Advanced Engineering Forum Vol. 50

Abstract: The aim of this study was to improve the stability and rheological properties of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) multiple emulsions containing 30 wt% paraffin oil, and 4 wt% polyglycerol-3-polycinoleate (PGPR) as a lipophilic surfactant. This was done by adding different concentrations of xanthan gum (GX) and the hydrophilic surfactants (Polyoxyethylene (80) sorbitan monooleate (Tween® 80), poloxamer 407(Lutrol® F127) using the emulsification in a two-steps process. The stability of the W/O/W multiple emulsions was analyzed over one-month storage period using physicochemical and rheological measurements. An excellent structure appeared with 0.175 wt% of xanthan gum in the outer aqueous phase and 1 wt% of Tween® 80. The modified Cross model was successfully applied to fit the flow curves of multiple W/O/W emulsions at different concentrations of xanthan gum. The incorporation of xanthan gum in a concentration range of 0.05-0.175 wt% induced an increase in the yield stress, in the zero-shear rate viscosity, and in the infinite shear rate viscosity of the multiple emulsions. The study also showed that adding xanthan gum in a concentration range of 0.05-0.175 wt% to W/O/W emulsions caused an increase in the viscosity of the system in the Newtonian regime and viscoelastic behavior.

Abstract: This work aims at comparing the mechanical properties of Rice-Husk-Ash-Cement (RHA) concrete produced from magnetized water and normal water. Cement was replaced with 25% RHA being the optimum value from previous research. Water was magnetized by a magnetic device fabricated by the research team and level of magnetization was determined using magnetic field sensor application. The chemical composition of RHA shows that it contained 89.42% of oxides to be used as a pozzolan. Magnetization reduced total dissolved solid, total soluble solid, chloride content and surface tension while pH increased. The workability of magnetized and normal water concrete samples was determined. It was magnetized water concrete samples that gave higher workability than normal water concrete. Compressive, Flexural and Split tensile strengths of magnetized and normal water concrete were determined at 7, 14, 28 and 56 days of curing by immersion in portable water. Magnetization shown higher influence on early strengths of concrete. Compressive, Flexural and Split tensile strengths of concrete improved between 13.25%-18.63%, 14.83%-18.02% and 9.80%-31.63%, respectively when magnetized water was introduced during concrete production. STATA package was used to analysis the data. The descriptive statistics show that mean, standard deviation error and standard deviation for concrete produced with magnetized water were all higher than that of concrete produced with normal water for all properties tested. However, inferential statistics show that there is no significant difference in the mean compressive, flexural and tensile strengths of concrete produced with magnetized water and normal water since P-value obtained was higher than the error margin of 0.05(P>0.05) for all the tested properties of concrete.

Abstract: The conductivity of cement-based materials is usually poor, and this material is not a common conductive material. However, with the rapid development of Internet of Things technology in recent years, the rise of smart cities has brought more and more opportunities and needs, and conductive cement-based materials have emerged. Conductive cement-based material is a new type of composite material. The conductive material is added to the cement-based material to reduce its resistance and enhance the conductive properties of the material. The material can not only be applied to the construction of smart cities, such as smart street lamps and smart roads but also can be widely used in buildings, public transportation, and other fields. In the study of conductive cement-based materials, the size and shape of conductive materials have a direct impact on the electrical conductivity of cement-based materials. This is because the dispersion of the conductive material has a significant effect on the conductivity, and the size and shape of the conductive material can determine its dispersion. Secondly, in the application environment of cement-based materials, factors such as humidity and cracks may affect electrical conductivity. Therefore, to ensure the stability and reliability of conductive cement-based materials, a large number of experimental studies are needed to optimize the dispersion and shape of conductive materials and to understand the performance of materials in different environments. The research of conductive cement-based materials is of great significance to the construction of smart cities in the future. This conductive material has great application prospects, which can not only improve the intelligent level of urban infrastructure but also bring more social and economic benefits.

Abstract: This work presents Rousselier´s damage model parameters effect and their physical meaning on Charpy fracture propagation curves. Therefore, instrumented Charpy tests were performed at room test temperature to measure the load-displacement curve. The parameters were measured from a Grade A ship plate steel, employed for the construction of merchant ships. The effect of Rousselier´s model parameter was done by performing cellular automata finite element (CAFE) modelling, where Rousselier’s damage model was coded, and therefore Rousselier´s model parameters were incorporated using random number generators in the ductile arrays of cells, using Weibull distributions. Consequently, in each CAFE simulation, the model evaluates random values of Rousselier´s damage model parameters performing a more physically based modelling. The results showed that the present CAFE modelling was able to reproduce the hardening and fracture propagation regions of instrumented Charpy data. Furthermore, the present work showed a suitable Rousselier´s damage model parameters calibration procedure with Charpy data, and how each Rousselier´s model parameter can affect the hardening and fracture propagations regions when they are not properly calibrated, producing unrealistic results. Additionally, it can be observed that the present results can be used as a template for a better calibration of Rousselier´s damage model parameters in CAFE modelling.

Abstract: Digital distance relaying is implemented in extra high voltage (EHV) transmission network for speedy and reliable fault detection. But it should not activate in case of slow transients known as power swings. However, for occurrence of any type of fault during power swing, the relay should sense the faulty condition and send trip command to concerned circuit breaker. The detection of fault in a transmission line network with TCSC during the power swing condition has become further complex due to transients generated by series capacitor and the metal–oxide varistor (MOV) protecting it. This paper firstly presents effect of TCSC on distance relay operation for varied TCSC degree of compensation and firing angle values. Further, a discrete wavelet transform-based fast acting fault and swing classification algorithm is proposed which can sense all types of faults during slow as well as fast power swing in first decomposition level and within 0.001 sec. The proposed utilizes optimized threshold values both for swing and fault sensing by using Honey Bee Optimization Algorithm (HBOA). The proposed novel algorithm is coded in MATLAB software and the test system comprising of 400kV, 50Hz parallel transmission line network along with TCSC is built using MATLAB Simulink environment with sim power systems toolbox. It is tested for high/low resistance faults, symmetrical/asymmetrical faults and close-in/far end faults by changing TCSC compensation level and firing angle value. The simulation results prove the accuracy of proposed methodology for swing and fault classification.

Abstract: The major portion power loss in power system occurs in the components of low voltage (LV) networks. Low voltage distribution system (LVDS) configuration has been observed to contribute significantly to power loss and unacceptable voltage drop in the system due to its structure and higher current flow in the network. The adoption of small capacity transformers as high voltage distribution system (HVDS) configuration is increasingly applied to the network for power loss reduction and the improvement of voltage profile. This study aims to evaluate the technical and economic implication of the use of HVDS configuration on Ado-Ekiti 11/0.415 kV power distribution networks and provide necessary recommendations. The network data was obtained and modeled on NEPLAN software for simulation and technical evaluation of the networks. The existing LV lines were upgraded to high voltage (HV) and remodeled with small capacity transformers and comparative analysis of the technical and economic effects of the networks were carried out. The results obtained showed that there could be feeder capacity increase of 92.03 kW and power loss reduction of 347.17 kW and 459.72 kVar following reconfiguration from LVDS to HVDS. The losses in the transformers and lines were significantly reduced by 37.8% for HVDS configuration when compared with the LVDS configuration. The voltage profile was significantly improved with voltage deviations in the range of ± 0.01 to ± 0.03 of bus voltage for the HVDS network when compared to the existing network. The cost of implementation of the HVDS network substation was calculated to be ₦807,238,715.50 and with the combination of annual savings and an increment in tariff of ₦5/kWh in the billing charge of unit energy consumption resulted in a payback period of 2 to 3 years for the estimated capital investment. This study showed that technical performance of HVDS implementation on the Ado-Ekiti network feeder was better than that of the existing network.

Abstract: In this paper, a novel approach to design a compact ultrawideband (UWB) Multi-Input-Multi-Output (MIMO) antenna is presented. The proposed design consists of two elliptical monopoles placed orthogonal to each other for mutual coupling reduction. The design is integrated with three parallel coupled line strips for further mutual coupling reduction between the antenna elements. The physical dimension of the proposed design is 35 x 35 x 1.6 mm designed in low cost FR-4 substrate resulting in UWB characteristics in the WLAN range. The proposed design demonstrates good performance in the frequency range of 4.66 GHz to 12.42 GHz having large bandwidth of 7.76 GHz, with a mutual coupling of better than-20 dB in the entire band. The diversity performance, as measured by the correlation coefficient (ECC) and diversity gain (DG), is excellent, and within the acceptable range which proves that the proposed compact UWB MIMO antenna is a suitable candidate for RADAR, Satellite and Terrestrial Communications.

Abstract: Ghana has seen a significant rise in the production of beverages by Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) in recent times. However, the high cost associated with implementing automated systems in their production makes it difficult for SMEs to adopt such technology. To address this challenge a simple, scalable and economical automated liquid filling system that can be adopted by SMEs is built. The main components of the system are a microcontroller, servo motor, submersible water pump, relay, Liquid crystal display (LCD), and a keypad. The microprocessor in the design makes the system easier to customize to user preference and allows the system to be modified to accommodate different bottle sizes. The system’s use of a counter and timer are employed in the system to eliminate sensors making it economical, power efficient and limiting the number of interfaces for fault. The system is portable, user-friendly and easier to maintain. When tested with water and common beverages in the Ghanaian market the system demonstrated an ability to fill twelve 250-mL bottles with water, sobolo, and fruit juice within 21, 30, and 42 seconds, respectively. Thedeveloped system provides a practical solution to SMEs' challenge of implementing automated systems in their production process, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and potential for growth in Ghana.

Abstract: Current methods for predicting output, such as material balancing and numerical simulation, need years of production history, and the model parameters employed determine how accurate they are. The use of artificial neural network (ANN) technology in the production forecasting of a deep offshore field under water injection/water flooding in Nigeria’s Niger-Delta region is investigated in this study. Oil, water, and gas production rates were predicted using well models and engineering features. Real-world field data from producer and water injection wells in deep offshore is used to test the models’ performance. Ninety percent (90%) of the historical data were utilised for training and validating the model framework before being put to the test with the remaining information. The predictive model takes little data and computation and is capable of estimating fluid production rate with a coefficient of prediction of more than 90%, with simulated results that match real-world data. The discoveries of this work could assist oil and gas businesses in forecasting production rates, determining a well’s estimated ultimate recovery (EUR), and making informed financial and operational decisions.

Abstract: With The emerging environmental concern of the public, as well as the implementation of governmental regulations, enabling the control of the environmental impact of production activities, companies are developing strategies to achieve more sustainable operations. In fact, over the last years, there has been growing pressure on organizations to manage their operations in a responsible manner to improve their environmental performance. Which has motivated companies to implement sustainable operations. In this context, Green Manufacturing can make a positive contribution to the environmental performance of organizations. Thus, the main objective of this paper is to identify Green Manufacturing and its impact on sustainable performance with some examples of companies that have integrated these sustainable practices in their process, and analyze their impact with a focus on the Moroccan industry. The survey includes 50 different automotive companies shows how they are carrying out green manufacturing and environmental practices.