Efficiency and effectiveness enhancement of an intercooler of two‐stage air compressor by low‐cost Al2O3/water nanofluids

The present study was aimed to utilize low‐cost alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles for improving the heat transfer behavior in an intercooler of two‐stage air compressor. Experimental investigation was carried out with three different volume concentrations of 0.5%, 0.75%, and 1.0% Al₂O₃/water nanofluids to assess the performance of the intercooler, that is, counterflow heat exchanger at different loads. Thermal properties such as thermal conductivity and overall heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid increased substantially with increasing concentration of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. Specific heat capacity of nanofluids were lower than base water. The intercooler performance parameters such as effectiveness and efficiency improved appreciably with the employment of nanofluid. The efficiency increased by about 6.1% with maximum concentration of nanofluid, that is, 1% at 3‐bar compressor load. It is concluded from the study that high concentration of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles dispersion in water would offer better heat transfer performance of the intercooler.     

Mechanical and microstructure studies on the modification of CA film by blending with PS

DriedMusa paradiciaca (banana) stem and veins of the leaves, which were hitherto discarded as a waste, were collected and used as starting material for the preparation of cellulose and cellulose acetate. This cellulose acetate was mixed with polystyrene to form blend of cellulose acetate-polystyrene in order to provide enhanced stability and extended utility to the end products. The films of these composites or their individual partners were made separately and studied for their mechanical properties, chemical modification and morphological changes. We report here that banana stem is good source of cellulose and that cellulose completely undergoes modification upon esterification.     

A.c. conductivity studies on the silver molybdo-arsenate glassy system

A new quaternary fast-ion conducting silver molybdo-arsenate [Agl-Ag₂O-(MoO₃ + As₂O₅)] (SMA) glassy system has been prepared using the melt-quenching technique for various dopant salt (Agl) concentrations by fixing the formers (MoO₃ + As₂O₅) composition and the modifier (Ag₂O) to formers (M/F) ratio. The prepared compounds were characterized by X-ray diffraction. The impedance measurements were made on different Agl compositions of the SMA glasses as a function of frequency (6.5 Hz–65 kHz) and temperature (303–343 K), using the Solatron frequency-response analyser (model 1250). The bulk conductivity and the appropriate physical model (equivalent circuit) of the SMA glass were obtained from the impedance analysis. The a.c. conductivity was calculated for different Agl compositions of SMA glasses at various temperatures and the obtained a.c. conductivity results were analysed using Jonscher's Universal Law. The conduction mechanism for the highest conducting SMA glassy compound has been explained using the diffusion path model.     

Ionic mass transfer measurements in the case of submerged multijets impinging on to a flat surface

In the case of submerged multijets impinging on to a flat surface, the limiting current densities were measured at microelectrodes, fixed flush with the target surface using diffusion controlled electrode reactions (i.e. reduction of ferricyanide ion). The height of the multijet distributor from the target surface (Y) was varied from 5 to 9 cm. The numbers of holes of the distributor (N) studied were 76 and 141. The variation of mass transfer data with radial distance reveals the existence of two different regions, i.e. the impingement region and the wall jet region. The mass transfer rate increased with increase in Y in the impingement region. The effect of Y is negligible in the wall jet region. Decrease in N decreases the mass transfer rate in both the regions. The data are correlated separately for the two regions.     

Magnetic and mössbauer studies on ductile Fe-Cr-Co permanent magnet alloys

Iron-chromium-cobalt alloys possess attractive magnetic properties combined with good formability and hence are identified as technologically important magnetic materials. Alloys with compositions Fe-28·9 Cr-15·6 Co and Fe-28·4 Cr-20·1Co (weight percent) have been studied. Heat-treatment parameters during thermomagnetic treatment viz temperature, time and external magnetic field were optimized with reference to magnetic properties. The fully treated anisotropic alloys develop remanence=11·5–12·0 kilo Gauss, coercivity=600–650 Oersted and energy product=4–4·5 million Gauss Oersted. Electron microscopic and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques were used to identify the original and transformed phases. During the various stages of the development of the alloy, the changes in mechanical hardness were correlated with magnetic hardness.     

Preparation of NiAl2O4/SiO2 and Co2+-Doped NiAl2O4/SiO2 Nanocomposites by the Sol–Gel Route

NiAl₂O₄/SiO₂ and Co²⁺-doped NiAl₂O₄/SiO₂ nanocomposite materials of compositions 5% NiO – 6% Al₂O₃– 89% SiO₂ and 0.2% CoO – 4.8% NiO – 6% Al₂O₃– 89% SiO₂, respectively, were prepared by a sol–gel process. NiAl₂O₄ and cobalt-doped NiAl₂O₄ nanocrystals were grown in a SiO₂ amorphous matrix at around 1073 K by heating the dried gels from 333 to 1173 K at the rate of 1 K/min. The formations of NiAl₂O₄ and cobalt-doped NiAl₂O₄ nanocrystals in SiO₂ amorphous matrix were confirmed through X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and optical absorption spectroscopy techniques. The TEM images revealed the uniform distribution of NiAl₂O₄ and cobalt-doped NiAl₂O₄ nanocrystals in the amorphous SiO₂ matrix and the size was found to be ∼5–8 nm.     

Taguchi Optimisation of Friction Stir Processing Parameters to Achieve Maximum Tensile Strength of Mg AZ31B Alloy

In this investigation, the effect of friction stir processing process variables such as rotational speed, traverse speed and tool tilt angle on the tensile strength of magnesium alloy AZ31B was studied. The experiments were carried out according to the Taguchi parametric design L9 at various combinations of process parameters and statistical optimization technique ANOVA was used to determine the optimum levels and to find the percentage of contribution of the process parameters. The results indicate that the rotational speed is the most significant factor followed by the traverse speed and tool tilt angle for maximising the tensile strength of the friction stir processed magnesium alloy.     

Fabrication of corrosion resistant, bioactive and antibacterial silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania composite coating on Cp Ti

The present work is aimed at developing a bioactive, corrosion resistant and anti bacterial nanostructured silver substituted hydroxyapatite/titania (AgHA/TiO₂) composite coating in a single step on commercially pure titanium (Cp Ti) by plasma electrolytic processing (PEP) technique. For this purpose 2.5 wt% silver substituted hydroxyapatite (AgHA) nanoparticles were prepared by microwave processing technique and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The as-synthesized AgHA particles with particle length ranging from 60 to 70 nm and width ranging from 15 to 20 nm were used for the subsequent development of coating on Cp Ti. The PEP treated Cp Ti showed both titania and AgHA in its coating and exhibited an improved corrosion resistance in 7.4 pH simulated body fluid (SBF) and 4.5 pH osteoclast bioresorbable conditions compared to untreated Cp Ti. The in vitro bioactivity test conducted under Kokubo SBF conditions indicated an enhanced apatite forming ability of PEP treated Cp Ti surface compared to that of the untreated Cp Ti. The Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method or antibiotic sensitivity test conducted with the test organisms of Escherichia coli (E. coli) for 24 h showed a significant zone of inhibition for PEP treated Cp Ti compared to untreated Cp Ti.