Free convection and radiation characteristics for a vertical plate embedded in a porous medium

Steady two‐dimensional free convection flow due to combined effect of radiation and convection through a porous medium bounded by a vertical infinite plate is considered. The behaviour of Darcy and non‐Darcy flow is investigated. The flow of water through different porous media under different environmental conditions is discussed. Effect of four non‐dimensional parameters, i.e. Prandtl number (Pr), modified Grashof number (G), permeability parameter (K) and radiation parameter (N) has been studied. Effect of these parameters on Nusselt number is analysed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal Estimation of Roughness in Open-Channel Flows

The inverse problem of estimating the open-channel flow roughness is solved using an embedded optimization model. Measurement data for flow depths and discharges at several locations and times are used as inputs to the optimization model. The nonlinear optimization model embeds the finite-difference approximations of the governing equations for unsteady flow in an open channel as equality constraints. The Sequential Quadratic Programming Algorithm is used to solve the optimization model. The performance of the proposed parameter estimation model is evaluated for different scenarios of data availability and noise in flow measurement data. Solution results for illustrative problems indicate the potential applicability of the proposed model.     

Design of two-dimensional directional filters

A directional filter has a passband extending fully along a straight line passing through the origin. In its original form the transformation technique, a powerful tool for designing two-dimensional FIR filters, is not useful to design such a filter. In this communication we suggest a few analytical and optimisation-based methods to design directional filters using the transformation technique. The superiority of the proposed methods over existing techniques is demonstrated.     

Cu‐Al2O3/H2O hybrid nanofluid flow past a porous stretching sheet due to temperatue‐dependent viscosity and viscous dissipation

The resent development of research in the field of nano technology introduced hybrid nanofluids which are advanced classes of fluids with augmented thermal properties and it gives better results comparing to regular nanofluid. The aim of the present work is to study the significant effects of variable viscosity and viscous dissipation on a porous stretching sheet in the presence of hybrid nanofluid and radiative heating. In this model, two types of nanoparticles, namely copper (Cu) and alumina oxide (Al₂O₃), are suspended in the base fluid H₂O to form a hybrid nanoliquid. The novelty of this study is to introduce variable viscosity along with natural convection in the momentum equation and viscous dissipation in the energy equation. Mathematical modeling is employed in this study, whereby partial differential equations for the fluid flow are constructed and transformed to a set of ordinary differential equations, and hence resolved computationally by Runge‐Kutta‐Fehlberg method along with shooting scheme. The most important results for relevant parameters concerning the flow heat measure, surface drag, and heat transfer coefficients are thoroughly examined and presented graphically for both Cu‐Al₂O₃/water hybrid nanofluids. There is an increase in hybrid nanofluid velocity profile with mounting values of $\lambda$, and the Cu‐water nanofluid converges to the boundary more quickly than the hybrid nanofluid due to the occurrence of variable viscosity. The results concluded that the Nusselt number of the viscous fluid is lower than that of the nanofluid and hence the hybrid nanofluid (ie, heat transfer rate: normal fluid < nanofluid < hybrid nanofluid). The outcomes of present investigations are in close agreement with the viscous fluid as a particular case.     

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera leaf extract and its application to optical limiting

The Development of biologically inspired experimental processes for the synthesis of nanoparticles is evolving into an important branch of nanotechnology. The work presented here with the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Moringa oleifera leaf extract as reducing and stabilizing agent and its application in nonlinear optics. The aqueous silver ions when exposed to Moringa oleifera leaf extract are reduced resulting in silver nanoparticles demonstrating the biosynthesis. The silver nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Visible, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. TEM analysis shows a dispersion of the nanoparticles in a range of 5-80 nm with the average around 46 nm and are crystallized in face centred cubic symmetry. To show that these biosynthesized silver nanoparticles possess very good nonlinear properties similar to those nanoparticles synthesized by chemical route, we carried out the Z-scan studies with a 6 ns, 532 nm pulsed laser. We estimated the nonlinear absorption coefficient and compare it with the literature values of the nanoparticles synthesized through chemical route. The silver nanoparticles suspended in solution exhibited reverse saturable absorption with optical limiting threshold of 100 mJ/cm2.     

Surfactant free rapid synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanorods by a microwave irradiation method for the treatment of bone infection

Mesoporous nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nHAp) rods of size 40-75 nm long and 25 nm wide (resembling bone mineral) were synthesized under microwave irradiation without using any surfactants or modifiers. The surface area and average pore size of the nHAp were found to be 32 m(2) g(-1) and 4 nm, respectively. Rifampicin (RIF) and ciprofloxacin (CPF) loaded nHAp displayed an initial burst followed by controlled release (zero order kinetics). Combination of CPF and RIF loaded nHAp showed enhanced bacterial growth inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) compared to individual agent loaded nHAp and pure nHAp. In addition, decreased bacterial adhesion (90%) was observed on the surface of CPF plus RIF loaded nHAp. The biocompatibility test toward MG63 cells infected with micro-organisms showed better cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) for the combination of CPF and RIF loaded nHAp. The influence on cell viability of infected MG63 cells was attributed to the simultaneous and controlled release of CPF and RIF from nHAp, which prevented the emergence of subpopulations that were resistant to each other. Hence, apart from the issue of the rapid synthesis of nHAp without surfactants or modifiers, the simultaneous and controlled release of dual drugs from nHAp would be a simple, non-toxic and cost-effective method to treat bone infections.     

Seed Extract of Psidium guajava as Ecofriendly Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel in Hydrochloric Acid Medium

The anticorrosion characteristics of the seeds of Psidium guajava (P. guajava) fruits on carbon steel in acid medium were examined with weight loss data and subsequently thermodynamic factors such as heat of adsorption of the inhibitor on the metal surface (Q), change in entropy (△S), change in free energy of the reaction (△G), corrosion rate (CR) and energy of activation for corrosion reaction of carbon steel (E) were also evaluated. Adsorption isotherm was plotted to study the adsorption of the inhibitor on the metal surface with increasing concentration of the inhibitor. The functional groups responsible for inhibition were investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Electrochemical parameters were evaluated through the potentiodynamic Tafel polarization and impedance spectral studies. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs were recorded to investigate the change in surface morphology. The complete study reveals the e?ciency of seed extract of P. guajava as a safe, ecofriendly and alternate corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in acid medium.     

Parametric studies for improving the performance of a Jatropha oil-fuelled compression ignition engine

A single cylinder, constant speed, direct injection diesel engine was operated on neat Jatropha oil. Injection timing, injector opening pressure, injection rate and air swirl level were changed to study their influence on performance, emissions and combustion. Results have been compared with neat diesel operation. The injection timing was varied by changing the position of the fuel injection pump with respect to the cam and injection rate was varied by changing the diameter of the plunger of the fuel injection pump. A properly oriented masked inlet valve was employed to enhance the air swirl level. Advancing the injection timing from the base diesel value and increasing the injector opening pressure increase the brake thermal efficiency and reduce HC and smoke emissions significantly. Enhancing the swirl has only a small effect on emissions. The ignition delay with Jatropha oil is always higher than that of diesel under similar conditions. Improved premixed heat release rates were observed with Jatropha oil when the injector opening pressure is enhanced. When the injection timing is retarded with enhanced injection rate, a significant improvement in performance and emissions was noticed. In this case emissions with Jatropha oil are even lower than diesel. At full output, the HC emission level is 532 ppm with Jatropha oil as against 798 ppm with diesel. NO level and smoke with Jatropha oil are, respectively 1162.5 ppm and 2 BSU while they are 1760 ppm and 2.7 BSU with diesel.