Development of a petroleum pipeline monitoring system for characterization of damages using a Fourier transform

Significant damage to the environment and huge economic losses are potential problems caused by leakage from petroleum pipelines. The occurrence of a leakage in a pipeline throughout its lifetime is very difficult to prevent. To minimize environmental damage and high economic losses, an efficient pipeline monitoring system is required to carry out damage characterization thereby enhancing quick response. The signal processing technique of sampling and reconstruction was adopted and mathematical algorithms for the characterization of damages in pipes were developed using the Fourier transform method. These were simulated with the results showing a good agreement between the shapes and magnitudes of the measured original and reconstructed pulses. The simulation was verified with experiments on the test rig. The results showed an underestimation in the magnitudes of the reconstructed pulses in the range of 40 – 45 %. This problem was solved by using a factor K obtained by dividing the maximum amplitude value of the original pressure pulse by that of the reconstructed pulse. Reconstruction of the measured original pulse at a damage location was achieved from combining the measured pulses from two other close locations using the developed Fourier transform based model. Keywords: Damage Pipeline-monitoring Characterization Fourier transform Reconstructio

Synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters from used vegetable oil using activated anthill as catalyst

In this present study transesterification of used vegetable oil (UVO) using synthesized activated anthill as catalyst was investigated. The catalyst was prepared via calcination process, characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) techniques. From the BET analysis; calcination temperature has a positive impact on the textural properties. The XRD shows that the catalyst is crystalline in nature. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was produced using thermally activated anthill as catalyst. The optimal FAME yield of 94.85 % was obtained at Methanol/Oil (M/O) 9:1, catalyst loading 1.5 wt%, reaction temperature of 65 ᵒ and reaction time of 2 h. The physico-chemical properties of UVO – FAME produced was found to be within the American Society for Testing and Methods (ASTM). Hence, the study reveals that used vegetable oil catalyzed by novel activated anthill could be an effective feedstock to produce sustainable energy. Keywords: Anthills, FAME, Central composite design, Heterogeneous, used vegetable oil

Municipal Solid Waste Conversion to Energy and Derived Chemicals using Pyrolysis

This research work evolved through the variables such as time and temperature to determine the highest bio-oil yields. Conventional pyrolysis was adopted in a drop type CVD pyrolyzer given the highest oil yields 32.50 %wt, at 500 0C for 30 min. The bio-oil properties (CHNS-O) at various temperatures were evaluated. Carbon, hydrogen, Nitrogen, sulphur and calorivic values were observed to increase as the temperatures increases, having highest values at 500 0C with a sudden decline at 550 0C. While oxygen, water contents, densities and pH values decreases as the temperature increases, with lowest values recorded at 500 0C and sharp increase at 550 0C. Hence, the degrees of de-oxygenation also increases as the temperature increases with 18.87 %wt. at 500 0C and decreased at 550 0C. The results of FTIR analysis of the bio-oils at 500 0C indicate functional groups such as alkyl/Aromatic substitute ether (C-O), Aromatic 10 amine (C-N), Phenol/30 Alkanol (O-H), alkenes (C=C), Nitriles (C-N) and amines (N-H) with their areas. Keywords: Pyrolysis, Bio-oil, Derived chemical, Energ

Biodiesel production from waste frying oil via heterogeneous transesterification: Optimization study

This study deals with development of a new composite heterogeneous catalyst, anthill-eggshellpromoted Ni-Co mixed oxides (NiCoAE). Thecatalyst was synthesized via co-precipitationand also characterizedto evaluate its properties.The as-synthesized NiCoAEcatalyst was thereafter tested for transesterification reaction.The effects of variables affecting the transesterification process,reaction temperature (50-70 oC), reaction time (2-4 h), catalyst loading (3-7 wt%) and methanol to oil ratio (6:1-12:1) were investigated using central composite design (CCD). The biodiesel yield of 89.23% was obtained at the following optimum reaction conditions; 70 oC of reaction temperature, 2 h of reaction time, 3 wt% of catalyst loading and methanol to waste frying oil ratio of 12:1.This indicates thatNiCoAEas heterogeneous catalyst has potential to converthigh FFA feedstockinto biodiesel via singlestep transterification proces

Environmental impacts of crude oil spillages on water in Ibeno local government area of Akwa Ibom state, Nigeria

Crude oil spillage has been identified to be a regular occurrence in Upenekang village in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. This study has been carried out to find out the effect of crude oil spill on stream water and the environmental impact it has on the area. Using water samples obtained at varying distances from the spill site, the effects of the crude oil spill on the surface and underground stream water at the spill site were investigated by testing for the presence as well as the concentrations of toxic heavy metal pollutants. Analyses were also carried out for water conductivity, pH, temperature, hardness, total solids, total dissolved solids, turbidity, suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, carbon dioxide, COD, BOD, THC, sodium, magnesium, calcium, sulphate, nitrate, iron, copper, lead, chromium and cadmium concentrations using standard methods. The pH of all the samples of both the surface and underground stream water obtained at the spill site were observed to be acidic with very low dissolved oxygen, low COD, low BOD, high hydrocarbon content, high total dissolved solids, high water hardness and high toxic heavy metal concentrations (iron, copper, lead, chromium and cadmium) investigated for, all above admissible concentrations by World Health Organization’s standards. A one-way ANOVA showed that there is no significant influence of distance away from spill on the level of heavy metals in the water samples collected in the study area.Keywords: Crude oil spill, Upenekang, Water, WHO, ANOVA