Explore the vast range of titles available.

The heat transfer enhancement in flat plate solar collector (FPSC) can be greatly achieved by the admittance of nanofluids (NFs). This work proposes an experimental investigation to observe the effects of dispersing Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, and Al 2 O 3  + ZnO(1:1) nanoparticles in water + ethylene glycol (EG) a base fluid in a 65:35 ratio at different concentrations (0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 vol%) on the enhancement of an FPSC. Mass flow rate has an impact on the FPSC's performance in the range of 0.016 kg s −1 , 0.033 kg s −1 , and 0.05 kg s −1 .To examine the optical and structural character of NPs, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. This study addresses the thermophysical characteristics, heat transfer rate, Nusselt number, pumping power, pressure drop, efficiency, and exergy efficiency of FPSC using those mono and hybrid nanofluids (HNF), in comparison with a base fluid. HNF infuse into reference fluid, and the thermal conductivity increases by 71.15%. This improvement was 55.76% for Al 2 O 3 /water + EG and 46.15% for ZnO/water + EG NFs, respectively. The heat augmentation of HNF was 78.4% at a flow rate of 0.05 kg s −1 , whereas ZnO and Al 2 O 3 NFs had augmentations of 62.15% and 73.84%, respectively. The collector efficiency raised remarkably to 66.7% for HNF, 59% for Al 2 O 3 , and 56.5% for ZnO at a mass rate of 0.05 kg s −1 .With a mass rate of 0.05 kg s −1 , the HNF's exergy efficiency raised by 24.7%, while the Al 2 O 3 and ZnO NFs showed improvements of 21% and 19.5%, respectively, compared to the reference fluid. Graphical abstract

The present work emphasis on to estimate the theoretical findings of energy and exergy analysis of biodiesel fueled with diesel on variable compression ratio engine at various combinations of fuel blend at different compression ratios. This study aims to identify the optimum engine settings based on compression ratio and biodiesel blends. The engine is operated with methyl esters of rubber seed oil and its 20, 40, 60 and 80% blends with diesel on volume basis. The compression ratio is varied from 18:1 to 22:1 at five compression ratios at 80% load in 3.5 kW, 1500 rpm, single cylinder water-cooled direct injection engine. The variables analyzed are energy and exergy potential of fuel input, shaft work, cooling water, maximum pressure, heat release rate, exergy destruction, brake-specific energy consumption, brake thermal efficiency, second law efficiency, entropy generation, exhaust gas temperature and various emissions. It is observed that the combination of CR 20, B20 and B40 at 80% load gives a better performance in thermodynamic analysis of methyl esters of rubber seed oil blended with diesel in VCR engine.

Optimum engine operating parameters on VCR engine performance and emission analysis is a challenging scenario towards the stringent emission control policies adopted by the globe. The engine operating parameters such as compression ratio (CR), fuel blends and fuel injection pressure (FIP) were implemented on VCR engine to improve its performance and to control its gaseous emissions. The input variable were chosen as FIP (185 bar,205 bar &225 bar), CR (18:1,19:1,20:1,21:1 & 22:1) and fuel blends (B20 & diesel) as parameters for designing the experiments using DoE. The predicted mathematical model was recognized by p -test and R 2 value using RSM approach to find optimum CR and FIP of biodiesel blend in comparison with standard diesel. The responses such as maximum rise in in-cylinder pressure, exhaust gas temperature, HRR, BTE, SFC and various gas emissions of CO, HC, CO 2 and NO x on VCR engine analysis were predicted. The optimized engine characteristics such as combustion and emissions were improved with CR21, FIP 225 bar of 20% biodiesel blends in comprehend with neat diesel in detailed experimental investigation at a load of 0.46 MPa of BMEP with a constant speed of 1500 rpm. The superior BTE with lower SFC was attained through a FIP of 225 bar and on CR 21 compared with that of diesel and other fuel injection pressures. The carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon emission were reduced substantially at 225 bar injection pressure and on CR 21. The acceptable limits CO 2 and NO x emission are observed and compared with neat diesel with a FIP of 225 bar and on CR 21. Graphical Abstract

This research work is proposed to test and evaluate the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of variable compression ratio engine fueled with methyl esters of rubber seed oil as biodiesel. Experiments are carried out on variable compression ratio engine by considering the compression ratio, load, fuel blends, injection pressure and supercharging pressure as variables. The response surface method prediction models for indicated mean effective pressure, brake thermal efficiency, specific fuel consumption, exhaust gas temperature, maximum combustion pressure, heat release rate, ignition delay, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides emission are developed using the experimental results. D -optimality test is carried out to get optimum engine-operating conditions with improved performance and emission. Test is conducted via the fuel blends of 20, 40, 60 and 80% biodiesel with neat diesel, with an injection pressure of 160 bar at a fixed compression ratio of 20 and at different supercharging conditions at 80% load. The results of the experiment are compared with that of diesel, which confirms that significant improvements in performance and emission characteristics are obtained with the help of supercharging. The combustion characteristics of biodiesel blends comprehend with that of standard diesel.

As the energy demand for household applications is increasing, the utilization of solar energy becomes important in fulfilling the energy needs of electrical and thermal appliances. Harvesting the energy from solar through solar thermal energy systems will be effectively used in household and industrial heating applications where the consumption of electrical energy is predominant. Solar thermal energy is harvested through simple devices like flat plate collectors but involves many challenges. Solar flat plate collectors’ thermal efficiency is improved by increasing the heat transfer rate by replacing the regular fluids with nanofluids due to their superior thermo-physical properties. Investigators are driven to find novel energy and exergy analysis by the challenges in effective heat transfer and conservation by improving it by including gold, alumina, and copper oxide nanoparticles. To investigate the energy efficiency characteristics of solar flat plate collectors (FPC), the experiments are carried out by considering the different nanofluids (nanofluids with nanomaterials such as gold (Au) and aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) as well as copper oxide (CuO) as thermal transport media), flow rates of nanofluids (0.016 kg/s, 0.033 kg/s, and 0.05 kg/s), and with mass fraction of nanoparticles (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4%) in nanofluids as variables, such that the energy efficiency, exergy destruction, second law efficiency, entropy generation, and pressure drop performance indicators. The maximum exergy efficiencies are found with Au nanofluids 31.55% and 28.78% at 0.4% mass concentration, which has the enhanced second law efficiency compared to water and other nanofluids. At the same time, exergy destruction is found to be minimum (1183.41 W) for Au nanoparticle with 0.4% mass fraction and 0.016 kg/min flow rate. The maximum exergy destruction (1509.95 W) was found in the water with 0% concentration at 0.05 kg/min due to the minimum temperature and base fluid heat flow. The energy efficiency and second law efficiencies are well increased with a slight increase in the pressure drop for the 0.4% mass fraction of Au with Al2O3 and CuO nanoparticles. The DoE-based statistical method, the Box-Behnken method, is employed as an experimental design matrix to develop prediction models for exergy responses and pressure drop characteristics. The models are validated through ANOVA results and verified for the R 2 and R 2 adj values (> 0.95), and the results are obtained from the models. The results of prediction models are found to have a good correlation with experimental results, and the maximum error between the prediction results and the experimental results is less than 5%. As a future scope, the models are suggested for optimizing the process variables to improve energy efficiency, exergy destruction, and pressure drop objectives.

Herein, we present a novel blended solid polymer electrolyte system composed of polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-co-HFP) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) with the addition of phenothiazine (PZ) as an additive and iodide/triiodide (I - /I 3 - ) as a redox couple in nanocrystalline TiO 2 dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The characterization of the blended solid polymer electrolyte was conducted using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, SEM, and current-voltage (I-V) measurements. Our analyses revealed a decrease in the degree of crystallinity in PVDF-co-HFP/PMMA-based blended solid polymer electrolytes due to the incorporation of PZ, as observed through XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The electrical conductivity of the optimized solid polymer electrolyte film was determined using complex impedance spectroscopy, showing a maximum ionic conductivity value of 3.2 × 10 -7 Scm -1 at ambient temperature (298 K). DSSCs based on nanocrystalline TiO 2 were fabricated, and the cell parameters, including short-circuit current density (J sc ), open-circuit voltage (V oc ), fill factor (ff), and photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency (η), were evaluated. The DSSC fabricated with the polymer electrolyte exhibited values of 9.3 mA/cm 2 , 800 mV, 0.56, and 5.2% for J sc , Voc, ff, and η, respectively, under 80 mW/cm 2 at AM 1.5 simulated solar irradiation. Graphical Abstract

The rising costs of petroleum-based fuels for internal combustion engines and their detrimental environmental impacts have spurred the search for alternative fuels. This study explores minor modifications to a compression ignition engine, enabling it to operate in dual fuel mode using biofuels as a viable alternative to neat diesel. A novel biofuel was developed using cedar wood oil, and its performance was experimentally investigated in a single-cylinder diesel engine operating at a constant speed. Acetylene was continuously introduced to the engine at a flow rate of 6 L per minute, chosen for its optimal performance, yielding a brake thermal efficiency of over 30.7%. The engine was operated under constant conditions, including a compression ratio of 18, an ignition timing of 23°CA before top dead centre, and an injection pressure of 220 bar. Comparative evaluations were performed by analyzing the combustion characteristics and emission levels of diesel and cedar wood oil-based fuels with and without nanoadditive for diesel, B50 and B100 with a constant acetylene gas supply at 6 Lit/min. The primary objective was to reduce toxic emissions, including smoke, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, released during fuel combustion with the help nanoadditives in fuel. The effects of cerium nanoparticles as an additive were considered in this study due its thermal stability and activation energy which reduce CO and HC emission significantly.The smoke, CO and HC were decreased for B100 + 6L A + 50 ppm blend by 20.21%, 65.52% and 51.42% for 100% load. It is found that cedar wood oil oil with nanoparticle additives could effectively reduce smoke and hydrocarbon emissions while maintaining comparable efficiency to neat diesel and pure biodiesel modes.

The primary aim of this study is to transform sawdust and polymer wastes such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) into valuable materials. In this research work, teak wood sawdust was reinforced into virgin HDPE and LDPE polymers to fabricate composites. The different combination of matrix materials and reinforcing material blending was done using a twin-screw extruder. The extruded mixture was turned into pellets and then injection moulded to create composite specimens. The mechanical properties of the fabricated specimens were then evaluated through tensile, hardness, flexural resistance, and water absorption tests. The outcome of the research shows that the 80% HDPE and 20% sawdust demonstrated marginally better tensile strength. The mechanical properties of fibre-reinforced polymer composites depend mostly on matrix and fibres but also on the interface between them, which is critical for load transfer. The 40% HDPE, 40% LDPE, and 20% sawdust composite showed higher hardness values compared to other combinations.

In recent years, machining of hard material is difficult and its applications are also increased due to their excellent substance properties. At the same time, better quality machined surface was not achieved through conventional machining techniques. The superior quality of machined surface was attained through Electro Chemical Honing (ECH) process. The machining rate has been increased through the combined action of electrical and chemical energy. The Cubic Boron Nitride (CBN) inserts have been used to enhance the machining rate. The chromel metal matrix composite (MMC) has chosen as a work material for ECH process. The chromel composite was machined through ECH with different control factors such as voltage, electrolyte flow rate and pressure. The optimal factors were studied through Taguchi method. The optimal MRR was attained at voltage of 30 V, electrolyte flow rate of 9 lpm, electrolyte pressure of 5 bars. From variance analysis and area plots, the voltage was made the largest causes on MRR. The voltage contribution in MRR was 75.22%. The contribution factor which affects the responses such as Material Removal Rate (MRR) was determined through variance analysis. The optimal MRR was attained at voltage of 30 V, electrolyte flow rate of 9 lpm, electrolyte pressure of 5 bars. The largest effect on MRR was produced by voltage (75.22%).

The cause and effect analysis mainly aims to reduce the consumer complaints with failure mode analysis and 8D principle. This work aims to reduce the run out defect percentage in clutch cover plate and most of the defects are produced due to run out. The overall defect observed from run out was usually 60-70%. The height difference between the fingers exceed the specified limit is named as run out defect for 18 finger diaphragm. The major parameters identified for measuring root-cause analysis of clutch plate are diaphragm finger uneven, diaphragm angle, diaphragm bi-cone height and diaphragm hardness. The root-cause defect was reduced by cause and effect method, 8 D analysis and 5W principle. The lean principle is employed in this work to utilize the men, material and resources with maximum efficiency. The lean principle reduces the waste and allows the company to supply the product in time with maximum accuracy.