The measured motions inside equatorial plasma bubbles

A preliminary study of the vertical and north-south horizontal ion motions in plasma bubbles in the near-equatorial ionosphere utilizing drift meter data from Atmosphere Explorer E is presented. High resolution data show that the vertical ion velocity in some bubbles increase approximately linearly with (N(0)-N)N, where N(0) is the background ion concentration and N is the bubble ion concentration. At sufficiently large N(0)/N the vertical ion velocity saturates, but often at a value substantially larger than the ratio of the gravitational acceleration to the ion neutral collision frequency. These larger than nominal velocities may result from background eastward electric fields and/or from a vertically elongated bubble cross section. The unanticipated observations that large poleward horizontal drifts accompany these vertical drifts seems to follow naturally from a redistribution of plasma along flux tubes as the plasma convects from the bottomside of the F region to high altitudes

The Negative Impact of Corruption on Development in Nigeria

The study examines the impact of corruption on development in Nigeria. It adopts a descriptive approach. After a critical analysis of literatures, reports and data , it realises that the impact of corruption include among others, poor economic growth, poor infrastructural development, under utilization of human and natural resources, distorted policies and poor policy implementation and a colossal loss of public funds and poor inflow of foreign direct investments. In tackling this negative impacts, the study recommends among others, an attitudinal reorientation on the part of citizens both in private and public sectors towards corruption, strengthening of the anti-corruption agencies in order to discharge their duties efficiently and effectively, prompt judicial adjudication of corruption cases in the law courts so that those found guilty would be sanctioned accordingly to serve as a deterrent to others. Keywords: Impact, corruption, economy, developmen

The performance characteristics of groundnut (Arachis hypogea, L.) biodiesel in a diesel engine

The performance of groundnut ethyl ester blended with diesel in a compression ignition engine was experimentally determined. Groundnut oil reacted with ethanol to produce ethyl esters in a two-step transesterification process. The ethyl-esters were blended with automotive gas oil at (0 to 20%) mix with 5% increment of groundnut ethyl-esters to produce biodiesel. The performance of a 2.46 kW diesel engine was evaluated using the groundnut biodiesel at five loading conditions (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% of full load). Automotive gas oil was used as a reference diesel fuel. The engine torque had a peak value of 8.5 Nm at full load, while the peak value of speed was 1300 rev/min at 25% full load when using 15% groundnut ester-AGO blend. The exhaust gas temperature had a peak value of 420°C at full load when using 5% groundnut ester-AGO blend. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in average values of torque, speed and exhaust gas temperature of the engine for groundnut biodiesel and automotive gas oil. Groundnut biodiesel can be used to fuel a diesel engine.Key words: Groundnut oil, ethyl esters, biodiesel, diesel engine

Performance Evaluation of a Two-Row Okra Planter

Rosana G. Moreira, Editor-in-Chief; Texas A&M UniversityThis is a paper from International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR, Commission Internationale du Genie Rural) E-Journal Volume 8 (2006): Performance Evaluation of a Two-Row Okra Planter. Manuscript PM 06 002. Vol. VIII. July, 2006

Potentials for Generating Alternative Fuels from Empty Palm Fruit Bunches by Pyrolysis

The threat that the disposal of empty palm fruit bunches constitute to communities in oil palm processing areas in Nigeria coupled with the current global focus on alternative energy is the trigger for this work. An existing pyrolytic reactor consisting of a reactor unit, condensate receiver, copper pipe connectors and gas receiver was modified and adapted for converting empty palm fruit bunches to alternative fuels. The average char yield was 44.9%, and the percentage of feedstock converted into pyrogas and tar oil was 55.1%. The char yield decreased gradually as temperature was increased from 300-700°C. Char yield was highest (39.78%) when the temperature was 300°C and the lowest char yield was 25.05% at 700°C The calorific values of char ranged between 21.12 and 23.76 MJ/kg. Apart from the potential of generating energy from pyrolysed EFB, it abates the disposal problem that EFB constitutes in the oil palm industry

Effect of Moisture Content, Nut Size and Hot-Oil Roasting Time on the Whole Kernel “Out-Turn” of Cashew Nuts (Anacardium occidentale) During Shelling

ABSTRACTThe effect of moisture content (MC), nut size and roasting time (RT) on the whole kernel out-turn (WKO) of cashew nuts during shelling was investigated in this study. Cashew nuts were graded into three sizes: small (18 – 22mm), medium (23 – 25mm) and large nuts (26 – 35mm). About 3kg of nuts from each grade was conditioned with water at 25°C to five moisture levels of 8.34, 11.80, 12.57, 15.40 and 16.84% (wb). The nuts were subjected to roasting in hot cashew nut shell liquid at a temperature range between 180 and 190°C for 0.75, 1.00, 1.25, and 1.50min. The nuts were then shelled using a hand-operated shelling machine. The results showed that pre-shelling treatment of cashew nuts enhanced WKO. The single effect of MC, roasting time (RT) or nut size distribution is not enough for estimating WKO; it is rather by an interaction of these parameters. The average WKO of raw nuts was characteristically below 50% at all combinations of MC and RT. Pre-treatment by roasting was found to improve WKO considerably. The highest values were 96.96, 99.63 and 100% for large, medium and small-sized nuts at MC*RT of 16.84%*1min, 16.84%*1min and 15.4%*1.5min respectively. As RT and MC increased, WKO increased within the experimental range

Fuel properties of loofah (Luffa cylindrica L.) biofuel blended with diesel

Fuel properties of loofah oil and its ethyl ester blended with diesel were experimentally determined. Biodiesel blends (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 and 100%) of loofah oil and its ethyl ester by volume with diesel was used. The fuel properties of the biodiesel blends were determined according to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Pure Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) was used as a reference fuel. The viscosity in the blends of loofah oil and its ethyl ester with AGO from B10 to B100 ranged from 4.5 - 43.1 mm2/s. It was observed that the viscosities of 10 - 40% loofah ester-diesel blends fell within limit specified by ASTM standards. The cloud points, the pour points and the flash points increased as the percentage of loofah oil and its ethyl ester increased in the blends. The specific gravity of all the loofah biodiesel blends ranged from 0.863 - 0.89 and fell within limit specified by international standards. The heating values of the loofah biodiesel blends decreased from 42.55 - 28.75 MJ/L. All the loofah biodiesel blends had sulphur contents ranging from 9.16 - 13.2% and lower than that of reference AGO. The ash content of all the biodiesel samples produced from loofah oil ranged from 0.01 - 0.02% and were lower compared to AGO obtained as 0.12. The blends of loofah ethyl ester (LEE) of B10 and B20 were found to have acceptable fuel properties to power compression ignition engines. Key words: Loofah ethyl esters, biodiesel, compression ignition engine, automotive gas oil (AGO)

Moisture dependent mechanical and thermal properties of Locust bean (Parkia biglobosa)

 The mechanical and thermal properties of African locust bean (Parkia biglobosa) seeds were investigated as a function of moisture content in the range of 5.9%–28.2% dry basis (d.b.).  These properties are required for the engineering design of equipment for handling and processing locust bean.  Universal Testing Machine was used to determine the mechanical properties at 5 mm/min load rating transversely.  Normal and shear stresses were determined for 200–500 g loads at 100 g interval.  Specific heat and thermal conductivity were determined using the method of mixtures and steady-state heat flow method respectively.  Linear decreases in rupture force (214.42–129.86 N) and rupture energy (109.17–73.46 N mm) were recorded, while deformation of the seed samples increased (0.98-1.13 mm).  Linear increase in normal stress at 200, 300, 400 and 500 g loads were 8.38–8.69, 9.39–9.70, 10.40–10.71 and 11.41–11.72 g/cm2 respectively, while shear stress ranged from 0.589 to 0.845, 0.688 to 0.998, 0.638–1.213 and 0.688–1.359 g/cm2 at 200, 300, 400 and 500 g with increasing seed moisture content.  The specific heat and thermal conductivity of locust bean increased from 2.74 to 4.38 kJ kg-1 oC-1 and 0.052 to 0.118 W m-1 oC-1 respectively.  Seed moisture content effect was statistically significant (

Spectral radiometric technique for carbon estimation in Omo Forest Reserve, South Western, Nigeria

Field-estimated above-ground biomass (AGB) and spectral data from remote sensing were collected from randomly selected 50 sample plots. AGB  was estimated through the biomass density equation. Radiometric measurements were carried out using a set of spectral vegetation indices. The  remote sensing data was calibrated with those obtained from the field using GPS points. The average model-based estimation using satellite image canopy cover was 30.71 t/plot, while the multispectral data was 69.07 t/plot in the biosphere. This gave a difference of 1.44 t/plot and 36.91 t/plot  respectively from the calculated carbon 32.16 t/plot. The canopy cover based estimation deviated from the ground measurement with 1.44 t/plot, while the estimation based on vegetation indices was twice that of field measurement. The result indicated that calibrated field measurements with forest canopy cover from high resolution image was the most reliable remote sensing technique in estimating AGB in a natural forest as compared  to vegetation index. The model selected for a single tree forest based on modified soil adjusted vegetation index with value of 61.18 t/plot compared to the calculated value of 49.84 t/plot may to some extent improve AGB estimation. Keywords: Carbon sink, Biosphere, Above-ground biomass, Vegetation index and Remote sensin

Tailwater recycling for hydro-power generation, Niger River

In this paper an alternative source of water for the effective running of the Kainji and Jebba hydro-power stations were found in recycling the Jebba tailwater to the headwaters of the Malendo river systems. The result shows that a recycle of 60% of the flow at Lokoja back to Kainji reservoir will guarantee adequate supply of the daily water requirements for the generation of the full installed capacities of 760MW and 540MW of electricity at Kainj and Jebba