European Journal of Advances in Engineering and Technology

577-583

Authors: GD Kamalapur, VR Sheelavant, Madgunki Deepika A, Netravati G Chavan and Shanthala P

The energy demand across the globe has increased in many folds due to technological advancement, rapid growth in industries and increase in household energy demand. This led the engineers and planners to think and find the means to harvest the alternative energy sources other than the fossil fuel. Microgrids are low-voltage distribution networks comprising various renewable power sources, storage units, and local loads. Microgrids can be utilized to provide different services for the main grid such as grid supporting during peak period. In microgrids single phase loads or sources can be used by the end-users and can make the grid currents unbalanced with poor power factor. The control strategy is able to mitigate negative effects of grid connected microgrid such as unbalanced operation and reactive power compensation, working under highly unbalanced conditions. Simulation results have been carried out by using MATLAB/SIMULINK to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.

592-596

Authors: Temitayo M Azeez, John T Oladeji, Lateef O Mudashiru and Ikenna D Uchegbu

Equal Channel Angular Extrusion (ECAE) is the extrusion method that involves the use of angular die to introduce plastic deformation on any metal especially aluminum which in turn improves its hardness. Lubricant’s role cannot be under estimated in the process as it requires reducing the high heat of deformation and extrusion pressure involved. The commonly used lubricants for this process were from organic sources, very scarce and non-environmentally friendly. Hence, it is a great advantage to investigate alternative extrusion lubricant from vegetable source.Four vegetable based lubricants such as jatropha oil, castor oil, neem oil and cottonseed oilwere selected for this research. The properties of these selected oils were characterized to its physical and chemical properties. Aluminum rod was machined to 17 billets of size 11.95m x 11.95m x 40m (l × b × h) each and was annealed. The billet size was selected based on the configurations of the fabricated ECAE die. Four billets were extruded with each lubricant which makes the total of 16billets extruded for the four lubricants and the last billet was used as the control. The hardness of the extruded samples was evaluated after the extrusion and compared to the control. The hardness result was compared to the sample extruded with organic based lubricants from the literature It was discovered that all the lubricants tested greatly enhanced hardness of the extruded sample but at different magnitude. Jatropha oil exhibits the greatest hardness on extrusion of Aluminum.

603-607

Authors: Dhanesh Garg

A parametric mean length is defined as the quantity , where is an integer, .This being the useful mean length of code words weighted by utilities, . Lower and Upper bounds for are derived in terms of ‘useful’ Renyi’s infor-mation measure for power probability distribution .

617-622

Authors: Eze IO, Igwe IO, Ogbobe O, Obasi HC, Ezeamaku UL, Nwanonenyi SC, Anyanwu EE and Nwachukwu I

The effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treated pineapple leaf powder (PALP) on the mechanical properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites were studied. HDPE and PALP (untreated, and treated) composites were prepared by injection moulding technique. The filler (PALP) contents investigated were 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt %. Results showed that the tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, abrasion resistance, and hardness of the composites increased with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated, while the elongation at break (EB) for PALP/HDPE composites was found to decrease with increases in filler content for all the filler contents investigated. It was observed from the results that H2O2 treated PALP/HDPE composites exhibited better mechanical properties than the untreated PALP/HDPE composites for all filler contents investigated. The present study has shown that surface treatment of PALP with H2O2 has proved to be an efficient alternative in bringing about an improved adhesion/compatibility between PALP and HDPE, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the composites.

637-643

Authors: Ipilakyaa T Daniel, Dagi C Nenge and Tuleun L Tyovenda

The effects of filler content and particle size on the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester resin reinforced with rice husk-coconut shell particles have been studied. Rice husks (RH) and coconut shells (CS) particles were ground and particle sizes were obtained using 75, 150 and 300µm standard sieves. These particles were mixed in equal proportions by weight to form the filler component of the composite. Percentage by weight fractions of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 of the filler were blended with unsaturated polyester resin (matrix) by hand lay-up technique. Thirteen composite samples were produced from different formulations. Tensile, flexural, impact and hardness tests specimens were prepared based on ASTM standards. Tensile fractured surfaces were analysed with the help of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) micrographs. It was observed that Ultimate Tensile Strength (UTS) decreased with filler loading with peak value of 19.691MPa at 10% composition of 150µm Rice Husk (RH)/Coconut Shell (CS). Flexural strength decreased with particle content. The filled samples had maximum value of 51.201MPa at 20% composition of 75µm RH/CS; the Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) recorded 59.085MPa. Tensile and flexural moduli of elasticity followed irregular patterns. Peak values of 2316.248MPa and 3130.887MPa were obtained respectively. Impact tests did not show a specific pattern across all particle sizes. The closely related values peaked at 12.383J at 10% composition of 300µm RH/CS. Hardness values decreased with particle loading. The value of 204.833BHN obtained at 10% composition of 150µm RH/CS was the maximum. SEM micrographs showed low surfaces interactions, voids, agglomeration of fillers and shrinkage cavities. The fabricated composite can be used in the automobile and building industries.