Abstract

Image fusion is a concept of combining multiple images into composite products, through which more information than that of individual input images can be revealed. The ultimate goal of fused image quality evaluation is to find out the consistence between subjective and objective measures, which can be obtained only by large amount of test images. The aim of this paper is to develop a quantitative measure that will consistently be used as a substitute.

Abstract

In this paper, a tree detection algorithm designed specifically for high-resolution digital imagery of cultivated trees is presented and evaluated. The algorithm falls into the class of post classification methods. However, it refines results of an initial classified image by providing statistical neighbourhood measures for each detected tree. Consequently, it retains only location of target tree spice. We base our algorithm on mathematical morphology skeleton approach. The resulting algorithm increases our ability to accurately locate individual trees; the goal is to incorporate spatial location in the GIS platform. Skeleton approach reduces a set of objects to a set of points that describes their geometric centres. These points provide the means to define and measure a number of statistics neighbourhood-based distances (Su et al., 1997). Hereby, new spatial measures exploiting the k-order neighbouring techniques and mathematical morphology were developed and found to increase the discrimination between certain spectrally similar classes (Zhang and Murayma, 2000). Applied to olive tree fields from a remotely sensed image, we increased the classification accuracy by not only reducing errors of omission and commission in tree detection, but also overshoots and undershoots in crown boundary delineation.

Abstract

VOC emissions control and development new methods for hydrocarbons losses prevention under tank storage is one of the important ways of the fuel and energy resources saving. A significant source of oil resources saving is VOC emissions losses prevention during their recovery, processing, transportation and storage in tank batteries. Control of hydrocarbons losses would result in saving about 20% of world hydrocarbon and energy resources and also prevent a negative ecological impact which grows out environmental pollution by oil products. Therefore losses control gives not only economic benefit, but also allows creating an environmentally friendly storage technology. Unfortunately, use of modern storage systems involves many constructive and technological difficulties such as floating roof jamming, losses of hydrocarbons within the tank walls, pollution of stored products by impurities from the atmospheric air, etc. The objective of this project was experimental study and mathematical simulation for developing new energy saving technology of hydrocarbons storage in tanks. Project was based on theoretical and laboratory researches on development of special device for storage tanks with adjustable gas equalizing system in order to prevent VOC emissions and atmosphere pollution. In this research project the basis of industry technology of hydrocarbons storage with adjustable gas gathering and equalizing system was developed. A systematic and fundamental study of rheophysical properties and hydrodynamic behavior of oil products was conducted in this project. Laboratory experiments were carried out to determine important evaporation properties of the test hydrocarbons using both the standard commercial and in-house made equipment. The obtained results will provide the valuable information for mathematical and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation of the hydrocarbon fluids flow in pipes and tanks under loading operations. As a result of the project we developed a special device - inflatable reservoir pontoon to prevent for hydrocarbon emissions in reservoir batteries of the oil recovery and refinery plants.

Abstract

The potential role of a new energy efficient fermentation technology has been receiving growing attention in past 4 decades. Carboxylic acids such as propionic acid, lactic acid, citric acid, tartaric acid, itaconic acid, butyric acid and nicotinic acid etc. have been used as the most efficient fermentation chemicals. This paper presents a state-of-art review on the development of the separation techniques for carboxylic acids from fermentation broths. This paper mainly focuses on reactive extraction that is found to be a promising alternative to the conventional recovery processes in terms of intensifying the process.

Abstract

At present, the emissions of internal combustion engine can only be improved by catalytic treatments of the exhaust gases. However, such treatments result in high cost and relatively low conversion efficiency [1]. Out of the pollutants from diesel engines, the Nitric Oxide (NOx) emission seriously threatens the environment.  The vehicle manufacturers are trying various combinations of technologies such as EGR (homogeneous & stratified), water-diesel fuel emulsion injection, charge stratification, high pressure injection, pilot injection, variable compression ratio etc. to reduce or control the NOx emission [1]. The usage of biodiesel blends in Direct Injection (DI) diesel engine shows its potential to reduce the exhaust emissions. But still, the NOx emissions from those engines are found to be higher with a subsequent reduction in thermal efficiency [2]. This necessitates a further improvement either in the combustion process or post-combustion processes of those engines fuelled with biodiesel blends.  This paper suggests a new combustion technique called Porous Medium (PM) combustion, which could be used to reduce the NOx emissions with a remarkable improvement in the thermal efficiency of a diesel engine operated on biodiesel blends.

Abstract

Self Compacting Concrete (SCC) is a very fluid concrete and a homogeneous mixture that solves most of the problems related to ordinary concrete. Besides, SCC gets compacted under its own weight and there is no need for an internal vibrator for the body of the mould. This specification helps the execution of construction components under high compression of reinforcement. The elimination of vibration for compacting concrete during placing through the use of Self Compacting Concrete leads to substantial advantages related to better homogeneity, enhancement of working environment and improvement in the productivity by increasing the speed of construction The resulting concrete is characterized in the fresh state by methods used for Self compacting  concrete, such as slump-flow, V-funnel and L- box tests respectively.

Cement based materials are quasi-brittle and are known to exhibit a highly stress-rate sensitive behaviour. In structures that are subjected to impact forces, this causes concern in two ways: first the brittleness may result in catastopic failure without warning and second, the properties of concrete during such events may be very different from those measured in standardized quasistatic tests. Unfortunately, there are no standardised tests available for testing concrete under impact loading and there is significant confusion as to what constitutes an appropriate test. This paper presents an experimental investigation on the compressive strength and impact resistance of glass fibre self compacting concrete using Alkali-Resistant Glass Fibres for various grades of concrete mixes of M 30 to M 65.

Abstract

Adsorption studies have been carried out for evaluating the suitability of tea factory waste as a low cost adsorbent for the removal of zinc. In India, yearly production of tea is approximately 857000 tonnes which is 27.4% of total world produce. Amount of tea factory waste produced per after processing is about 190400 tonnes. The detailed characterization pertaining to physio-chemical, structural and morphological properties of tea factory waste have also been carried out. Particle size analysis, proximate analysis, ash analysis and ultimate analysis were carried out for physio-chemical characteristics. Thermogravimetric analysis was also done both in ambient and nitrogen atmospheres to see the effect of temperature on the TFW stability. Morphological characteristics are given through scanning electron micro scope analysis. Surface are of tea factory waste was found to be 1.3196 m2/g and TFW works as a very good adsorbent due to presence of adsorption facilitating functional groups. BJH adsorption cumulative pore volume is 0.003973 cm3/g and t- plot micro pore volume is 0.000107 cm3/g. BJH adsorption average pore diameter is 183.168 Å. Calorific value is 21.69 MJ/kg. XRD studies indicates the presence of CaSiF8.2H2O, Al2O3 and Ca(ClO3)2.2H2O. SEM studies reveal that there are lots of crevices and holes throughout the tea factory waste particle. FTIR studies reveal the presence of —OH, C-H, C=O and C-O groups which participate in metal binding. The results prove that the low cost tea factory waste can be used as a potential adsorbent for heavy metals in developing countries like India.

Abstract

In recent years, intensive research has been pursued throughout the world in order to find substitutes to crude oil based fuels in compression-ignition engines. Among the different fuels studied, Ethanol is one of the primary candidate to substitute diesel fuel. This paper presents the results from recent work done on the experimental investigation of performance and emission of aquanol in a spark ignited 4-stroke diesel Engine. Since the water content in the ethanol is facilitating the prevention of NOx formation. It is apparent from the pollution point of view that the use of ethanol + water as CI engine fuel is reducing the NOx pollution. In addition the performance improvement also associated with the aquanol. However the percentage of water in the fuel can be increased with the application of thermal barrier coatings, such as PSZ.

Abstract

The conversion of large amount of available demolished concrete waste into an useful alternate source of material for making pervious concrete not only solve the solid waste management problem but it will also conserve the resources and reduce the cost of concrete.

Previous concrete is actually no-fines (or low fines) concrete with a low water cement ratio. Pervious concrete is mainly used in pavements which allows storm water to pass through which reduces run off rates, allows infiltration of the precipitation and facilitates the recharge of ground water supplies. In this study, the effect of the water cement ratio on strength and permeability characteristics of pervious concrete made with natural and recycled aggregates were evaluated.

Water cement ratio was varied from 0.27 to 0.33. The effect of water cement ratio on pervious concrete was evaluated from compressive strength test, permeability test, modulus of elasticity and split tensile strength test. When the water cement ratio is 0.27 to 0.33, the compressive strength increases with increase in water cement ratio and permeability decreases with increase in water cement ratio.