Table of Contents

Some Engineering Properties of Soybean (Glycine Max) Seeds

as Related to Primary Processing

Fumen, G. A.                                                                                                    1-26

Automobile, the Engine of Urban Expansion

Arc. Boyce A. Odoko.                                                                                       27-33

Development of Porcelain Balusters from Local Ceramic Raw

Materials in South Eastern Nigeria

Osonwa Nobert Okechinyere, Nwabineli Emmanuel Onochie, Ekwueme

 Ekenna, Nneka Eke Inya-Njoku & Abe Oluwakayode Boluwaji                     34-44

Feasibility Index (FI) Model Evaluation of Evaporative Cooling

Potential of Mubi-South

I.U. Haruna; M. I. Tikau and B.S. Momoh                                                         45-57

Solar Energy in Nigerian Buildings: A Pathway to Energy Efficiency

Onwugbonu Dike Ajie and Arc. Paul Uchenna                                                58-69

A Public Aquarium to Revitalize Tinapa and Help Protect Aquatic

Lives in Nigeria

Wouangni Tchouamo Patrice Bertin,                                                              70-80

A PUBLIC AQUARIUM TO REVITALIZE TINAPA AND HELP PROTECT AQUATIC LIVES IN NIGERIA

Wouangni Tchouamo Patrice Bertin,

Rivers State University,

ABSTRACT

It is widely accepted that Tinapa projects are in crisis. They face a barrage of daily threats including facilities degradation, lack of federal government policy to support the free trade zone, high maintenance cost and underutilization of existing infrastructures. While Tinapa need crowd to function, the coastal line is overcrowded and the strain on Nigeria waters is conspicuous. They face the treats of overfishing, habitat degradation, increased runoff and septic discharge from coast settlements. This paper will show that with the development of a public aquarium , with programs instituting and implementing conservation solution that will stimulate public involvement, we can provide the crowd Tinapa needs to function and at the same time create public awareness to the protection and conservation of marine species and the environment. With the case study of some aquariums that have contributed to the economic revival and growth of the localities they are built, this study will evaluate challenges and opportunities associated with the development and expansion of aquarium programs to promote personal and civic oriented activity that will revive Tinapaand protect aquatic resources.

SOLAR ENERGY IN NIGERIAN BUILDINGS: A PATHWAY TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Onwugbonu Dike Ajie and Arc. Paul Uchenna

Department of Architecture,

Rivers State University, Nkpolu  Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt

Email:dicky4ya@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Due to the increase in living standard and demand, energy conservation has become important in industrialized and developing countries. In respect to rational use of energy, this paper evaluates solar energy in Nigerian buildings with the aid of passive and active solar architecture approaches which makes use of specific building design principles and reduces the artificial energy requirements for achieving indoor thermal comfort. As a climate responsive architecture, building design criteria has been studied with the help of several parameters like geographic location and climatic conditions, building shape, orientation, selection of construction materials, building openings viz. windows, selection of suitable sunshades, etc. All the salient building design parameters are studied and important findings and recommendations are suggested as the outcome of the study. In our quest for sustainable development and the achievement of a safe environment, numerous alternatives to power supply have been exploited. The challenge of erratic and insufficient power has for decades bedeviled our dear nation resulting in the proliferation of the use of generators in multiple locations within the built environment. This solution apparently is the people’s response to the nations decaying infrastructure but invariably produces an environment which is unsafe to its inhabitants. In recent times, reports have shown that the emissions arising from this practice have caused the death of occupants. It is common knowledge that the use of solar energy as an alternative power source is not yet ubiquitous in this country. In recent times, innovation in the area of thermal solar and photovoltaic provides possibilities of its introduction in the building fenestration and facade. This study however examines some existing solar powered facilities in Nigeria.  The study is useful for various resource persons involved in construction activities for designing energy efficient buildings.

Keywords: Solar Energy, Environmentally friendly, Passive and Active solar.

FEASIBILITY INDEX (FI) MODEL EVALUATION OF EVAPORATIVE COOLING POTENTIAL OF MUBI-SOUTH

I.U. Haruna¹; M. I. Tikau² and B.S. Momoh³

^1,2,3 Department of Mechanical Engineering,

Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

E-mail: heldabuk@yahoo.com

Abstract

Thermal comfort has a great influence on the productivity and satisfaction of indoor building occupants. In some developing countries like Nigeria, poverty and epileptic power supply are the twin problems impeding people from the use of refrigerated-based air conditioning systems to achieve thermal comfort. Furthermore, the use of some refrigerants has adverse effect on the environment. Evaporative cooling systems are viable options for achieving thermal comfort especially in hot and dry climates. These systems, apart from their low cost and power requirement, they are environmentally friendly. This study attempts to determine the viability of using evaporative cooling to achieve thermal comfort in Mubi-South using the feasibility Index model. The computed feasibility indices of the study area in the months of January through December are – 0.08, – 1.62, 4.04, 13.09, 27.06, 17.36, 18.39, 18.42, 18.24, 3.12, – 0.12 and – 0.28 respectively. Employing the concept of the feasibility index (FI) model reveals that comfort cooling can be achieved in the months of January, February, March, October, November and December while relief cooling can be achieved in the month of April. The model also reveals the unsuitability of evaporative cooling in the months of May, June, July, August and September. Considering both the comfort and the relief cooling periods based on the FI model, evaporative cooling can therefore be a suitable alternative to refrigerated-based air conditioning systems in Mubi-South and other areas with similar climatic characteristics.

Keywords: Evaporative cooling, Thermal comfort, Temperature, Relative humidity, Feasibility index

DEVELOPMENT OF PORCELAIN BALUSTERS FROM LOCAL CERAMIC RAW MATERIALS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Osonwa Nobert Okechinyere¹, Nwabineli Emmanuel Onochie², Ekwueme Ekenna³, Nneka Eke Inya-Njoku⁴&Abe Oluwakayode Boluwaji⁵

^{1,2,4, 5,}Department of Ceramic and Glass Technology

³Department of Building Technology,

Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana Afikpo Ebonyi State Nigeria.

Email: nobertosonwa @yahoo.com     

Abstract

The Nigerian economy continues to reel from the effects of excessive importation of finished goods, including ceramic products. This is in spite of the abundance of high grade ceramic raw materials across the country. Three casting slip batches were produced from Nsu clay and Otammiri river sand, both sourced from Imo state in south eastern Nigeria, as well as sodium feldspar, also sourced locally. Batch A contained 45% of nsu clay, 40% of sodium feldspar and 15% of river sand. Batch B contained 50% of clay, 45% of sodium feldspar and 5% of river sand. Batch C contained 50% of clay, 40% of sodium feldspar and 10% of river sand. The three slip batches were used to cast balusters as well as test pieces in a plaster of paris mold. The balusters and test pieces were dried and bisque fired up to 1280^oC in an electric kiln. The balusters produced from batch B developed some cracks, especially at the base, after firing. The test pieces were subjected to cold compressive strength test. Sample A had a compressive strength of 140.9MPa, sample B had a compressive strength of 180Mpa, while sample C had a compressive strength of 169.7MPa. It is recommended to incorporate grog additives in slip samples produced from these raw materials to improve shrinkage behavior.