Hybrid photovoltaic-thermoelectric generator powered synchronous reluctance motor for pumping applications

The interest in photovoltaic (PV) pumping systems has increased, particularly in rural areas where there is no grid supply available. However, both the performance and the cost of the whole system are still an obstacle for a wide spread of this technology. In this article, a hybrid photovoltaic (PV)-thermoelectric generator (TEG) is investigated for pumping applications. The electric drivetrain comprises a synchronous reluctance motor and an inverter. A control strategy for the drivetrain is employed to execute two main tasks: 1) driving the motor properly to achieve a maximum torque per Ampere condition and 2) maximizing the output power of the PV system at different weather conditions. This means that the conventional DC-DC converter is not used in the proposed system. Moreover, batteries, which are characterized by short life expectancy and high replacement cost, are also not used. It is found that the motor output power and the pump flow rate are increased by about 9.5% and 12% respectively when the hybrid PV-TEG array is used compared to only using PV array. Accordingly, the performance, cost and complexity of the system are improved. Measurements on an experimental laboratory setup are constructed to validate the theoretical results of this work

Solar array fed synchronous reluctance motor driven water pump : an improved performance under partial shading conditions

An improved performance of a photovoltaic (PV) pumping system employing a synchronous reluctance motor (SynRM) under partial shading conditions is proposed. The system does not include the dc-dc converter that is predominantly being utilized for maximizing the output power of the PV array. In addition, storage batteries are also not contained. A conventional inverter connected directly to the PV array is used to drive the SynRM. Further, a control strategy is proposed to drive the inverter so that the maximum output power of the PV array is achieved while the SynRM is working at the maximum torque per Ampere condition. Consequently, this results in an improved system efficiency and cost. Moreover, two maximum power point tracking (MPPT) techniques are compared under uniform and partial shadow irradiation conditions. The first MPPT algorithm is based on the conventional perturbation and observation (P&O) method and the second one uses a differential evolution (DE) optimization technique. It is found that the DE optimization method leads to a higher PV output power than using the P&O method under the partial shadow condition. Hence, the pump flow rate is much higher. However, under a uniform irradiation level, the PV system provides the available maximum power using both MPPT techniques. The experimental measurements are obtained to validate the theoretical work

The Social Responsibility for Islamic Banks: Jordan Islamic Bank for Finance and Investment as a Model

This study aimed to assess of the awareness level of Jordanian Islamic Bank for Investment and finance management for fields of the social responsibility application from the perspective of their employees, the study population consists of all employees in Islamic banks, due to the large size of the study population so the researcher resorted to choose a stratified random sample of employees. The final number of sample totaled (60) employees. The study found some results, among them the following: a. The descriptive analysis results showed that the assessment of the study sample of the perception level of Jordanian Islamic Bank for Investment and finance management for fields of the social responsibility application was (positive) and (high) degree, from the perspective of employees in the mentioned bank. b. There were no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α = 0.05), between responses means of the study sample members about fields of the social responsibility application in Jordanian Islamic Bank for Investment and Finance, accordingly to some personal and functional characteristics which are (gender, age groups, educational level, number of experience years, and monthly income). Keywords: Social responsibility, Islamic banks, fields of the social responsibility application, Jordan

Improvement in the efficiency of hydrolysis of anaerobic digestion in sewage sludge by the use of enzymes

The effects of enzymatic pre-treatment on a mixture of sludge (primary, secondary, digested) collected from different municipal wastewater-treatment plants was investigated by Batch experiments in the laboratory to enhance the hydrolysis of sludge. The experiments were carried out at mesophilic (37 degrees C) temperature. Six commercially available enzymes, supplied by Novo Industries, were used which ware Alcalase, Caresyme, Celluclast, Lipolase, Termamyl and Viscosyme. The experiment showed that with 50% digested sludge and 0.1% enzyme dosage of Carezyme and the mixed enzymes there was 11.5% and 10.6% decrease in volatile solids (VS), whereas with 25% digested sludge and 0.1% Viscosyme enzyme was very much effective for VS reduction compared with the blank (it shows 16.3% higher than blank). In another set of experiments, which differed in sludge characteristics with 25% digested sludge and 0.5% enzyme dosage the culture containing the mixed enzymes presents the highest percentage of VS reduction among all the samples (13.6% higher than blank), where with 25% digested sludge and 0.5% enzyme dosage of Termamyl and mixed enzymes show 13.5% and 12.8% greater VS reduction respectively compared with the blank. The experimental work showed that enzymatic pre-treatment can be successfully used as a pre-treatment step for treating sludge mixture produced from municipal wastewater treatment plant and the performance of individual enzymes largely depends on the characteristics of sludge

Prostate-Specific Antigen Levels Among Diabetic Men: Exploring Patients Attending Outpatient Clinic in Yemen

Introduction: It has been reported that patients with diabetes have a decreased risk for developing prostate cancer. The study aimed to measure Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels among diabetic men who had not previously been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in public hospitals among diabetic men in Aden, Yemen. A predesigned structured questionnaire, including the personal data as well as physical and clinical characteristics of the study population, such as height, weight, smoking status, the duration of diabetes, and the type of treatment, was included. Blood samples were collected from the respondents, and the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and PSA were measured. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: A total of 145 diabetic male patients were included in this study. The mean PSA level of the respondents was 2.56 ng/ml. There were significant differences in PSA levels according to patient age (p=0.000). The elderly patients exhibited significantly higher PSA levels than the younger groups. The PSA levels of smokers (2.60±0.48 ng/ml) were significantly higher (p=0.035) than those of nonsmokers (2.45±0.65 ng/ml). However, no significant difference was found in PSA levels according to body mass index (BMI) category, the type of treatment, or the duration of diabetes. Additionally, our results showed that PSA levels were not significantly correlated with FBG levels. Conclusion: PSA levels were associated with age and smoking status, but not with BMI, the type of diabetic treatment, the duration of diabetes, or with FBG levels

Experimental Study of Adsorption on Activated Carbon for CO₂ Capture

The adsorption of carbon dioxide (CO2) on activated carbon (AC) prepared from olive trees has been investigated by using a fixed bed adsorption apparatus. The adsorption equilibrium and breakthrough curves were determined at different temperatures 30, 50, 70, and 90°C in order to investigate both kinetic and thermodynamic parameters. Maximum CO2 sorption capacity on AC ranged from 109.5 to 35.46 and from 129.65 to 35.55 mg CO2/g of AC for initial concentrations 10 and 13.725% vol., respectively. Different isotherm models are applied to mathematically model the CO2 adsorption, and on the basis of the estimated adsorption capacity by model and determination coefficient (r2), the Langmuir model provides a perfect fit to the experimental data owing to closeness of the r2 to unity. From the correlation coefficient, it is found that the pseudo-second-order model is well-fitted with the experimental data. In addition, it indicates that CO2 adsorption is a physical adsorption process and demonstrates a behavior of an exothermic reaction, which is consistent with the thermodynamic analysis. The results obtained in this study conclude that AC prepared from olive trees can be considered as adequate for designing a fixed bed cycle to separate carbon dioxide from flue gases and serve as a benchmark while searching for inexpensive and superior activated carbon production in future studies

BlackBerry PlayBook backup forensic analysis

© Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering 2013. Due to the numerous complicating factors in the field of small scale digital device forensics, physical acquisition of the storage of such devices is often not possible (at least not without destroying the device). As an alternative, forensic examiners often gather digital evidence from small scale digital devices through logical acquisition. This paper focuses on analyzing the backup file generated for the BlackBerry PlayBook device, using the BlackBerry Desktop Management software to perform the logical acquisition. Our work involved analyzing the generated “.bbb” file looking for traces and artifacts of user activity on the device. Our results identified key files that can assist in creating a profile of the device’s usage. Information about BlackBerry smart phone devices connected to the tablet was also recovered

Life Cycle Assessment for Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP)nComposites Used in Concrete Beams: A State-of-the-Art Review

Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have become popularly utilized in structural engineering applications. The common use of the FRP composites is related to their economic benefits that can be observed right away or in a long-time period. With increasing concern about global warming and the shortage of natural resources, it is essential to study the environmental implications of the use of FRP composites. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is one of the most common techniques that can be used to take the environmental impact of the FRP into consideration. This paper presents a literature review about the LCA of FRP composites in concrete beams. The LCA results reported in the literature confirmed the use of FRP composites for reinforcing the RC beams instead of conventional steel rebars or that the strengthening of RC beams instead of demolishing and reconstruction is a more environment-friendly approach

THE CHALLENGES OF PHARMACY EDUCATION IN THE SUDAN

Active steps to establish a college of pharmacy affiliated to University of Khartoum began in the early 1960s.The graduation of the first batch of pharmacists dated back to 1968.  Five academic years, including a preliminary one, are required to obtain the degree, B. Pharm. The applied disciplines taught in the 1960(s) in many parts of the world were: Pharmaceutical Chemistry Pharmaceutics. Pharmacology and Pharmcognosy.  The basic subjects which preceded the applied courses comprised mainly pure chemistry, botany, zoology, human physiology, biochemistry, mathematics and physics.  &nbsp

Overview of Cardiac Rehabilitation Evidence, Benefits and Utilisation

Historically, the main objective of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) as an exercise-based programme was to restore or improve patients’ regular physical activity after a cardiac event. Since then CR has evolved into a comprehensive secondary prevention programme, the objectives of CR, and indications and contraindications for its use have also developed in sophistication. Current CR programmes are designed to stabilise or even reverse the progression of heart disease by controlling all modifiable risk factors. They are also concerned with improving patients’ quality of life by restoring their wellbeing. All this should be achieved with the maximum safety levels to patients. The first part of this review details on how CR evolved from a simple exercise programme to a comprehensive secondary prevention programme in the past few decades. The second part sets an example of modern CR provision, pathway and guidelines in a top leading country in this field, the UK. Keywords: cardiac rehabilitation, secondary prevention, coronary artery diseas