Performance Evaluation of Two Palm Kernel Nut Cracker Machines

In this study performance evaluation of centrifugal impact approach and vertical palm kernel nut cracker machine was carried out. The results of the study show that the vertical centrifugal palm kernel cracker is more efficient than the centrifugal impact approach palm kernel cracker. The efficiency of Vertical centrifugal palm kernel cracker is 71.3% and that of centrifugal impact approach is 50.38%. Apart from this, the vertical centrifugal machine though has low speed but it produces clean and neat nut cracked output

Design and Development of Vapor Absorption Refrigeration System for Rural Dwellers

In this study, the experimental analysis of the performance of vapor absorption system was developed and developed. The influence of generator, evaporator and condenser’s temperatures on the system performance was studied using gas burner as source of energy, ammonia-water combination as working fluid and energy equations as governing equations for the work. There was variation in the results when compared with the earlier worker who used kerosene burner as source of energy and ammonia-water combination. Result of this study shows that if higher cooling capacity and also lower evaporator`s temperature are desired from the system, generator`s temperature should be increased considerably. Also the combination of an analyzer, rectifier and heat exchanger would produce better COP of the Syste

A Guide to Accounting Students Doing Research on How to Write Literature Review

This paper focused on the importance of literature review in research project. It emphasized that literature review should not be arranged in chronological order. It should also not aimed at making the work voluminous. Rather it should be in the form of a story and the story should make sense. Literature review should have an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction should contain the main issue that will capture the interest of the reader. The body should contain what people are actually saying with regards to the issue raised. The body should bring out areas of agreement and disagreement. The conclusion should reiterate the main issue again and sum up the opinion of the researchers and move on to why the research is embarked upon. The why of the research will reveal the gap of the research. The relevant literature should not just be accepted uncritically. Approach of the researcher to the relevant literature should always be ‘of skepticism, of suspicion and doubt’

Analyzing the Impact of Microfinance Banks Credit Variables on Micro, Small Enterprises Growth Indicators in South-West, Nigeria

Despite several reforms both in the banking and informal sectors; it is sad that there have been dwindling development in both sectors. In view of this, this study analyzed the impact of Microfinance Banks (MFBs) credit variables on Micro Small Enterprises (MSEs) growth indicators in South-West, Nigeria. Sampled MFBs, MSEs and some South-West States were purposively selected. Secondary data was extracted from financial statements of eight selected MFBs from 2007-2016 (10years). Relationship between MFBs variables and MSEs’ growth was analyzed using Correlation matrix, while extent at which MFBs variables influenced MSEs growth was analyzed using panel regression. Results showed the relationship between MFBs credit variables and MSEs’ growth with an average ‘r’ at 68.56% (p<0.05); and the extent at which MFBs credit variables influenced MSEs growth (p<0.05) such as  profit, total asset, number of employee growth and sales with R2 were 61.4%, 58.3%, 48.1% and 52.1%, respectively. The study concluded that MFBs credit variables influenced MSEs growth. It was recommended that MFBs should moderately increase loan size in order to improve MSEs’ business operations. Keywords: Microfinance Banks, Micro Small Enterprises, Credit Variables, Growth indicators, South-West, Nigeria DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-12-06 Publication date:June 30th 2020

Detection of Fracture Zones for Groundwater Investigation from Interpretation of VLF-EM Anomalies of Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin and its Environs

The Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic VLF-EM geophysical methods have been used to map selected settlements in Kwara State Polytechnic Permanent Site and its environs Ilorin Northcentral Nigeria with a view to determine the groundwater potential of the area A total of thirteen 13 profiles were covered during VLF data collection with 20m sample interval along each profile with spread length of between 100m The VLF data were collected using ABEM WADI instrument The data were interpreted using KHFFILT software The qualitative interpretation of the acquired VLF EM data identified areas of hydro-geologic importance The results further showed that the EM anomalies vary greatly Some of the anomaly peaks are narrow and sharp while others are broad with varying width extent The values of the filtered real range from -0 9 to 22 5 across the study area The study area is adjudged based on the VLF data interpretation which indicates the presence of interconnected fracture zones to have potentially good prospects for groundwater development while recommendation is made for further geophysical methods to be employed in order to detect suitable locations for productive and sustainable borehol

Geothermal Energy Potential of the Chad Basin, North-Eastern Nigeria

In this research paper, the sub-surface heat flow of a part of the Chad Basin, in North eastern Nigerian was estimated using spectral analysis. This was obtained from twenty (20) digitized High Resolution Aeromagnetic (HRAM) data sheet covering the study area. Regional-residual separation using first order polynomial fitting method with three coefficients was carried out on the data map before the application of statistical spectral analysis. Result shows that the centroid depth varies between 9.39 km and 18.31 km. The depth to the Curie temperature isotherm varies between 15.14 km and 33.46 km below the mean sea level. It was also found that the Curie temperature isotherm within the basin is not a horizontal level surface but an undulating surface with geothermal gradients and heat flow ranging between 15.77 and 38.31°C/Km, and 39.41 and 95.77 mWm-2 respectively. Thus, the calculated average geothermal gradient and heat flow for this area are 23.39°C/Km and 58.47 mWm-2 respectively. Since average heat flow in thermally normal continental region is 60 and the values in excess of 80 mWm-2 – 100 mWm-2 are associated with anomalous geothermal conditions, hence the study area can generally be considered as a thermally normal region. But, the northeastern part of the study area with values in excess of 80 mWm-2 is recommended for further investigationKeywords: Geothermal energy, Spectral Analysis, Chad Basin. Curie point dept

Compositional and experimental investigation of the effect of reactor temperature on softwood and hardwood pyrolysis

This study aims to investigate the effect of reactor temperature on softwood and hardwood pyrolysis. Experiments are performed at six temperature levels ranging from 300 to 800°C under N2atmosphere. The weights of char, tar and gas yields produced were measured and recorded in percentage of initial weight of the pyrolyzed samples. Results of the study showed that hardwood produces maximum char, tar and gas yields of 41.02 per cent at 300°C,44.10 per cent at 300°C and 56.86 per cent at 800°C, respectively, whereas softwood produces maximum yields of 30.10 per cent at 300°C, 28.25 per cent at 300°C and 68.73 per cent at 800°C, respectively. Proximate analysis shows that volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content and moisture content of hardwood are 74.83, 14.28, 2.81 and 8.08 per cent, respectively, and that of softwood are 79.76, 12.65, 0.98 and 6.61 per cent, respectively. Result of the elemental analysis results shows that the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur contents for hardwood are 52.20, 6.45, 0.68, 39.64 and 1.03 per cent, respectively, and that of softwood are 45.95, 4.57, 0.56, 48.13 and 0.79 per cent, respectively. The higher heating value of hardwood and softwood are 21.76 and 16.50 kJ/g respectively. This study shows that char and tar yields decrease with increase pyrolysis temperature, whereas gas yield increases as pyrolysis temperature increases for the wood samples considered. At all temperatures considered in this study, gas yields are higher than tar and char yields for softwood, whereas for hardwood, tar yield decreases with increase in temperature with accompanying increase in gas yield. Design/methodology/approach Experiments are performed at six temperature levels ranging from 300 to 800°C under N2 atmosphere. Findings At all temperatures considered in this study, gas yields are higher than tar and char yields for softwood, whereas for hardwood, tar yield decreases with increase in temperature with accompanying increase in gas yield. Originality/value Results of the study showed that hardwood produces maximum char, tar and gas yields of 41.02 per cent at 300°C,44.10 per cent at 300°C and 56.86 per cent at 800°C, respectively, whereas softwood produces maximum yields of 30.10 per cent at 300°C, 28.25 per cent at 300°C and 68.73 per cent at 800°C, respectively

Product yield distribution and Essential Oil Composition of Eucalyptus Terminalis Sawdust Pyrolysis

In this study, pyrolysis of sawdust sample (Western blood-wood- Eucalyptus terminalis) was investigated. Experiments were performed at six temperature levels ranging from 300 oC to 800 oC under N2 atmosphere. The weights of char, tar and gas yields produced in each experiment were measured and recorded in percentage of initial weight of the pyrolyzed sample. Results of the study showed that product yield of Eucalyptus terminalis char, tar and gas of 41.28% at 300 oC, 45.10% at 300 oC and 57.20% at 800 oC, respectively were produced. Proximate analysis shows that volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content and moisture content of sawdust sample were 75.53%, 15.35%, 1.56% and 7.56%, respectively. Result of the elemental analysis shows that the carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur contents of the sawdust sample were 54.19%, 7.05%, 0.97%, 37.15%, and 0.64%, respectively. The higher heating value and pH of the sawdust sample are 23.40 kJ/g and 2.30% respectively. This indicate that char and tar yields decrease with increased pyrolysis temperature while gas yield increases as pyrolysis temperature increases for the sawdust sample. The value of the correlation coefficient obtained indicate a fairly high degree of accuracy of the regression models to predict experimental result when used within the temperature range considered in this study. Result of analytical Py-GC/MS shows that the proportion of phenolic compounds identified was more than 50% with trans-2-octadecadecen-1-ol, cis-10-pentadecen-1-ol, 9- octadecenal and methyl-1-cyclohexenyl ketone dominating. This study establishes the fact that pyro-oil can not only be used as a fuel but can also be purified and serves as raw materials for chemical and processing industries