A case study for influence of building thermal insulation on cooling load and air-conditioning system in the hot and humid regions

Ensuring the effective thermal insulation in regions, where the cooling requirement of building with respect to heating requirement is dominant, is very important from the aspect of energy economy. In this study, the influence of thermal insulation on the building cooling load and the cooling system in case of air-conditioning by an all-air central air-conditioning system was evaluated for a sample building located in Adana, based on the results of three different types of insulation (A, B and C-type buildings) according to the energy efficiency index defined in the Thermal Insulation Regulation used in Turkey. The operating costs of the air-conditioning system were calculated using cooling bin numbers. Life-cycle cost analysis was carried out utilizing the present-worth cost method. Results showed that both the initial and the operating costs of the air-conditioning system were reduced considerably for all three insulation thicknesses. However, the optimum results in view of economic measurements were obtained for a C-type building. The thickness of thermal insulation for the buildings in the southern Turkey should be determined according to the guidelines for a C-type building.     

Geochemical characteristics of major and trace elements in Sahinali Coals,Aydin, Turkey

In this study, geochemical behavior of elements is investigated in 25 coal samples collected at 10 locations of ?ahinli coaliferous units at southeast of Ayd?n, Turkey. In all the samples, X-ray powder diffraction and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses were performed and element and mineral compositions were determined. Total organic carbon (TOC) values of coals are between 14.6 and 37.7 wt% with average of 28.5 wt%. Samples are composed of quartz, calcite, feldspar, dolomite, mica, gypsum, and salt minerals which are accompanied by illite-, kaolinite-, and smectite-type clay minerals. Comparison of average element contents of world coals and studied samples yields that K > Fe > As > U > Cs > Y > Er > Al > Th > Rb > Yb > W > Tb > Dy > Lu > Ce > Sm > La > Ho > Si > Nd > Gd > Tm > Eu > Nb > Pr > Pb > Sn > Ni > Cu > Ga > Ta > Sb > Zr > Cd > V > Zn > Co > Mo > P > Hf > Ba are found to be enriched, while Mn > Be > Ca > Sr > Bi > Mg are found to be depleted. Statistically elements are correlated with TOC.     

The comparison of several lipid extraction methods on infant formula for 3-monochloropropanediol esters and glycidyl esters analysis

This study aimed to determine the best lipid extraction method for infant formula; therefore, it can be used as a routine analysis. The samples were some commercial infant formulas in Indonesia. The research was conducted with three steps: (i) Lipid extraction of infant formula using five lipid extraction methods; (ii) 3-monochloropropanediol esters (3-MCPDE) and glycidyl esters (GE) analysis of lipid extract from three lipid extraction methods in the first step; and (iii) 3-MCPDE and GE analysis of six commercial infant formulas using the best lipid extraction method. The results showed that lipid extraction using the Dubois method gave the best results than other lipid extraction methods. The level of 3-MCPDE and GE also had no significant difference with the addition of NaCl in the Folch method, compared with the addition of Na₂SO₄. The level of 3-MCPDE and GE using the Dubois method was significantly different and higher compared with the other lipid extraction methods. 3-MCPDE and GE levels of commercial infant formula were 6.62–52.84 µg kg⁻¹ and <1.43–17.06 µg kg⁻¹, respectively. The values obtained were still within the standard according to Commission Regulation EU 2018/290 by the European Food Safety Authority (125 µg kg⁻¹ for 3-MCPDE (on progress) and 50 µg kg⁻¹ for GE).     

Solvent fractionation of hard palm stearin to increase the concentration of tripalmitoylglycerol and dipalmitoyl-stearoyl-glycerol as substrates for synthesis of human milk fat substitute

This research aimed to produce triacylglycerols fraction rich in palmitic acid (PA) at the sn-2 position from hard palm stearin (HPS) through acetone fractionation. Fractionations were done at HPS-to-acetone ratios of 1:3, 1:5 and 1:7 (w/v) and at temperatures of 25, 30 and 35 °C for 3 h. Triacylglycerols with PA at the sn-2 position, such as tripalmitoylglycerol (PPP) and dipalmitoyl-stearoyl-glycerol (PPS), were concentrated in the solid fraction, obtained after separation by filtration. The optimal fractionation conditions were at a HPS-to-acetone ratio of 1:5 (w/v) and 30 °C. The total PPP and PPS content was more than 91%, with a corresponding yield of more than 59%. Triacylglycerols obtained were composed of more than 91% PA in which 88% were at the sn-2 position. Conclusively, the solvent fractionation is a suited alternative method for the preparation of triacylglycerols used for the enzymatic synthesis of 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol which is the main triacylglycerol for human milk fat substitute.     

Measurement of wood grain angle, moisture content and density using microwaves

In many wood products manufacturing processes, it is important to ensure that the physical properties of the raw material lie within acceptable ranges and are measured reliably. It is also important for practical use that the measurement process is robust, low-maintenance, fast and preferably non-contacting. This paper describes the development and demonstration of a microwave system for simultaneously identifying wood grain angle, moisture and density. The method involves propagating a microwave beam through the wood and measuring the resulting depolarization, attenuation and phase shift. The wood physical properties can then be identified from these measurements. In a series of measurements, the prototype microwave system successfully identified wood grain angles for hemlock and Douglas fir respectively with standard errors of 0.9° and 2.5° (measured range = -90° to +90°), moisture content 1.2% and 1.9% (measured range = 7–28%), moisture density 3.7 kg/m³ and 7.9 kg/m³ (measured range = 40–150 kg/m³, and dry density 16 kg/m³ and 30 kg/m³ (measured range = 325–625 kg/m³).     

The evaluation of some flexural properties of a denture base resin reinforced with various aesthetic fibers

This study was performed to determine whether some flexural properties of a denture base resin material could be improved through reinforcement with five types of aesthetic fibers at 3% concentration by weight and in 2, 4, and 6 mm length. Five specimens of similar dimensions were prepared for each of the test groups; base resin and the same resin with glass, rayon, polyester, nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 fibers in three different lengths. Flexural properties were evaluated by using a 3-point bending test. A visual examination was also made to determine mode of fracture of the specimens. The incorporation of different fibers in varying lengths had no significant effect on flexural strength of the resin. The specimens reinforced with nylon 6,6 fibers of 6 mm length showed the highest flexural strength. Young’s modulus and maximum load suggests that such reinforcement makes resin resistant to fracture.     

Refinement of some basic features of Zr surface-layered Bi-2223 superconductor with diffusion annealing temperature

This study aims to investigate the influences of diffusion annealing temperatures on structural, morphological, electrical, and superconducting features of Zr surface-layered Bi-2223 ceramics. The present study also covers an in-depth understanding of correlations between disorders and transition temperatures. The Zr diffusion is carried out via an annealing process between 650 and 840 °C. The observed results depict that the Zr ions can easily diffuse into the deeper level of Bi-ceramics and possible Zr/Bi substitution has occurred due to the driving force of high thermal energy. Besides, it is found that the Zr diffusion improves the general crystallinity quantities of Bi-2223 ceramic up to 800 °C annealing temperature. In addition, better intergranular couplings with a smoother plate-like structure are extensively observed in surface morphology for the samples annealed at 800 °C. Significant refinements of both basic electrical resistivity, hole carrier densities, and critical temperatures with narrow transitions are also obtained for the Zr surface-layered Bi-2223 ceramics after the 800 °C annealing process. The obtained improvements in critical fundamental features can be attributed to the optimum pairing mechanism, best crystal structure quality, ideal Cu–O₂ interlayer coupling strengths, and enhanced interaction between adjacent superconductive layers. Besides, the first-order derivative of electrical resistivity versus temperature graphs indicates that the best annealing temperature enables to triggers to stabilize the superconductivity in the homogeneous regions. It can be concluded that the Zr impurity diffusion at 800 °C is promising for the improvement in the basic features of Bi-2223 superconducting systems for future applications in superconductor technology.