Characteristics of horizontal gas-liquid two-phase flow measurement in a medium-sized pipe using gamma densitometry

Two-phase flows are common occurrences in many industrial applications. The understanding of their characteristics in industrial piping systems is vital for the efficient design, optimization, and operation of industrial processes. Most of the previous experimental studies involving the use of gamma densitometers for holdup measurements in air-water mixtures are limited to smaller diameter pipes (generally regarded as those with < 50 mm in nominal diameter). Further, very few literature report experimental data obtained using gamma desitometers. This paper presents an application of a gamma densitometer in the measurement of two-phase flow characteristics in an intermediate diameter pipe (nominal diameter between 50 mm and 100 mm). Scaled air-water experiments were performed in a 17-m long, 0.0764-m internal diameter horizontal pipe. Liquid superficial velocity ranged between 0.1–0.4 m/s while gas superficial velocity ranged from 0.3 to 10.0 m/s. The measured parameters include liquid holdup, pressure gradient, flow pattern, and slug flow features. The flow patterns observed were stratified, stratified-wavy, plug, slug, and annular flows. Plug and slug flow patterns showed good agreement with established flow pattern maps. Furthermore, the slug translational velocity was observed to increase with increasing mixture velocity, as reported by previous authors, hence establishing the reliability of the instrumentation employed. The slug body length was also measured using the gamma densitometer and was found to be within the range 24–36D with a mean length of 30.6D

Carcass characteristics and blood components of broiler chickens fed sorghum sk-5912 (Sorghum bicolor L. moench) variety in mixture with different plant protein sources

The effect of feeding sorghum SK-5912 variety with different plant protein sources to broiler chickens on the carcass characteristics and blood parameters were investigated. Five diets were formulated in which maize with boiled soya bean (MBSB) was used as the control and sorghum SK-5912 variety was combined with boiled soya bean (SBSB), soya bean meal (SSBM), industrial ground nuts cake (SIGNC) and local ground nuts cake (LGNC) tagged as diets 1 (control), 2, 3, 4 and 5 respectively. Three hundred broilers chicks ‘marshal strain’ were randomly allotted to the dietary treatments with four replications in a completely randomized design. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum and the feeding trial lasted for eight weeks. At the end of feeding trial eight birds per treatment were randomly selected for carcass analysis, blood samples were collected for haematological and serum biochemical analysis. Results showed that all the carcass and gut parameters measured did not differ (P&gt;0.05) significantly. Packed cell volume, Red blood cells, White blood cells and platelets were also not influenced (P&gt;0.05) by the dietary treatments. However, results obtained were inferior in the control diet. Serum biochemical indices were also not affected except the high density lipoproteins (HDL) that was (P&lt;0.05) affected across the dietary treatments. Despite control diet had the best HDL (mmo/L), but all values obtained were within the normal range. This study therefore, revealed that sorghum SK-5912 variety can completely replace maize and favourably combine with different plant protein sources with no detrimental effect on the carcass yield and blood constituents of broiler chickens.Keywords: Broiler, Carcass, Haematology, Plant proteins, Serum, Sorghum SK-591

Eco-friendly asbestos free brake-pad: Using banana peels

The use of asbestos fibre is being avoided due to its carcinogenic nature that might cause health risks. A new brake pad produced using banana peel waste to replace asbestos and Phenolic resin (phenol formaldehyde), as a binder was investigated. The resin was varying from 5 to 30 wt% with an interval of 5 wt%. Morphology, physical, mechanical and wear properties of the brake pad were studied. The results show that compressive strength, hardness and specific gravity of the produced samples were seen to be increasing with an increase in wt% of resin addition, while oil soak, water soak, wear rate and percentage charred decreased as the wt% of resin increased. Overall samples, containing 25 wt% in uncarbonized banana peels (BUNCp) and 30 wt% in carbonized (BCp) gave better properties. The result of this research indicates that banana peel particles can be effectively used as a replacement for asbestos in brake pad manufacture

Effect of varieties on growth components and dry matter yield of Lablab purpureus (L) sweet in the semi-arid region of Nigeria

Two years field trials were conducted in Maiduguri the Borno State Capital Nigeria to evaluate the effect of varieties on growth components and dry matter yield of three lablab varieties Lablab purpureus (L) sweet (white, black and brown). The experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design. Growth components were determined at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks after planting and dry matter yield was determined at 12 weeks after planting in 2014 and 2015 cropping season. Results revealed that there was significant (P&lt;0.05) difference between plant heights with the highest plant height (100.44cm) being for white variety in week 10 of 2014. There was no significant (P&gt;0.05) difference recorded in leaf height in throughout the study period. There was no significant difference in dry matter yield however, highest yield of 28.10 t/ha was recorded for Brown lablab variety in 2014 compared to other varieties. From this study, it can be concluded that varietal difference has significantly affected the growth components and dry matter of three lablab varieties. The varieties of lablab investigated can be used as forage legumes which can improve animal performance and productivity.Keyword: Lablab varieties, dry matter yield, plant height, leaf numbe