Papers by Keyword: Enhancement

Abstract: This study presents a report on the energy content enhancement of biomass derived from palm kernel shells (PKS) by varying the sample sizes using a developed hammer mill machine. A hammer mill was designed, simulated, and constructed to efficiently mill palm kernel shells into various particle sizes. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) was performed on the hammer mill’s frame and shaft, ensuring the structural integrity of the machine under operational loads. The machine’s rotor, crushing chamber, hammers, sieves, and prime mover were strategically engineered to achieve precise size reduction while maintaining operational efficiency and durability. The energy content of the selected biomass was evaluated for the control PKS sample and the milled PKS sample of two different particle sizes (0.4 and 0.6 mm). The main objective of this research was to examine palm kernel shells' energy potential by analysing the impact of particle size reduction on their energy content. To evaluate the energy characteristics of the processed biomass (grain size reduction), proximate and ultimate analyses were conducted on each particle size fraction, assessing parameters such as moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon, elemental composition (carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur), and calorific value. The results revealed a direct correlation between particle size and energy content, with finer particles exhibiting improved combustion properties due to increased surface area and enhanced reactivity. It is found that higher carbon content of the milled PKS samples (54.5% at 0.4 mm and 48.37% at 0.6 mm), representing 49.4% and 43.04% enhancement, respectively, over the control PKS sample before the milling process was achieved in this study. The results of which yield a 3.36% energy content increment in terms of particle size variation from 0.4 to 0.6 mm, highlighting enhanced energy efficiency in this work. The attained reduced nitrogen and sulfur content of the milled samples in this work contributes to lower greenhouse gas emissions, making them a more environmentally sustainable biofuel option. These findings elucidate the potential of particle size optimization as an effective approach for improving the energy content of PKS, thereby enhancing its suitability as a clean and efficient bioenergy source.

Abstract: In this study, effort was made to develop novel, cutting-edge composite materials consisting of conducting Al-CNTs and green synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Spark plasma sintering (SPS) and very intense ball milling were used to develop the composites. The nanocomposites' microstructure, thermal and electrical conductivity were determined. Al-4%CNTs was refined into finer grains when AgNPs are present. The Al-4%CNTs+2%Ag.NPs composite produces a higher dislocation density because of the production of sub-grain. Al-AgNPs + CNTs can be used to make conductors with a high aspect ratio and lower contact resistance at the CNT junctions. It was established that enhanced electrical and thermal conductivity can be obtained using the developed AgNPs from sustainable materials to increase the dispersion of CNTs in Al for the production of high tensile conductors.

Abstract: Malaria appears to be one of the main reasons for detrimental health issue at the global scale that is responsible for approximately half a million deaths every year. As the cases of malaria seem to escalate at an annual rate, it is vital to provide a rapid and accurate diagnosis through manual microscopic assessment in the attempt to control the spread of malaria. Nevertheless, varied staining steps and noise disruptions can cause inaccurate diagnosis due to wrong interpretation. Hence, to address such issues, this study investigated the performance upon removing background noise and the method of correcting illumination that has an impact upon segmentation for a computer-assisted diagnostic system. The findings display that the technique of based on Otsu threshold and statistic data used to enhance the contrast image as to determine cells infected by the malaria parasite, in comparison to other methods. In fact, this method was tested on 450 malaria images, which consisted of P. Vivax, P. Falciparum, and P. Knowlesi species at the stages of trophozoite, schizont, and gametocyte. As a result, the HSE approach yielded 1.31 for Global Contrast Factor (GCF), while 10.56 for Signal Noise Ratio (SNR).

Abstract: Ionanofluids are a very new class of nanofluids having ionic liquids as the base fluid. Thermophysical properties of base ionic liquids (ILs) and nanoparticle enhanced ionic liquids (NEILs) are part of studying a new class of fluids for heat transfer. NEILs are formed by dispersing different volume fractions of nanoparticles in a base ionic liquid. In this article, only the thermal conductivity enhancement was considered for comparison of the different ionanofluids. NEILs show enhanced thermal conductivity compared to the base ILs. Maximum thermal conductivity enhancement was observed by adding 1 % MWCNT to [C4mim][(CF3SO2)2N] ionic liquid. However, if 0.05% MWCNT are added to [(C6)3PC14)][NTf2] no enhancement in thermal conductivity was noticed.

Abstract: In some parts of Algeria, the alluvial deposits are depleted. Optimizing the use of available resources, has become gradually urgent need and more and more important. Algeria does not remain on the sidelines of this idea, an approach is part of a sustainable development has been developed to make available to the manufacturer a steady stream of material coming from the exploitation of limestone. The importance of this production can be explained by the activity of the carrier ever growing sector. Research programs have been launched in Algeria to focus on aspects, related to the composition of concrete and influence of the nature of the constituents on the mechanical mixing quality, especially compressive strength remains the point of view of the engineer, the most important property of the material, if we exclude the sustainability indicators. Usual concretes were made using local materials. Results showed that the intrinsic properties of the constituents of concrete, and particularly studied the crushed aggregate, provide the concrete characteristics resistors quite satisfactory. To go further and in a growing cares about improving the mechanical strength of these concretes we tried to formulate a very high performance concrete (VHPC) made from local crushed aggregate, in this case the crushed limestone sands as a resource alternative to over-exploited rolled sands. The objective of this study is to enhance the crushed sand in the formulation of VHPC. The referred physical-mechanical performances are related to defer deformations within time (shrinkage) and instantaneous mechanical compressive and flexural strength.

Abstract: Due to the influence of human, industrial and agricultural activity, a large amount of toxic and harmful heavy metal enter into the soil environment. Heavy metal can easily bio-accumulate through food chain, which cause serious damage to human health. Phytoremediation emerges as a new technology in exploration of effective methods for remediation and rebuild of heavy metal contaminated soils. Although phytoremediation shows great potential in remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil, there still exists many problems in practical application. This article analysis the problems existing in phytoremediation, summarizes the research progress of the technology in application from all the perspective of phytoremediation processes.

Abstract: Using electron-beam lithography and ion milling techniques, we fabricate nanostar biosensors with different shapes and various designs to show tunable plasmon resonances. We also demonstrate further profile control over the outlines of nanostars and both under-and over-etched particles are achieved and compared. Moreover, the tunability of such plasmon-based sensors can find extensive and important applications in spectroscopy and enhanced biosensing.

Abstract: We show wafer-scale nanorods fabrication using interference lithography and ion milling techniques. Both one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) nanogratings are achieved. Complementary structures of nanorods and nanoholes are demonstrated with tunable and enhanced optical responses. By combining such nanostructures with attenuated total reflection (ATR) components, we show significantly enhanced absorbance measurements. The results shown in this paper may enable new opportunities for plasmon-assisted sensing and spectroscopy.

Abstract: A novel method based on Empirical Mode Decomposition(EMD) is approached to process the geometry signal. The main idea is to decompose the signal into some different detail components called Intrinsic Mode Function (IMF). The key steps are as follows: First, the signal is spherical parameterization; Second it is transformed into the plane signal and sampled regularly; Third, the translated signal is processed as an image using Bid-Empirical Mode Decomposition, getting several image IMFs; Finally, invert mapping these IMFs to geometry signal and getting the geometry signal’s IMFs.We demonstrate the power of the algorithms through a number of application examples including de-noising and enhancement.

Abstract: In order to improve the ensemble of color image, this paper proposes homomorphism decomposition—wavelet enhancement algorithm based on the basic principle of Wavelet Transform. We separate the incidence component and reflection component of the image by homomorphism decomposition, and then combine wavelet transform to enhance image as well as reserve details. The experimental result shows that the adaption and effect is obviously superior to MSRCR.