Process system engineering in biodiesel production: a review

Biodiesel is fast becoming a popular alternative to fossil fuels, as it is natural, renewable and has low toxic emissions. Strategies that have been adopted to ensure continued growth of the biodiesel industry are policy development, reduction of biodiesel tax, offset funding for incremental fuel cost from CO2 emission fuel and support for research and development of potential biodiesel feedstocks. Recent innovations of biodiesel processes are focused on the development of more efficient catalysts and in the utilization of novel reaction media such as supercritical fluids as well as on a variety of oil feedstocks such as virgin and waste oils. Biodiesel production involves complex processes which require systematic process design and optimization. The main aim of designing biodiesel plants is to maxime conversion of ethyl or methyl esters at the lowest capital cost of the plant. The design should also consider safety and environmental concerns. Process system engineering (PSE) is a systematic approach to design and analyze complex processes by using a variety of PSE tools for the optimization of biodiesel production. This paper reviews the latest PSE tools used in development of novel biodiesel processes. It describes the main PSE elements such as process model development and product design, simulation of biodiesel processes, optimization of biodiesel synthesis, and integration of reactor and separation systems. This review also highlights the sustainability of biodiesel production

Process system engineering in biodiesel production: a review

Biodiesel is fast becoming a popular alternative to fossil fuels, as it is natural, renewable and has low toxic emissions. Strategies that have been adopted to ensure continued growth of the biodiesel industry are policy development, reduction of biodiesel tax, offset funding for incremental fuel cost from CO2 emission fuel and support for research and development of potential biodiesel feedstocks. Recent innovations of biodiesel processes are focused on the development of more efficient catalysts and in the utilization of novel reaction media such as supercritical fluids as well as on a variety of oil feedstocks such as virgin and waste oils. Biodiesel production involves complex processes which require systematic process design and optimization. The main aim of designing biodiesel plants is to maxime conversion of ethyl or methyl esters at the lowest capital cost of the plant. The design should also consider safety and environmental concerns. Process system engineering (PSE) is a systematic approach to design and analyze complex processes by using a variety of PSE tools for the optimization of biodiesel production. This paper reviews the latest PSE tools used in development of novel biodiesel processes. It describes the main PSE elements such as process model development and product design, simulation of biodiesel processes, optimization of biodiesel synthesis, and integration of reactor and separation systems. This review also highlights the sustainability of biodiesel production

Methyl esters selectivity of transesterification reaction with homogenous alkaline catalyst to produce biodiesel in batch, plug flow, and continuous stirred tank reactors

Selectivity concept is essential in establishing the best operating conditions for attaining maximum production of the desired product. For complex reaction such as biodiesel fuel synthesis, kinetic studies of transesterification reaction have revealed the mechanism of the reaction and rate constants. The objectives of this research are to develop the kinetic parameters for determination of methyl esters and glycerol selectivity, evaluate the significance of the reverse reaction in transesterification reaction, and examine the influence of reaction characteristics (reaction temperature, methanol to oil molar ratio, and the amount of catalyst) on selectivity. For this study, published reaction rate constants of transesterification reaction were used to develop mathematical expressions for selectivities. In order to examine the base case and reversible transesterification, two calculation schemes (Case 1 and Case 2) were established. An enhanced selectivity was found in the base case of transesterification reaction. The selectivity was greatly improved at optimum reaction temperature (60 C), molar ratio (9 : 1), catalyst concentration (1.5 wt.%), and low free fatty acid feedstock. Further research might explore the application of selectivity for specifying reactor configurations

Kompetensi emosi dan kepemimpinan transformasional di sekolah berkesan dan sekolah kurang berkesan

Purpose – This research sought to identify leaders' emotional competency levels and transformational leadership in effective and ineffective school.Method – Survey method was employed, using the Emotional Competence Inventory (ECI-2) and Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ5x). Respondents were 485 school leaders (233 from effective schools and 251 from less effective schools) from northern Peninsular Malaysia.Findings – Findings show a significant difference in emotional competency levels and transformational leadership in effective and ineffective schools, which would greatly influence the success and image of school leadership.Therefore, to improve school effectiveness, efforts to enhance emotional competencies and transformational leadership levels of leaders in ineffective schools are necessary.The hypothesis for differences in term of age and gender was supported.This study also found that the dimension of the adaptability and influence played an influential role in the process of transformational leadership in effective schools. Significance – The paper explores extensively the possible implications of the study to schools and school leadership, teachers and the Ministry of Education in Malaysia

Pengurusan kokurikulum dan tahap penglibatan pelajar dalam aktiviti kokurikulum di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Daerah Kuala Terengganu

Pengetua merupakan individu penting yang bertanggungjawab menguruskan hal ehwal berkaitan kokurikulum. Namun begitu pengetua sering terikat dengan kerja-kerja rutin dalam mentadbir dan mengurus sekolah.Dalam usaha untuk meningkatkan pengurusan kokurikulum sekolah biasanya pengetua akan menyerahkan tugas pengurusan kokurikulum kepada GPKKo.Justeru, kajian ini bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti dan memahami perspektif guru-guru terhadap peranan GPKKo dalam pengurusan kokurikulum di sekolah menengah kebangsaan di daerah Kuala Terengganu.Peranan GPKKo dikaji berdasarkan aspek-aspek pengurusan GPKKo sebagai perancang, pengelola, pemimpin dan pengawal kokurikulum di sekolah.Kajian juga untuk mengenal pasti penglibatan pelajar dalam aktiviti kokurikulum berdasarkan dimensi; interaksi psikologi dan juga interaksi fizikal. Sampel kajian terdiri daripada 171 orang guru yang sedang berkhidmat di dua buah sekolah menengah kebangsaan di daerah Kuala Terengganu. Analisis deskriptif yang melibatkan min dan sisihan piawai digunakan untuk melaporkan hasil kajian yang telah dijalankan.Dapatan kajian ini menunjukkan bahawa pentingnya peranan GPKKo di sekolah mempraktikkan peranan pengurusan kokurikulum yang berkesan, agar para guru dan pelajar akan lebih bermotivasi dalam memastikan kejayaan pelaksanaan aktiviti kokurikulum di sekolah.Ianya selaras dengan inspirasi negara sepertimana yang terkandung di dalam Pelan Pembangunan Pendidikan Malaysia (PPPM) 2013-2015

Harmonic reduction of a single-phase multilevel inverter using genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization

Inverter play important role in power system especially with it capability on reducing system size and increase efficient. Recent research trend of power electronics system are focusing on multilevel inverter topic in optimization on voltage output, reduce total harmonics distortion, modulation technique and switching configuration. Standalone application multilevel inverter is high focused due to the rise of renewable energy policy all around the world. Hence, this research emphasis on identify best topology of multilevel inverter and optimize it among the diode-clamped, capacitor clamped and cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter to be used for standalone application in term of total harmonics distortion and voltage boosting capability. The first part of research that is identify best topology multilevel inverter is applying sinusoidal pulse width modulation technique. The result shown cascade H-bridge give the best output in both total harmonics distortion (9.27%) and fundamental component voltage (240 Vrms). The research proceed with optimization with fundamental switching frequency method that is optimized harmonic stepped waveform modulation method. The selective harmonics elimination calculation have adapt with genetic algorithm and particle swarm optimization in order to speed up the calculation. Both bio-inspired algorithm is compared in term of total harmonic distortion and selected harmonics elimination for both equal and unequal sources. In overall result shown both algorithm have high accuracy in solving the non-linear equation. However, genetic algorithm shown better output quality in term of selected harmonics elimination where overall no exceeding 0.4%. Particle swarm optimization shows strength in finding best total harmonics distortion where in 7-level cascaded H-bridge multilevel inverter (m=0.8) show 6.8% only as compared to genetic algorithm. Simulation for 3-level, 5-level and 7-level for each multilevel inverter at different circumferences had been done in this research. The result draw out a conclusion where the possibility of having a filterless high efficient invert can be achieve

Steam Reforming of Glycerol over Ni Supported Alumina Xerogel for Hydrogen Production

AbstractMomentous amount of glycerol is produced as a by-product during bio-diesel production by the transesterification of vegetable oils, which are available at low cost in large supply from renewable raw materials. As hydrogen is a clean energy carrier, conversion of glycerol to hydrogen is one among the most attractive ways to make use of glycerol. In this study, the catalytic production of hydrogen by steam reforming of glycerol has been experimentally performed in a fixed-bed reactor. The performance of this process was evaluated over 10wt% Ni supported alumina xerogel catalysts. Ni is impregnated over alumina xerogel which was pretreated at different temperatures of 700°C, 800°C, 900°C and 1000°C. For a comparative purpose, the steam reforming experiments were conducted under same operating conditions, i.e., reaction temperature of 600°C, atmospheric pressure and 1:6 glycerol to water molar ratio where we are getting 100% glycerol conversion in all the runs. The results showed that the hydrogen production increased with the increase in the treatment temperature of the support. The highest amount of hydrogen produced was attained over 10wt% Ni doped alumina xerogel pretreated at 1000°C. The catalytic enhancement over the best catalyst system is due to the thermal stability of the support which is treated at highest temperature. Sol gel method of preparation is implemented in the support development and different catalyst systems used in the reforming process were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction, BET surface area and SEM analysis