Influence of injection parameters on NOx emission from biodiesel powered diesel engine by Taguchi technique

ABSTRACT

This paper studies the effect of injection parameters on reduction of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission in a multicylinder diesel engine using Taguchi orthogonal array. To obtain good performance in experiments, we have employed L9 Taguchi array on mixed level fractional design. The engine is fuelled with corn oil methyl ester biodiesel. From the experiment validation, it is found that the urea concentration and the spray angle reduce the production of NOx in the diesel engine. However, it is found that the mixing length does not support the diminution of NOx emission effectively. Additional, ANOVA outcome also reveals that the urea flow rate, urea concentration and the spray angle plays an imperative role in the reduction of NOx emission. The values of the experiments are in accordance with the Taguchi technique.     

Measurement and Control of Process using Soft Computing

Abstract

Control of process parameters is considered to be a critical problem in the process industry. The process considered for modeling is a liquid level system. The model identification and parameter selection are approximated to a First Order Plus Dead Time (FOPDT). Here, the controller design is based on a conventional Proportional–Integral (PI) controller and intelligent controller like Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC). The objective of the current study is to design control strategies in real time using MATLAB software interfaced with Adam's data acquisition module. A comparative analysis based on FLC with a conventional controller is presented, with various time domain specifications. It is found that, under servo and regulatory changes, FLC shows an improved performance over its conventional techniques based on performance measures like peak time, settling time, overshoot, Integral Square Error (ISE) and Integral Absolute Error (IAE).     

Kansei: a high-fidelity sensing testbed

Hardware and software testbeds are becoming the preferred basis for experimenting with embedded wireless sensor network applications. The Kansei testbed at the Ohio State University features a heterogeneous hardware infrastructure, with dedicated node resources for local computation, storage, data retrieval, and back-channel communication. Kansei includes a time-accurate hybrid simulation engine that uses testbed hardware resources to simulate large arrays. It supports high-fidelity sensor data generation as well as real-time data and event injection. The testbed also includes software components and an associated job-control language for complex multi-tier experiments.     

Synthesis and characterization of sodium alkoxides

Alcohol route is being adopted for cleaning sodium from sodium-wetted small components of coolant circuits of fast reactors. For better understanding of sodium-alcohol reactions and their energetics, the data on thermo-chemical properties such as heats of sodium-alcohol reactions, heats of dissolution, heat capacities, thermal decomposition behaviour, etc of their end products are essential. In order to generate such data, high purity sodium alkoxides, viz. sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide and sodium n-propoxide, were prepared by reacting sodium metal with respective alcohol. These compounds were characterized using X-ray diffraction technique and IR spectroscopy. The elemental analysis was carried out by CHNS analyser and atomic emission spectroscopy. Normal chain sodium alkoxides were found to exhibit tetragonal crystal structure. Crystal structures of sodium ethoxide and sodium n-propoxide are reported for the first time. The IR spectrum of sodium n-propoxide is also reported for the first time.     

High Q Microwave Dielectric Ceramics in (Ni1−x Znx)Nb2O6 System

(Ni_{1− x} Zn _x )Nb₂O₆, 0≤ x ≤1.0, ceramics with >97% density were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction, followed by sintering at 1200°–1300°C (depending on the value of x ). The XRD patterns of the sintered samples (0≤ x ≤1.0) revealed single-phase formation with a columbite ( Pbcn ) structure. The unit cell volume slightly increased with increasing Zn content ( x ). All the compositions showed high electrical resistivity (ρ_dc=1.6±0.3 × 10¹¹Ω·cm). The microwave (4–5 GHz) dielectric properties of (Ni_{1− x} Zn _x )Nb₂O₆ ceramics exhibited a significant dependence on the Zn content and to some extent on the morphology of the grains. As x was increased from 0 to 1, the average grain size monotonically increased from 7.6 to 21.2 μm and the microwave dielectric constant (ɛ'_r) increased from 23.6 to 26.1, while the quality factors ( Q _u× f ) increased from 18 900 to 103 730 GHz and the temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (τ_f) increased from −62 to −73 ppm/°C. In the present work, we report the highest observed values of Q _u× f =103 730 GHz, and ɛ'_r=26.1 for the ZnNb₂O₆-sintered ceramics.     

Behavioral and Neuronal Effects of Inhaled Bromine Gas: Oxidative Brain Stem Damage

The risk of accidental bromine (Br₂) exposure to the public has increased due to its enhanced industrial use. Inhaled Br₂ damages the lungs and the heart; however, adverse effects on the brain are unknown. In this study, we examined the neurological effects of inhaled Br₂ in Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were exposed to Br₂ (600 ppm for 45 min) and transferred to room air and cage behavior, and levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in plasma were examined at various time intervals. Bromine exposure resulted in abnormal cage behavior such as head hitting, biting and aggression, hypervigilance, and hyperactivity. An increase in plasma GFAP and brain 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) content also was observed in the exposed animals. Acute and delayed sympathetic nervous system activation was also evaluated by assessing the expression of catecholamine biosynthesizing enzymes, tryptophan hydroxylase (TrpH1 and TrpH2), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TyrH), along with an assessment of catecholamines and their metabolites. TyrH was found to be increased in a time-dependent manner. TrpH1 and TrpH2 were significantly decreased upon Br₂ exposure in the brainstem. The neurotransmitter content evaluation indicated an increase in 5-HT and dopamine at early timepoints after exposure; however, other metabolites were not significantly altered. Taken together, our results predict brain damage and autonomic dysfunction upon Br₂ exposure.     

An Adaptive Classifier Based Approach for Crowd Anomaly Detection

Crowd Anomaly Detection has become a challenge in intelligent video surveillance system and security. Intelligent video surveillance systems make extensive use of data mining, machine learning and deep learning methods. In this paper a novel approach is proposed to identify abnormal occurrences in crowded situations using deep learning. In this approach, Adaptive GoogleNet Neural Network Classifier with Multi-Objective Whale Optimization Algorithm are applied to predict the abnormal video frames in the crowded scenes. We use multiple instance learning (MIL) to dynamically develop a deep anomalous ranking framework. This technique predicts higher anomalous values for abnormal video frames by treating regular and irregular video bags and video sections. We use the multi-objective whale optimization algorithm to optimize the entire process and get the best results. The performance parameters such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F-score are considered to evaluate the proposed technique using the Python simulation tool. Our simulation results show that the proposed method performs better than the conventional methods on the public live video dataset.     

Studies on the structural,electrical and magnetic properties of LaCrO3, LaCr0.5Cu0.5O3 and LaCr0.5Fe0.5O3 by sol–gel method

The structural, electrical and magnetic properties of LaCr_0.5M_0.5O₃ (M = Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺) synthesized by a sol–gel technique were studied. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows the structure to be orthorhombic and the size of the particles is around 100 nm as seen from the TEM images. The effects of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the electrical properties of LaCrO₃ were studied using impedance spectroscopy at room temperature (RT). The properties of LaCr_0.5Cu_0.5O₃ were studied over a wide range of temperature from RT to 533 K. A maximum conductivity of 1.7 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 was observed for LaCr_0.5Cu_0.5O₃ at a measured temperature of 533 K. The impedance spectra indicate a negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) and also imply the conduction is through bulk of the material. The magnetic studies performed using a SQUID magnetometer interpret the antiferromagnetically ordered LaCrO₃ to behave ferromagnetically on the addition of Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺, and the magnetization was found to be enhanced in the LaCr_0.5Fe_0.5O₃.     

Stabilizing Energy Consumption in Unequal Clusters of Wireless Sensor Networks

In the past few decades, Energy Efficiency (EE) has been a significant challenge in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). WSN requires reduced transmission delay and higher throughput with high quality services, it further pays much attention in increased energy consumption to improve the network lifetime. To collect and transmit data Clustering based routing algorithm is considered as an effective way. Cluster Head (CH) acts as an essential role in network connectivity and perform data transmission and data aggregation, where the energy consumption is superior to non-CH nodes. Conventional clustering approaches attempts to cluster nodes of same size. Moreover, owing to randomly distributed node distribution, a cluster with equal nodes is not an obvious possibility to reduce the energy consumption. To resolve this issue, this paper provides a novel, Balanced-Imbalanced Cluster Algorithm (B-IBCA) with a Stabilized Boltzmann Approach (SBA) that attempts to balance the energy dissipation across uneven clusters in WSNs. BIBCA utilizes stabilizing logic to maintain the consistency of energy consumption among sensor nodes’. So as to handle the changing topological characteristics of sensor nodes, this stability based Boltzmann estimation algorithm allocates proper radius amongst the sensor nodes. The simulation shows that the proposed B-IBCA outperforms effectually over other approaches in terms of energy efficiency, lifetime, network stability, average residual energy and so on.     

Electrospun polyurethane and soy protein nanofibres for wound dressing applications

In this report, a novel wound dressing material has been woven by electrospinning technique and tested for its various properties. For the nanofibre mat, a mixture of polyurethane (PU) and soy protein isolate (SPI) was electrospun in conjugation with zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO Nps) and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride (CipHCl) to produce fibrous mats viz. PU/SPI/ZnO and PU/SPI/CipHCl. An optimum ratio (1 : 1) of PU/SPI was used as suitable polymeric ratio in order to produce homogenous nanofibres without beads having an average diameter in the range of 300–350 nm. The electrospun nanofibre‐based mats were characterised using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscope. The mechanical properties of the nanofibrous mats were tested using universal testing machine. The wettability analysis was done using the contact angle measurement based on the sessile drop test. This study revealed that the electrospun PU/SPI‐based nanofibres are non‐sensitizing, non‐allergic and non‐toxic and that it can be used as a peculiar wound healing material.Inspec keywords: polymer fibres, nanofibres, nanomedicine, biomedical materials, wounds, electrospinning, zinc compounds, II‐VI semiconductors, wide band gap semiconductors, nanoparticles, nanofabrication, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform spectra, infrared spectra, ultraviolet spectra, visible spectra, thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy, wetting, contact angle, toxicologyOther keywords: electrospun polyurethane nanofibres, soy protein nanofibres, wound dressing applications, electrospinning, nanofibre mat, soy protein isolate, zinc oxide nanoparticles, ciprofloxacin hydrochloride, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscope, mechanical properties, universal testing machine, wettability, contact angle measurement, sessile drop test, nonsensitizing nanofibres, nonallergic nanofibres, nontoxic nanofibres, wound healing material, wavelength 300 nm to 350 nm, ZnO