i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology (JFET)


Volume 16 Issue 2 November - January 2021

Research Paper

Thermoeconomic Analysis of a Steam Power Plant: The Impact of the Amortization Period and the Escalation Rate of the Fuel Price

Giuma M. Fellah*
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Tripoli, Libya.
Giuma. (2021). Thermoeconomic Analysis of a Steam Power Plant: The Impact of the Amortization Period and the Escalation Rate of the Fuel Price. i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17576

Abstract

The cost escalation rate of the fuel considers the changes in the input prices over the amortization period of the power plants. Since revenue requirements and the accompanying profit on the capital cost can be affected by the change in the fuel unit price, the thermo-economic analysis should be enhanced by considering the escalation rates that reflect the predicted variations in the input prices. The aim of this work is to explore the effect of the amortization period and the escalation rate on the thermo-economic performance of a selected power generation unit of 350 MWe. It is found that the escalation rate affects the unit cost of the produced energy (net power output), the hourly cost of the energy destruction and the exergo-economic factor. For instance, as the escalation rate increases from 0 to 7% the unit cost of the produced energy increases by 49.05% for an amortization period of 25 years and by 63.74% for an amortization period of 35 years.

Research Paper

Impact of Covid-19 Induced Lockdown on the Air Quality in the Southern Key Regions of India

M. Abisha Meji * , Milon Selvam Dennison**, M. Mobisha ***, Malik Mohamed Umar****
* Department of Physical Science, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda.
** Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda.
*** Bethlahem College of Education, Tamilnadu, India.
**** Department of Electrical and Telecommunications Engineering, Kampala International University, Western Campus, Uganda.
Meji, M. A., Dennison. M. S., Mobisha, M., and Umar, M. M. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 Induced Lockdown on the Air Quality in the Southern Key Regions of India. i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 11-21. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17620
World Health Organization : COVID-19 - Global literature on coronavirus disease
https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/en/covidwho-1311496
ProQuest Central | ID: covidwho-1311496

Abstract

The ongoing global pandemic caused by the novel virus '2019-nCoV' made the people around the world remain in their residence for months due to continuous lockdown. As a result of this continuous lockdown, the global economic performance is poor and India is not exempted from this. In India, the government imposed lockdown in late March 2020 and still it is prolonging in phases. Even though this continuous lockdown is announced for restraining the spread rate of the COVID-19 virus, this process disrupted routine lives of people and caused income loss. But these forced restrictions resulted in reduced air pollution around the country. This article focuses on the major air pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and CO in the southern key regions of India located in Chennai, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam during the period 1st April 2020 to 31st July 2020 and interesting results revealed from this study.

Research Paper

Exergoeconomic and Optimization Analyses of Cogeneration Steam Power Plants based on the Thermoeconomic Approach

Malik F. Elmzughi* , Elhadi I. Dekam**, Elham M. Radwan***, Mawadda A. Bahoor****
*-**** Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Tripoli, Tripoli, Libya.
Elmzughi, M. F., Dekam, E. I., Radwan, E. M., and Bahoor, M. A. (2021). Exergoeconomic and Optimization Analyses of Cogeneration Steam Power Plants based on the Thermoeconomic Approach. i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 22-31. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17706

Abstract

This paper concerns the thermoeconomic analyses of a cogeneration steam power plant cycle with a total capacity of 350 MW. The exergy destruction and improvement potential of each component is calculated. Moreover, exergoeconomic factors, total cost, and exergy related costs were calculated to determine the influence of each component and to find the best way of decreasing generation costs. The methodology is based on the Theory of Exegetic cost. Thermodynamic properties of the inlet and outlet points of each component in the steam plant have been specified via the Thermax program, and economic analyses by employing both Excel and Matlab software packages. Under the considered status, the analysis shows that the maximum amount of exergy destruction and potential improvement occurs in the boiler, with 75% and 81%, respectively, and the exergetic efficiency has been 66.21% for the whole power plant cycle. The exergoeconomic factors and the total costs are calculated individually and for the whole plant cycle. The unit cost of steam, work, and cooling water for the plant are found. The unit cost of steam, work, and cooling water for the plant, in which they are found to be 0.030, 0.014, and 0.45$/kWh, respectively. Referring to the comparison with the simple power cycle under the same conditions, the steam unit cost remains mostly the same for both power cycles, while the work unit is widely different.

Research Paper

Productivity Improvement of an Automotive Assembly Line using Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS)

Raj Kumar* , Gagandeep**, Abhishek Charak***, Gaurav Thakur****
*-*** Department of Production and Industrial Engineering, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
**** Department of Mechanical Engineering, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
Kumar, R., Gagandeep, Charak, A., and Thakur, G. (2021). Productivity Improvement of an Automotive Assembly Line using Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS). i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 32-42. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17694

Abstract

In this competitive world, productivity is a most crucial factor. Every organization must maintain an enough productivity to satisfy the market's demand, to sustain in this world of competition. Productivity of an assembly line mainly depends on the standard time required to complete the assigned task. Therefore, the work measurement techniques have great importance in enhancing the productivity of the assembly line. This study aims to improve the productivity of an automotive assembly line where in the productivity of existing assembly process is insufficient to fulfil the required demand. In this study, a new combination of a work measurement technique Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards (MODAPTS) and elimination of Non-Value-Added (NVA) activities, is used to enhance the productivity of assembly line. Firstly, the NVA activities are eliminated to smooth the workflow. Further, MODAPTS has been used to estimate the appropriate standard time required to complete the assembly tasks. Modular Arrangement of Predetermined Time Standards revealed the excessive movements of operators, and helps to minimize the fatigue of the operators working on the assembly line. The elimination of NVA activities followed by implementation of MODAPTS, has been used as an effective approach that enhances the productivity of assembly line by 25.85%. Further, the significance of the applied approach is validated by conducting a statistical test.

Review Paper

Gas Dynamic Cold Spraying: A Review on Materials, Parameters, Applications and Challenges

Santosh Kumar* , Rakesh Kumar**
*,** Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, Mohali, Punjab, India.
Kumar, S., and Kumar, R. (2021). Gas Dynamic Cold Spraying: A Review on Materials, Parameters, Applications and Challenges. i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 43-56. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17624

Abstract

Gas dynamic cold spraying is a solid state powder spraying method with several different properties such as corrosion resistance, low oxidation, high strength, high hardness, high rate of coating deposition and allowing production of coatings from a broad range of materials. This review paper aims to provide an overview of the cold spray processes, coating materials, bonding mechanism and their development in trending applications. In particular, the revolutionary applications of gas dynamic cold spray in distinct sector such as energy sector, nuclear power plant, 3D printing, biomedical, wear and dimensional restoration, antimicrobial, electrical, catalysis and corrosion protection are discussed. The current state of coating material including high melting point metal and alloy and low melting point metal and alloy (tin, aluminum, zinc, copper) are presented. In addition, the comparison of gas dynamic cold spray with distinct thermal spray coating is briefly explained as a benchmark for future research and development.

Review Paper

Strategies for Urban Flood Management in Smart Cities

Archana K.* , Manish S. Dharek **, Vinay S. ***, Thejesh G. ****, Umme Salma *****
*-***** Department of Civil Engineering, BMS Institute of Technology and Management, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
Archana, K., Dharek, M. S., Vinay, S., Thejesh, G., and Salma, U. (2021). Strategies for Urban Flood Management in Smart Cities. i-manager's Journal on Future Engineering and Technology, 16(2), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.26634/jfet.16.2.17076

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and changing climate have impacted the urban water cycle. Urban cities are under water stress and hence water-smart cities are the need of the hour. Urban floods impact the performance of smart cities and are considered to be critical in designing smart cities. Peak Flow of food occurs with high intense rainfall for short durations in core urban areas, disrupting economic activities. Urban floods become disastrous due to lack of efficient drainage systems. Urban floods also bring huge volumes of flood which could be routed for other smart utilizations. This study discusses the various strategies to manage and integrate urban floods in water smart city development. Indian scenario regarding urban flood management has been reviewed in this paper.