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Abstract Hydrothermal conversion coupled with high pressure water and steam of three de-oiled non-edible seed cakes of Jatropha curcasa, Pongammia pinnata and Tung to biocrude is explored in this work. The cakes were characterized for proximate, ultimate and ligno-cellulosic compositions using ASTM and TAPPI standard methods. All studies were conducted at high temperature and pressure in a semi-batch autoclave. Highest conversion with maximum biocrude yield (∼35.3%) was obtained with P. pinnata cake. Silica adsorption chromatography result showed higher oxygenated aromatics subfraction in both Tung biocrude and Jatropha biocrude. GC/MS qualitative analysis confirmed the presence of heavy, oxygenated/ nitrogenous and poly aromatic hydrocarbons with carbon number ranging from C 5 -C 47 in the biocrude. The viscosity, pH, density, total acidic number (TAN) and water content of biocrudes were evaluated using various standard methods. 34.2 to 45.8% increases in the calorific value is observed for biomass to biocrude. Biochar obtained were characterized using proximate and ultimate analysis and SEM, TGA techniques. Higher calorific values (24.7–26.3 MJ/kg) of all the biochar make them suitable for their potential application as briquettes in the furnace for power generation.

This paper presents Gravitational search algorithm (GSA) optimization techniques for the optimal location of Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) devices in the power system network to attain minimum transmission active power loss, the optimal value of control variables, and optimal bus voltage. These proposed methods are legitimate in the IEEE-30 test bus system. Here, the proposed GSA algorithm is adapted for minimization of active power losses and it is also improving bus voltage. After using facts devices, from the obtained results power system loadability improved within range and at different loading condition in the power system networks all generators capable to dispatch a significant amount of active power. By incorporating facts devices, we proposed active power loss reduced and also maintained the bus voltage of the power system network at different loading condition. Hence, for Loadability enhancement in the power system, this gives a better optimal solution.

Abstract An experimental study was performed to investigate pyrolysis products, char morphology, and reactivity of char derived from large wood cylinders. Wood samples with various sizes (i.e. sawdust with particle size

Abstract The effect of water vapor addition on the electrochemical oxygen reduction was investigated for the interfaces between fluorite-type oxide-ion conductors (YSZ, ceria) and various types of electrodes at the temperature range 750–1100 K in air. The interface conductivity of YSZ electrolyte/gold electrode at open circuit condition increased when a slight amount of water vapor was added to air at T = 865 K. However, the interface conductivity of YSZ/platinum decreased during a long-term exposure in humid atmospheres. The improvement was correlated to the enhancement of oxygen exchange through water molecules, and the degradation is probably due to the blocking of oxygen molecule migration by the adsorbed water molecules.

Abstract Efficient energy utilization of traction device includes maximization of energy efficiency indices (i.e. pulling ability and tractive power efficiency) with optimum slip range. The present study compares the performance of 13.6 × 28 bias and radial-ply tyres (T1 and T2) used in agricultural tractors under controlled soil bin conditions. With a view to reduce the wheel slippage, the test was conducted under varying mode of ballast loads using either iron or water including the base weight (1050 kg). The combination of load and inflation pressure was selected to achieve 20% deflection and performance test was conducted in soft (450 ± 50 kPa), medium (1150 ± 50 kPa) and hard soil (1750 ± 50 kPa) conditions. The average pulling ability and tractive power efficiency of the test tyres in case of iron ballast was found to be 2–7.5% and 0.5–8.89%, respectively, which was better than the corresponding liquid ballast. It was also observed that the maximum power output can be increased by the help of ballasting, the output power was found to be more in case of corresponding weight of 50 and 75% equivalent weight of iron ballast compared to liquid ballast.

Latent heat thermal energy storage applications are increasing in modern days for various purposes, such as solar thermal applications, air conditioning, textile industries, pharmaceutical industries, etc. In the present work melting of Laurie acid (PCM) in a square enclosure with rectangular as well as T-shaped fin in the vertical and horizontal direction is studied numerically. It is observed that among T-shaped fins and rectangular fins, a vertical T-shaped fin has the least melting time. A vertical T-shaped fin reduces the melting time by up to 70.3% in comparison with a no-fin case in the bottom wall. But up to 80% melting process, a horizontal rectangular fin placed at a lower height gives the highest melting rate. Vertical fins always perform better than horizontal fins, for having a symmetrical convection current on both sides of the fin. Further horizontal T-shaped fin placed in the middle of the vertical wall performs better than the horizontal rectangular fin placed in the same position. But, the rectangular fin placed below the centre of the vertical wall performs melting much faster than the horizontal T-shaped fin, because of intensified convection current. Rectangular fin placed below the centre of the vertical wall reduces the melting time by 57.2% in comparison with no fin casein the side wall.

Abstract In this paper, a comparative study of different meta-heuristic optimization approaches, which had been proposed in the literature for directional overcurrent relay coordination (DOCRs), is presented. Towards this goal, five most effective meta-heuristic optimization approaches such as genetic algorithm (GA), particle swarm optimization (PSO), differential evolution (DE), harmony search (HS) and seeker optimization algorithm (SOA) have been considered. The performances of these optmization methods have been investigated on several power system networks of different sizes. The comparative performances of these methods have been studied by executing each method 100 times with the same initial conditions and based on the obtained results, the best meta-heuristic optimization method for solving the coordination problem of directional overcurrent relays is identified.

Nondestructive detection of sodium-free regions (voids) in metallic fuel pins is necessary for their safe and reliable operation. Eddy current and X-radiography nondestructive evaluation techniques were employed for detection of voids in experimental fuel pins. Detailed finite element model-based investigations and radiography intensity profile analysis were carried out to understand the signatures to ensure that the signals are due to voids. In addition to enabling the detection of sodium voids in metallic fuel pins, NDE studies aided in optimizing the sodium filling process and were helpful in finding out the adequacy of the heat treatment during filling process.