Multi-objective Optimization Based Recursive Feature Elimination for Process Monitoring

Neural Processing Letters - Process monitoring helps to estimate the quality of the end products, equipment health parameters, and operational reliability of chemical processes. This is an area in...     

Slip in flows of power-law liquids past smooth spherical particles

The effect of slip in flows of power-law liquids past smooth spherical particles is numerically studied by using Navier’s linear slip model. For computational simplicity, a sphere-in-sphere type computational domain has been chosen. Thus, the governing conservation equations of mass and momentum are considered in spherical coordinates. These are solved by using a finite difference method-based simplified marker and cell algorithm implemented on a staggered grid arrangement. The non-Newtonian terms of the momentum equation are discretized by a second-order central differencing scheme, whereas the convective terms are discretized by using QUICK scheme. The reliability and accuracy of the solver is established by comparing the present numerical results with the existing literature counterparts. Furthermore, extensive new results are obtained in the range of conditions for Reynolds number, Re: 0.1–200; power-law behavior index, n: 0.5–1.6; and a dimensionless slip parameter, λ: 0.01–100. Finally, effects of these dimensionless parameters on near surface flow kinematics are thoroughly delineated.     

Study on crosslinked gelatin–montmorillonite nanoparticles for controlled drug delivery applications

Gelatin, because of its biodegradability and ecofriendly nature, has been the best choice for controlled release applications. Montmorillonite (MMT) clay shows a very important role in controlling drug delivery. Hence, an attempt was made in this work to prepare gelatin–MMT nanoparticles by desolvation method using acetone as precipitating agent, glutaraldehyde (GA) as crosslinking agent, and water as reaction media for controlled delivery of isoniazid, a drug for tuberculosis. Characterization of the MMT and isoniazid-loaded gelatin–MMT nanoparticles was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction study, scanning electron microscopy study, and transmission electron microscopy study. The effect of MMT on gelatin nanoparticles was evaluated in terms of water uptake studies, and subsequently to the release of isoniazid drug in buffer solution at pH 1.2 (gastric pH) and pH 7.4 (intestinal pH). Swelling experiment indicated that the gelatin nanoparticles were very sensitive to the pH environment. The release profile of drug was studied by a UV–Visible spectrophotometer. Cytotoxicity study revealed that MMT-containing nanoparticles showed less cytotoxicity than MMT-free nanoparticles.     

Novel genetic algorithm for short-term scheduling of sequence dependent changeovers in multiproduct polymer plants

Polymer plants generally operate to produce different grades of product from the same reactor. Such systems commonly require short-term scheduling to meet market demand. One important requirement in continuous-time scheduling of such systems is to satisfy a variety of constraints, including identifying feasible sequences of the predecessor and successor jobs to effectively handle changeovers. In this study, a new genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed to solve such job sequencing problems. The proposed GA uses real-coded chromosome to represent job orders and their sequences in the schedule. The novelty is that the representation ensures that all constraints are satisfied a priori, except the sequence constraint which is handled by penalizing violations. Three important problems relevant to polymer industry are solved to obtain optimal schedules. The first deals with the sequencing constraint between individual product orders, the second with sequencing constraint between groups of product orders, while the third incorporates batching with scheduling.     

Axial strength of circular concrete-filled steel tube columns — DOE approach

This paper presents the effect of changes in diameter of the steel tube (D), wall thickness of the steel tube (t), strength of in-fill concrete (f_cu), and length of the tube (L) on ultimate axial load (P_ue) and axial shortening at the ultimate point (δ_ue) of circular Concrete Filled steel Tubes (CFT). Taguchi’s approach with an L9 orthogonal array is used to reduce the number of experiments. With the help of initial experiments, linear regression models are developed to predict the axial load and the axial shortening at the ultimate point. A total of 243 circular CFT samples are tested to verify the accuracy of these models at three factors with three levels. The experimental results are analyzed using Analysis Of Variance to investigate the most influencing factor on strength and axial shortening of CFT samples. Comparisons are made with predicted column strengths using the existing design codes, AISC-LRFD-2005 and EC4-1994.     

Multiobjective optimization of an industrial nylon‐6 semi batch reactor using the a‐jumping gene adaptations of genetic algorithm and simulated annealing

The elitist nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA‐II) and multiobjective simulated annealing (MOSA) with the robust fixed‐length jumping gene adaptation (aJG) are used to solve three computationally intensive multiobjective optimization problems for an industrial semi batch nylon‐6 reactor. In Problems 1 and 2, the batch time and the final concentration of the undesirable side‐product (cyclic dimer) are minimized while maintaining desired values of the degree of polymerization of the product and the monomer conversion (monomer conversion is maximized as a third objective in Problem 3). The histories of two decision variables, pressure [or vapor release rate] and jacket fluid temperature, are used to obtain the Pareto optimal fronts. The study predicts considerable improvement over earlier results when (i) a single‐stage steam jet ejector is used to create subatmospheric pressures in the reactor, (ii) when the jacket fluid temperature is taken as a function of time, and (iii) when some amino caproic acid (from the depolymerization of scrap nylon‐6) is added to the feed. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2008. © 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Forced convective heat transfer between assemblages of spherical particles and power‐law non‐Newtonian liquids with velocity slip at the interface

Heat transfer from spheres can be influenced by a varying degree of slip at the fluid‐particle interface along with the rheology of the surrounding continuous liquid and adjacent spheres. Thus in this study, the effects of dimensionless velocity slip parameter (λ) along with power‐law fluid rheology and other pertinent kinematic flow and heat transfer parameters on isotherm contours, local and average Nusselt numbers of assemblages of spherical slip particles are presented. This is done by adopting a segregated approach where dimensionless momentum and energy equations are solved by SMAC algorithm formulated in spherical coordinates within the finite difference formulation. Before obtaining new results, grid independence studies for either extreme values of power‐law consistency index of non‐Newtonian fluids are carried out. Finally, the major contribution of this study is the development of a correlative equation for the average Nusselt number of assemblages of spherical slip particles in power‐law fluids based on the present results (5880 data points) as a function of pertinent dimensionless parameters.     

Heat Transfer Phenomena of Assemblages of Smooth Slip Spheres in Newtonian Fluids

Combined effects of slip velocity and volume fraction of slip spheres on the heat transfer characteristics of multiple slip spheres are numerically investigated within the framework of a free surface cell model combined with a linear slip velocity along the surface of the slip spheres. The governing conservation equations of the mass, momentum, and energy are solved by a segregated approach using a simplified marker and cell algorithm implemented on a staggered grid arrangement in spherical coordinates. The convection and diffusion terms of conservation equations are discretized using quadratic upstream interpolation for convective kinematics and second‐order central differencing schemes, respectively. Prior to obtaining new results, this numerical solver is validated by comparison of present results with the existing literature values. Further new results are obtained for a range of conditions as; Reynolds number, Re: 0.1–200; Prandtl number, Pr: 1–100; volume fraction of slip spheres, Φ: 0.1–0.5 and slip parameter, λ: 0.01–100. The effects of these dimensionless parameters on isotherm contours and local and average Nusselt numbers are thoroughly delineated. Finally, a new empirical correlation for the average Nusselt number of multiple smooth slip spheres is proposed on the basis of present numerical results.     

Soy flour–ZnO nanoparticles for controlled release of silibinin: Effect of ZnO nanoparticle,surfactant, and cross-linker

Silibinin-loaded soy flour–zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO) nanoparticles were prepared and characterized by different techniques. The average particle size and zeta potential value of the nanoparticles were found in the range 10–15?nm and ?29.88 to ?40.85?mV, respectively. The effects of ZnO nanoparticle, surfactant, and cross-linker were evaluated with regard to swelling, encapsulation efficiency, and drug release in different pH medium. Both swelling degree (%) and cumulative release (%) were better in pH 7.4 and maximum cumulative release (%) was 50%. Cytotoxicity study was performed by MTT assay using normal human blood and MDA-MB-435S cancer cell lines.