Investigation of performance enhancement of solar still incorporated with Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage material

In this research work, the conventional single slope still (CSS) with egg shells of breed Gallus gallus domesticus cascara as sensible heat storage (SHS) material are studied experimentally to enhance the yield. In this experimental investigation, the proposed single slope still (PSS) with SHS material was made in comparison with the CSS to evaluate the productivity of fresh water under the same ambient conditions. Comparatively, this PSS has higher thermal conductivity than the CSS. The yield obtained from the PSS is 2.46 L/m², while the yield from the CSS is 2.07 L/m². The average rate at which the rise of output fresh water obtained from the PSS is 18% more than the fresh water output obtained from the CSS. The daily energy efficiency of the PSS is 26.07%, and for the CSS, it is only 22.25%. The daily exergy efficiency of the PSS is 2.36%, and for the CSS, it is only 1.67%. Since using the egg shell will employ as organic waste management and modification in this still is economical, less initial, and maintenance cost.

     

Investigation on the changes effected by tool profile on mechanical and tribological properties of friction stir processed AZ31B magnesium alloy

The present study investigates the effect of tool shoulder profile on the mechanical and tribological properties of friction stir processed AZ31B magnesium alloy. The tool rotational speed and feed rate are the chosen process parameters. The experiments were conducted with 3 level 2 factors full factorial design. The recorded responses were tensile strength, wear losses and corrosion rate. The results were analyzed with the help microstructures of the processed samples. The study reveals that, for concave shoulder tool, the strain hardening effect was playing a major role in determining the properties of the processed materials and for the step shoulder tool, the grain size plays a major role in determining the properties of the processed materials.     

Effectiveness of potassium ferrate (VI) as a green agent in the treatment and disinfection of carwash wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Carwash wastewater treatment with potassium ferrate (VI) (K2FeO4) was optimized by response surface methodology. The optimum conditions for chemical...     

Macroalgal release of dissolved organic carbon in coral reef and its interaction with the bacteria associated with the coral Porites lutea

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Macroalgae supersede corals in the reefs worldwide, converting the coral-dominant systems into algal-dominant ones. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC)...     

Studies on piston bowl geometries using single blend ratio of various non-edible oils

The depletion of fossil fuels and hike in crude oil prices were some of the main reasons to explore new alternatives from renewable source of energy. This work presents the impact of various bowl geometries on diesel engine with diesel and biodiesel samples. Three non-edible oils were selected, namely pumpkin seed oil, orange oil and neem oil. These oils were converted into respective biodiesel using transesterification process in the presence of catalyst and alcohol. After transesterification process, the oils were termed as pumpkin seed oil methyl ester (PSOME), orange oil methyl ester (OME) and neem oil methyl ester (NOME), respectively. The engine used for experimentation was a single-cylinder four-stroke water-cooled direct-injection diesel engine and loads were applied to the engine using eddy current dynamometer. Two bowl geometries were developed, namely toroidal combustion chamber (TCC) and trapezoidal combustion chamber (TRCC). Also, the engine was inbuilt with hemispherical combustion chamber (HCC). The base line readings were recorded using neat diesel fuel with HCC for various loads. Followed by 20% of biodiesel mixed with 80% neat diesel for all prepared methyl esters and termed as B1 (20% PSOME with 80% diesel), B2 (20% OME with 80% diesel) and B3 (20% NOME with 80% diesel). All fuel samples were tested in HCC, TCC and TRCC bowl geometries under standard injection timing and with compression ratio of 18. Increased brake thermal efficiency and reduced brake specific fuel consumption were observed with diesel in TCC geometry. Also, higher heat release and cylinder pressures with lower ignition delay were recorded with TCC bowl geometry. TCC bowl geometry showed lower CO, HC and smoke emissions with B2 fuel sample than diesel and other biodiesel samples. But, higher NOx emission was observed in HCC and TCC than that in TRCC bowl geometry.

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Public perception towards sewage treatment plants in selected areas in Selangor and Kuala lumpur,Malaysia

Summary A public perception survey on sewage treatment plants carried out in selected areas in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur revealed several interesting and unexpected findings. The general perception patterns regarding odour, noise and visual impact, suggest that the perceived intensity is a function of the time of adaptation. It was also revealed that pests constitute a serious nuisance, to which adaptation was not possible. The level of public awareness regarding sewage treatment was surprisingly low, despite the urban locality of the study areas. The need to educate the public on health and sanitation is viewed as extremely important in terms of social acceptance and the proper operation of sewage treatment plants.Dr C.P. Tso is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering; K.S. Low is a member of the Department of Geography, and G. Balamurugan a member of the Institute of Advanced Studies; all at the University of Malaya.     

Effect of diethyl ether and ethanol as an oxygenated additive on Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel in CI engine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present experimental investigation is conducted to examine the working characteristics of compression ignition (CI) engine using oxygenated...     

Tin mining and sediment supply in peninsular malaysia with special reference to the Kelang River Basin

Summary The paper discusses the tin mining industry in Malaysia and legislations promulgated to prevent environmental degradation due to mining activities. Soil erosion and sediment contribution from mining areas were studied by examining inflow and outflow sediment loads and stormflow sediment transport characteristics at two sediment sampling stations in the Kelang River Basin. It was observed that despite the cessation of mining activities, rivers draining mining areas still carry high sediment loads. It was found that sediment yield increases by three to six times after the river passes through mining land. Low-flow sediment transport is more significant in the mining area compared to non-mining areas. Clockwise hytheretical loops observed at the two sampling stations indicate that sediment sources are located near the river and within the channel system itself.Mr G. Balamurugan was until recently a member of staff at the Institute for Advanced Studies at the University of Malaya. He is now a practising water resources engineer, and may be contacted at HSS Integrated, 20–24, Jalan SS 21/62, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia.     

Connecting science,policy, and implementation for landscape‐scale habitat connectivity

We examined the links between the science and policy of habitat corridors to better understand how corridors can be implemented effectively. As a case study, we focused on a suite of landscape‐scale connectivity plans in tropical and subtropical Asia (Malaysia, Singapore, and Bhutan). The process of corridor designation may be more efficient if the scientific determination of optimal corridor locations and arrangement is synchronized in time with political buy‐in and establishment of policies to create corridors. Land tenure and the intactness of existing habitat in the region are also important to consider because optimal connectivity strategies may be very different if there are few, versus many, political jurisdictions (including commercial and traditional land tenures) and intact versus degraded habitat between patches. Novel financing mechanisms for corridors include bed taxes, payments for ecosystem services, and strategic forest certifications. Gaps in knowledge of effective corridor design include an understanding of how corridors, particularly those managed by local communities, can be protected from degradation and unsustainable hunting. There is a critical need for quantitative, data‐driven models that can be used to prioritize potential corridors or multicorridor networks based on their relative contributions to long‐term metacommunity persistence.