Hydrogen energy in changing environmental scenario: Indian context

This paper deals with how the Hydrogen Energy may play a crucial role in taking care of the environmental scenario/climate change. The R&D efforts, at the Hydrogen Energy Center, Banaras Hindu University have been described and discussed to elucidate that hydrogen is the best option for taking care of the environmental/climate changes. All three important ingredients for hydrogen economy, i.e., production, storage and application of hydrogen have been dealt with. As regards hydrogen production, solar routes consisting of photoelectrochemical electrolysis of water have been described and discussed. Nanostructured TiO₂ films used as photoanodes have been synthesized through hydrolysis of Ti[OCH(CH₃)₂]₄. Modular designs of TiO₂ photoelectrode-based PEC cells have been fabricated to get high hydrogen production rate (10.35 lh⁻¹ m⁻²). However, hydrogen storage is a key issue in the success and realization of hydrogen technology and economy. Metal hydrides are the promising candidates due to their safety advantage with high volume efficient storage capacity for on-board applications. As regards storage, we have discussed the storage of hydrogen in intermetallics as well as lightweight complex hydride systems. For intermetallic systems, we have dealt with material tailoring of LaNi₅ through Fe substitution. The La(Ni_l − xFe_x)₅ (x = 0.16) has been found to yield a high storage capacity of 2.40 wt%. We have also discussed how CNT admixing helps to improve the hydrogen desorption rate of NaAlH₄. CNT (8 mol%) admixed NaAlH₄ is found to be optimum for faster desorption (3.3 wt% H₂ within 2 h). From an applications point of view, we have focused on the use of hydrogen (stored in intermetallic La–Ni–Fe system) as fuel for Internal Combustion (IC) engine-based vehicular transport, particularly two and three-wheelers. It is shown that hydrogen used as a fuel is the most effective alternative fuel for circumventing climate change.     

A new clustering method for the diagnosis of CoVID19 using medical images

Applied Intelligence - With the spread of COVID-19, there is an urgent need for a fast and reliable diagnostic aid. For the same, literature has witnessed that medical imaging plays a vital role,...     

Experimental investigation of ice‐chamber for melting of ice based on Scheffler solar concentrator for high altitude regions

This experimental analysis was performed with the aim to melt the ice into hot water at very high altitude regions such as Leh Ladakh. Three different designs of ice‐chamber were used to melt the ice with direct heating in minimum time. The radiations were focused on the receiver with the help of 1 m² Scheffler solar concentrator exposed to the atmospheric situations of NIT Kurukshetra. The Scheffler solar concentrator was fabricated with fiber‐reinforced plastic material. The fabrication process is discussed in detail. The results obtained from the design showed that the ice frozen at ?5°C completely melted, converting into water. The maximum temperature of water attained in the ice‐chamber with receiver 1 (circular plate with fins), 2 (CPC with fins), and 3 (copper crucible) was 57.7°C, 64.3°C, and 67.4°C, respectively.     

Distance-based weighted sparse representation to classify motor imagery EEG signals for BCI applications

Multimedia Tools and Applications - Motor imagery (MI) based brain-computer interface systems (BCIs) are highly in need for a large number of real-time applications such as hands and touch-free...     

Remote sensing of alpine treeline ecotone dynamics and phenology in Arunachal Pradesh Himalaya

Global warming is inducing the elevational alpine treeline ecotone (ATE) to migrate to higher elevations in the Himalaya. Prior research on ATE dynamics has been primarily based on field inventory and studied at the community level. The potential of using remote sensing and geographic information system for the delineation of the treeline ecotone has been explored. In this study, we used satellite-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) data from Landsat-1/2 Multispectral Scanner (MSS), Resourcesat-1/2 Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS-III), and National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration-Advanced Very High-Resolution Radiometer (NOAA-AVHRR) to investigate long-term ATE dynamics. Satellite remote sensing of treeline in Arunachal Pradesh Himalaya revealed an upward shift over the past four decades. The ATE has shifted c. 452 m ± 74 m upward in vertical dimension at a rate c. 113 m decade^?1. Furthermore, the land surface phenology along ATE and forest area has changed significantly over the past 33 years. The significant positive trend in length of the growing season (LOS; p < 0.05) and delay in the end of the growing season (EOS) was observed. The start of the growing season (SOS) had a negative tendency with non-significant linear trend. The treeline upward shift and significant lengthening of the growing season at ATE and forest area indicate changing climatic patterns and processes.     

Adaptive neuro fuzzy based hybrid force/position control for an industrial robot manipulator

In this paper an ANFIS-PD+I (AFSPD+I) based hybrid force/position controller has been proposed which works effectively with unspecified robot dynamics in the presence of external disturbances. A constraint is put to limit the movement of manipulator in XY Cartesian coordinates. The validity of the proposed controller has been tested using a 6-degree of freedom PUMA robot manipulator. The performance comparison have been done with the fuzzy proportional derivative plus integral, fuzzy proportional integral derivative and conventional proportional integral derivative controllers subjected to the same data set with proposed controller. The projected AFSPD+I controller adhered to the desired path closer and smoother than the other mentioned controllers.     

CPW-fed triple high rejection notched UWB and X-band antenna on silicon for imaging and wireless applications

In this article, compact coplanar waveguide feed antenna covering ultra-wideband and X-band signals (2.98–13.34 GHz) is presented. Antenna also offers triple-notched band elimination (Wireless Interoperability for Microwave Access: 3.40–3.95 GHz, Wireless Local Area Network: 4.50–6.34 GHz and Downlink Satellite System: 7.11–7.802 GHz) which is due to insertion of stub and etching of slots. Antenna is fabricated and characterised on silicon for imaging and wireless applications having a fractional bandwidth of 133%. The antenna offers gain, radiation efficiency and group delay between 3.26 and 8.00 dBi, 84% and 92% and ≤±1.0 ns, respectively, for the entire bandwidth. Isolation of antenna in face-to-face and side-to-side orientations is <?25 dB with very less distortion presented in the transmission and reception of the signal. The radiations emitted by the antenna are observed as a dipole-like pattern in E-plane and omnidirectional in H-plane.