i-manager's Journal on Mechanical Engineering (JME)


Volume 1 Issue 1 November - January 2011

Research Paper

Scarcity of Energy and Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plant: A Review

Harminder* , T.S. Sidhu**, S. B. S. Kalsi***
* Guru Nanak Dev University, Regional Campus, Jalandhar, Punjab, India.
** Shaheed Bhagat Singh College of Engg. & Tech., Ferozepur, Punjab, India.
*** Assistant professor, ACET, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
Harminder Singh, T.S. Sidhu and S.B.S. Kalsi (2011). Scarcity Of Energy And Waste-To-Energy (WTE) Plant : A Review. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1211

Abstract

Today the developing countries like India and especially, its Punjab state, is passing through an acute shortage of power (electricity). The crisis is becoming more serious with every passing year. Presently, Punjab generates 6356MW of electricity, a little more than half the requirement of 12000MW of electricity. The state government of Punjab, emphasized the need to fully explore the potential of generation of energy by waste-to-energy (WTE) plants by the year 2020. But since the first WTE plant began to emerge in the mid 1960’s, the WTE plants operating worldwide are still running at low efficiency. The reason for less operating temperature of WTE plants is very rapid surface degradation of the boiler tubes of the plant due to the high temperature corrosion. It is found that the main reason of high rate of corrosion in WTE plants is due to the heterogeneous nature of the fuel and its variable chlorine content. Fuel of WTE plant usually contains alkali metals, heavy metals and various chlorine-containing compounds, all of which can form potential corrosive agents. This paper discusses the power shortage, the need of WTE plants especially in Punjab, fuel used in these plants and the factors which effects the efficiency of the WTE plants.  The prevailing methods of protection from high temperature corrosion are also described in this paper. This study will be helpful in reducing the corrosion and hence in increasing the efficiency of plants in future. Additional methods needed to explore and increase the efficiency of WTE plants are also summarized.

Research Paper

Magnetic Carbon Nanopowders

Leri Rukhadze* , Elguja R. Kutelia**, N. Maisuradze*******, Sayavur I. Bakhtiyarov*****
*-**** Georgian Technical University, Georgia.
***** New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, USA.
Leri Rukhadze, Elguja R. Kutelia, N. Maisuradze, B. Eristavi and Sayavur I. Bakhtiyarov (2011). Magnetic Carbon Nanopowders. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 16-20. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1212

Abstract

The objective of this work was a development of the Carbon nanoparticles doped with ferromagnetic iron oxide and clusters of cobalt atoms synthesized via a novel technology which combines the method of pyrolysis of ethanol vapors and the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process in horizontal continuous reactor with certain temperature gradients and controlled partial oxygen pressure. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES) studies of synthesized magnetic carbon nanopowders showed that under freely deposited state in the absence of the external magnetic field, the nanopowder consists of the randomly distributed carbon nanoparticles’ aggregates of 200 nm diameter doped with the magnetic clusters. Under the exposure to the low external magnetic field (~0.01 T) the nanoparticles were assembled into the large scale linear nano-chain structures.

Research Paper

Microwave processing of metallic joints and their characterisation

Srinath M. S* , Apurbba Kumar Sharma**, Pradeep Kumar***
*-*** Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India.
Srinath M. S, A. K Sharma and Pradeep Kumar (2011). Microwave Processing Of Metallic Joints And Their Characterisation. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 21-25. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1213

Abstract

In the era of growing technology, present work shows novelty of a joining process of higher thermal conductive material like copper with reasonable properties. Recent scientific studies explored microwave processing is a green manufacturing process which is significantly fast and hence highly economical.  Joining of bulk copper has been carried out through microwave hybrid heating (MHH) by the exposure of microwave radiation of 2.45 GHz for 300 s. A sandwich layer of copper powder particles (~5 µm) was used between the plates. Bulk copper joints were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), microhardness, and Universal testing machine (UTM). FE-SEM results show uniform heating which is the significance of microwave heating (MW). Cellular growth in MW induced joints has been observed. MW processing of joints has been carried out in atmospheric condition owing to which copper particles at elevated temperature reacts with atmospheric oxygen and forms oxides of copper, as observed in XRD study.  Observed average Vickers’ microhardness of the joints was found to be 78±7 Hv. Copper joints were further characterized through tensile testing in an UTM, which shows, failure of the joint is at the load of ~2750 N with a deformation of ~2.3 mm.

Research Paper

Optimization Of Turning Parameters For Surface Roughness In CNC Turning

P.K. Sood* , Rakesh Sehgal**, D. K. Dwivedi***
*-** Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur (H P), India.
*** Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India.
P.K. Sood, Rakesh Sehgal and D.K. Dwivedi (2011). Optimization Of Turning Parameters For Surface Roughness In CNC Turning. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 26-30. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1214

Abstract

In this study, the effect and optimization of cutting parameters on surface roughness in a CNC turning operation was investigated by using the Taguchi method. The experimental studies were conducted under varying cutting speeds, feed rate, depth of cut and approach angle. An orthogonal array, the signal-to noise (S/N) ratio, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to study the performance characteristics in turning of hypereutectic Al-Si-Mg alloys produced by conventional and stir casting techniques.  The alloys under investigation were prepared by controlling melt using induction heating and melting furnace. The cutting operations were carried out under dry conditions on a CNC turning centre using coated carbide inserts. The conclusions revealed that the feed rate and cutting speed were the most influential factors on the surface roughness The optimal conditions obtained for surface roughness for the Al-20Si-0.05 Mg-1.2Fe developed by stir cast technique is more significant then those developed by conventional technique.

Research Paper

Optimized Regenerative Braking Technology For Electric Bikes

Balaji. K* , M. Sridhar**, Rafath Sherief M. A***, Janci Rani J****
* Department of Automobile Engineering, MIT campus, Anna University.
** Program Analyst, Cognizant Technology Solutions.
*** Department of Automobile Engineering, MIT Campus, Anna University.
**** Assistant Professor, Department of Automobile Engineering., Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University.
Balaji K, Sridhar K, Rafath Sherief M. A and Janci Rani J (2011). Optimized Regenerative Braking Technology For Electric Bikes. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 31-39. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1215

Abstract

Regenerative braking is an effective approach for electric vehicles to extend their efficiency. It is the emerging technology used on hybrid gas/electric automobiles to recoup some of the energy lost during stopping. Regenerative braking has to be carried out together with the conventional barking. In brake system design for electric vehicles, the basic equation must be concerned, one is properly applying braking force to quickly reduce the vehicle speed and meanwhile maintain the vehicle traveling direction stable and controllable through the steering wheel on various road conditions and also recovering the braking energy as much as possible in order to improve the energy utilization efficiently. The regenerated energy is saved in a storage battery and used later to power the motor. Regenerative braking takes energy normally wasted during braking and turns it into usable energy. It does improve energy efficiency of the vehicle. In this work, a mathematical model of a regenerative braking system for the braking efficiency has been developed. The experimental results are compared with the simulated results. The electricity generated by the battery during braking varies accordingly to the speed of the vehicle. So to utilize the generated electricity completely a suitable Electronic Control Unit is designed.

Research Paper

Investigation of Transition using Large Eddy Simulation

Abhro Pal* , Ashish Singh**, S. Pavithran***
*-** CRL Ltd., Pune, Maharashtra, India.
*** Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, India.
Abhro Pal, Ashish Singh and S. Pavithran (2011). Investigation Of Transition Using Large Eddy Simulation. i-manager’s Journal on Mechanical Engineering, 1(1), 40-46. https://doi.org/10.26634/jme.1.1.1216

Abstract

The transition characteristics of flows are investigated. Both transition of laminar to transitional flow and transitional flow to fully turbulent are looked into. As a first case, the flow past a flat plate is considered. Two-dimensional flow is assumed for computational simplicity. Large eddy simulation is employed without any sub-grid scale eddy viscosity model. One would expect this to yield same results in the laminar region and differ from the actual solution in the other regions. The velocity fluctuations and other variables are obtained and analyzed. One of the important variables is the vorticity. This is non-dimensionalized using y, the normal distance from the wall as the vorticity Reynolds number Reξ= ξy2/n. . It is seen that at a particular streamwise (x) location, the Reξ is zero at the wall and reaches a maximum and goes to zero at the edge of the boundary layer. The average value in the normal (y) direction is plotted against Reξ. The same is repeated with the maximum value of Reξ at an x location, and this is also plotted against Rex. It is seen that the two transition points can be obtained from either of these two graphs. Reynolds stresses and root mean square of velocity fluctuations are also observed of exhibiting similar behavior. Finally, the Smagorinsky constant is varied linearly between the two transition points and the effect is looked into. Further work needs to be carried out to see if the transition values of Reξ are universal. The next step would be to extend the study to three dimensional flows.