Fundamental Engineering Principles Research Articles

On Inter‐bubble Hydrodynamics and Cluster Formation in Non‐Newtonian Bubbly Columns: A Review

AbstractA comprehensive understanding of the inter‐bubble dynamics and the cluster formations in non‐Newtonian fluids is pivotal for chemical and biomedical engineering applications. In this review, we summarize current research efforts to provide a fundamental understanding and engineering principles of the interactions between bubbles and the dynamics of bubble clusters in non‐Newtonian fluids. Although the majority of research is still predominantly conducted through experimentation, the significance of computational fluid dynamics in elucidating interaction mechanisms has become increasingly prominent in recent years. Moreover, the gas‐liquid systems reviewed in this paper are driven by gravity, which is closer to the actual industrial processes. We indicate the effects of non‐Newtonian fluid special rheological properties (especially viscoelasticity and shear‐dependent viscosity) on the interaction between multiple bubbles and the formation of clusters. We summarize the main empirical correlations in related research, which are useful for the optimization of industry. Ultimately, we address the current trends, limitations, and future directions in this research field.

Responsive architecture and new approaches to the organization of environmental elements

This paper reviews responsive architecture, a dynamically developing aspect of design and construction, encompassing fundamental engineering and technological principles, architectural and design content, and green architecture elements to meet the needs of society and the individual. The key thesis of responsive architecture is “nothing in nature is motionless”. As part of nature’s context, the individual has the right to exist in a sustainable environment, the development of which is shaped through environmental, economic, and social aspects. Our research characterizes the key directions of responsive architecture’s development and development prospects in the context of the current technological processes and social needs. Since responsive architecture is based on synthesis, we rely on materials from various design fields (including engineering and technical solutions, mobile form-making, green architecture, etc).

Application of block copolymers in organic solar cells

After many years of development, block copolymers became one of the most important materials for organic solar cells. They were used in photovoltaic cells because of their self-assembly properties and controlled ordered nanoscale, which is ideal for electron-hole pair separation. However, block copolymers still faced several major challenges as organic solar materials, and this paper focused on their limitations and corresponding solutions in terms of material design, morphology control, and interface modification, as well as on the fundamental molecular engineering principles involved. In the paper’s conclusion, an perspective on the use of modern, advanced block copolymers in organic solar cells was provided.

Responsive polymer thin films

Responsive polymer thin films

Historical Developments in Food Science and Technology

Food science aims to create and maintain a safe, abundant, and wholesome food supply based on fundamental science and engineering principles. The evolution of food science over the centuries has resulted in the development of various food processing technologies to ensure nutritious, fresh, and safe food. Recent decades have seen much attention paid to applying emerging technologies. By developing new food processing technologies, the overall processing time and energy consumption have been reduced compared to conventional methods, while ensuring food safety and providing benefits to the industry. This review provides an overview of the development and invention of technology to the present. Keywords: Food science evolution, Emerging technologies, Food safety, Technological invention

Comments on: Noble-metal-free NiCu/CeO2 catalysts for H2 generation from hydrous hydrazine

The results of two previously published articles about the catalytic decomposition of hydrous hydrazine were analyzed. Experimentally it was shown that Ni0.5Cu0.5/CeO2 catalyst is more active than Ni/CeO2. However, the measured impact of external mass transport on the observed decomposition rate contradicts heterogeneous catalysis's fundamental chemical engineering principles. The observed deviation could be described only by the copper-induced homogeneous reaction.

Classification of coffee bean categories based upon analysis of fatty acid ingredients

The research studies constituents of fatty acids (FA) in coffee beans to identify their categories. Since FA are the fundamental constituents of coffee aroma and flavor, challenges occur to classify the beans' original species in the roasted state. The examined samples in this study cover 74 coffee beans from different origins and are separated into Arabica and Robusta species based on their FA composition. This research develops a discriminant strategy to identify categories of examined coffee beans. This study analyzes an experimental dataset using multiple data structure strategies during the identification process, which are different from traditional approaches that aim to improve coffee bean species classification and recognition rate. Furthermore, the developed coffee bean identification strategies implement various normalization and error analyses during the data reasoning process. This research concludes that FA C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 own essential characteristics for the coffee beans. Practical applications This research develops an innovative strategy to identify coffee beans in well-known categories and implements various normalization and error analyses during the data processing process. The developed model solves the information loss problem due to data normalization and improves the accuracy of coffee been classification. Consequently, the study concludes that fatty acids C18:1, C18:2, and C18:3 characterize essential features for coffee beans, and the research results balance fundamental chemistry and engineering principles and serve the general food processing and preservation technology industries.

Blender and Unreal Engine Character Design and Behavior Programming for 3D Games

A software game is a program used for entertainment and severe purposes that can be applied to many fields such as education, business, and health care. These more severe uses can apply to a variety of domains. The software game development technique is distinct from traditional software development due to the multidisciplinary nature of the game development methods, which include elements such as sound, art, control systems, artificial intelligence (AI), and human factors. The fundamental software engineering principles allow game creation to achieve maintainability, flexibility, reduced time and expense, and improved design. This study's objectives are to (1) evaluate the current level of research on the process of game development software engineering and (2) draw attention to aspects of this process that require additional investigation by researchers. In the research, we utilized a methodology that consisted of a comprehensive literature evaluation based on widely recognized digital libraries. The production phase of the game development software engineering process life cycle has been the focus of most research published on the topic. The pre-production phase has followed this. In comparison, the amount of research focused on the post-production phase is far lower than that of the pre-production and production stages. According to this research, developing video games through software engineering has many facets that require more attention from researchers; this is especially true regarding the post-production phase.

Design of Classroom Furniture for Use at Tertiary Institutions

The design of classroom desktop-chairs (one size fits all) in many institutions is usually done with no consideration of ergonomics. Therefore, there is a mismatch between classroom desktop-chairs dimensions and students' anthropometric characteristics. This may cause musculoskeletal disorders and affect learning effectiveness due to sitting for a long time in an awkward position. Ergonomically designed furniture is known to reduce musculoskeletal disorders and improve the attentiveness of students in the classroom environment. This research, therefore, aimed to use the concept of ergonomics to design classroom desktop-chair for students in Uasin-Gishu County. Anthropometric data was collected from a total of three hundred and eighty-two (382) students of both genders. The selected tertiary institutions for the survey were Moi University (MU), University of Eldoret (UoE), Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) and The Eldoret National Polytechnic (TENP). Fourteen (14) anthropometric measurements were taken from students with the help of anthropometric tools. The research applied fundamental engineering principles of product design and was carried out in compliance with ISO 7250-1: (Basic human body measurements for technological design part 1: Body measurement definitions and landmarks). The data obtained was analysed using Minitab 17.0 statistical package, to get the mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, 5 th , 50 th and 95 th percentiles. SolidWorks 2019, was used to design a desktop-chair. The analysed anthropometric data set was used to design, a suitable classroom desktop-chair. One type of ergonomically suitable classroom desktop-chair design was proposed to improve the match between classroom desktop-chairs dimensions and students' anthropometric characteristics. The analysed anthropometric data set can be used for the design of classroom desktop-chairs for students not only in the selected tertiary institutions but all over Kenya. Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Awkward posture, Classroom environment. DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/11-5-05 Publication date: September 30 th 2020

From the Chief Executive and IFST News

From the Chief Executive and <scp>IFST</scp> News

Intercellular communication between artificial cells by allosteric amplification of a molecular signal

Multicellular organisms rely on intercellular communication to coordinate the behaviour of individual cells, which enables their differentiation and hierarchical organization. Various cell mimics have been developed to establish fundamental engineering principles for the construction of artificial cells displaying cell-like organization, behaviour and complexity. However, collective phenomena, although of great importance for a better understanding of life-like behaviour, are underexplored. Here, we construct collectives of giant vesicles that can communicate with each other through diffusing chemical signals that are recognized and processed by synthetic enzymatic cascades. Similar to biological cells, the Receiver vesicles can transduce a weak signal originating from Sender vesicles into a strong response by virtue of a signal amplification step, which facilitates the propagation of signals over long distances within the artificial cell consortia. This design advances the development of interconnected artificial cells that can exchange metabolic and positional information to coordinate their higher-order organization.

Developing a greenhouse gas life cycle assessment framework for natural gas transmission pipelines

As demand for natural gas increases, it is important to understand its life cycle emission intensity. A framework is developed for performing bottom-up greenhouse gas (GHG) life cycle assessment of natural gas transmission pipelines to assist project environmental assessments. Three large-scale pipelines in Canada were examined: Alliance mainline (50 million m3/d, 3000 km), Prince Rupert phase 1 (PR1, 57 million m3/d, 878 km), and Prince Rupert phase 2 (PR2, 102 million m3/d, 878 km). Fundamental engineering principles are used for calculation accuracy, with a sensitivity analysis to identify key parameters. The model boundary includes pipeline construction, operation, and decommissioning. The resulting transportation GHG emission intensities are 1.49, 0.77, and 1.78 gCO2eq/GJ.km for the Alliance, PR1, and PR2 projects, respectively. The operating phase represents 78%–95% of the overall emissions. Operating at higher pressures could reduce emission intensity by up to 49% by increasing flow efficiency. The research provides a user-friendly open-source template that can be used to examine alternative scenarios.

Mineral Carbonation as an Educational Investigation of Green Chemical Engineering Design

Engaging students in the experimental design of “green” technology is a challenge in Chemical Engineering undergraduate programs. This concept paper demonstrates an educational methodology to investigate accelerated mineral carbonation, which is a promising technology related to mitigation of climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources as stable solid carbonates. An experimental investigation is conceived, whereby students test the effect of two process parameters (CO2 pressure and mixing rate) on the extent of carbonation reaction. The carbonation reaction has been performed using a mineral called wollastonite (CaSiO3). The experimental study and laboratory report cover principles of reaction kinetics and mass transfer, while illustrating the steps to develop and investigate a green process technology. The results from the experimental investigation, which is carried out by multiple teams of students, are then pooled and used to guide a subsequent design project. Students would conceive a flowsheet, size equipment, and estimate the energy demand and net CO2 sequestration efficiency of a full-scale implementation of the mineral carbonation technology. This educational investigation aims to help undergraduate students to acquire deeper experiential learning and greater awareness of future green technologies by applying fundamental engineering principles into an engaging experimental and design exercise.

Cobalt-catalyzed nitrile hydrogenation: Insights into the reaction mechanism and product selectivity from DFT analysis

When primary amines are the desired product of nitrile hydrogenation, the use of cobalt catalysts are commonly recommended. Nitrile hydrogenation using heterogeneous catalysis is an important commercial process for the production of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. In recent years, modern experimental methods have investigated the detailed mechanism underlying the surface reactions of nitrile hydrogenation. These experimental studies provide new insights, but also raise additional questions. To help resolve these inconsistencies, modern theoretical techniques have been applied by way of periodic plane-wave Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to study acetonitrile adsorption and hydrogenation to primary (monoethylamine), secondary (diethylamine), and tertiary amines (triethylamine) over flat Co surfaces, specifically the Co(0001) surface facet. The presented theoretical analysis applies fundamental physical chemistry and reaction engineering principles to better understand surface reaction mechanisms in the kinetically-controlled regime at low surface coverages. Reaction pathways for acetonitrile hydrogenation and the most probable routes for secondary and tertiary amine formations are discussed. The presented first-principles analysis is in line with experimental observations of gas-phase acetonitrile hydrogenation on flat Co surfaces. Key mechanistic findings are discussed in the context of larger alkane nitrile hydrogenation processes, which are ordinarily performed in the liquid phase.

Connecting Water Professionals to Get Things Done

Connecting Water Professionals to Get Things Done

First-principles analysis of acetonitrile reaction pathways to primary, secondary, and tertiary amines on Pd(111)

Nitrile hydrogenation using heterogeneous catalysis is an important commercial process for the production of primary, secondary, and tertiary amines. In recent years, modern experimental methods have investigated the detailed mechanism underlying the surface reactions of nitrile hydrogenation. These experimental studies provide new insights, but also raise additional questions. To help resolve these inconsistencies, modern theoretical techniques have been applied by way of periodic plane-wave Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations to study acetonitrile adsorption and hydrogenation to primary (monoethylamine), secondary (diethylamine), and tertiary amines (triethylamine) over flat Pd surfaces. The presented theoretical analysis applies fundamental physical chemistry and reaction engineering principles to better understand surface reaction mechanisms in the kinetically-controlled regime at low surface coverages. Reaction pathways for acetonitrile hydrogenation and the most probable routes for secondary and tertiary amine formations are discussed. The presented first-principles analysis is in line with experimental observations of gas-phase acetonitrile hydrogenation on flat Pd surfaces. Key mechanistic findings are discussed in the context of larger alkane nitrile hydrogenation processes, which are ordinarily performed in the liquid phase.

From the Chief Executive and News

From the Chief Executive and News

The Rational Optimization and Evolution of the Structural Diagonal Aesthetic in Super-Tall Towers

In the design of super-tall towers, engineers often find the conventional frame systems used in countless buildings in the past decades incapable of providing the required form, performance and constructability demanded by super-tall heights. The strength of the diagrid as a structural system in high-rise towers is the total flexibility it affords the designer as an adaptable, efficient and buildable scheme. Using fundamental engineering principles combined with modern computational tools, designers can take minimum load path forms to create rationalized diagrid geometries to create optimized, highly efficient towers. The use of diagrid frames at SOM has evolved as a structural typology beginning with the large braced frames on the John Hancock Center and continued in modern applications proving to be a powerful system in meeting the demands of supertall buildings.

Energy infrastructure modeling for the oil sands industry: Current situation

In this study, the total energy requirements associated with the production of bitumen from oil sands and its upgrading to synthetic crude oil (SCO) are modeled and quantified. The production scheme considered is based on the commercially applied steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) for bitumen extraction and delayed coking for bitumen upgrading. In addition, the model quantifies the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of energy required for these operations from technologies utilized in the currently existing oil sands energy infrastructure. The model is based on fundamental engineering principles, and Aspen HYSYS and Aspen Plus simulations. The energy demand results are expressed in terms of heat, power, hydrogen, and process fuel consumption rates for SAGD extraction and bitumen upgrading. Based on the model’s output, a range of overall energy and emission intensity factors are estimated for a bitumen production rate of 112,500 BPD (or 93,272 BPD of SCO), which were determined to be 262.5–368.5MJ/GJSCO and 14.17–19.84gCO2/MJSCO, respectively. The results of the model indicate that the majority of GHG emissions are generated during SAGD extraction (up to 60% of total emissions) due to the combustion of natural gas for steam production, and the steam-to-oil ratio is a major parameter affecting total GHG emissions. The developed model can be utilized as a tool to predict the energy demand requirements for integrated SAGD/upgrading projects under different operating conditions, and provides guidance on the feasibility of lowering GHG emissions associated with their operation.

A novel approach to educating engineers: Learning in an inverted classroom through problems designed by engineering professionals

This paper presents a novel approach to educating engineers by using an inverted classroom (IC) to facilitate learning through in-class solving of multi-faceted problems designed by engineering professionals. The objective of this approach is to develop an instructional framework that promotes self-directed learning and enhances problem-solving skills in undergraduate engineering students without sacrificing knowledge of fundamental engineering principles. In this framework, material traditionally covered in a lecture format is moved outside of class time, developed for an on-line format, and made available in an online learning management system. In-class time is used to solve engineering problems in teams and under guidance of an instructor. The problems are co-developed with practicing engineers from aerospace, medical device, HVAC and process industries. The framework was implemented in a Heat Transfer course. Students taught using the new framework showed improvement in self-directed learning and problem-solving skills over students taught in a traditional setting without losing basic skills.