• Energy Research

Ethanolic extract of Beta vulgaris roots given orally at doses of 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg exhibited significant dose-dependent hepatoprotective activity against carbontetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Hepatotoxicity and its prevention were assessed by serum markers viz. cholesterol, triglyceride, alanine amino transferase and alkaline phosphatase.

The Journal retracts the article, “Dynamics of MHD Convection of Walters B Viscoelastic Fluid through an Accelerating Permeable Surface Using the Soret–Dufour Mechanism” [...]

Indagation in the sphere of nanoparticle utilisation has provided commendatory upshots in discrete areas of application varying from medicinal use to environmental degradation alleviation. This study incorporates alumina nanoparticles as additives to diesel and biodiesel blends. The prime objective of the present study was the scrutinisation of the denouement of Al2O3 nanoparticle incorporation in diesel–biodiesel blends on a diesel engine’s performance and emission characteristics. Test fuel samples were prepared by blending different proportions of biodiesel and dispersing two concentrations of alumina nanoparticles (25 and 50 ppm) in the diesel. Dispersion was made without the use of a nanoparticle stabiliser to meet real-world feasibility. High-speed shearing was employed to blend the biodiesel and diesel, while nanoparticles were dispersed in the blends by ultrasonication. The blends so devised were tested using a single-cylinder diesel engine at fixed RPM and applied load for three compression ratios. Upshots of brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) for fuel samples were measured with LabView-based software, whereas CO emissions and unburnt hydrocarbon (UBHC) emissions were computed using an external gas analyser attached to the exhaust vent of the engine. Investigation revealed that the inclusion of Al2O3 nanoparticles culminates in the amelioration of engine performance along with the alleviation of deleterious exhaust from engine. Furthermore, the incorporation of alumina nanoparticles assisted in the amelioration of dwindled performance attributed to biodiesel blending. More favourable results of nanoparticle inclusion were obtained at higher compression ratios compared to lower ones. Reckoning evinced that the Al2O3 nanoparticle is a lucrative introduction for fuels to boost the performance and dwindle the deleterious exhaust of diesel engines.

AbstractCarbon nanotubes (CNTs) having pristine structure (i.e. structure without any defect) have very high mechanical properties. However, CNTs suffer from defects which can appear during purification, production or deliberately introduced by chemical treatment. The present study is based on comparative investigation of effects produced by Stone-Wales (S-W) and vacancy defects (VD) on the mechanical performance of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT). The defects have been varied from 1 to 4 in both VD and S-W. In order to investigate the effect of both the defects on the material properties of CNT, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been used. In this study, a series of MD models (inclusion of number of S-W and VD) have been built to simulate the effects of defects on themechanical performance of SWCNTs. MD simulation has been carried out on a 42.59Å long armchair (6, 6) and (10, 10) SWCNTs by varying relative positions and orientations. Results show that the defects have reduced the tensile strength and strain more in VD as compare to S-W. This has been reduced by an average value of 23.48% and 28.2% respectively for 4 vacancy defects (4VD). Simulation results also show that more energy is required to stabilize the structure which comprises of VD. The increase in the energy value on an average is 35.52% for 4 VD as compared to pristine CNT. The Young's modulus of defected CNTs has also been calculated by increasing the lattice size in the successive increments of 25% by volume and it has been found that the Young's modulus of pristine CNT is weakened by 9.38% for S-W defects.

This paper targets estimating and evaluating the Indian Cities on the natural execution rules across an expansive scope of classifications and supporting markers. Metropolitan urban areas have different Environmental issues like never-ending suburbia, Deprive of green and characteristic gaps, insufficient H2O supply, sewage water, solid refuse, contamination of air and soil. To combat such issues, the urban communities are being modified by presenting shrewd feasible procedures. There are various advantages straightforwardly joined to the manageability estimating apparatus such as to limit the natural impression of city, oblige populace development, and protect personal satisfaction of metropolitan occupants today and in future. It additionally assists financial backers with settling on a decision of their area, helps urban communities by being a directing soul to enroll different qualities and shortcomings of the urban communities and in this way helping them in progress by chipping away at their shortcomings and in characterizing and arranging their objectives and to plan pointed toward supporting their involved position and to foster arrangement for what’s to come.

The global energy situation requires the efficient use of resources and the development of new materials and processes for meeting current energy demand. Traditional materials have been explored to large extent for use in energy saving and storage devices. Graphene, being a path-breaking discovery of the present era, has become one of the most-researched materials due to its fascinating properties, such as high tensile strength, half-integer quantum Hall effect and excellent electrical/thermal conductivity. This paper presents an in-depth review on the exploration of deploying diverse derivatives and morphologies of graphene in various energy-saving and environmentally friendly applications. Use of graphene in lubricants has resulted in improvements to anti-wear characteristics and reduced frictional losses. This comprehensive survey facilitates the researchers in selecting the appropriate graphene derivative(s) and their compatibility with various materials to fabricate high-performance composites for usage in solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitor applications, rechargeable batteries and automotive sectors.

Geopolymer concrete, because of its less embodied energy as compared to conventional cement concrete, has paved the way for achieving sustainable development goals. In this study, an effort was made to optimize its quality characteristics or responses, namely, workability, and the compressive and flexural strengths of Ground Granulated Blast-furnace Slag (GGBS)-based geopolymer concrete incorporated with polypropylene (PP) fibers by Taguchi’s method. A three-factor and three-level design of experiments was adopted with the three factors and their corresponding levels as alkali ratio (NaOH:Na2SiO3) (1:1.5 (8 M NaOH); 1:2 (10 M NaOH); 1:2.5 (12 M NaOH)), percentage of GGBS (80%, 90%, and 100%) and PP fibers (1.5%, 2%, and 2.5%). M25 was taken as the control mix for gauging and comparing the results. Nine mixes were obtained using an L9 orthogonal array, and an analysis was performed. The analysis revealed the optimum levels as 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 2% PP fibers for workability; 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 2.5% PP fibers for compressive strength; and 1:2 (10 molar) alkali ratio, 80% GGBS, and 1.5% PP fibers for flexural strength. The percentage of GGBS was found to be the most effective parameter for all three responses. The analysis also revealed the ranks of all the factors in terms of significance in determining the three responses. ANOVA conducted on the results validated the reliability of the results obtained by Taguchi’s method. The optimized results were further verified by confirmation tests. The confirmation tests revealed the compressive and flexural strengths to be quite close to the strengths of the control mix. Thus, optimum mixes with comparable strengths were successfully achieved by replacing cement with GGBS and thereby providing a better path for sustainable development.

The large size of a glazed component allows greater access to natural light inside and a wider view of the outdoors while protecting the inside from extreme weather conditions. However, glazed components make buildings energy inefficient compared to opaque components if not designed suitably, and sometimes they create glare discomforts too. In order to protect against excessive natural light and direct sunlight and for privacy, dynamic shading devices are integrated into the glazed façade. In this study, the impact of various glazing and shading design parameters has been investigated by performing uncertainty and sensitivity analyses. The uncertainty analysis indicates that the variance coefficients for the source energy use, lighting energy use, useful daylight illuminance (UDI), and shade-deployed time fraction are in the ranges of 15.04–30.47, 39.05–45.06, 40.57–49.92, and 19.35–52%, respectively. The dispersion in the energy and indoor visual performance is evident by the large variation in the source energy consumption and UDI (500–2000), which vary in the ranges of 250–450 kWh/(m2-year) and 5–90%. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis identified the window-to-wall ratio (WWR), aspect ratio (ASR), glazing type (Gt), absorptance of the wall (Aw), and shade transmittance (ST) as major influences of the parameters. Each of the identified parameters has a different proportionate impact depending on the façade orientation and performance parameters.