Development of Regional Flood Frequency Relationships Using L-moments for Middle Ganga Plains Subzone 1(f) of India

In this study, screening of the data has been carried out basedon the discordancy measure (D _i) in terms of the L-moments. Homogeneity of the region has been tested using the L-moments based heterogeneity measure, H. For computing the heterogeneity measure H, 500 simulations were carried out using the four parameter Kappa distribution. Based on this test, it has been observed that the data of 8 out of 11 bridge sites constitute ahomogeneous region. Hence, the data of these 8 sites have been used in this study. Catchment areas of these 8 sites vary from 32.89 to 447.76 km² and their mean annual peak floods varyfrom 24.29 to 555.21 m³ s^-1. Comparative regional floodfrequency analysis studies have been carried out using the various L-moments based frequency distributions viz. Extreme value (EV1), General extreme value (GEV), Logistic (LOS), Generalized logistic (GLO), Normal (NOR), Generalized normal (GNO), Uniform (UNF), Pearson Type-III (PE3), Exponential (EXP),Generalized Pareto (GPA), Kappa (KAP), and five parameter Wakeby(WAK). Based on the L-moment ratio diagram and Z _i ^dist –statistic criteria, GEV distribution has been identified as the robust distribution for the study area. For estimation of floods of various return periods for gauged catchments of the study area, regional flood frequency relationship has been developed using the L-moments based GEV distribution. Also, for estimation of floods of desiredreturn periods for ungauged catchments, regional flood frequencyrelationship has been developed by coupling the regional flood frequency relationship with the regional relationship between mean annual maximum peak flood and catchment area.     

Lower Diffusion-Induced Stress in Nano-Crystallites of P2-Na2/3Ni1/3Mn1/2Ti1/6O2 Novel Cathode for High Energy Na-ion Batteries

P2-type Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/2Ti_1/6O₂ (NMTNO) cathode is a preeminent electrode material for Na-ion batteries owing to its open prismatic framework, air-moisture stability, inexpensiveness, appealing capacity, environmental benignity, and Co-free composition. However, the poor cycling stability, sluggish Na-ion kinetics induced in bulk-sized cathode particles, cracking, and exfoliation in the crystallites remain a setback. To outmaneuver these, a designing strategy of a mechanically robust, hexagonal nano-crystallites of P2-type Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/2Ti_1/6O₂ (NMTNO_nano) electrode via quick, energy-efficient, and low-cost microwave-irradiated synthesis is proposed. For the first time, employing a unified experimental and theoretical approach with fracture mechanics analysis, the mechanism behind the enhanced performance, better structural stability, and lower diffusion-induced stress of NMTNO_nano compared to micro-sized Na_2/3Ni_1/3Mn_1/2Ti_1/6O₂ is unveiled and the electrochemical shock map is predicted. The NMTNO_nano cathode provides 94.8% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 0.1 C with prolonged performance for 1000 cycles at 0.5 C. The practical viability of this cathode, tested in a full cell against a hard carbon anode delivered 85.48% capacity retention at 0.14 mA cm⁻² after 200 cycles. This work bridges the gap in correlating the microstructural and electrochemical properties through experimental, theoretical (DFT), and fracture mechanics analysis, thereby tailoring efficient cathode with lower diffusion-induced stress for high-energy Na-ion batteries.     

Effect of sequential treatments of fermentation and ultrasonication followed by extrusion on bioactive content of apple pomace and textural,functional properties of its extrudates

Apple pomace (AP) is a potential source of phenolic compounds, and most of the phenolics are presented in the bound form. Liberation of these bound phenolics is required to improve their health functionality. In this context, AP was naturally fermented followed by the ultrasonication and microwave drying. Fermentation time (FT), pomace to water ratio (PWR), ultrasonication intensity (UI) and microwave power (MWP) had significant (P < 0.05) effect on total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) of AP. At the optimum pretreatment conditions of 24 h FT, 5% (w/v) PWR, 37 W cm^?2 UI and 90 W MWP, TPC and AA of AP were 40.3% and 92.9%, respectively, higher than that of the control AP. Extrudates from pretreated AP also had improved textural (hardness, brittleness, crispness) and functional (water absorption index, water solubility index) properties. Pretreatment reduced crystalline fraction amount and enhanced solubility of AP.     

Effect of Degree of Polishing on Milling Characteristics and Proximate Compositions of Barnyard Millet (Echinochloa frumentacea)

Polishing of barnyard millet was done in rice polisher. Degree of polishing was obtained from 3 to 6 min time of milling at an increment of 1 min at 8%, 10%, 12% and 14% of moisture levels. At each moisture level and degree of polishing, proximate compositions (protein, fat, fibre, ash and carbohydrates) were analysed. At 8% moisture, barnyard millet was more resistant to polishing and yielded 18.86% of bran after 6 min of milling, while at 14% moisture it was 19.21%. The amount of bran removed increased significantly with time of milling and was best described by power model when regression analysis was carried out. The milling and head yield decreased linearly with the degree of polishing. For the entire range of milling time, at 10% moisture content, there was highest head yield (52.97%). The broken millet recovery increased in proportion to the degree of polishing. Regression analysis showed that the power model was the best fit. The milling time caused a reduction in the proximate compositions. The maximum loss in protein, fat, ash and fibre took place at 14% moisture content followed by 12%, 10% and 8% moisture levels. Protein, fat, ash and fibre were negatively and linearly correlated with degree of polishing.     

Comparison of energy and exergy analysis of fossil plant,ground and air source heat pump building heating system

The energy and exergy flow for a space heating systems of a typical residential building of natural ventilation system with different heat generation plants have been modeled and compared. The aim of this comparison is to demonstrate which system leads to an efficient conversion and supply of energy/exergy within a building system.The analysis of a fossil plant heating system has been done with a typical building simulation software IDA–ICE. A zone model of a building with natural ventilation is considered and heat is being supplied by condensing boiler. The same zone model is applied for other cases of building heating systems where power generation plants are considered as ground and air source heat pumps at different operating conditions. Since there is no inbuilt simulation model for heat pumps in IDA–ICE, different COP curves of the earlier studies of heat pumps are taken into account for the evaluation of the heat pump input and output energy.The outcome of the energy and exergy flow analysis revealed that the ground source heat pump heating system is better than air source heat pump or conventional heating system. The realistic and efficient system in this study “ground source heat pump with condenser inlet temperature 30 °C and varying evaporator inlet temperature” has roughly 25% less demand of absolute primary energy and exergy whereas about 50% high overall primary coefficient of performance and overall primary exergy efficiency than base case (conventional system). The consequence of low absolute energy and exergy demands and high efficiencies lead to a sustainable building heating system.     

Energy and exergy analysis of fossil plant and heat pump building heating system at two different dead-state temperatures

In this paper, we deal with the energy and exergy analysis of a fossil plant and ground and air source heat pump building heating system at two different dead-state temperatures. A zone model of a building with natural ventilation is considered and heat is being supplied by condensing boiler. The same zone model is applied for heat pump building heating system. Since energy and exergy demand are key parameters to see which system is efficient at what reference temperature, we did a study on the influence of energy and exergy efficiencies. In this regard, a commercial software package IDA-ICE program is used for calculation of fossil plant heating system, however, there is no inbuilt simulation model for heat pumps in IDA-ICE, different COP (coefficient of performance) curves of the earlier studies of heat pumps are taken into account for the evaluation of the heat pump input and output energy. The outcome of the energy and exergy flow analysis at two different dead-state temperatures revealed that the ground source heat pumps with ambient reference have better performance against all ground reference systems as well as fossil plant (conventional system) and air source heat pumps with ambient reference.     

A trophic state index for Laguna lake in the Philippines

A multivariate approach was used to develop a trophic state index. The index TSI(AVE), based on the four trophic state variables (transparency, phytoplankton, nitrate and temperature) was applied to Laguna Lake in the Philippines. The results indicated a hypereutrophic state of the lake. A Carlson‐type index was also used for the lake, but it was found that the index was not applicable to Laguna Lake.