Characterization and evaluation of selected kaolin clay deposits in Nigeria for furnace lining application

Kaolin and ball clay samples from four states in Nigeria were examined with the aim of determining their chemical composition as well as testing for their suitability as refractory materials for furnaces lining applications. Three kaolin samples were taken from Ikpeshi in Edo, Kasadi in Kebbi and Alaasan in Osun state, while the ball clay sample used as the binder was taken from Badeggi in Niger state. The kaolin samples were tested and beneficiated in other to improve on their alumina contents after which they were characterized and produced as a refractory brick by mixing each kaolin sample with the ball clay in 70:30 ratio. They were then tested comprehensively for the following refractory properties such as: firing shrinkage, apparent porosity, bulk density, cold crushing strength, thermal shock resistance, refractory under load (RUL), thermal expansion, thermal conductivity, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope. The results were compared with standard refractory properties for fireclay bricks. The values obtained from the three clay samples (A, B, C) which are from Ikpeshi in Edo, Kasadi in Kebbi and Alaasan in Osun state respectively were within the recommended values for fireclay bricks, most especially sample C which has a refractoriness under load (RUL) of 1348OC which is the temperature at which the bricks will collapse under a constant load of 0.2N/mm2. This compared favourably with the RUL of other countries in the world.Keywords: Porosity, clay, brick, refractoriness, kaoli

Emission Comparison of Air-Fuel Mixtures for Pure Gasoline and Bioethanol Fuel Blend (E20) Combustion on Sparking-Ignition Engine

This study analyses and compared the exhaust gas emission of two different airfuel mixture, Pure Gasoline and Bioethanol Fuel blend (E10 and E20), in a spark-ignition (S.I.) engine. Proximate and ultimate analyses of pure gasoline and bioethanol blend were carried out for their respective percentage (%) elemental composition for each fuel (i.e., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, metals, and water). The analysis reveals that pure gasoline has high carbon (C) content of 86%, and bioethanol has a carbon content of 52.2%. Oxygen content stands at 33-35% and was carried out at varying load conditions. To ascertain their CO., CO2, HC., NO, lambda, and the calorific values of exhaust emission. The result clearly shows that bioethanol's calorific value is lower than that of gasoline, which gives a remarkable increase in mechanical efficiency, which was attributed to an increase in the oxygen content in bioethanol, ethanol blend during combustion gives an airfuel mixture lean in an unmodified engine. Hence the mixture strength (charge) burns more rapidly. Bioethanol blends in gasoline engines reduce CO. emissions, unlike gasoline, which gave higher CO emissions. The gas emission test was conducted on E10, and E20.and effective combustion was determined and completed much earlier in the expansion stroke, thereby decreasing the probability of CO emissions due to flame quenching. At the end of the investigation, it was found that bioethanol blend reduces CO and HC in exhaust stroke by 40% and gives a higher compression ratio (high speed) thus, causes a decrease in CO2 NOX. E20 for both idle and high speed recorded a remarkable reduction in comparison. Therefore, bioethanol fuel blends in gasoline engines are recommended as mitigation against the greenhouse gas effec

Emission Comparison of Air-Fuel Mixtures for Pure Gasoline and Bioethanol Fuel Blend (E20) Combustion on Sparking-Ignition Engine

This study analyses and compared the exhaust gas emission of two different airfuel mixture, Pure Gasoline and Bioethanol Fuel blend (E10 and E20), in a spark-ignition (S.I.) engine. Proximate and ultimate analyses of pure gasoline and bioethanol blend were carried out for their respective percentage (%) elemental composition for each fuel (i.e., carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, nitrogen, metals, and water). The analysis reveals that pure gasoline has high carbon (C) content of 86%, and bioethanol has a carbon content of 52.2%. Oxygen content stands at 33-35% and was carried out at varying load conditions. To ascertain their CO., CO2, HC., NO, lambda, and the calorific values of exhaust emission. The result clearly shows that bioethanol's calorific value is lower than that of gasoline, which gives a remarkable increase in mechanical efficiency, which was attributed to an increase in the oxygen content in bioethanol, ethanol blend during combustion gives an airfuel mixture lean in an unmodified engine. Hence the mixture strength (charge) burns more rapidly. Bioethanol blends in gasoline engines reduce CO. emissions, unlike gasoline, which gave higher CO emissions. The gas emission test was conducted on E10, and E20.and effective combustion was determined and completed much earlier in the expansion stroke, thereby decreasing the probability of CO emissions due to flame quenching. At the end of the investigation, it was found that bioethanol blend reduces CO and HC in exhaust stroke by 40% and gives a higher compression ratio (high speed) thus, causes a decrease in CO2 NOX. E20 for both idle and high speed recorded a remarkable reduction in comparison. Therefore, bioethanol fuel blends in gasoline engines are recommended as mitigation against the greenhouse gas effec

Multi-response optimisation of machining parameters in turning AISI 304L using different oil-based cutting fluids

Properties of melon seed and beniseed oils which are considered as “environmentally” friendly oils were investigated and the performance evaluation of the formulated beniseed and melon seed oil- based cutting fluids were carried out. American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) 304L alloy steel was used as workpiece and tungsten carbide as cutting tool, while commercial mineral oil- based cutting fluid was used as a control experiment. The viscosities of the melon seed oil and beniseed oil- based cutting fluids were 1.53 mm2/s and 0.86mm2/s, while their pH values were 8.2 and 8.7 respectively. The optimal multi-response turning parameters was achieved using cutting speed of 159 rev/min (level 3), feed rate of 0.9 mm/rev (level 3), depth of cut of 1 mm (level 2) and type of cutting fluid of 1.53mm/s (level 3). The ANOVA results show that feed rate has the most significant effect on the surface roughness (92.93%) and cutting temperature (27.51%).Keywords: Cutting fluids; Surface roughness; Temperature; Cutting too

Process optimization of the mechanical properties of AISI 1020 steel quenched using maize-stover ash potash solution

The process parameter optimization of maize-stover ash potash (MSAP) as a quenching medium for heat treatment of AISI-1020 steel was conducted in this study to improve the mechanical properties of steel after carburization and quenching. The optimization process utilized Taguchi L9(32) orthogonal array method to determine the individual Signal to Noise (S/N) ratio and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). A multi-response weighted analysis technique was applied to derive combined quality responses of the heat treated test pieces. The result shows that the optimal factor level of MSAP solution strength was achieved at AM1BM1, which offered 57.6 HRC hardness, 39 J toughness and 1971 N/mm2 tensile strength as improved mechanical properties for the heat treated steel. Keywords: Optimization, MSAP, quenching, Taguchi, ANOV

Comparison of biomechanical and anthropometrical data of Nigeria tertiary institution students with some selected countries

The anthropometric data of student in selected tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria was investigated and this was compared with some selected foreign countries. The study was to determine whether design improvement and further study is required in order to improve the conditions in Nigeria tertiary institutions. The anthropometrics measurements data were collected from 720 students of selected institutions. The data indicate a substantial degree of variability between the Nigerian tertiary students’ body and the foreign counterparts. Since most of the furniture in use in our tertiary institutions in Abeokuta, Nigeria were designed and constructed using the anthropometric data of students in foreign countries, there is need for anthropometric data of Nigerian students in the tertiary institution for the design and construction of furniture to suit them. The result is of great concern which could affect students in other institutions throughout Nigeria and could also pose a great risk of having back problem among students in Nigeria. Statement of Relevancy: The chair and table used in Nigeria were designed with reference to the measurement of other countries. The database of the Nigerian students will be very useful parameter in guiding principle for the designing of future equipment to be used in classrooms, laboratories and lecture theaters of the institutions