Experimental investigations on regeneration energy and energy management strategy in series hydraulic/electric synergy system

This research work draws an insight into the experimental investigations on a series hydraulic/electric synergy system—a green transportation system. An experimental test rig of the system with all necessary sensors and instrumentation has been developed to study the energy saving through hydraulic regenerative braking. The effect of various system parameters, such as braking time, maximum accumulator pressure, pre-charge pressure of hydro-pneumatic accumulator, volumetric displacement of the hydraulic master pump, and hydraulic regeneration pump on the quantum of regeneration energy, was analyzed. In addition, an AMESim model of the real-time experimental test rig has been developed and validated with experimental results. A set of five different experimental designs (parameter variations) of the system is defined with the available standard component sizes. The best design is selected of the available experimental designs based on the maximum hydraulic regeneration energy and regeneration efficiency. It was observed that the selected design has an energy efficiency of 13.3% and a regeneration efficiency of 43.8%. An accumulator-centric control strategy for energy management is developed and implemented on the experimental test rig configured with the selected design. The effectiveness of the control strategy is tested through experiments and simulation on the developed test rig.     

Bioremediation approaches for organic pollutants: a critical perspective

Due to human activities to a greater extent and natural processes to some extent, a large number of organic chemical substances such as petroleum hydrocarbons, halogenated and nitroaromatic compounds, phthalate esters, solvents and pesticides pollute the soil and aquatic environments. Remediation of these polluted sites following the conventional engineering approaches based on physicochemical methods is both technically and economically challenging. Bioremediation that involves the capabilities of microorganisms in the removal of pollutants is the most promising, relatively efficient and cost-effective technology. However, the current bioremediation approaches suffer from a number of limitations which include the poor capabilities of microbial communities in the field, lesser bioavailability of contaminants on spatial and temporal scales, and absence of bench-mark values for efficacy testing of bioremediation for their widespread application in the field. The restoration of all natural functions of some polluted soils remains impractical and, hence, the application of the principle of function-directed remediation may be sufficient to minimize the risks of persistence and spreading of pollutants. This review selectively examines and provides a critical view on the knowledge gaps and limitations in field application strategies, approaches such as composting, electrobioremediation and microbe-assisted phytoremediation, and the use of probes and assays for monitoring and testing the efficacy of bioremediation of polluted sites.     

Developmental response of Spodoptera litura Fab in response to plant extract of Desmostachya bipinnata (L.) and its effect on non-target organism,earthworm (Eisenia fetida)

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Impact of chloroform extract of Desmostachya bipinnata was evaluated on armyworm Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). The chloroform extract of...     

Removal of copper from water by electrocoagulation process—effect of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC)

Purpose and aim

In general, direct current (DC) is used in an electrocoagulation processes. In this case, an impermeable oxide layer may form on the cathode as well as corrosion formation on the anode due to oxidation. This prevents the effective current transfer between the anode and cathode, so the efficiency of electrocoagulation processes declines. These disadvantages of DC have been diminished by adopting alternating current (AC) in electrocoagulation processes. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of AC and DC on the removal of copper from water using magnesium alloy as anode and cathode.

Materials and methods

Magnesium alloy of size 2.0 dm² was used as anode and as cathode. To optimize the maximum removal efficiency, different parameters like effect of initial concentration, effect of temperature, pH, and effect of current density were studied. Copper adsorbed magnesium hydroxide coagulant was characterized by SEM, EDAX, XRD, and FTIR.

Results

The results showed that the optimum removal efficiency of copper is 97.8 and 97.2 % with an energy consumption of 0.634 and 0.996 kWh/m³ at a current density of 0.025 A/dm², pH of 7.0 for AC and DC, respectively. The adsorption of copper is preferably fitting the Langmuir adsorption isotherm for both AC and DC respectively. The adsorption process follows the second-order kinetics model with good correlation. Temperature studies showed that adsorption was endothermic and spontaneous in nature.

Conclusions

The magnesium hydroxide generated in the cell removes the copper present in the water, reducing the copper concentration to less than 1 mg/L, making it safe for drinking. The results of the scale-up study show that the process was technologically feasible.     

Ecosystem Consequences of Contrasting Flow Regimes in an Urban Effects Stream Mesocosm Study1

Abstract: A stream mesocosm experiment was conducted to study the ecosystem‐wide effects of two replicated flow hydrograph treatments programmed in an attempt to compare a simulated predevelopment condition to the theoretical changes that new development brings, while accounting for engineering design criteria for urban stormwater management. Accordingly, the treatments (three replicates each) differed in base flow between events and in the rise to, fall from, and duration of peak flow during simulated storm hydrographs, which were triggered by real rain events occurring outside over a 96‐day period from summer to fall, 2005. Incident irradiance, initial substrate quality, and water quality were similar between treatments. Sampling was designed to study the interactions among the treatment flow dynamics, sediment transport processes, streambed nutrients, and biotic structure and function. What appeared most important to the overall structure and function of the mesocosm ecosystems beyond those changes resulting from natural seasonality were (1) the initial mass of fines that infiltrated into the gravel bed, which had a persistent effect on nitrogen biogeochemistry and (2) the subsequent fine sediment accumulation rate, which was unexpectedly similar between treatments, and affected the structure of the macroinvertebrate community equally as the experiment progressed. Invertebrate taxa preferring soft beds dominated when the gravel was comprised of 5‐10% fines. The dominant invertebrate algal grazer had vacated the channels when fines exceeded 15%, but this effect could not be separated from what appeared to be a seasonal decline in insect densities over the course of the study. Neither hydrograph treatment allowed for scour or other potential for flushing of fines. This demonstrated the potential importance of interactions between hydrology and fine sediment loading dynamics on stream ecosystems in the absence of flows that would act to mobilize gravel beds.     

Oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes as adsorbent for the removal of manganese from aqueous solution

A batch adsorption process was applied to investigate the removal of manganese from aqueous solution by oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In doing so, the thermodynamic, adsorption isotherm, and kinetic studies were also carried out. MWCNT with 5–10-nm outer diameter, surface area of 40–600 m²/g, and purity above 95 % was used as an adsorbent. A systematic study of the adsorption process was performed by varying pH, ionic strength, and temperature. Manganese-adsorbed MWCNT was characterized by Raman, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, XPS, SEM, and TEM. The adsorption efficiency could reach 96.82 %, suggesting that MWCNT is an excellent adsorbent for manganese removal from water. The results indicate that second-order kinetics model was well suitable to model the kinetic adsorption of manganese. Equilibrium data were well described by the typical Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Thermodynamic studies revealed that the adsorption reaction was spontaneous and endothermic process. The experimental results showed that MWCNT is an excellent manganese adsorbent. The MWCNTs removed the manganese present in the water and reduced it to a permissible level making it drinkable.     

Defining the Photochemical Contribution to Particulate Matter in Urban Areas Using Time-Series Analysis

Abstract

The objective of this project is to demonstrate how the ambient air measurement record can be used to define the relationship between O₃ (as a surrogate for photochemistry) and secondary particulate matter (PM) in urban air. The approach used is to develop a time-series transfer-function model describing the daily PM₁₀ (PM with less than 10 μm aerodynamic diameter) concentration as a function of lagged PM and current and lagged O₃, NO or NO₂, CO, and SO₂. Approximately 3 years of daily average PM₁₀, daily maximum 8-hr average O₃ and CO, daily 24-hr average SO₂ and NO₂, and daily 6:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m. average NO from the Aerometric Information Retrieval System (AIRS) air quality subsystem are used for this analysis. Urban areas modeled are Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; Phoenix, AZ; Philadelphia, PA; Sacramento, CA; and Detroit, MI. Time-series analysis identified significant autocorrelation in the O₃, PM₁₀, NO, NO₂,CO, and SO₂ series. Cross correlations between PM₁₀ (dependent variable) and gaseous pollutants (independent variables) show that all of the gases are significantly correlated with PM₁₀ and that O₃ is also significantly correlated lagged up to two previous days. Once a transfer-function model of current PM₁₀ is defined for an urban location, the effect of an O₃-control strategy on PM concentrations is estimated by calculating daily PM₁₀ concentrations with reduced O₃ concentrations. Forecasted summertime PM₁₀ reductions resulting from a 5 percent decrease in ambient O₃ range from 1.2 μg/m³ (3.03%) in Chicago to 3.9 μg/m³ (7.65%) in Phoenix.     

Influence of lake morphology on water quality

Lakes are seriously affected due to urban pollution. The study of the morphological features of a lake system helps to identify its environmental status. The objective of the present study is to analyse the influence of morphometry on water quality in a lake (Akkulam-Veli Lake, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala). The morphological features namely mean depth, surface area, volume, shoreline length, shoreline development and index of basin permanence have been evaluated. Correlation analysis has been conducted to determine the relationship between morphological features and water quality. Regression analysis has been conducted to find out the extent of influence of morphometric features on water quality. The study revealed that the lake is less affected by wind-induced wave action due to various reasons. The depth and volume have significant role in the water quality. The nitrogen fixation of blue green algae can be observed from the morphological features. The morphology has greater role in the water quality of a lake system.     

The effect of various composite and operating parameters in wear properties of epoxy-based natural fiber composites

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - In this experiment banana fly ash (BA) at 1, 3 and 4 wt% was mixed with the hybrid natural fiber combination of sisal/pineapple at 30, 40...