the concentrations of adsorbent and adsorbate were studied to optimize the conditions to be applied on a commercial scale for the decontamination of effluents of cooling tower water. The optimum pH for TDS removal was between 6 and 6.5. The efficiency of TDS removal increased when the size of fiber particles decreased (100?μm) and when the concentration of EDTA salt increased to reach 78 mg/g of modified bagasse fibers. The adsorption parameters were determined using both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. The preferential mechanisms for the retention of TDSs are a complexation process between the TDSs and chemical functions present on the surface of fibers, and the chelation process with the EDTA attached to the fibers. The results obtained could be valuable for application to cooling tower water treatment and for the softening of hard drinking water.     

The effect of loading rates and particle geometry on compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites: Experimental and numerical prediction

Compressive properties, of particulate filled polymer matrix composites, are affected (to a certain extent) by the geometry of the particles, as well as the loadingrates. Therefore, this article presents the results on the compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites across strain rates from 10⁻² to 10⁻³ s⁻¹. The specimens were tested using a Universal Testing Machine for static loading and a conventional Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus for dynamic loading. Results show that the yield stress and 2.5% flow stress, of both PP/ZnO nanocomposites, showed a positive increment with increasing strain rates. However, the yield strain shows a contradictory pattern, where it decreased with increasing strain rates. PP/ZnO‐white seal recorded higher strain rate sensitivity, dissipation energy, stiffness, and strength properties, than that of PP/ZnO‐pharmaceutical, over a wide range of strain rates investigated. Interestingly, the Eyring theory almost agreed with the experimental results. Overall, based on the experimental and numerical results, we do believe that particle geometry, as well as strain rates, has a significant influence on the compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites specimens. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Static and dynamic compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites

The effect of strain rate is widely recognized as an essential factor that influences the mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites. Despite its importance, no previous work has been reported on the high‐strain rate behavior of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites. Based on this, static and dynamic compression properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites, with particle contents of 1%, 3%, and 5% by weight, were successfully studied at different strain rates (i.e., 0.01 s^?1, 0.1 s^?1, 650 s^?1, 900 s^?1, and 1100 s^?1) using a universal testing machine and a split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus. For standardization, approximately 24 nm of zinc oxide nanoparticles were embedded into polypropylene matrix for each of the tested polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites. Results show that the yield strength, the ultimate strength, and the stiffness properties, of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites, were greatly affected by both particle loading and applied strain rate. Furthermore, the rate sensitivity and the absorbed energy of all tested specimens showed a positive increment with increasing strain rate, whereas the thermal activation volume showed a contrary trend. In addition, the fractographic analysis and particle dispersion of all composite specimens were successfully obtained using a field emisission scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:949–960, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers