THE EFFECT OF CATALYST PHASE ON BIODIESEL PRODUCTION (A REVIEW)

^{1 *}Akhihiero E.T.  ²*Aluyor E.O. ³* Audu T.O.K

Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

E mail: ejiroakhihiero@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Biodiesel is the monoalkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from a renewable lipid feedstock such as vegetable oil or animal fat. Biodiesel production is done by transesterification of the vegetable oil or animal fat. Transesterification reaction of vegetable oil or animal fat with alcohol is an equilibrium reaction and therefore requires the use of a catalyst to shift equilibrium to the right. Catalyst used in transesterification reactions can either be homogeneous or heterogeneous. In this paper the effects of the type of catalyst used on the quality and cost of biodiesel is reviewed.Advantages and disadvantages of using either a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst in biodiesel production are also highlighted.

DESIGNING AND MODELING OF A WIND POWER GENERATING PLANT

Ighodaro Osarobo*, Okogie Sunday, and Ozakpolor Jude

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

E-mail: osaighodaro@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

The current situation of global warming and need for sustainable development calls for pragmatic solution to power generation using renewable and environmental friendly source as every economy of the world today requires electric power supply to run effectively. A large number of modern technology and civilization itself will become undermined without adequate power supply. This paper centers on the use of a wind turbine to harness the free energy in the wind for power generation. It contains results of experiments carried out during the course of the project using a bicycle dynamo and an anemometer to determine the variation of voltage with shaft speed, and wind speed determination, it gives detailed calculations of necessary parameters for the design of a typical model of an indigenous wind turbine and finally concludes with some recommendation for improvement of the wind turbine.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE ACADEMIA AND THE INDUSTRY: A PATHWAY TO QUALITY ASSURANCE IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING TRAINING AND PRACTICE

Teddy Odisu*; Roland Azike and Sylvester Uwadiae

Department Of Chemical Engineering, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria

E-mail: teddyodi2002@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

It has been seen that there exist a huge gap between the academia and the industry and this has in no small way affected the quality of graduates from the university, the quality, type and ease of research and the level of development in our technology most especially the Chemical Engineering profession. This research x-rayed the history of Chemical Engineering, the probable cause and cost of the gap, the way forward in addressing the problem, benefits to be derived and even a case study of industry-University linkage in India and how this have affected technological strides, employability of graduates and the profession in general. Lastly, practical suggestions were made. It is the belief of the writer that if these suggestions are followed, with the necessary seriousness, the gap will be bridged well on time and the benefits will be reaped before the system becomes too bad to repair.

Keywords: Academia, industry, gap and bridge.

THEORY OF GENERALIZED INTEGRATED AUTOREGRESSIVE BILINEAR TIME SERIES MODELLING

*¹Ojo J.F. and D. K. Shangodoyin²

¹ Department of Statistics, University of Ibadan, Nigeria

²Department of Statistics, University of Botswana, Botswana

E-mail:jfunminiyiojo@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The theory of generalized integrated autoregressive bilinear time series models which are capable of achieving stationary for all nonlinear series are proposed in this paper. These models are denoted by GBL (p, d, 0, r, s). The sufficient conditions for stationary of this bilinear time series models are derived. An algorithm for selecting the best order of the model is proposed. The parameters of the proposed models are estimated using robust nonlinear least squares method and statistical properties of the derived estimates are investigated. The bilinear models are fitted to Wolfer sunspot numbers and stationary conditions are satisfied.

Keywords: Non-linear Least Squares, Parameters, Wolfer sunspot numbers, Algorithm and Stationary

EFFECT OF MEDIUM ACCESS CONTROL (MAC) ON THE THROUGHPUT OF MULTI-HOP WIRELESS AD-HOC NETWORK

I. Mustapha¹, J. D. Jiya² , B. U. Musa¹

¹Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,University of Maiduguri, Nigeria

²Electrical Engineering Programme,Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi Nigeria.

E-mail: ibrahimmassa@yahoo.com,    jibjiya@yahoo.co.uk ,      musa_bu@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol is the main element that determines the efficiency in sharing the limited communication bandwidth of the wireless channel in IEEE 802.11 wireless networks. This paper, investigate the effect of MAC on throughput of multi-hop wireless ad-hoc network. A Markov chain is used to model a collision avoidance MAC protocol for multi-hop wireless ad-hoc networks. In the models, two fundamental issues in MAC, i.e., collisions and spatial reuse in terms of persistent probability, sensing range and back-off time mechanism were considered. Simulation results show that collision avoidance MAC mechanism such as persistent probability; sensing range and back-off time have significant effects on the performance of multi-hop wireless ad hoc networks. The effects of these MAC mechanisms were influenced by the number of neighbors, transmission range and length of data frame. It is observed that throughput increases with increase in persistent probability and also effect of sensing range on the throughput is weakening when the transmission range is short. Similarly throughput increases with increase in sensing range and back-off time when number of neighbors increases. On the other hand throughput decreases with increase sensing range and back-off time when transmission range increases

Keywords: Mobile ad hoc networks, medium access control, back-off algorithm, RTS/CTS Mechanism, Markov Chain.

BARRIER COATINGS AS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING CORROSION

^*1Asikhia, O.K and  ²Ohonba, S.U.

¹Department of mechanical Engineering and ²Department of chemical Engineering,

Edo State Institute of Technology and Management, Usen, Nigeria

 E-mail: askess2002@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Corrosion is the gradual physiochemical or alteration of material (usually metals) through the chemical or electrochemical action of its environment. It can be simply defined as the unintentional attack on a metal through the reaction with the environment. This paper shows what corrosion control by barrier coating is, and it highlights the types of barrier coatings namely; metallic and non-metallic coatings. The metallic coating comprises the anodic and the cathodic coating methods of preventing corrosion while the non metallic coating is essentially corrosion control using paints. It also intends to outline the basic characteristics or properties of the different corrosion control methods stated above. The reasons for paint failure and some recommendations for prolonged life and satisfactory performance of the coatings were also reflected.

Keywords: Coating, Anode, Cathode, Paint failure, Barrier coating.

INVESTIGATION OF CONCEALED LINEAMENTS FOR GROUNDWATER EXPLORATION AT THE KOGI STATE POLYTECHNIC, OSARA CAMPUS AND ENVIRONS, USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD

^*1 Musa, O.K., ² Ogbodo, D.A., and ³ Jatto, S. S.,

*Dept of Mineral Resources Engineering, Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Kogi State

Department of Physics, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State

ABSTRACT

The electrical resistivity investigation of the Kogi State Polytechnic Lokoja, Osara campus was carried out with a view to providing geophysical information on the different sub – surface layers, depth, nature and thickness, structural trend and distribution of the fractured basement as potential sources of groundwater. Thirty – six vertical electrical sounding stations were established utilizing the Schlumberger electrode configuration.  The electrical resistivity data obtained where interpreted using IPI2win (software for interpreting vertical electrical sounding). Results obtained from the interpreted geoelectrical sections indicates the presence of four subsurface layers comprising the top soil, weathered basement, fractured basement and the fresh bedrock. Also, confined and unconfined fracture basement was also noticed within the study area.  The weathered basement and the fractured basement constitute the aquifer units. The Isopach maps reveal areas with high basement depressions and zones with basement high. The basement depressions are priority areas for possible groundwater abstraction in the study area. This fractured basement depth ranges from 10-35 metres.  The weathered basement indicates high degree of saturation, and may however; fluctuate seasonally due the depth and the clay contents. The depth to the bedrock varies from 8 – 34 metres. Construction or design of foundation structure can also be guided by the depth to bedrock which has been determined.

Keywords: Polytechnic, Osara, Resistivity, Geoelectric

OIL WELL STIMULATION USING ACIDIZING METHOD

Oloro J, Igho .T, Akpomreta F. and Ozor .J

Department Petroleum Engineering

Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This research work is about the stimulation of oil well using matrix acidization method to improve the oil well’s productivity. Matrix acidization method involves the placement of acid within the well bore at rates and pressure designed to attack an impediment to production without fracturing or damaging the reservoir (typically, hydrofluoric acid is used for sand stone silica based problems and hydrochloric acid or acetic acid is used for limestone/ carbonate based problem.) this operation when done correctly helps to improve a well’s productivity particularly those well that are not producing to their full potentials so that the oil company can realize the highest price per barrel, and the consumer can get more oil circulating in supply to balance demand. The study revealed that it is possible to improve oil and gas production by introducing acids into oil wells that are not producing to their full potentials. Determination of the proper fluid placement is perhaps the most crucial factor in acid-treatment design in both carbonates and sandstones. When done correctly, have been shown to increase well productivity above that projected in both new and old wells. From an economic standpoint, oil produced today is more valuable than oil produced in the future.

EFFECTS OF FIBRE SURFACE TREATMENT ON THE MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF UKAM FIBRE REINFORCED POLYESTER COMPOSITES

^1*Okpanachi, George Echiye and ²Ogakwu Paul

*Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Kogi State

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State

e-mail: okpanachi1976@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

This study arises on the opportunities of using ukam fibre as reinforcement for polyester matrix composites. Cellulose fibres are generally incompatible with polymers due to their hydrophilic nature. It has been suggested that the compatibility of hydrophobic thermoplastic and hydrophilic cellulose fibres can be enhanced by the modification of polymeric matrix of the fibre surface. Silane, alkaline and acidic treatments were used to perform the surface modification on the ukam fibre. The results revealed that an improvement in the fibre adhesion characteristics of the ukam fibers increased its tensile modulus by 12%, 68% and 79% after acidic, silane and alkaline treatment respectively. The tensile strength of the fibre composites improved by 46% after silane and alkaline treatment and the 32% water absorption rate reduced by 23% after alkaline treatment for the composites with treated fibers, the bending strength improved from 199.1 Mpa to 238.9Mpa by 20%, modulus improved from 11.89Gpa to 14.69Gpa by 23% and compressive strength increased from 0.238Mpa to 0.2834Mpa. Based on the results obtained in this work it can be concluded that fibre surface treatment have significant impact on the mechanical properties of natural fibres.

Keywords: Ukam fibre, polyester, compression, tensile, bending and composites.