Correlations Among Signatures for Detection of Different Types of Fires

One way of overcoming the problem of false alarms encountered in a single parameter detection system due to non-fire stimulii is the simultaneous use of multiple signatures. Researchers have found significant benefits of multi-sensor detection in reducing false triggering. Appreciable interest has been expressed in using carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas sensors in combination with smoke sensors. The present study has been carried out to determine the correlation and inter-dependence between two different fire signatures like CO–OD (optical density), CO–CO₂, CO₂–OD. The signatures have been investigated using experimental measurements of a fire inside a closed compartment measuring 7 x 7 x 4.2 m. A range of fuels are used, and both smouldering and flaming combustion are examined. Attempts have been made to examine whether correlation coefficients between two signatures can form a basis of detection and be exploited as one of the components in multi- criteria fire detection algorithm. The CO/CO₂ ratio as a criterion for detector operation has also been examined and discussed in the light of existing literature and codal provisions.     

Biochemical factors responsible for susceptibility or resistance of various plants against the scarlet mite,brevipalpus phoenicis: i. amino acids analysis

Free amino acids show considerable variations among various species of plants that exhibit different degrees of susceptibility or resistance to various pests infestation. Some of the free amino acids, directly or indirectly, contribute to defense mechanism of the plants. Recently, 31 plant species were screened for susceptibility or resistance against the attack of the scarlet mite, Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geij.). Thin layer chromatography showed that all resistant species contain tryptophan, tyrosine and hydroxyproline, while all susceptible hosts had amino acids like α‐aminocaprylic acid and dihydroxyphenylalanine. The plants species lacking dihydroxyphenylalanine could not support the development of the scarlet mite.     

Removal of Lissamine Red From Wastewater Using Waste Materials

Feasibility of a waste material, flyash, as a material for purification of wastewater containing Lissamine Red has been studied. Effects of time and concentration, temperature and pH on the removal of the dye have been studied. Lower concentrations favour the uptake of dye from water and the maximum removal was observed at a dye concentration of 20 mgL m 1 , 30°C, pH of 7 and adsorbent particle size of 53 µm. Dynamics of the uptake was studied using Lagergren's equation. The mass transfer coefficient was found to be 0.05 cmmin m 1 at a concentration of 20 mgL m 1 , 30°C and 53 µm particle size.     

Design and manufacture of high-filling-efficiency microfluidic devices

In this study, we proposed an efficient method for mass production of high-filling-efficiency microfluidic devices. Precision machining was the main process of device fabrication. The commercially available SolidWorks software was adopted for structure design. Unigraphics software was then used to simulate the machining process. The simulated tooling file was then loaded into a CNC milling machine for mold production. The fabricated metal mold was used for pouring polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to obtain high-filling-efficiency microfluidic structures. Finally, plasma-assisted packaging was conducted to tightly bind the PDMS microfluidic structure to the glass substrate. Experimental results showed that the additional semicircular filling structure and expended fill-entry structure can efficiently enhance filling efficiency of the microchannel device. The incubation well array can be completely filled at a relatively short filling time. The proposed highly efficient filling microfluidic device possesses advantages, such as feasibility for mass production and cost effectiveness.     

Evaluation of grinding wheel loading phenomena by using acoustic emission signals

In the industrial manufacturing field, machining is a major process. Machining operations involve grinding, drilling, milling, turning, pressing, molding, and so on. Among these operations, grinding is the most precise and complicated process. The surface condition of the grinding wheel plays an important role in grinding performance, and the identification of grinding wheel loading phenomena during the grinding process is critical. Accordingly, this present study describes a measurement method based on the acoustic emission (AE) technique to characterize the loading phenomena of a Si₂O₃ grinding wheel for the grinding mass production process. The proposed measurement method combines the process-integrated measurement of AE signals, offline digital image processing, and surface roughness measurement of the ground workpieces for the evaluation of grinding wheel loading phenomena. The experimental results show that the proposed measurement method provides a quantitative index from the AE signals to evaluate the grinding wheel loading phenomena online for the grinding mass production process, and this quantitative index is determined via some experiments in advance in the same grinding environment to help the monitoring and controlling of the grinding process.     

Research on quality improvement of the cross section cut by abrasive water jet based on secondary cutting

A manufacturing system comprises production processes and building services, both of which are supplied by different energy carriers as well as raw materials and water. These resources interact according to complex relationships and are converted into products for sale and waste flows. Holistic resource accounting allows the analyst to consider the dynamic relationships between these components, including the strong interdependence between energy and water, which has been called the energy-water nexus. Exergy analysis is a method that accounts for mass and both the quantity and quality of energy, while allowing analysis on a common basis, and for this reason, it is used increasingly to analyse resource consumption in manufacturing systems; however, it has rarely been used to consider water flows alongside energy and material flows. The main contribution of this paper is the presentation of modelling water flows in terms of exergy in the context of sustainable manufacturing. Using this technique in combination with previously developed exergy-based methods, the result is a truly holistic resource accounting method for factories based on exergy analysis that incorporates water flows. The method is illustrated using a case study of a food factory in which a 4.1% reduction in resource use is shown to be possible by employing anaerobic digester in an effluent water treatment process. The benefits of this technology option would have been underestimated compared to the benefits of waste heat capture if an analysis based on mass and energy balances alone had been used. The scientific value of this paper is the demonstration of the relatively high exergy content of effluent flows, which should therefore be regarded as potentially valuable resources. The analytical method presented is therefore of value to a wide range of industries beyond the food industry.     

Post-processor development for a turning and milling composite machine tool

The accomplishment of a turning and five-axis milling in only one setup is extremely useful and is possible on a turning and milling composite machine tool. In this work, we present a control algorithm and develop a post-processor for this machine, which has six linear and three rotary axes. To calculate a generalized kinematics model, coordinate systems are established by analyzing the basic kinematic chain relation of the turning and milling composite machine tool. The two vectors, which control the motions of the cutter contact workpiece, are simultaneously transformed to provide the algorithms of the rotary angles and motion coordinate. A special post-processor written in JAVA language is developed according to the proposed algorithm. To evaluate the effectiveness and accuracy of the developed post-processor, a specimen (blade) is used in the cutting simulation and real machining experiment. Experimental results showed the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, Compatibility is improved by adding new functions such as change of target machine, cutter location data change, workpiece origin offset, and cutting feed rate control.     

Use of FIB to Study ZDDP Tribofilms

Focussed ion beam milling (FIB) followed by TEM has been used to study ZDDP tribofilms on rubbed steel surfaces. It has been found that the impact of high energy platinum and gallium ions during FIB causes significant morphological and structural changes to the uppermost 30–50 nm of a ZDDP tribofilm. This can be prevented by the low energy deposition of a quite thick gold layer prior to installation of the sample in the FIB facility. This problem, and its solution, have been quite widely reported in the non-tribology literature but have not previously been highlighted in the application of FIB to study tribological surfaces. It has also been found, using this gold pre-deposition method, that the bulk of the ZDDP tribofilm studied has a polycrystalline structure.     

Tribological Characteristics of Aqueous Graphene Oxide,Graphitic Carbon Nitride,and Their Mixed Suspensions

The tribological performance of graphene oxide (GO), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), and their mixed (g-C₃N₄/GO) aqueous suspensions was investigated. The 0.06 wt% GO, 0.06 wt% g-C₃N₄, and 0.06 wt% 1:1 g-C₃N₄/GO suspensions reduced the coefficient of friction (COF) by 37, 26 and 37% and wear mark radius by 19.1, 16.0 and 19.6%, respectively, in comparison with water. Pure g-C₃N₄ and GO suspensions showed unstable lubrication in the tests with relatively high loads and speeds, while the g-C₃N₄/GO mixed suspension had superior tribological performance in all tested conditions. This is because in the mixed suspension g-C₃N₄ agglomerates became smaller, and GO nanosheets exhibited fewer wrinkles and less stacking, which enabled the formation of a layer of tribo-composite film. As a result, the friction, wear and tribo-corrosion were reduced during sliding.