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The wide availability of biomass attracts the focus of researchers owing to the capability to convert it into the form of biofuel. Rice straw is one of the agricultural wastes that has been burned on farms in past years and requires an alternate solution to be converted into biochar. This work proposes an experimental validation that aids in the development of high-efficiency microwave vacuum pyrolysis (MVP) of biomass without exceeding a temperature limit of up to 600°C-700°C, preserving the yield of biochar. The straw waste is processed in the MVP at different microwave power ratings of 450 W, 600 W, and 750 W with a constant vacuum pressure of 0.03 MPa. The sample is analysed for thermogravimetric, proximate, ultimate analyses, and high heating value (HHV). The obtained results of biochar yield are 43, 40, and 37 wt.% with the HHV of 14-16 MJ Kg-1. [Received: June 2, 2023; Accepted: June 21, 2023]

In this paper, design and development of an energy-efficient oil-fired tilting furnace with an innovative recuperator are reported. During the melting of metals, it is reported that around 50% of the total energy is lost in flue gases. Therefore, there is always a need to improve upon the efficiency of the furnaces. The design of the recuperator is based upon the application of all the three basic modes of heat transfer to preheat the incoming air. Financial and environmental aspects were also evaluated after upgradation with the recuperator. The internal hollow pipe of the proposed recuperator is so designed that at its exterior cylindrical surface, multiple turns of a guide way are welded in a spiral fashion. This increases the heat transfer between the flue gas and ambient air to the burner. The study shows that the efficiency of the oil-fired tilting furnace got enhanced by 50% after implementing the proposed recuperator. Specific fuel consumption without the recuperator was 0.166 kg/kWh, which was reduced to 0.138 kg /kWh with the recuperator. The principle of increasing thermal efficiency and limiting fuel consumption was based on heat recovery from the combustion products to preheat the cold incoming fuel mixture. Therefore, this study focuses on the relations between combustion and heat exchanges on a large scale. The exergy evaluation technique was used constructively to estimate the furnace’s efficiency since the exergy efficiency is an additional sustainable appraisal in real situations. A channel for flue gases is provided in the developed furnace, which helps to divert hazardous gases away from the working environment.

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to predict the maximum pressure of journal bearing using ANN. The maximum pressure values are analysed using FEM and predicted using ANN. The FEM analysis is performed for micropolar lubricated hybrid journal bearing, and the results are used for training and testing the ANN model. Feedforward backpropagation algorithm is used for ANN model development. The externally applied load and rotational speed of the journal are considered as input parameters for performance predictions. ANN predictions are made within and outside the prescribed range of input parameters. This approach shows better predictions for journal bearing performance. Results obtained from FEM and ANN are in close agreement with each other. The percentage error less than 0.5 is observed for training and testing of the ANN model. The prediction error is in the range of −0.6% to 0.48%. In this paper, a mathematical model is established using FEM. The performance predictions obtained using ANN are very useful because much time can be saved which would be otherwise consumed in the experimental or theoretical bearing analysis.

Paleomagnetic records from the sediments provide the foundation for studying variations in the geomagnetic field across the geological time sacle. Here, we report a new paleomagnetic data from Quaternary sediments of Ramganga Paleolake, NW Himalaya, India, to provide more insight into the global geomagnetic excursions and paleoenvironmental implications. Paleomagnetic and rock magnetic analyses were performed on a 5 m thick vertical profile of unconsolidated sediments from the Ramganga paleolake (29°46′867″N; 79°14′043″E), located in the Lesser Himalaya at a height of 798 m. One hundred fifty oriented samples from 50 sites (10 cm intervals) were obtained from the vertical section. Extrapolating the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates from literature indicates that the entire section was probably deposited between 38 and 0.8 ka. The rock magnetic data shows that the remanence is carried by a low coercivity mineral and a significant amount of a soft magnetic mineral, most likely magnetite. Virtual Geomagnetic Pole (VGP) latitudes were calculated. Plot of the VGP latitudes against the sample locations from the litho-column allows us for the construction of Magnetic Polarity Stratigraphy (MPS) column. The MPS of the Ramganga paleolake has detected three geomagnetic excursions that are correlated with the global events: the Mono Lake Event (∼28.4-25.8 ka), the Gulf of Mexico Event (∼12.5–17 ka), and the Bagwalipokar Excursion Events (15.5-14.7 ka and 8-2.85 ka) respectively. The lower and middle portion of the paleolake represents the low and high energy depositional environment during the sediment deposition due to wet and arid climatic conditions.

The main purpose of this research paper is to develop a simple automated system for the accurate diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) using the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). The designed diagnostic system has two stages-primary and secondary. In the primary stage, a hierarchical fuzzy-based short version of the gold diagnostic tool Connor's scale has been implemented to evaluate the behavioural aspects in a fast and simple manner. The secondary stage targets the two main abilities of brain functionality-attention and perception. The determining traits were extracted from ERP components, especially the P300 wave, using peak amplitude and average latency rate. The proposed secondary diagnostic stage is based on Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy inference system and it integrates the features of both artificial neural network and fuzzy logic into a single framework. The system accuracy is 99.3% in classification, i.e., ADHD vs. Normal and 88.78% in severity level (normal/low, medium and high) of ADHD. Thus, the proposed model provides an adaptive and better alternative to ADHD diagnosis.

Microwave valorization of food waste is very demanding to produce biofuels like biochar and biogas as a final product. Food waste is composed of moisture, protein, carbohydrates, lipids, and traces of inorganic compounds. The thermal and conventional valorization of food waste results in a loss of fuel yield. Microwave processing has been identified as a promising method for the non-thermal drying of food waste, with the potential to enhance the quality of product. Hence, this paper concentrates on the computation model for the microwave valorization process of waste carrots. The electromagnetic wave equation, together with thermodynamics, is used for modelling the thermal behaviour of the different carrot samples. This study aims to investigate the effect of microwave energy on carrots and the resulting temperature changes, with a focus on the influence of different carrot sizes. In results, the samples have a significant amount of field absorption ranging from 0.9×104to 1.64×104V/m generating sufficient heat to valorize the sample effectively. Also, it indicates that the temperature variation in carrots is dependent on their size when exposed to microwave energy. The simulation results are validated with the experimental findings based on the temperature rise and moisture loss with varying parameters.

The understanding and prevalence of cardiac channelopathies has grown over time. Many patients are asymptomatic but are at risk for malignant arrhythmias during high acuity medical admissions. Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), Brugada Syndrome (BrS), and Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT) will be discussed with specific consideration given for the role these medical conditions play during an ICU admission – for either cardiac or non-cardiac reasons.