Abstract: The main goal of this seminal paper is to introduce the
application of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) in long distance
infrastructure monitoring (in particular in pipeline infrastructure
monitoring) – one of the on-going research projects by the Wireless
Communication Research Group at the department of Electronic and
Computer Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. The
current sensor network architectures for monitoring long distance
pipeline infrastructures are previewed. These are wired sensor
networks, RF wireless sensor networks, integrated wired and wireless
sensor networks. The reliability of these architectures is discussed.
Three reliability factors are used to compare the architectures in
terms of network connectivity, continuity of power supply for the
network, and the maintainability of the network. The constraints and
challenges of wireless sensor networks for monitoring and protecting
long distance pipeline infrastructure are discussed.
Abstract: There is strong evidence that water channel proteins
'aquaporins (AQPs)' are central components in plant-water relations
as well as a number of other physiological parameters. We had
previously reported the isolation of 24 plasma membrane intrinsic
protein (PIP) type AQPs. However, the gene numbers in rice and the
polyploid nature of bread wheat indicated a high probability of
further genes in the latter. The present work focused on identification
of further AQP isoforms in bread wheat. With the use of altered
primer design, we identified five genes homologous, designated
PIP1;5b, PIP2;9b, TaPIP2;2, TaPIP2;2a, TaPIP2;2b. Sequence
alignments indicate PIP1;5b, PIP2;9b are likely to be homeologues of
two previously reported genes while the other three are new genes
and could be homeologs of each other. The results indicate further
AQP diversity in wheat and the sequence data will enable physical
mapping of these genes to identify their genomes as well as genetic to
determine their association with any quantitative trait loci (QTLs)
associated with plant-water relation such as salinity or drought
tolerance.
Abstract: In recent years, global warming has become a
worldwide problem. The reduction of carbon dioxide emissions is a
top priority for many companies in the manufacturing industry. In the
automobile industry as well, the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions
is one of the most important issues. Technology to reduce the weight
of automotive parts improves the fuel economy of automobiles, and is
an important technology for reducing carbon dioxide. Also, even if
this weight reduction technology is applied to electric automobiles
rather than gasoline automobiles, reducing energy consumption
remains an important issue. Plastic processing of hollow pipes is one
important technology for realizing the weight reduction of automotive
parts. Ohashi et al. [1],[2] present an example of research on pipe
formation in which a process was carried out to enlarge a pipe
diameter using a lost core, achieving the suppression of wall thickness
reduction and greater pipe expansion than hydroforming.
In this study, we investigated a method to increase the wall
thickness of a pipe through pipe compression using planetary rolls.
The establishment of a technology whereby the wall thickness of a
pipe can be controlled without buckling the pipe is an important
technology for the weight reduction of products. Using the finite
element analysis method, we predicted that it would be possible to
increase the compression of an aluminum pipe with a 3mm wall
thickness by approximately 20%, and wall thickness by approximately
20% by pressing the hollow pipe with planetary rolls.
Abstract: Aim of this study is to evaluate a new three-equation turbulence model applied to flow and heat transfer through a pipe. Uncertainty is approximated by comparing with published direct numerical simulation results for fully-developed flow. Error in the mean axial velocity, temperature, friction, and heat transfer is found to be negligible.
Abstract: In the oil and gas industry, energy prediction can help
the distributor and customer to forecast the outgoing and incoming
gas through the pipeline. It will also help to eliminate any
uncertainties in gas metering for billing purposes. The objective of
this paper is to develop Neural Network Model for energy
consumption and analyze the performance model. This paper
provides a comprehensive review on published research on the
energy consumption prediction which focuses on structures and the
parameters used in developing Neural Network models. This paper is
then focused on the parameter selection of the neural network
prediction model development for energy consumption and analysis
on the result. The most reliable model that gives the most accurate
result is proposed for the prediction. The result shows that the
proposed neural network energy prediction model is able to
demonstrate an adequate performance with least Root Mean Square
Error.
Abstract: Fluid flow in cylinders of elliptic cross-section was investigated. Fluid used is Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). LPG found in Nigeria contains majorly butane with percentages of propane. Commercial available code FLUENT which uses finite volume method was used to solve fluid flow governing equations. There has been little attention paid to fluid flow in cylindrical elliptic pipes. The present work aims to predict the LPG gas flow in cylindrical pipes of elliptic cross-section. Results of flow parameters of velocity and pressure distributions are presented. Results show that the pressure drop in elliptic pipes is higher than circular pipe of the same cross-sectional area. This is an important result as the pressure drop is related to the pump power needed to drive the flow. Results show that the velocity increases towards centre of the pipe as the flow moves downstream, and also increases towards the outlet of the pipe.
Abstract: Downward turbulent bubbly flows in pipes were
modeled using computational fluid dynamics tools. The
Hydrodynamics, phase distribution and turbulent structure of twophase
air-water flow in a 57.15 mm diameter and 3.06 m length
vertical pipe was modeled by using the 3-D Eulerian-Eulerian
multiphase flow approach. Void fraction, liquid velocity and
turbulent fluctuations profiles were calculated and compared against
experimental data. CFD results are in good agreement with
experimental data.
Abstract: A synchronous network-on-chip using wormhole packet switching
and supporting guaranteed-completion best-effort with low-priority (LP)
and high-priority (HP) wormhole packet delivery service is presented in
this paper. Both our proposed LP and HP message services deliver a good
quality of service in term of lossless packet completion and in-order message
data delivery. However, the LP message service does not guarantee minimal
completion bound. The HP packets will absolutely use 100% bandwidth of
their reserved links if the HP packets are injected from the source node with
maximum injection. Hence, the service are suitable for small size messages
(less than hundred bytes). Otherwise the other HP and LP messages, which
require also the links, will experience relatively high latency depending on the
size of the HP message. The LP packets are routed using a minimal adaptive
routing, while the HP packets are routed using a non-minimal adaptive routing
algorithm. Therefore, an additional 3-bit field, identifying the packet type,
is introduced in their packet headers to classify and to determine the type
of service committed to the packet. Our NoC prototypes have been also
synthesized using a 180-nm CMOS standard-cell technology to evaluate the
cost of implementing the combination of both services.
Abstract: In this research, we have developed a new efficient
heuristic algorithm for the dynamic facility layout problem with
budget constraint (DFLPB). This heuristic algorithm combines two
mathematical programming methods such as discrete event
simulation and linear integer programming (IP) to obtain a near
optimum solution. In the proposed algorithm, the non-linear model
of the DFLP has been changed to a pure integer programming (PIP)
model. Then, the optimal solution of the PIP model has been used in
a simulation model that has been designed in a similar manner as the
DFLP for determining the probability of assigning a facility to a
location. After a sufficient number of runs, the simulation model
obtains near optimum solutions. Finally, to verify the performance of
the algorithm, several test problems have been solved. The results
show that the proposed algorithm is more efficient in terms of speed
and accuracy than other heuristic algorithms presented in previous
works found in the literature.
Abstract: A kind of behavior model for discrete sampling and hold amplifier with charge transmission is analyzed. The transfer function and behavior features are based on the main AC responses of operation amplifier. The result used in pipelined and sigma-delta ADC shows the exact of model of sampling and hold amplifier, and the non-ideal factors are taken into account.
Abstract: High building constructions are increasing in south
beaches of the Caspian Sea because of tourist attractions and limitation of residential areas. According to saturated alluvial fields transfer of load from high structures to the soil by piles is inevitable.
In spite of most of these piles are under compression forces, tension piles are used in special conditions. Few studies have been conducted
because of the limited use of these piles. Tension capacity of openended pipe piles in full scale was tested in this study. The length of the bored piles was 420 up to 480 cm and all were in 120 cm
diameter. The results of testing 7 piles were compared with the results of relations given by researches.
Abstract: A lightpipe is an about 99 percent specular reflective
mirror pipe or duct that is used for the transmission of the daylight
from the outside into a building. The lightpipes are usually used in
the daylighting buildings, in the residential, industrial and
commercial sectors. This paper is about the performances of a
lightpipe installed in a laboratory (3 m x 2.6 m x 3 m) without
windows. The aim is to analyse the luminous intensity distribution
for several sky/sun conditions. The lightpipe was monitored during
the year 2006. The lightpipe is 1 m long and the diameter of the top
collector and of the internal diffuser device is 0.25 m. In the
laboratory there are seven illuminance sensors: one external is
located on the roof of the laboratory and six internal sensors are
connected to a data acquisition system. The internal sensors are
positioned under the internal diffusive device at an height of 0.85 m
from the floor to simulate a working plane. The numerical data are
obtained through a simulation software. This paper shows the
comparison between the experimental and numerical results
concerning the behavior of the lightpipe.
Abstract: The fractal-shaped orifices are assumed to have a
significant effect on the pressure drop downstream pipe flow due to
their edge self-similarity shape which enhances the mixing
properties. Here, we investigate the pressure drop after these fractals
using a digital micro-manometer at different stations downstream a
turbulent flow pipe then a direct comparison has been made with the
pressure drop measured from regular orifices with the same flow
area. Our results showed that the fractal-shaped orifices have a
significant effect on the pressure drop downstream the flow. Also
the pressure drop measured across the fractal-shaped orifices is
noticed to be lower that that from ordinary orifices of the same flow
areas. This result could be important in designing piping systems
from point of view of losses consideration with the same flow
control area. This is promising to use the fractal-shaped orifices as
flowmeters as they can sense the pressure drop across them
accurately with minimum losses than the regular ones.
Abstract: Two-phase frictional pressure drop data were
obtained for condensation of carbon dioxide in single horizontal
micro tube of inner diameter ranged from 0.6 mm up to 1.6 mm over
mass flow rates from 2.5*10-5 to 17*10-5 kg/s and vapor qualities
from 0.0 to 1.0. The inlet condensing pressure is changed from 33.5
to 45 bars. The saturation temperature ranged from -1.5 oC up to 10
oC. These data have then been compared against three (two-phase)
frictional pressure drop prediction methods. The first method is by
Muller-Steinhagen and Heck (Muller-Steinhagen H, Heck K. A
simple friction pressure drop correlation for two-phase flow in pipes.
Chem. Eng. Process 1986;20:297–308) and that by Gronnerud R.
Investigation of liquid hold-up, flow-resistance and heat transfer in
circulation type evaporators, part IV: two-phase flow resistance in
boiling refrigerants, Annexe 1972. Then the method used by
FriedelL. Improved friction pressures drop in horizontal and vertical
two-phase pipe flow. European Two-Phase Flow Group Meeting,
Paper E2; 1979 June, Ispra, Italy. The methods are used by M.B Ould
Didi et al (2001) “Prediction of two-phase pressure gradients of
refrigerant in horizontal tubes". Int.J.of Refrigeration 25(2002) 935-
947. The best available method for annular flow was that of Muller-
Steinhagen and Heck. It was observed that the peak in the two-phase
frictional pressure gradient is at high vapor qualities.
Abstract: The RANS method with Saffman-s turbulence model
was employed to solve the time-dependent turbulent Navier-Stokes
and energy equations for oscillating pipe flows. The method of
partial sums of the Fourier series is used to analyze the harmonic
velocity and temperature results. The complete structures of the
oscillating pipe flows and the averaged Nusselt numbers on the tube
wall are provided by numerical simulation over wide ranges of ReA
and ReR. Present numerical code is validated by comparing the
laminar flow results to analytic solutions and turbulence flow results
to published experimental data at lower and higher Reynolds
numbers respectively. The effects of ReA and ReR on the velocity,
temperature and Nusselt number distributions have been di scussed.
The enhancement of the heat transfer due to oscillating flows has
also been presented. By the way of analyzing the overall Nusselt
number over wide ranges of the Reynolds number Re and Keulegan-
Carpenter number KC, the optimal ratio of the tube diameter over
the oscillation amplitude is obtained based on the existence of a
nearly constant optimal KC number. The potential application of the
present results in sea water cooling has also been discussed.
Abstract: Heat pipes are two-phase heat transfer devices with
high effective thermal conductivity. Due to the high heat transport
capacity, heat exchanger with heat pipes has become much smaller
than traditional heat exchangers in handling high heat fluxes. With
the working fluid in a heat pipe, heat can be absorbed on the
evaporator region and transported to the condenser region where the
vapour condenses releasing the heat to the cooling media. Heat pipe
technology has found increasing applications in enhancing the
thermal performance of heat exchangers in microelectranics, energy
saving in HVAC systems for operating rooms,surgery centers, hotels,
cleanrooms etc, temperature regulation systems for the human body
and other industrial sectors. Development activity in heat pipe and
thermosyphon technology in asia in recent years is surveyed. Some
new results obtained in Australia and other countries are also
included.
Abstract: Lattice Monte Carlo methods are an excellent
choice for the simulation of non-linear thermal diffusion
problems. In this paper, and for the first time, Lattice Monte
Carlo analysis is performed on thermal diffusion combined
with convective heat transfer. Laminar flow of water modeled
as an incompressible fluid inside a copper pipe with a constant
surface temperature is considered. For the simulation of
thermal conduction, the temperature dependence of the
thermal conductivity of the water is accounted for. Using the
novel Lattice Monte Carlo approach, temperature distributions
and energy fluxes are obtained.
Abstract: The demand of hydrocarbons has increased the
construction of pipelines and the protection of the physical and
mechanical integrity of the already existing infrastructure. Corrosion
is the main reason of failures in the pipeline and it is mostly produced
by acid (HCOOCH3). In this basis, a CFD code was used, in order to
study the corrosion of internal wall of hydrocarbons pipeline. In this
situation, the corrosion phenomenon shows a growing deposit, which
causes defect damages (welding or fabrication) at diverse positions
along the pipeline. The solution of the pipeline corrosion is based on
the diminution of the Naphthenic acid.
Abstract: Optical flow is a research topic of interest for many
years. It has, until recently, been largely inapplicable to real-time
applications due to its computationally expensive nature. This paper
presents a new reliable flow technique which is combined with a
motion detection algorithm, from stationary camera image streams,
to allow flow-based analyses of moving entities, such as rigidity, in
real-time. The combination of the optical flow analysis with motion
detection technique greatly reduces the expensive computation of
flow vectors as compared with standard approaches, rendering the
method to be applicable in real-time implementation. This paper
describes also the hardware implementation of a proposed pipelined
system to estimate the flow vectors from image sequences in real
time. This design can process 768 x 576 images at a very high frame
rate that reaches to 156 fps in a single low cost FPGA chip, which is
adequate for most real-time vision applications.
Abstract: Sediment and mangrove root samples from Iko River
Estuary, Nigeria were analyzed for microbial and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content. The total heterotrophic
bacterial (THB) count ranged from 1.1x107 to 5.1 x107 cfu/g, total
fungal (TF) count ranged from 1.0x106 to 2.7x106 cfu/g, total
coliform (TC) count ranged from 2.0x104 to 8.0x104cfu/g while
hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial (HUB) count ranged from 1.0x 105 to
5.0 x 105cfu/g. There was a range of positive correlation (r = 0.72 to
0.93) between THB count and total HUB count, respectively. The
organisms were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus,
Flavobacterium breve, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Erwinia
amylovora, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter sp, Desulfovibrio sp,
Acinetobacter iwoffii, Chromobacterium violaceum, Micrococcus
sedentarius, Corynebacterium sp, and Pseudomonas putrefaciens.
The PAH were Naphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, Acenapthylene,
Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Phenanthene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene,
Pyrene, Benzo(a)anthracene, Chrysene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene,
Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Dibenzo(a,h)anthracene,
Benzo(g,h,l)perylene ,Indeno(1,2,3-d)pyrene with individual PAH
concentrations that ranged from 0.20mg/kg to 1.02mg/kg, 0.20mg/kg
to 1.07mg/kg and 0.2mg/kg to 4.43mg/kg in the benthic sediment,
epipellic sediment and mangrove roots, respectively. Total PAH
ranged from 6.30 to 9.93mg/kg, 6.30 to 9.13mg/kg and 9.66 to
16.68mg/kg in the benthic sediment, epipellic sediment and
mangrove roots, respectively. The high concentrations in the
mangrove roots are indicative of bioaccumulation of the pollutant in
the plant tissue. The microorganisms are of ecological significance
and the detectable quantities of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
could be partitioned and accumulated in tissues of infaunal and
epifaunal organisms in the study area.