Investigating the lateral stability of three-wheeled scooter taxi due to tyre-road forces

Three-wheeled scooter taxi (TWST) that is currently prevalent in developing countries, is fuel efficient and cheap. It is used mainly for commercial purposes, also as a means of reducing unemployment and tackling poverty. However, the vehicle is unstable and prone to accidents due to its design configuration. The aim of this research work is to investigate the lateral stability of TWST due to Tyre-Road Forces. Therefore, lateral stability equations for three-wheeled vehicle (TWV) were developed and used in the analysis of TWST based on parametric values obtained from static test. The results showed that the vehicle is stable with respect to lateral stability, which is in line with what was obtained from literature, thereby validating the models with the driver alone. However, with two or more occupants the vehicle became unstable. Possible ways of eliminating this instability were discussed. The static test procedure, if adopted and legislated upon, would significantly enhance safety of life and properties of stakeholders in developing countries. Keywords: Three-wheeled scooter Taxi, Stability Analysis, Safety of life and properties, Legislation

Small hydropower (SHP) development in Nigeria: An assessment

This paper evaluates small hydropower (SHP) development and examines the current situation in Nigeria with respect to the established policies and Energy Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act 2005. Hydropower sector witnessed about 360% growth between 1971 and 2005 and yet only about 5% of the vast small hydropower (SHP) potential is tapped by the few plants built between 1923 and 1964. Operating and maintenance costs are in favor of SHP development in the country, being the lowest when compared with the situation in European countries. The Nigerian Government has taken steps to diversify energy sources in order to promote renewable energy development by encouraging private investments in the energy sector through reforms, but this may not be adequate as there remain barriers against SHP development in the country. It is concluded that government must incorporate subsidies, feed-in-tariffs, and framework for Price Purchase Agreements (PPA) into the policies in order to further promote renewable energy and attract both indigenous and foreign investments for quick adoption and rapid expansion of SHP technologie

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

Pyrolytic conversion of spent palm fruit bunches into bio-fuels

The threat which the disposal of spent palm fruit bunches constitutes to communities in oil palm processing communities in Nigeria coupled with the current global interest in alternative energy are the motivation for this work. An existing design of pyrolytic reactor consisting of a reactor unit, condensate receiver, copper pipe connectors and gas receiver was modified and adapted for converting spent palm fruit bunches into bio-fuels. The average char yield was 44.9 %, and the percentage of feedstock converted into pyro-gas 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 and the calorific values of char ranged between 21.12 and 23.76 MJkg-1. This work presents the potential of generating energy from pyrolysed Spent Palm Fruit Bunches (SPFB), it abates the disposal problem that SPFB constitutes in the oil palm industr

Design and performance evaluation of centrifugal cashew nut sheller for improving the whole kernel recovery

Cashew nut centrifugal shelling machine was designed and constructed. Shelling efficiency and whole kernel recovery were evaluated for hot-oil roasted nuts on the machine. The design was based on the principle of the optimum kinetic energy that could break the cashew nut shell. The deformation energy used was 4.8763 J. The angular velocity of the impeller calculatec! from the energy was 376.12 r s·1 which was equal 3592 r min-1• The motor power used was more than 9 17.34 W, the minimum power requirement. The prototype of cashew nut sheller was constructed and evljluated for its shelling efficiency (SE) and whole kernel recovery (WKR) using three levels of moisture content (7.00% w.b., 8.46% w.b. and 9.83% w.b.), three levels ofirnpeller speeds and three grades (large, medium and small) of nut sizes. The results showed that the moisture content had a significant effect (at P<0.05) on the SE and WKR for all the grades of the nut. However, the impeller speed has a significant effect on the whole kernel recovery of medium and small nuts. The predicted optimal values of the WKR and SE for large nut were 65.4% and 96.8% respectively at 3110 r min-1 and 9.06% w.b. For medium nut, they were 51.62% and 93 .24% respectively at 3487 r min-1 and 8.92% w.b. For small nut, they were 37.95% and 92.56% respectively at 3487 r min-1 and 9.83% w.b