Analysis of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Array Optimization

Wind energy is the fastest growing form of renewable energy, with a multitude of possibilities for expansion. This, as well as other forms of renewable energy, will facilitate understanding of the growing concerns regarding global warming by decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. Wind energy requires wind speeds of at least six miles per hour; therefore, only certain geographical areas are suitable for the use of this technology. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the orientation of an array of wind turbines increases or decreases energy production and efficiency. In this study, various arrays consisting of five wind turbines were tested. The total energy output of each array was tested using a wind tunnel from the wind energy lab at Georgia Southern University, INA219 current sensors, custom software written by Matthew Kiernan, and five “Cutting Edge Power” wind turbines. The most efficient array in terms of voltage, power and current was the 2-1-2 array, with average outputs of: voltage at 3.98 V, current at 440.73 mA, and power at 900.92 mW. The efficiency was determined through the power coefficient, which was 32.64%. The next most efficient array was the Left-Right Staggered array, with averages of: voltage at 3.90 V, current at 208.47 mA, and power at 838.08 mW. The efficiency was determined through the power coefficient, which was 32.13%. The Diagonal array was the third most efficient in overall energy output, with averages of: voltage at 3.75 V, current at 200.66 mA, and power at 789.07 mW. The efficiency was determined through the power coefficient, which was 29.54. The least efficient array array for energy output was Single File, with averages of: voltage at 2.79 V, current at 137.69 mA, and power at 451.05 mW. The efficiency was determined through the power coefficient, which was 18.31%. The results demonstrated that the close proximity of turbines negatively affects energy output, as observed through the turbulence that was produced. Possible errors observed were due to turbine models that did not perform as expected as well as the breadboard configuration

The effect of the interaction of various spawn grains with different culture medium on carpophore dry weights and stipe and pileus diameters of Lentinus squarrosulus

Lentinus squarrosulus, an indigenous mushroom specie commonly found growing on dead logs in the Zaria environ of Kaduna State was cultured on six different medium which were inoculated separately with three different spawn grains and amended with six different oils at five different rates. The interaction of spawn grains x culture medium had a highly significant effect on carpophore dry weight and stipe and pileus diameters of L. squarrosulus. The results reveal that the interaction of millet spawn x animal bedding and rice medium induced the widest stipe diameter while the interaction of corn spawn x animal bedding and rice medium induced the heaviest carpophore dry weight as well as the widest pileus diameter. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (7), pp. 615-619, 200

Proximate analysis of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer and Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two mushroom species commonly found growing on dead leaves and logs, were collected from the Zaria environ and taken to the laboratory for further studies. Each of the mushroom species was separated into its stipe and pileus and used for proximate analysis. There was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the two species. P. atroumbonata had significantly higher crude protein, crude fibre and moisture content than L. squarrosulus while the reverse was the case for ash, dry matter, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. In addition, there was a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the proximate composition of the different mushroom parts. The pilei contained significantly higher amounts of crude protein, crude fibre, ash, and dry matter than the stipes while the converse was the case for moisture, crude fat and soluble carbohydrates. There was also a highly significant difference (p<0.01) in the interaction of species by part

The effect of media, oil type and rate on the mycelia wet and dry weights of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) singer and psathyrella patroumbonata pegler in submerged liquid culture

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two edible indigenous mushroom species, were cultured in four different submerged liquid media supplemented with coconut, cotton, groundnut, butterfat, palm kernel and palm oil at 5 different rates. The differences in the means due to the different media types were highly significant (

The effects of the interaction of various oil types and rates on the mycelial wet and dry weights of Lentinus squarrosulus (Mont.) Singer and Psathyrella atroumbonata Pegler in submerged liquid cultures

Lentinus squarrosulus and Psathyrella atroumbonata, two edible indigenous mushroom species, were cultured in various different media supplemented with coconut, cotton, groundnut, butterfat, palm kernel and palm oil respectively, at 5 different rates. The interaction of the various oil types with different rates produced highly significant differences (

Biotechnology in Pest Management: Improving Resistance in Sorghum to Insect Pests

Annual losses in grain production attributed to four major insect pests (shootfly, stem borers, midge and head bugs) are estimated at $1,098 million in Africa and Asia alone. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for these insects have been poorly focused. There is little scope for chemical insecticides in sorghum production in sub-Saharan Africa. Various cultural and biological methods, including recommended intercropping configurations and biocontrol have either not been adopted by farmers or have not shown lasting success. Although much effort has gone into the identification and development of insect resistant sorghums, apart from sorghum midge, conventional breeding techniques have not yielded agronomically desirable products. Several biotechnological approaches for achieving higher levels of resistance in sorghum are discussed. Marker-assisted selection can speed up the breeding process and lead to gene pyramiding from diverse sources. The transfer of resistance genes from wild relatives of sorghum is of particular relevance to shootfly. With recent advances in genetic engineering, the standardization of protocols for routine transformation is being pursued at ICRISAT. Three techniques are discussed. Biosafety concerns are briefly mentioned

Morphological factors of the central whorl leaf associated with leaf surface wetness and resistance in sorghum to shoot fly, Atherigona soccata

Earlier studies showed that leaf surface water on the central whorl leaf of sorghum seedlings is associated with resistance to shoot fly. In this study, the results of an experiment to determine if leaf surface wetness (LSW) originates from atmospheric condensation or from the plant are described. Morphological structures: trichomes, stomata, leaf cuticle and quantity of surface wax of the central whorl leaf were also examined for their role in LSW production. The results suggest that LSW of the central whorl leaf originates from the plant and is not due to condensation of atmospheric moisture. The presence of trichomes was indirectly associated with LSW and resistance to shoot fly but stomatal density was not associated with LSW production. The amount of wax extracted per 100 mg of fresh weight varied significantly between genotypes and seedling age. It was more in susceptible than in resistant genotypes; however, cuticular thickness was not associated with resistance. It is suggested that LSW could be the result of some form of cuticular movement of water to the leaf surface

Registration of Nine Sorghum Lines with Resistance to Sorghum Midge: ICSV 692, ICSV 730, ICSV 731, ICSV 736, ICSV 739, ICSV 744, ICSV 745, and ICSV 748

Information on origin, pedigree, agronomic characters, yield potential and percentage damage due to sorghum midge (Contarinia sorghicola) is tabulated for these 9 lines (PI576123 to PI576131) selected for resistance in the F2 to F5 under the infester row technique at Patancheru and at Dharwad (Karnataka). Selected lines were tested using the headcage (no-choice) technique over several seasons. The lines are diverse in plant height (74-282 cm), days to 50% anthesis (59-81 days) and 1000-grain weight (18-31 g).Over 5-10 seasons of testing at Patancheru, the lines gave midge damage ratings (DRs) of 2.9-3.8 under natural infection and 2.2-4.3 under no-choice headcage testing, compared with respective values of 8.4 and 9.0 for the commercial hybrid CSH1 (where 1 = 80% spikelets damaged). Across 4 test locations in India, the lines had DRs of 2.3-3.9, compared with 8.4 for CSH1. They have also shown stability for resistance to midge in Australia, Africa (except Kenya) and Central America

Registration of ICS 88019 and ICS 88020 Midge-Resistant Grain Sorghum A and B Parental Lines

ICSA88019 and ICSB88019 (PI592505) and ICSA88020 and ICSB88020 (PI592506) are sorghum midge (Contarinia sorghicola [Stenodiplosis sorghicola])-resistant sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) seed parents based on the A1 CMS system and developed by ICRISAT at Patancheru, India. ICSB88019 and ICSB88202 were both derived by pedigree selection, and have the pedigrees IS152 × DJ6214-8-1-1-1-1 and FLR101 × DJ6514-13-1-1-2-1, respectively, where DJ6514 is a stable source of resistance to sorghum midge from India, IS152 is a locally adapted germplasm accession from India and FLR101 is an elite line derived from the FLR population. The B-lines were crossed to 296A (A1 cytoplasm) for conversion into male-sterile lines. Information is tabulated on plant height, time to 50% anthesis, grain yield and midge damage of the B-lines grown at Patancheru during the rainy season of 1991 and the post-rainy season of 1991-92

Resistance in sorghum to the shoot fly, Atherigona soccata: epicuticular wax and wetness of the central whorl leaf of young seedlings

Sorghum genotypes known to be resistant or susceptible to shoot fly, Atherigona soccata Rondani were examined by scanning electron microscopy for differences in epicuticular wax structure and wetness of the central leaf whorl. Two major types of wax structures were observed: shoot fly resistant and moderately resistant genotypes were characterised by a smooth amorphous wax layer and sparse wax crystals while susceptible genotypes possessed a dense meshwork of crystalline epicuticular wax. The density of wax crystals decreased from the third leaf to the seventh leaf stage and was related to both seedling age and leaf position. Water droplets on susceptible genotypes with dense wax crystals showed spreading at the edges indicating a tendency to wet easily. In resistant genotypes with less dense wax crystals the droplets remained intact and did not spread