Estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt via correlation with relative humidity and temperature

This paper is part of the Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Energy and Sustainability (ESUS 2015). http://www.witconferences.comRelative humidity and temperature data are more readily available to obtain from observatories than sunshine hour data. In this work, 10 years (1986–1987, 1990–1997) monthly average measurement of relative solar radiation, daily temperature range, relative humidity and the ratio of minimum to maximum temperature were used to establish the coefficient of eight models for estimating solar radiation in Ikeja and Port Harcourt. Coefficient of correlation (R), Mean Bias Error (MBE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE), t-statistic and the rank score were used as performance indicators. In Port Harcourt, the equation producing the best result with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of −0.1078, 0.9850, −0.4373% and 0.3653, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 3.266 − 0.306(RH)0,5. In Ikeja, the equation producing the best estimation with MBE, RMSE, MPE and t-statistic value of 0.1590, 1.0110, 2.0559% and 0.5281, respectively, is given by: Rs/Ro = 2.042 − 2.136(θ)

Recent Development on Treatment of Crude Oil Contaminated Water Using Agricultural Waste – A Review

Crude oil recovery processes generate large volumes of crude oil-contaminated water. Crude oil-contaminated water was noted to contain hydrocarbons (including saturates and aromatics) as well as non-hydrocarbons. Some hydrocarbons in the contaminated water are found to be carcinogenic, neurotoxic, and genotoxic to humans and other organisms. Thus, the exposure of human being and other organism like fishes in the marine environment to these hydrocarbons through skin contact to such contaminated water or consumption of contaminated food and water may be very dangerous. The remediation of such oil contaminated water has become a crucial problem in oil producing countries and requires more drastic attention. Several technologies have been deployed at solving this problem. Utilization of agricultural wastes as adsorbents has however, been found to be more attractive to researches due to its environmental friendly tendencies and economic viability. This paper reviewed the attempt of researchers at addressing this problem by using agricultural wastes like banana peel, rice husk, etc as sorbent for removal of the oil from the crude oil-contaminated water. It was observed that agricultural wastes compete favourably with synthetic adsorbents in oil removal from crude oil contaminated water. Though many agricultural products have been investigated, there are some like plantain peel, papaya peel and water melon rind that need to be considered for this treatment

Effects of Temperature on the Rheological Properties of Rice Husk Modified Bentonite Drilling Fluids

In this study, water base drilling fluids were developed using bentonite clay and rice husk. The pure and blends of bentonite clay and rice husk as specified by samples A with (pure bentonite), B (with pure rice husk), C (1:1 of rice husk to bentonite) and D (2:1 of rice husk to bentonite) were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). The XRD result of the samples showed that samples C and D both contains montmorillonite as mineral with the most intense peak at 5.887o. Samples A and B contain Quartz, and Montmorillonite respectively with the most intense peak at 2Ө value of 26.642o, 31.578o, 5.887o, 26.624o and 26.627o respectively. The results show strong interaction between sample A and C. FTIR results of samples A, B, C and D showed number of bands/peaks of 13,9,13 and 14 respectively and showed high level of interaction between pure and blends of the samples were with 14 peaks/bands each. Five water base drilling fluid samples produced using standard laboratory barrel (350 ml) method from bentonite and water with addition of rice husk in different proportion were investigated. The rheological properties (plastic viscosity, yield value, gel strength) of the samples were measured at different temperatures, using FANN 35 viscometer while the pH and density values were measured using pH meter and mud balance respectively. The pH values of all the produced drilling mud samples were alkaline (>7.0), close to the neutral value. Increase in temperatures bentonite drilling mud modified with rice husk does not have negative effect on the rheological properties of the drilling mud. The rice husk could be used as a viscosifier in the drilling mud for being capable of improving the viscosity of the mud at higher temperature

Comparative Study of Impact of Zinc Oxide and Copper (II) Oxide Nanoparticles on Viscosity of Water Based Drilling Fluid

Drilling fluids play very important roles in the oil and gas industry hence the need to get method of improving their rheological properties cannot be over emphasized. In this study how drilling fluid rheological property can be improved using zinc oxide and copper (II) oxide nanoparticles were investigated. To achieve these objectives, water based drilling fluids (WBDF) were prepared using the standard laboratory barrel (350 ml) method from bentonite, xanthan gum and water. The Zinc oxide and Copper (II) nanoparticles were introduced into the formulation in different proportions. Brookfield rotational viscometer was used to determine the rheological properties of the samples while Fourier Transformation Infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to determine the structural analysis of the interaction between the nanoparticles and the Xanthan gum. The results showed that Zinc oxide and CuO nanoparticle improved the rheological properties of the water based drilling fluid. The zinc oxide at equal proportion with xanthan gum at 60 rpm shear rate increased the viscosity from 834.7 to 1597.3 mPa.s while the copper (II) oxide nanoparticles at equal proportion with xanthan gum at 60 rpm shear rate increased from 834.7 to 1452.3 mPa.s at low temperature of 31.5oC. The FTIR analysis of the nanoparticles and xanthan gum revealed that the interactions of the bonds between the nanoparticles and xanthan gum contributed to the improvement in the rheological properties of the drilling fluids. It is concluded that introduction of ZnO nanoparticles and CuO nanoparticles improved the rheological performance of water based drilling fluids with xanthan gum. The ZnO nanoparticles, however, exhibited better improvement than the CuO

Energy Supply and Climate Change in Nigeria

The energy industry has been identified as one of the sectors most vulnerable to the impact of climate change. In the past years, government had been making a lot of effort at reforming the energy sector and this study attempted to investigate the extent to which the energy sector will be affected in the face of the threats presented by a changing climate. The study seeks to examine the impact of climate change on energy supply in Nigeria for the period 1971-2011 using the vector error correction procedure. We adopted the Johansen and Juselius, and Engle-Granger co-integration analysis to determine the rank of the series long run co-integration. Also the error correction model was used to obtain the long-run estimates and the speed of error adjustment. We corroborate our findings by adopting the Wald exogeneity test to examine the direction of causal relationship between climate change and energy production. The study found a positive relationship between climate change and energy supply, as well as no evidence of causal relationship between climate change and energy supply. The study developed an interaction of climate change and measure of institutional quality, though less responsive to energy supply, but exhibits similar pattern with the actual climate change. Also, the indicators of power losses, technology and investment impacts a significant negative influence on energy supply, while GDP per capita and economy structure exerts though positive but the indicator of economic structure was statistically insignificant in explaining dynamism in energy supply. The findings from our empirical investigation puts caution on economic advisers and policy makers on the level of adherence to the Kyoto protocol in order not to jeopardize productivity activities and economic gains. Also,adaptation efforts should however follow careful scenario analysis with a strengthened institutional framework and injection of funds for technological improvement. This could be done in partnership with international organizations and the private secto

USE OF FISH WASTE MEAL AS A REPLACEMENT FOR FISH MEAL IN THE PRACTICAL DIETS OF AFRICAN MUD CATFISH Clarias gariepinus FINGERLINGS

A feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of fish waste meal (FWM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, hepatosomatic index and blood parameters of Clarias gariepinus. 150 fingerlings of C. gariepinus of average weight of 5.2±0.13g were stocked. Five (5) iso-nitrogenous diets containing 40% crude protein in which fish meal protein (67.70%) was replaced by fish waste meal protein (45.94%) at 0% (FWM0), 25% (FWM25), 50% (FWM50), 75% (FWM75) and 100% (FWM100) levels were formulated. The fingerlings were fed at 5% body weight per day for 56 days. Values for growth response and nutrient utilization parameters decreased (p<0.05) with increasing levels of FWM in diets from 50% FWM inclusion level. Feed conversion ratio showed no significant difference (p>0.05) between fish fed diets FWM0 (1.25), FWM25 (1.26) and FWM50 (1.30). Net protein utilization was highest in fish fed diet FWM0 (43.62%) but not different (p>0.05) from fish fed diets FWM25 (42.82%) and FWM50 (41.11%). Hepatosomatic index was highest significantly (p>0.05) in fish fed diet FWM100 (1.13%) and lowest in fish fed diet FWM50 (0.65%). The haematological profile was higher (P<0.05) in all parameters in fish fed diets FWM0 and FWM50. Pack cell volume (PCV) was 36.2% in fish fed diet FWM0. This was statistically similar only to 35.9% of fish fed diet FWM50. From the study, it is concluded that fish waste meal can replace as much as 50% of fish meal in the diet of African catfish, C. gariepinus.    Â

Mineral Profile of \u3ci\u3ePanicum maximum\u3c/i\u3e var. Ntchisi as Influenced by Organic Nitrogen Rate and Age at Harvest

The study was aimed at profiling the mineral contents of Panicum maximum var Ntchisi as influenced by organic (poultry) nitrogen rate and age at harvest. The study was carried out at the organic research farm of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria in 2016. The experiment was laid in a 4 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four (4) organic nitrogen rate (0, 100, 200 and 300 kgNha-1) as the main plot and three (3) age at harvest (4, 8 and 12 weeks after cutback) as the subplot which amounts to twelve (12) treatment combinations with four replicates. The macro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate. The calcium (Ca) content was up to 4.35 gkg-1DM for the grass at 0 KgNha-1 which was the highest value. The magnesium (5.59 – 8.43 gkg-1DM) content had a linear increment with increased nitrogen rate. The potassium content ranged from 15.58 to 30.80 gkg-1 DM with the grass fertilized at 0 KgNha-1 having the highest K content. The phosphorus was linearly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced with the grass fertilized at 300 KgNha-1 with the highest (1.78 gkg-1DM) content. The micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by the nitrogen rate though without a definite pattern. The macro and micro mineral contents were significantly (P\u3c 0.05) influenced by age at harvest except for the copper content. The macro mineral contents decreased with advancement in age at harvest. It was concluded that the grass harvested at younger age will make a good feed resource in terms of mineral requirement of ruminants in the tropics

Energy Pricing Policy and Environmental Quality in Nigeria: A Dynamic Computable General Equilibrium Approach

The fuel subsidy policy as a policy had been argued to hamper efforts at environmental sustainability. Thus, this study investigates the extent to which the removal of fuel subsidy influences the level of carbon emissions in Nigeria over a 5 year period. It adopts the recursive dynamic version of the partnership for economic policy computable general equilibrium model based on the 2006 Nigerian social accounting matrix. Simulating a partial, gradual and complete removal of import tariff on imported petrol indicates reduction of emissions only when subsidy removal was partial. Findings from the results showed carbon emissions marginally increased under the gradual and one shot removal. This suggests that removing petrol subsidy was not sufficient to reduce carbon emissions level, but should be accompanied with necessary supporting policies. Fuel blending can be a useful alternative to fossil fuel along with renewable energy and green growth practices to ensure a low-carbon growth strategy

Fuel Subsidy Reform and Environmental Quality in Nigeria

The study examines the existence of a long run effect of fuel subsidy reform on environmental quality in Nigeria for the period of 1970-2012 using the Johansen and the Engle-Granger two step co-integration procedure techniques. The study developed a three case scenarios including i) a case of subsidy payment, ii) a case of effective subsidy and, iii) a case of no subsidy payment. Findings from the study supported evidence of a long run sustainable equilibrium model. Also, our estimation results showed that the first and the last case scenario do not significantly influence environmental quality. This implies that subsidy payment in Nigeria does not enhance access and consumption of liquid fuel. On the other hand, the interaction of sound regulatory framework with subsidy payment (the case of effective subsidy) significantly exerts a responsive influence on environmental quality