MACBHA: Modified Adaptive Cluster-Based Heuristic Approach with Co-operative Spectrum Sensing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - In the fusion experiment, sensitive radio frequency signal diagnostic instruments need to be protected against high power stray radiation coming from the Electron...     

Advanced Surface of Fibrous Activated Carbon Immobilized with FeO/TiO2 for Photocatalytic Evolution of Hydrogen under Visible Light

FeO-doped TiO₂ nanoparticle photocatalysts were immobilized onto the surface of fibrous activated carbon (ACF) via a sol-gel process. As an adsorbent and photocatalyst, FeO-TiO₂ on immobilized ACFs (FeO-TiO₂/ACF) greatly improved the photocatalysis rate of hydrogen production as compared with pure TiO₂ and ACF-TiO₂ under UV irradiation and visible light. The addition of ACFs surface significantly reduced the photogenerated pairs of electrons-hole recombination, thereby promoting the photocatalysis action of doped photo-metal oxides of FeO-TiO₂. Co-doping of FeO onto the lattice of the TiO₂ approach can improve the absorption activity of visible light through photo-metal oxide of TiO₂ and further enhance hydrogen production under visible light. The photocatalytic fabrics (FeO-TiO₂/ACF) were effortlessly split out from the experimental solution for re-utilization and exhibited high stability even after five complete regeneration cycles.     

A Convenient Synthesis of Some Coumarin Derivatives Using SnCl2 · 2H2O as Catalyst

Some substituted coumarins have been synthesized by von-Pechmann condensation using SnCl₂ · 2H₂O (10 mol %) as catalyst in ethanolic medium. The reactions are simple, easy in handling and environmentally benign.     

Lean philosophy: implementation in a forging company

This research addresses the implementation of lean philosophy in a forging company with a focus on radial forging production flow lines. Here, the prime motive is to evolve and test several strategies to eliminate waste on the shop floor. In this research, a systematic approach is suggested for the implementation of lean principles. This paper describes an application of value stream mapping (VSM). Consequently, the present and future states of value stream maps are constructed to improve the production process by identifying waste and its sources. Furthermore, Taguchi’s method of design of experiments is pursued here to minimize the forging defects produced due to imperfect operating conditions. A noticeable reduction in set-up time and work-in-process (WIP) inventory level is substantiated. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of managerial implications and the future scope of research.     

Stability analysis of double-diffusive solar ponds with non-constant temperature and salinity gradients

In this communication, the stability of the double-diffusive solar ponds with non-uniform temperature and salinity gradients has been investigated. This is a further generalization of our approach to this problem initiated in Ref. [7]. Using a stochastic approach, the linearized system of basic equations of motion is reduced to a single integro-differential equation. For convective motion, this equation reduces to a time-independent Schrödinger equation for a particle moving in a potential field ƒ(Z) characterized by the non-uniform temperature and salinity gradients. This equation can, in general, be solved (exactly or approximately depending on the form of the gradient profile) by methods commonly used in quantum mechanics.

In the Appendix, we show that, for a quadratic gradient profile, the above equation has an analytical solution similar to that obtained by Zangrando using numerical computations.     

Estimation of wood char size at the end of devolatilization in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor

Two processes, namely shrinkage and primary fragmentation are known to be the major causes of size reduction of wood during its devolatilization in a fluidized bed combustor. A simple phenomenological model incorporating these effects to compute the average char size at the end of devolatilization is proposed. Experiments are conducted in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor using wood having three different shapes namely, cylinder, cuboid and sphere, to measure the average char size at the end of devolatilization. The model prediction of average char size agrees with the measured values within a deviation of 15%. An experimental correlation is derived to determine the number of fragments and is used to estimate the mean char size.     

Modelling and experimental investigation of devolatilizing wood in a fluidized bed combustor

A two-dimensional model is developed for the determination of devolatilization time and char yield of cylindrical wood particles in a bubbling fluidized bed combustor. By using the concept of shape factor, the model is extended to particles of cuboid shape. The model prediction of the devolatilization time agrees with the measured data (present and those reported in the literature) for cylindrical and cuboidal shaped particles within ±20% while the char yield is predicted within ±17%. Influence of some important parameters namely, thermal diffusivity, external heat transfer coefficient and shrinkage, on the devolatilization time and char yield are studied. Thermal diffusivity shows noticeable influence on devolatilization time. The external heat transfer coefficient shows little influence beyond a value of 300 W/(m² K). However particle shrinkage shows negligible effect on the devolatilization time but has a significant influence on the char yield.     

Multi-objective GA with fuzzy decision making for security enhancement in power system

Power system security enhancement is a major concern in the operation of power system. In this paper, the task of security enhancement is formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem with minimization of fuel cost and minimization of FACTS device investment cost as objectives. Generator active power, generator bus voltage magnitude and the reactance of Thyristor Controlled Series Capacitors (TCSC) are taken as the decision variables. The probable locations of TCSC are pre-selected based on the values of Line Overload Sensitivity Index (LOSI) calculated for each branch in the system. Multi-objective genetic algorithm (MOGA) is applied to solve this security optimization problem. In the proposed GA, the decision variables are represented as floating point numbers in the GA population. The MOGA emphasize non-dominated solutions and simultaneously maintains diversity in the non-dominated solutions. A fuzzy set theory-based approach is employed to obtain the best compromise solution over the trade-off curve. The proposed approach has been evaluated on the IEEE 30-bus and IEEE 118-bus test systems. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed approach for solving the multi-objective security enhancement problem.