Search

We developed new composites by combining the solid waste from Low-Density Polyethylene in the form of plastic bag (PB) and biomass from rice husk (RH),in the form of (RH)x(PB)1-x (x = (1, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5)), as alternative fuels for electrical energy sources, and for providing the best solution to reduce environmental pollution. Elemental compositions were obtained by using proximate analysis, ultimate analysis, and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, and the thermal characteristics were obtained from thermogravimetric analysis. The compositions of carbon and hydrogen from the ultimate analysis show significant increases of 20–30% with increasing PB in the composite. The activation energy for RH is 101.22 kJ/mol; for x = 0.9 and 0.7, this increases by 4 and 6 magnitude, respectively, and for x = 0.5, shows remarkable increase to 165.30 kJ/mol. The range of temperature of about 480–660°C is required for combustion of the composites (RH)x(PB)1-x (x = (1, 0.9, 0.7, 0.5)) to perform the complete combustion process and produce high energy. In addition, the calorific value was determined by using bomb calorimetry, and shows value for RH of 13.44 MJ/kg, which increases about 30–40% with increasing PB content, indicating that PB has a strong effect of increasing the energy realized to generate electricity.

Utilization of coal as a source of electrical energy in the power plant in Indonesia was increased significantly every year, but it can damage the environment if the excessive use of it is not anticipated. This study was conducted by analyzing the potential energy of the corn cobs (CC) in every province. The conducted study is on energy content and ash content of CC. The study shows the potential of the electric energy of CC is available only in 12 provinces that enable for the operation of the power plant with a capacity of 10 MW. However, the waste CC is highly feasible to use as fuel in the power plant because it has a calorific value of about 16.92 MJ/kg which is greater than the calorific value of rice husk around 13.44 MJ/kg and rice straw around 12.56 MJ/kg, and has a ashes around 2.14 % which is very small compared to ashes of rice husk and rice straw which are 19.11% and 18.51%, respectively. The study results are expected to contribute to reducing the use of coal at the power plant.

Large-scale cultivation of seaweed has become one of the most important aquaculture activities in Malaysia which may help increase farmers’ incomes as well as seaweed itself can be processed into many beneficial end products. The present location of seaweed farming selected by farmers is situated close proximity to the coastline which is between 100 and 200 m from the seashore. The unfavourable condition of sea during rough sea with high wave and high speed of current is always a problem to the farmers since this environmental condition destroys their seaweed planting lines. To avoid the above problem, especially in monsoon prone area, a thorough analysis needs to be done in order to prevent environmental load from destroying seaweed platform on its mooring line when subjected to greater stress. The main objective of this study is to perform a simulation study which will allow analysis of the best mooring system for multi-body floating seaweed farm, together with understanding of the reliability a...

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of impact energy and impactor size on basalt filament wound composite tubes with different winding angles. Tubes with four different winding angles [±45°]3, [±55°]3, [±65°]3 and [±75°]3 were subjected to various impact energy levels, 4, 6, 8 and 10 J, using four different impactor diameters, 6.35, 10, 12.7 and 15.9 mm. The results obtained revealed the significant effect of energy levels, despite the limited range purposely studied. In particular, not only maximum damage diameter (MDD) but also the geometry of damage area is influenced by impact energy. MDD also increases the higher the winding angles. In addition, basalt tubes with higher winding angles absorb less energy than the tubes with smaller winding angles for any given impact energy: this may be also the effect of them being slightly thinner. Impact damage typically propagates in the fibre direction of the tubes. Impact using larger impactors increases the dimensions of damage area, hence reducing the penetration. In comparison with E-glass tubes with similar amount of reinforcement, damage area of basalt tubes is significantly smaller at all impact energies.