Abstract: The direct discharge of palm oil mill effluent (POME) wastewater causes serious environmental pollution due to its high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Traditional ways for POME treatment have both economical and environmental disadvantages. In this study, a membrane anaerobic system (MAS) was used as an alternative, cost effective method for treating POME. Six steady states were attained as a part of a kinetic study that considered concentration ranges of 8,220 to 15,400 mg/l for mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS) and 6,329 to 13,244 mg/l for mixed liquor volatile suspended solids (MLVSS). Kinetic equations from Monod, Contois and Chen & Hashimoto were employed to describe the kinetics of POME treatment at organic loading rates ranging from 2 to 13 kg COD/m3/d. throughout the experiment, the removal efficiency of COD was from 94.8 to 96.5% with hydraulic retention time, HRT from 400.6 to 5.7 days. The growth yield coefficient, Y was found to be 0.62gVSS/g COD the specific microorganism decay rate was 0.21 d-1 and the methane gas yield production rate was between 0.25 l/g COD/d and 0.58 l/g COD/d. Steady state influent COD concentrations increased from 18,302 mg/l in the first steady state to 43,500 mg/l in the sixth steady state. The minimum solids retention time, which was obtained from the three kinetic models ranged from 5 to 12.3 days. The k values were in the range of 0.35 – 0.519 g COD/ g VSS • d and values were between 0.26 and 0.379 d-1. The solids retention time (SRT) decreased from 800 days to 11.6 days. The complete treatment reduced the COD content to 2279 mg/l equivalent to a reduction of 94.8% reduction from the original.
Abstract: The purpose of this research is to reduce the amount of incomplete coating of stainless steel washers in the electrodeposition painting process by using an experimental design technique. The surface preparation was found to be a major cause of painted surface quality. The influence of pretreating and painting process parameters, which are cleaning time, chemical concentration and shape of hanger were studied. A 23 factorial design with two replications was performed. The analysis of variance for the designed experiment showed the great influence of cleaning time and shape of hanger. From this study, optimized cleaning time was determined and a newly designed electrical conductive hanger was proved to be superior to the original one. The experimental verification results showed that the amount of incomplete coating defects decreased from 4% to 1.02% and operation cost decreased by 10.5%.
Abstract: Insect pests are the major source of crop
damage, yield and quality reduction in Pakistan and else
where in the world. Cotton crop is the most hit crop in
Pakistan followed by rice and the second most important
foreign exchange earning crop. A wide variety of staple,
horticultural and cash crops grown, reflect serious problems of
many types of insect pests. To overcome the insect pest
problem, pesticide use in Pakistan has increased substantially
which has now been further intensified. Pesticides worth more
than billions of rupees are imported every year. This paper
reviews the over all pesticide use in Pakistan in relation to
pesticide prices, support price of cotton and rice, pesticide use
in different provinces of Pakistan on different crops and their
impact on crop productivity. The environmental pollution
caused by the use of pesticides, contamination of soil and
water resources and the danger associated with the disposal of
their empty containers is also discussed in detail.
Abstract: A subsea hydrocarbon production system can undergo planned and unplanned shutdowns during the life of the field. The thermal FEA is used to simulate the cool down to verify the insulation design of the subsea equipment, but it is also used to derive an acceptable insulation design for the cold spots. The driving factors of subsea analyses require fast responding and accurate models of the equipment cool down. This paper presents cool down analysis carried out by a Krylov subspace reduction method, and compares this approach to the commonly used FEA solvers. The model considered represents a typical component of a subsea production system, a closed valve on a dead leg. The results from the Krylov reduction method exhibits the least error and requires the shortest computational time to reach the solution. These findings make the Krylov model order reduction method very suitable for the above mentioned subsea applications.
Abstract: In this paper, an analysis is presented, which
demonstrates the effect pre-logic factoring could have on an
automated combinational logic synthesis process succeeding it. The
impact of pre-logic factoring for some arbitrary combinatorial
circuits synthesized within a FPGA based logic design environment
has been analyzed previously. This paper explores a similar effect,
but with the non-regenerative logic synthesized using elements of a
commercial standard cell library. On an overall basis, the results
obtained pertaining to the analysis on a variety of MCNC/IWLS
combinational logic benchmark circuits indicate that pre-logic
factoring has the potential to facilitate simultaneous power, delay and
area optimized synthesis solutions in many cases.
Abstract: Modern applications realized onto FPGAs exhibit high connectivity demands. Throughout this paper we study the routing constraints of Virtex devices and we propose a systematic methodology for designing a novel general-purpose interconnection network targeting to reconfigurable architectures. This network consists of multiple segment wires and SB patterns, appropriately selected and assigned across the device. The goal of our proposed methodology is to maximize the hardware utilization of fabricated routing resources. The derived interconnection scheme is integrated on a Virtex style FPGA. This device is characterized both for its high-performance, as well as for its low-energy requirements. Due to this, the design criterion that guides our architecture selections was the minimal Energy×Delay Product (EDP). The methodology is fully-supported by three new software tools, which belong to MEANDER Design Framework. Using a typical set of MCNC benchmarks, extensive comparison study in terms of several critical parameters proves the effectiveness of the derived interconnection network. More specifically, we achieve average Energy×Delay Product reduction by 63%, performance increase by 26%, reduction in leakage power by 21%, reduction in total energy consumption by 11%, at the expense of increase of channel width by 20%.
Abstract: In this paper, we will present an architecture for the
implementation of a real time stereoscopic images correction's
approach. This architecture is parallel and makes use of several
memory blocs in which are memorized pre calculated data relating to
the cameras used for the acquisition of images. The use of reduced
images proves to be essential in the proposed approach; the
suggested architecture must so be able to carry out the real time
reduction of original images.
Abstract: The distressing flood scenarios that occur in
recent years at the surrounding areas of Sarawak River have
left damages of properties and indirectly caused disruptions of
productive activities. This study is meant to reconstruct a 100-year
flood event that took place in this river basin. Sarawak River Subbasin
was chosen and modeled using the one-dimensional
hydrodynamic modeling approach using InfoWorks River Simulation
(RS), in combination with Geographical Information System (GIS).
This produces the hydraulic response of the river and its floodplains
in extreme flooding conditions. With different parameters introduced
to the model, correlations of observed and simulated data are
between 79% – 87%. Using the best calibrated model, flood
mitigation structures are imposed along the sub-basin. Analysis is
done based on the model simulation results. Result shows that the
proposed retention ponds constructed along the sub-basin provide the
most efficient reduction of flood by 34.18%.
Abstract: Regenerative Thermal Oxidizer (RTO) is one of the
best solutions for removal of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
from industrial processes. In the RTO, VOC in a raw gas are usually
decomposed at 950-1300 K and the combustion heat of VOC is
recovered by regenerative heat exchangers charged with ceramic
honeycombs. The optimization of the treatment of VOC leads to the
reduction of fuel addition to VOC decomposition, the minimization of
CO2 emission and operating cost as well.
In the present work, the thermal efficiency of the RTO was
investigated experimentally in a pilot-scale RTO unit using toluene as
a typical representative of VOC. As a result, it was recognized that the
radiative heat transfer was dominant in the preheating process of a raw
gas when the gas flow rate was relatively low. Further, it was found
that a minimum heat exchanger volume to achieve self combustion of
toluene without additional heating of the RTO by fuel combustion was
dependent on both the flow rate of a raw gas and the concentration of
toluene. The thermal efficiency calculated from fuel consumption and
the decomposed toluene ratio, was found to have a maximum value of
0.95 at a raw gas mass flow rate of 1810 kg·h-1 and honeycombs height
of 1.5m.
Abstract: Losses reduction initiatives in distribution systems
have been activated due to the increasing cost of supplying
electricity, the shortage in fuel with ever-increasing cost to produce
more power, and the global warming concerns. These initiatives have
been introduced to the utilities in shape of incentives and penalties.
Recently, the electricity distribution companies in Oman have been
incentivized to reduce the distribution technical and non-technical
losses with an equal annual reduction rate for 6 years. In this paper,
different techniques for losses reduction in Mazoon Electricity
Company (MZEC) are addressed. In this company, high numbers of
substation and feeders were found to be non-compliant with the
Distribution System Security Standard (DSSS). Therefore, 33
projects have been suggested to bring non-complying 29 substations
and 28 feeders to meet the planed criteria and to comply with the
DSSS. The largest part of MZEC-s network (South Batinah region)
was modeled by ETAP software package. The model has been
extended to implement the proposed projects and to examine their
effects on losses reduction. Simulation results have shown that the
implementation of these projects leads to a significant improvement
in voltage profile, and reduction in the active and the reactive power
losses. Finally, the economical analysis has revealed that the
implementation of the proposed projects in MZEC leads to an annual
saving of about US$ 5 million.
Abstract: In digital signal processing it is important to
approximate multi-dimensional data by the method called rank
reduction, in which we reduce the rank of multi-dimensional data from
higher to lower. For 2-dimennsional data, singular value
decomposition (SVD) is one of the most known rank reduction
techniques. Additional, outer product expansion expanded from SVD
was proposed and implemented for multi-dimensional data, which has
been widely applied to image processing and pattern recognition.
However, the multi-dimensional outer product expansion has behavior
of great computation complex and has not orthogonally between the
expansion terms. Therefore we have proposed an alterative method,
Third-order Orthogonal Tensor Product Expansion short for 3-OTPE.
3-OTPE uses the power method instead of nonlinear optimization
method for decreasing at computing time. At the same time the group
of B. D. Lathauwer proposed Higher-Order SVD (HOSVD) that is
also developed with SVD extensions for multi-dimensional data.
3-OTPE and HOSVD are similarly on the rank reduction of
multi-dimensional data. Using these two methods we can obtain
computation results respectively, some ones are the same while some
ones are slight different. In this paper, we compare 3-OTPE to
HOSVD in accuracy of calculation and computing time of resolution,
and clarify the difference between these two methods.
Abstract: The weight constrained shortest path problem
(WCSPP) is one of most several known basic problems in
combinatorial optimization. Because of its importance in many areas
of applications such as computer science, engineering and operations
research, many researchers have extensively studied the WCSPP.
This paper mainly concentrates on the reduction of total search space
for finding WCSP using some existing Genetic Algorithm (GA). For
this purpose, some controlled schemes of genetic operators are
adopted on list chromosome representation. This approach gives a
near optimum solution with smaller elapsed generation than classical
GA technique. From further analysis on the matter, a new
generalized schema theorem is also developed from the philosophy
of Holland-s theorem.
Abstract: Classification of video sequences based on their contents is a vital process for adaptation techniques. It helps decide which adaptation technique best fits the resource reduction requested by the client. In this paper we used the principal feature analysis algorithm to select a reduced subset of video features. The main idea is to select only one feature from each class based on the similarities between the features within that class. Our results showed that using this feature reduction technique the source video features can be completely omitted from future classification of video sequences.
Abstract: The objective is to fabricate organic light emitting
diode and to study its degradation process in atmosphere condition in
which PFO as an emitting material and PEDOT:PSS as a hole
injecting material were used on ITO substrate. Thus degradation
process of the OLED was studied upon its current-voltage
characteristic. By fabricating this OLED and obtaining blue light and
analysis of current-voltage characteristic during the time after
fabrication, it was observed that the current of the OLED was
exponentially decreased. Current reduction during the initial hours of
fabrication was outstanding and after few days its reduction rate was
dropped significantly, while the diode was dying.
Abstract: Cellular networks provide voice and data services to the users with mobility. To deliver services to the mobile users, the cellular network is capable of tracking the locations of the users, and allowing user movement during the conversations. These capabilities are achieved by the location management. Location management in mobile communication systems is concerned with those network functions necessary to allow the users to be reached wherever they are in the network coverage area. In a cellular network, a service coverage area is divided into smaller areas of hexagonal shape, referred to as cells. The cellular concept was introduced to reuse the radio frequency. Continued expansion of cellular networks, coupled with an increasingly restricted mobile spectrum, has established the reduction of communication overhead as a highly important issue. Much of this traffic is used in determining the precise location of individual users when relaying calls, with the field of location management aiming to reduce this overhead through prediction of user location. This paper describes and compares various location management schemes in the cellular networks.
Abstract: In Iran, due to abundance of energy resources, energy consumption is extraordinarily higher than international standards and transportation sector is considered to be one of the major consumers of energy. Moreover, air pollution in urban areas as a result of high dependence on private vehicle and lower standards of vehicles, high subsidies spent on fuel and time waste due to traffic congestion in urban areas all have led to speculations on new strategies and policies in order to control energy consumption in transportation sector. These strategies and policies will be introduced in this paper and their consequences will be analyzed with consideration to socio-economic factors affecting the urban society of Iran. Besides, the intention is to suggest and analyze new approaches such as broader application of public transportation system, demand management in transport sector, replacement of deteriorated vehicles, quality improvement in car manufacture and introduction of substitute fuels.
Abstract: Compliance requires an effective communication
within an enterprise as well as towards a company-s external
environment. This requirement commences with the
implementation of compliance within large scale compliance
projects and still persists in the compliance reporting within
standard operations. On the one hand the understanding of
compliance necessities within the organization is promoted.
On the other hand reduction of asymmetric information with
compliance stakeholders is achieved. To reach this goal, a
central reporting must provide a consolidated view of different
compliance efforts- statuses. A concept which could be
adapted for this purpose is the balanced scorecard by Kaplan /
Norton. This concept has not been analyzed in detail
concerning its adequacy for a holistic compliance reporting
starting in compliance projects until later usage in regularly
compliance operations.
At first, this paper evaluates if a holistic compliance
reporting can be designed by using the balanced scorecard
concept. The current status of compliance reporting clearly
shows that scorecards are generally accepted as a compliance
reporting tool and are already used for corporate governance
reporting. Additional specialized compliance IT - solutions
exist in the market. After the scorecard-s adequacy is
thoroughly examined and proofed, an example strategy map as
the basis to derive a compliance balanced scorecard is defined.
This definition answers the question on proceeding in
designing a compliance reporting tool.
Abstract: Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a common
and disabling condition. Therapist-delivered treatments that use
exposure and response prevention have been found to be very
effective in treating OCD, although they are costly and associated
with high rates of attrition. Effective treatments that can be made
widely available without the need for therapist contact are urgently
needed. This case study represents the first published investigation of
a self-administered cognitive treatment for OCD in a 50-year old
female with a 20 year history of OCD. The treatment evaluation
occurred over 27 weeks, including 12 weeks of self-administration of
the Danger Ideation Reduction Therapy (DIRT) program. Decreases
of between 23% to 33% on measures from pre-treatment to follow-up
were observed. Bearing in mind the methodological limitations
associated with a case study, we conclude that the results reported
here are encouraging and indicate that further research effort
evaluating the effectiveness of self-administered DIRT is warranted.
Abstract: A computationally simple approach of model order
reduction for single input single output (SISO) and linear timeinvariant
discrete systems modeled in frequency domain is proposed
in this paper. Denominator of the reduced order model is determined
using fuzzy C-means clustering while the numerator parameters are
found by matching time moments and Markov parameters of high
order system.
Abstract: In this study, a 3D combustion chamber was simulated
using FLUENT 6.32. Aim to obtain detailed information on
combustion characteristics and _ nitrogen oxides in the furnace and
the effect of oxygen enrichment in a combustion process. Oxygenenriched
combustion is an effective way to reduce emissions. This
paper analyzes NO emission, including thermal NO and prompt NO.
Flow rate ratio of air to fuel is varied as 1.3, 3.2 and 5.1 and the
oxygen enriched flow rates are 28, 54 and 68 lit/min. The 3D
Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations with standard
k-ε turbulence model are solved together by Fluent 6.32 software.
First order upwind scheme is used to model governing equations and
the SIMPLE algorithm is used as pressure velocity coupling. Results
show that for AF=1.3, increase the oxygen flow rate of oxygen
reduction in NO emissions is Lance. Moreover, in a fixed oxygen
enrichment condition, increasing the air to fuel ratio will increase the
temperature peak, but not the NO emission rate. As a result, oxygen
enrichment can reduce the NO emission at this kind of furnace in low
air to fuel rates.