Modelling of A Fluidized Bed Drier Using Artificial Neural Network

ABSTRACT

Proper modelling of a fluidized bed drier (FBD) is important to design model based control strategies. A FBD is a non-linear multivariable system with non-minimum phase characteristics. Due to the complexities in FBD conventional modelling techniques are cumbersome. Artificial neural network (ANN) with its inherent ability to “learn” and “absorb” non-linearities, presents itself as a convenient tool for modelling such systems.

In this work, an ANN model for continuous drying FBD is presented. A three layer fully connected feedfordward network with three inputs and two outputs is used. Backpropagation learning algorithm is employed to train the network. The training data is obtained from computer simulation of a FBD model from published literature. The trained network is evaluated using randomly generated data as input and observed to predict the behaviour of FBD adequately.     

Erosion of atmospheric plasma sprayed rare earth oxide coatings under air suspended corundum particles

Atmospheric plasma sprayed (APS) zirconium oxide based coatings are used widely in aero engine components for providing thermal insulation, improving the corrosion and oxidation resistance. Despite its wide spread industrial use, little is known about the basic erosion behaviour and the mechanisms by which such coatings erode. In this paper, the erosive wear behaviours of Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) coatings; Lanthanum Zirconate (LZ) coatings and Inconel 738 base material (BM) were studied and compared under air jet erosion conditions with corundum particles as erodent material. The erosion behaviour was studied with respect to the different porosity volume percentages of the coatings and the changes in velocity of erodent, impact angle of erodent and erodent particle flux. It was found that in solid particle erosion, the wear resistances of YSZ and LZ coatings were the best at their lowest porosity volume and it decreased with the increase in the percentage volume of porosity. There was a linear increase in the wear resistance with the increase in hardness. Further, relationships among the erosion parameters with respect to erosive wear loss were derived by using the response surface methodology and the erosion mechanisms were discussed adequately.     

Investigation of dielectric properties of free standing electrospun nonwoven mat

Flexible materials with balanced dielectric as well as conductive characteristics have elucidated considerable demand in field of research where conventional dielectric or insulators can be replaced by recent advances in various electronics appliances. Our work describes the detailed analyses of dielectric properties like dielectric constant, losses, and electric modulus by means of broadband dielectric spectroscopy over frequency ranging from 0.1 Hz to 10 MHz and temperature ranging from 0 to 60 °C for poly(vinyl alcohol)‐polyaniline (PVA‐PANI) free standing electrospinning nonwoven mat. It has been contemplated that the dielectric constant was enhanced by increasing PANI concentration for complete range of frequency at room temperature. The enhanced dielectric constant value (5.14 at 0.1 Hz, 2.66 at 1 KHz, 2.58 at 10 KHz, and 2.19 at 10 MHz) was anticipated for 7 wt % loading of PANI which was attributed to the presence of dipoles and interfacial polarization enclosed by the polymers. The increased dielectric constant with PANI dosing as well as with temperature attributed to favorable interfacial polarization. Shifting of peak is noticed in the spectra of imaginary electric modulus with increase in temperature which indicates increased chain dynamics of polymers in the mat. Three‐dimensional analysis of the field emission scanning electron microscopy images was carried out by SPIP analytical software. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46121.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of biomorphic hydroxyapatite

Hydroxyapatite has been synthesized using eggshell membrane as bio-template along with the assistance of microwave heating. Eggshell membrane is infiltrated with calcium and phosphorous precursors before heating it in a domestic microwave oven. Hydroxyapatite formed retained the interwoven hierarchical structure of the eggshell membrane. Structural analysis was performed using X-ray diffraction, and the microstructural features are characterized by scanning electron microscopy. Distinct morphological features were present in microwave processed hydroxyapatite when compared to the conventionally processed one. Transmission electron microscopic investigations and BET surface area analysis were also carried out.     

Modeling electrowinning process in an expanded bed electrode

In this paper, the photocatalytic degradation of methamidophos, an organophosphorous pesticide, was investigated in aqueous solution by using TiO(2) as a photocatalyst. The degradation was studied under different conditions such as the amount of the photocatalyst, illumination time, pH of the system, reaction temperature, initial concentration, electron acceptors, metal ions and presence of anions. The results showed that the photocatalytic degradation of methamidophos was strongly influenced by these parameters. The best conditions for the photocatalytic degradation of methamidophos were obtained. The optimum amount of the photocatalyst used is 12.0g/L. The photodegradation efficiency of methamidophos increases with the increase of the illumination time. Alkaline media are favorable for the photocatalytic degradation of methamidophos. The degradation efficiency is enhanced by increasing reaction temperature, and the photodegradation efficiency decreases with the increase in the initial concentration of methamidophos. The photodegradation efficiency of methamidophos is accelerated by adding a small amount of H(2)O(2), K(2)S(2)O(8), KBrO(3), Fe(3+) or Cu(2+). There are no obvious effects on the reactions with the addition of a small amount of Na(+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Zn(2+), Co(2+) and Ni(2+) or adding trace amount of SO(4)(2-), Cl(-), Br(-). The possible roles of the additives on the reactions and the possible mechanisms of effect were also discussed.     

Highly basic CaO nanoparticles in mesoporous carbon materials and their excellent catalytic activity

Highly basic CaO nanoparticles immobilized mesoporous carbon materials (CaO-CMK-3) with different pore diameters have been successfully prepared by using wet-impregnation method. The prepared materials were subjected to extensive characterization studies using sophisticated techniques such as XRD, nitrogen adsorption, HRSEM-EDX, HRTEM and temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD of CO2). The physico-chemical characterization results revealed that these materials possess highly dispersed CaO nanoparticles, excellent nanopores with well-ordered structure, high specific surface area, large specific pore volume, pore diameter and very high basicity. We have also demonstrated that the basicity of the CaO-CMK-3 samples can be controlled by simply varying the amount of CaO loading and pore diameter of the carbon support. The basic catalytic performance of the samples was investigated in the base-catalyzed transesterification of ethylacetoacetate by aryl, aliphatic and cyclic primary alcohols. CMK-3 catalyst with higher CaO loading and larger pore diameter was found to be highly active with higher conversion within a very short reaction time. The activity of 30% CaO-CMK3-150 catalyst for transesterification of ethylacetoacetate using different alcohols increases in the following order: octanol > butanol > cyclohexanol > benzyl alcohol > furfuryl alcohol.     

Boron-containing bioactive glasses in bone and soft tissue engineering

Boron is considered to influence the performance of several metabolic enzymes and boron deficiency is associated with impaired growth and abnormal bone development. As such, boron is a beneficial bioactive element for animals and humans. It is also well known that boron stimulates wound healing and improves bone health. The addition of boron in different proportions to bioactive glasses has significant effects on glass structure, glass processing parameters, biodegradability, biocompatibility, bioactivity and cytotoxicity. Different compositions of bioactive glasses (BGs) containing boron, including boron-doped, borosilicate and borate glasses, are being investigated for bone and soft tissue engineering under the premise that these BGs are suitable carriers of boron, indicating controlled release of B species in the biological environment. This paper reviews up to date research and applications of borate, borosilicate, and boron doped silicate and phosphate BGs focussing on their physical, structural, degradation and biological properties for hard and soft tissue regeneration.     

Particulate-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in naturally ventilated multi-storey residential buildings of Singapore: Vertical distribution and potential health risks

The main objective of the study is to quantify the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration levels (US EPA priority components) in fine traffic-generated particles (PM_2.5) at various heights of typical multi-storey public housing buildings located in close proximity, i.e. within 30 m and along a busy major expressway in Singapore. The secondary objective is to estimate the potential health risks associated with inhalation exposure, based on the toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) at the various floors of these buildings. Two typical public housing buildings, both naturally ventilated residential apartment blocks, of point block configuration (22-storey) and slab block configuration (16-storey) were selected for the study. Particulate samples were collected for chemical analysis at three representative floors: the lower, the mid, and the upper floors of the buildings. Key meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, ambient temperature, and relative humidity were also measured at the representative floors. All samples were analyzed for the 16 PAH priority pollutants listed by US EPA. The vertical PAH distribution profile varies with height of building depending on the type of block configuration. The total mean concentrations of particulate PAHs for point and slab blocks are 3.32±1.76 ng/m³ (0.56–7.2 ng/m³) and 6.0±1.88 ng/m³ (3.19–10.26 ng/m³), respectively. For the point block, the highest mean total PAH concentration occurred at the mid floor followed by the upper floor. The lower floor had the least mean total PAH concentration. For the slab block, the highest mean total PAH concentration occurred at the lower floor and remained almost constant up to the mid floor and thereafter gradually decreased from mid floor to upper floor of the building. These results suggest that the building configuration influences the vertical distribution of particulate PAHs. The dominant particulate PAHs measured at the point block are naphthalene, acenaphthylene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene while those for the slab block, the main particulate PAHs are naphthalene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo(g,h,i)perylene. The Bpe/Ind ratio for both blocks ranged from 0.92±0.2 to 1.63±0.6 indicating particulate PAHs are contributed by a mixture of both diesel and petrol engine type of vehicles, with diesel engine vehicles contributing a higher percentage of particulate PAHs to the different floor levels of both buildings. The total BaP_eq concentrations for point and slab blocks are 1.06±0.64 ng/m³ (0.14–2.45 ng/m³) and 0.94±1.22 ng/m³ (0.10–4.59 ng/m³), respectively. The total BaP equivalency results showed the potential health risk to cancer due to inhalation exposure is of concern for residents living in both blocks since the total BaP_eq concentrations for both blocks were very close to, or slightly exceeded the maximum permissible risk level of 1 ng/m³ of benzo(a)pyrene.     

Synthesis and characterization of Si/SiC ceramics prepared using cotton fabric

A Si/SiC ceramic was prepared from cotton fabric by the reactive infiltration of liquid silicon into the carbon template. A large density difference between the samples has been observed. This may be due to the variation in the pore size and its distribution within the sample. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy shows the presence of three distinct phases, i.e., SiC, free Si and free carbon. X-ray diffraction pattern also confirms the presence of SiC and Si phases. However, there is no peak corresponding to carbon. So, it is inferred that the carbon exists in amorphous form. Micro-hardness, fracture toughness and bending strength of the ceramics were also studied. The values are lower than commercially available SiC ceramics. This may be due to the highly porous nature of cotton fabric-based SiC, as compared to commercially available SiC.