A thermodynamic method based upon the theory of regular solutions for selection of solvents and process conditions for aromatics extraction

Selectivity and distribution coefficients are two important parameters required for selection of solvents and process conditions for efficient separation of aromatics from a multi-component hydrocarbon feedstock. A simple thermodynamic method is presented in this paper for the prediction of these parameters from a knowledge of physical properties of the pure components, such as vapour pressure, molar volume and critical temperature. The activity coefficients were calculated using the solubility parameter theory extended to multi-component mixtures of polar and nonpolar components. The compositions of the extract and raffinate phases were computed using an iterative search technique for simultaneous solution of the thermodynamic criterion equations and the material balance equations for each component. For testing the validity of this method, the predicted values of the selectivity at infinite dilution and the equilibrium phase compositions were compared with the corresponding experimental values from the literature and the agreement is found to be highly satisfactory.     

Flow of materials in rotary kilns used for sponge iron manufacture: Part II. Effect of kiln geometry

The present work identifies the basic features of burden movement in a rotary kiln. The cold model study was conducted with iron ore as the feed material to determine the influence of length to diameter ratio (L/D) of a rotary kiln on the filling degree, hold-up, and residence time of the charge. An empirical equation correlating different operating variables has been derived on the basis of the experimental results. The influence of individual parameters under different conditions on the residence time and back spillage has also been evaluated. Formerly Joint Director, Research and Development, TISCO     

A semianalytic solution for rectangular plate bending

By substituting the basic function satisfying boundary conditions along two opposite edges in one direction of the plate and then using suitable transformation, the plate bending equation is reduced to an ordinary differential equation. The resulting equation is solved by finite difference technique by using a small number of discrete variables. Examples have been presented for a variety of isotropic and orthotropic elastic rectangular plate of different boundary conditions under various loadings. Excellent accuracy has been obtained.     

Mechanical behavior of glass polymer multilayer composites

To identify the best reinforcement condition for development of tough glass polymer multi-layer composites (GPMLC) with high failure strain, two such model composite structures were developed. Soda–lime–silica glasses of two different thicknesses viz (A—1.01 mm and B—1.17 mm) were used as the matrix layers. The A-glass and B-glass based GPMLC samples were prepared by a novel, low pressure lamination technique applied to the alternating planar structure of the matrix and reinforcing phases. These GPMLC materials were fabricated with and without a thin sprayed layer of kerosene, between the glass layer and the reinforcing layer in the interface where; the interface was either epoxy (a thermosetting resin) or polyvinyl butyral (PVB, a thermoplastic resin). The GPMLC samples which exhibited stepped load—displacement behaviour in the most pronounced fashion, had the thermoplastic resin at the interface. Most of these GPMLC samples had a thin layer of kerosene intentionally introduced between the glass layer and the reinforcing polymer layer such that a weak interface is obtained. Fractographic evidence suggested that more of controlled delaminaton cracking occurs in such samples. Apart from the chemical nature of the reinforcing polymer phase, the interfacial layer thickness (h _i ) and the interfacial shear stress ( _xy ) were found out to have significant influence on the specific failure load and the failure stress of the current glass polymer multi-layer composites.     

A New Concept for Improving the Performance of Phase-Controlled Converters

High-power phase-controlled converters suffer from several fundamental disadvantages. They inject current hannonics into the input ac mains due to their nonlinear characteristics, thereby distort the supply voltage waveform, and demand ractive power from the associated ac power systems at retarded firing angles; also the output voltage is not smooth dc but contains superimposed harmonic ripples. A novel sequential control technique is suggested, which, when applied to more than one converter in cascade, substantially overcomes these disadvantages. The method consists of specifying the proportions of the maximum power to be handled by the individual converters and incorporating a sequence controller, the function of which is to ensure that at any output voltage the converter supplying the minimum power operates over the ful range of thyristor firing angles. The firing angles of other converters are restricted to values corresponding to their ratings. A generalized method of optimizing the performance of sequentially controlled cascaded converters is presented, and the economic viability of the proposed scheme is examined. It is shown that the effective ratings of thyristors in the proposed scheme are greatly reduced. The method should offer improved converter performance in variable speed dc drives, solid-state slip-energy recovery systems, or high-voltage dc transmission systems.     

Software-effort estimation with a case-based reasoner

Software effort estimation is an important but difficult task. Existing algorithmic models often fail to predict effort accurately and consistently. To address this, we developed a computational approach to software effort estimation. cEstor is a case-based reasoning engine developed from an analysis of expert reasoning. cEstor's architecture explicitly separates case-independent productivity adaptation knowledge (rules) from case-specific representations of prior projects encountered (cases). Using new data from actual projects, uncalibrated cEstor generated estimates which compare favorably to those of the referent expert, calibrated Function Points and calibrated COCOMO. The estimates were better than those produced by uncalibrated Basic COCOMO and Intermediate COCOMO. The roles of specific knowledge components in cEstor (cases, adaptation rules, and retrieval heuristics) were also examined. The results indicate that case-independent productivity adaptation rules affect the consistency of estimates and appropriate case selection affects the accuracy of estimates, but the combination of an adaptation rule set and unrestricted case base can yield the best estimates. Retrieval heuristics based on source lines of code and a Function Count heuristic based on summing over differences in parameter values, were found to be equivalent in accuracy and consistency, and both performed better than a heuristic based on Function Count totals.     

Microprocessor-based on-line monitoring and characterization ofpower factor of a synchronous motor

An attempt is made to develop a microprocessor-based system for online monitoring of the power factor of a synchronous motor. The method is based purely on software design with the use of two resistors (of small ohmic values and high current carrying capacity) connected in series with the field circuit and load circuit, which generate the reference signals for the microprocessor. However, for mechanical loading, the resistance in the load circuit may be replaced by a torque transducer. The interesting feature of the system is its capability to characterize the status (i.e. leading, lagging, or unity) of the power factor. The system is helpful in providing necessary information for power factor corrections leading to the best utilization of the synchronous motor     

An experimental analysis of subcooled leakage flow through slits from high pressure high temperature pipelines

The work presented here is an experimental investigation of the critical flashing flow of initially subcooled water through circumferential slits in pipes. The study provides first hand information about the prediction of leak flow rates in piping and pressure vessels retaining high temperature and high pressure. The dedicated experimental facility loop simulates the thermal hydraulic condition of Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWR). The critical flow characteristics found for varying leakage cross sections at different stagnation pressure and different degree of subcooling has been demonstrated in this paper. A marked decrease in mass flux has been found as subcooling decreases for a fixed stagnation pressure. More observation has revealed that the tighter slits or openings with very short duct as small as 0.8 cm flow length have different flow behavior than greater opening dimensions or with longer flow channels or that for nozzles. The critical flow has been seen to occur at higher pressure differentials along the flaws and prominent changes in the flow rate is reported to occur with varying dimensional parameters of the slit or cracks.     

The precipitation of the Q phase in an AA6111 Alloy

The precipitation behavior of the quaternary Q phase in an Al 6111 alloy has been studied by analytical electron microscopy. The transformation strain associated with the Q phase has been determined from high resolution electron microscopy and electron diffraction. The habit plane of the Q laths is shown to be fully coherent with the Al matrix. The transformation strain is used to explain the pattern of heterogeneous precipitation of the Q phase at dislocations and grain boundaries. The crystal structure and composition of the Q phase, whether it forms in the matrix or at grain boundaries, appears similar to that formed directly from the melt in a quaternary Al-Cu-Mg-Si alloy.