DOE applied to multi-response optimisation study on performance,combustion and emission characteristics of a VCR diesel engine

There are various parameters which may influence the IC engine performance. The trial and error method is a technique used to identify the best parameters. However, this method demands extensive experimental work and results in a great waste of time and resources. Thus, the design of experiments (DOEs) developed by Taguchi is employed. The multi-responses which need to be maximised are brake thermal efficiency, mechanical efficiency, cylinder pressure and cumulative heat release rate, whereas the responses which are to be minimised are specific fuel consumption, oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide. In the present study, an optimised DOE(L9) orthogonal array based on the Taguchi statistical method was formulated and a series of experiments were conducted under controlled supervision by considering three different injection operating pressures (IOPs) (200, 220 and 240 bar) and three different compression ratios (CRs) (16.5, 17.5 and 18.5). The main objective of this paper is to find the best suited IOP and CR values which obtain higher performance, better combustion and lower emissions.     

Limitations,challenges, and solution approaches in grid-connected renewable energy systems

In the modern world, only conventional energy resources cannot fulfil the growing energy demand. Electricity is a fundamental building block of a technological revolution. Today, most of the electricity demand is met by the burning of fossil fuels but at the cost of adverse environmental impact. In order to bridge the gap between electricity demand and supply, nonconventional and eco-friendly means of energy generation are considered. Renewable energy systems (RESs) offer an adequate solution to mitigate the challenges originated due to greenhouse gasses (GHG). However, they have an unpredictable power generation with specific site requirements. Grid integration of RESs may lead to new challenges related to power quality, reliability, power system stability, harmonics, subsynchronous oscillations (SSOs), power quality, and reactive power compensation. The integration with energy storage systems (ESSs) can reduce these complexities that arise due to the intermittent nature of RESs. In this paper, a comprehensive review of renewable energy sources has been presented. Application of ESSs in RESs and their development phase has been discussed. Role of ESSs in increasing lifetime, efficiency, and energy density of power system having RESs has been reviewed. Moreover, different techniques to solve the critical issues like low efficiency, harmonics, and inertia reduction in photovoltaic (PV) systems have been presented. Unlike most of the available review papers, this article also investigates the impact of FACTS technology in RESs-based power system using multitype flexible AC transmission system (FACTS) controllers. Three simulation models have been developed in MATLAB/Simulink. The results show that FACTS devices help to maintain the stability of RESs integrated power system. This review paper is believed to be of potential benefit for researchers from both the industry and academia to develop better understanding of challenges and solution techniques for REs-based power systems and future research dimensions in this area.     

Experimental investigation of multiphase flow behavior in drilling annuli using high speed visualization technique

Imaging with high definition video camera is an important technique to visualize the drilling conditions and to study the physics of complex multiphase flow associated with the hole cleaning process. The main advantage of visualizing multiphase flow in a drilling annulus is that the viewer can easily distinguish fluid phases, flow patterns and thicknesses of cutting beds. In this paper the hole cleaning process which involves the transportation of cuttings through a horizontal annulus was studied. The two-phase (solid-liquid) and the three-phase (solid-liquid-gas) flow conditions involved in this kind of annular transportation were experimentally simulated and images were taken using a high definition camera. Analyzing the captured images, a number of important parameters like velocities of different phases, heights of solid beds and sizes of gas bubbles were determined. Two different techniques based on an image analysis software and MATLAB coding were used for the determinations. The results were compared to validate the image analyzing methodology. The visualization technique developed in this paper has a direct application in investigating the critical conditions required for efficient hole cleaning as well as in optimizing the mud program during both planning and operational phases of drilling. Particularly, it would be useful in predicting the cuttings transport performance, estimating solid bed height, gas bubble size, and mean velocities of bubbles/particles.     

Optimizing 100%‐renewable grids through shifting residential water‐heater load

A low‐carbon electricity supply for Australia was simulated, and the installed capacity of the electrical grid was optimized by shifting the electricity demand of residential electric water heaters (EWHs). The load‐shifting potential of Australia was estimated for each hour of the simulation period using a nationwide aggregate EWH load model on a 90 × 110 raster grid. The electricity demand of water heaters was shifted from periods of low renewable resource and high demand to periods of high renewable resource and low demand, enabling us to effectively reduce the installed capacity requirements of a 100%‐renewable electricity grid. It was found that by shifting the EWH load by just 1 hour, the electricity demand of Australia could be met using purely renewable electricity at an installed capacity of 145 GW with a capacity factor of 30%, an electricity spillage of 20%, and a generation cost of 15.2 ¢/kWh. A breakdown of the primary energy sources used in our scenario is as follows: 43% wind, 29% concentrated solar thermal power, and 20% utility photovoltaic. Sensitivity analysis suggested that further reduction in installed capacity is possible by increasing the load‐shifting duration as well as the volume and insulation level of the EWH tank.     

Dynamic analysis of spinning triangle geometry part 2: spinning triangle geometry and yarn quality

This paper examines empirical relationships between the geometrical parameters of the spinning triangle and the quality parameters of ring spun yarns. For this purpose, controlled variations in the geometry of the spinning triangle were induced using two existing modifications in the ring spinning process and by varying the yarn twist level. The geometrical parameters of the spinning triangle were measured using the clear rubber roller combined with digital image processing techniques as described in the first part of this study. The yarn quality parameters measured included yarn hairiness, strength, elongation and evenness. Yarn hairiness showed more noticeable sensitivity towards the physical shape of the spinning triangle than yarn tenacity, while yarn evenness and elongation were not significantly influenced by changes in spinning triangle geometry.     

Carob Kibble: A Bioactive‐Rich Food Ingredient

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is well known for its valuable locust bean gum obtained from the carob seeds. Separation of seeds from the pod leaves behind the carob kibble which is a good source of dietary fiber, sugars, and a range of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and pinitol. Bioactive compounds present in carob kibble have been found to be beneficial in the control of many health problems such as diabetes, heart diseases, and colon cancer due to their antidiabetic, antioxidant, and anti‐inflammatory activities. Carob kibble has substantial potential to be used as a food ingredient. This article focuses on the composition, health benefits, and food applications of carob kibble.     

Synergistic Processing of Skim Milk with High Pressure Nitrous Oxide,Heat, Nisin,and Lysozyme to Inactivate Vegetative and Spore-Forming Bacteria

Individual and combined effects of high pressure nitrous oxide (HPN₂O), heat, and antimicrobials on the inactivation of Escherichia coli, Listeria innocua, and Bacillus atrophaeus endospores in milk were all evaluated after 20-min treatments. Stand-alone milk treatments with HPN₂O (15.2 MPa), heat (45 and 65 °C), or nisin (50 and 150 IU mL^?1) resulted in log₁₀ reductions ranging only from 0.1 to 2.1 for E. coli and L. innocua. Combining HPN₂O (15.2 MPa) with heat (65 °C) inactivated 6.0 and 5.1 log₁₀ in the vegetative bacteria, respectively. Similarly, reductions of 5.9 and ≥ 6.0 log₁₀ of respective E. coli and L. innocua cells in milk were achieved through a combination of HPN₂O (15.2 MPa), heat (65 °C), and nisin (150 IU mL^?1). A 2.5 log₁₀ cycle inactivation of spores was obtained by HPN₂O, nisin (at both 50 and 150 IU mL^?1), and lysozyme (50 μg mL^?1) at 85 °C. Combining these processing techniques resulted in significantly greater microbial inactivation (p < 0.05) than the sum of individual reductions from each treatment alone, indicating synergistic effects. HPN₂O irrespective of processing temperatures did not cause any occurrence of sub-lethally injured cells or disruption in colloidal stability of milk at 65 and 85 °C (p ≥ 0.05). Color and pH changes in milk following the most demanding treatment conditions were minimal.     

An application of univariate marginal distribution algorithm in MIMO communication systems

The paper discusses a sequence detector based on univariate marginal distribution algorithm (UMDA) that jointly estimates the symbols transmitted in a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication system. While an optimal maximum likelihood detection using an exhaustive search method is prohibitively complex, it has been shown that sphere decoder (SD) achieves the optimal bit error rate (BER) performance with polynomial time complexity for smaller array sizes. However, the worst‐case complexity of SD is exponential in the problem dimensions, this brings in question its practical implementation for larger number of spatial layers and for higher‐order signal constellation. The proposed detector shows promising results for this overly difficult and complicated operating environment, confirmed through simulation results. A performance comparison of the UMDA detector with SD is presented for higher‐order complex MIMO architectures with limited average transmit power. The proposed detector achieves substantial performance gain for higher‐order systems attaining a near optimal BER performance with reduced computational complexity as compared with SD. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.