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

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

Experimental investigation of heating values and chemical compositions of selected fuel woods as bio-fuel sources in developing countries

Agro-waste disposal is a serious environmental problem in developing countries like Nigeria since there are insufficient waste management systems in place. However, it is possible to produce sustainable energy from these biomass wastes, which will lessen environmental damage. The heating value of biomass determines its energy content. The aim of this study was to determine experimentally the higher heating value (HHV) of five selected indigenous fuelwood sawdust and to assess the chemical composition of the pyrolysis yield products using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analyzer. Results of the experimental analysis show that the HHVs of the selected fuel woods: Adansonia digitata (Ad), Terminalia ivorensis (Ti), Khaya ivorensis (Ki), Mansonia altissima (Ma), Okoubaka aubrevillei (Oa) are respectively, 21.02, 20.78, 20.75, 19.95, 19.80 and 20.46 MJ kg−1. According to ultimate analysis-based correlation equation, the HHVs were found to be 18.56, 18.48, 18.42, 18.39 and 18.36 MJ kg−1 for Ad, Ti, Ki, Ma and Oa, respectively. While the proximate analysis-based correlation equation gave HHVs of 18.08, 18.12, 18.25, 18.16 and 18.37 MJ kg−1 for Ad, Ti, Ki, Ma and Oa, respectively. The mean square error (MSE) was used to compare the deviation of the computed results from the experimental data. The statistical analysis indicates comparative agreement between the computed HHVs and the experimental data. The GC–MS analysis shows the presence of phenolic, ketone, fatty acid, ester, and alcohol compounds in the sawdust samples which is evidence that they have chemical and fuel compositions suitable for use as feedstocks in the pharmaceutical and dye industries as well as for the production of biodiesel for internal combustion engines. It can be inferred that the woody biomass residues can be useful sources of biofuels for developing nations' sustainable energy development if adequately processed with suitable technologies

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

Pillars of Effective and Efficient Energy Systems in Nigeria

Nigeria is posed with a myriad of challenges to achieving efficient energy systems; the colossal collective demand for sufficient electricity for approximately 200 million is a concern. Another challenge is the mismanagement of Nigeria’s abundant resources, by individuals and by groups. It has withheld us, for decades, from making the bold and rapid progress which ought to have made for the energy system. This report explores the concept of an energy system in Nigeria perspective and progresses

A short view on the stress corrosion cracking and the prospect of ecofriendly inhibitors

Metallic materials will continue to have challenges related to fracture, transcrystalline, and hydrogen embrittlement corrosion due to severe area of application that is unavoidable. The study into the performance of metallic materials has shown that corrosion mechanism through stress corrosion cracking often occurs vis-viz due to the electrochemical and reduction reaction. The phase diagram is important to solve problems related to hot corrosion, hydrogen embrittlement, intergranular corrosion, and stresses corrosion cracking challenges. The need to look into the defining mechanism from the researcher cannot be underestimated. These overviews provide insight on related problem definition and formulation towards corrosion challenges and possible assessment of the corrosion inhibitors

Bioenergy technology development in Nigeria – pathway to sustainable energy development

In Nigeria, high and outrageous energy cost constitutes a serious challenge to all aspects of the economy. And this has been a subject of concern in the country over a period of time. A dependable and renewable energy source is of utmost desire to strengthen the nation’s economy and this urgent need cannot be overlooked. As a result of the erratic and expensive power supply to the national grid, it has become ultimately necessary to search for other inexpensive sources of energy to meet the ever increasing energy needs for rural and urban dwellers. In view of the above energy situation in Nigeria, this paper aimed at carrying out a comprehensive review on bioenergy technology option as a pathway to achieving sustainable energy development in the country. The potential, current progressive stages, and prospects of bioenergy conversion techniques, in the Nigeria context, are discussed. The barriers to bioenergy technology development in Nigeria with possible solutions are also presente

Assessment of Decentralized Electricity Production from Hybrid Renewable Energy Sources for Sustainable Energy Development in Nigeria

This paper presents technical and economic assessment of a hybrid energy system for electricity generation in rural communities in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The study was based on a 500 rural household model having an electric load of 493 kWh per day. To simulate long-term continuous implementation of the hybrid system, 21 years (1992 – 2012) hourly mean global solar radiation and wind speed data for the selected sites were used. The mean annual wind speed and solar radiation for the locations ranged from 2.31 m/s forWarri to 3.52 m/s for Maiduguri and 4.53 kWh/m2 for Warri to 5.92 kWh/m2 for Maiduguri, respectively. These weather data were used for simulation with the Micro-power OptimizationModel software HOMER. From the optimum results of the hybrid system, Warri has the highest NPC and COE of $2,441,222 and$0.721/kWh, respectively while Maiduguri has the least NPC and COE of $2,225,387 and$0.658/kWh, respectively for the 21 years project lifespan. The high value of COE for Warri is due to its low renewable energy resourcewhile low COE for Maiduguri is due to its high renewable energy resource. The Northern part of the country has ample renewable energy resource availability and with a strong political will, optimal utilization of these renewable resources (solar and wind) can be actualized. Researchers, Industrialists, Policy Makers and the Nigerian government should therefore seize this opportunity in developing a sustainable energy through utilization of abundant renewable energy resources in the country

Towards a Sustainable Electricity Supply in Nigeria: The Role of Decentralized Renewable Energy System

In Nigeria, access to reliable and stable supply of electricity is a major challenge for both the urban and rural dwellers. In this study, comprehensive review of accessibility to clean and modern energy in Nigeria has been carried out. Also, this paper examines the potential of renewable energy (RE) resources in Nigeria that can be harnessed for continuous energy supply and the government’s efforts to ensure RE‘s sustainability. Nigeria is endowed with abundant energy resources but the existing electric energy infrastructures are unable to meet the energy demands of teeming population. There is imbalance in energy supply and demand in the country. Over the period from 2000 to 2014, there was an average of about 2.35 billion kWh of energy gap between energy production and energy consumption. The highest electricity consumption per capita recorded so far was 156 kWh in 2012. This makes Nigeria one of the country with the lowest electricity consumption on per capita basis in the world. In order to improve access to clean energy supply and achieve sustainable development, this paper pin points the significance of decentralized renewable energy systems and needs for the government to review the policies on renewable energy development in the country