Improved Processing Technology Research Articles

Improving processing technology of international container traffic volumes

This article presents questions of improving the existing processing technology wagons with containers international destinations coming to marshalling yards. It was analyzed the time spent by these cars on a marshalling yards and identified a number of operations that result in the recycling of wagons. There were proposed the method for priority processing of international traffic volumes with containers The improving technology of interaction between the marshalling yards and adjoining station port freight station, which specializes in processing container traffic volumes was proposed. Time spent reviewed elementwise on time for wagons with containers are sorting on marshalling yards and freight station in accordance with the proposed interaction technology. It was spotted the economy of processing time and reducing load technical facilities at stations.

Improved Design and Fabrication of a Cassava Chipping Machine

The short shelf-life and bulkiness of cassava roots pose a great problem in transporting these roots from the farm to the market or factory sites. To overcome this difficulty in the marketing and utilization of cassava and to avoid heavy post-harvest losses, the roots need to be processed into some form of dried product with longer shelf life. The simplest and most common mode of processing cassava is the conversion of the roots into dry chips. Cassava processing into chips by traditional methods which involve the use of knife is labour-intensive but the application of improved processing technology has reduced processing time and labour and encouraged further production. An improved cassava chipping machine, with chip thickness between 3-6mm was designed to enhance the processing of cassava into chips to catalyze its drying period and preserve its nutritional value. The chipping machine consists of a hopper, a cutter plate and a power transmission system powered by a 1 hp electric motor. Computer Aided Design software was used in the design and appropriate material selection was considered for its fabrication. The cassava chipping machine was also simulated for stress analysis and behaviour of the machine was studied when loaded virtually. Chipping efficiency is 94.75%, machine capacity is 0.04kg/sec, chipping rate is 0.034kg/sec which is a function of the force applied.

Morphology Control Technologies of Polymeric Materials During Processing

The processing, morphological structure, and properties of polymeric materials are closely related with each other. Morphological structure of polymeric materials is formed in situ under complex temperature and external force fields during processing, and in turn affects the ultimate performances of products. With the increasingly widespread application and more stringent requirement of polymeric materials, improved processing technologies are needed in order to improve product quality. A new processing methodology, i.e., morphology control, appears to achieve a significant improvement by structuring the morphological structure of polymeric materials. This paper presents a summary of four different types of morphology control technologies, namely, shear controlled orientation in injection molding, vibration‐assisted injection molding/extrusion, rotational extrusion, and in situ microfibrillation/formation. Methods of application and their resulting effects on morphological structure and mechanical performances of polymeric materials are presented in a review format.

Energy and Exergy Optimization of Hydrocarbon Recovery (HCR) Plant Considering Potential Environmental Impact and Economics

Process energy integration and continuous improvement of process technology are one of the increasing issues to ensure profitability of chemical productions. The energy conservation, process economics and environmental aspects are integrated at the early stage of the process development, the easier and less expensive to improve the process design. In this work different distillation process design alternatives have been considered with respect to evaluations of process economics and potential environmental impacts. The concept of exergy distribution has also been used as a tool to identify exergy loss profiles in each distillation unit. A multi-criteria decision making technique such as (Analytic Hierarchy Process) AHP is applied for ranking the alternatives. This method reveals that the heat pump distillation unit which has the highest score of 52 % is the best alternative when compare with the base case. In terms of the effluent streams, the base case has a less potential environmental impact (PEI) compared to heat pump. The lower total PEI/kg (7.45E-01) of the base case illustrates that the material utilization efficiency of the base case is better than that of the heat pump which PEI/kg is 8.14E-01.

Gear Failure Forms and Processing Technology Improvement

Mechanical drive is commonly applied to mechanical engineering, and also is often used as the transfer power of mechanical equipment or a basic form of normal motion. Meshing drive is an important component of the mechanical drive system, gear is the core component of the meshing drive, and the efficiency of the meshing drive can be greatly destroyed by gear failure. In this paper, the characteristics of meshing drive is first introduced, and then the common gear failure forms are analyzed,and accordingly the methods of improving the processing technology of gear components are proposed. It is expected that the follow-up studies can be helped and inspired by this paper.

Development of designs for enhancing output and operation efficiency of OAO TAIF-NK catalytic cracking plant

The results of development and introduction of a set of designs aimed at improving process technology and modernization of equipment of the reactor assembly of the OAO TAIF-NK catalytic cracking plant, which help markedly raise the output, efficiency, and stability of operation of the plant, are reported.

Opportunities for improvement of process technology for biomethanation processes

Opportunities for improvement of process technology for biomethanation processes

Structural steel construction in Southern Africa Morgan Dundu

Steel construction is becoming increasingly popular in Southern Africa. Selected case studies of steel structures are presented and discussed here to support this statement. The discussion entails the extent to which the design of steel structures facilitates ease of construction. It is recognized that steel has been with us for some time and that most of the world’s spectacular bridges have taken advantage of the relative lightness of the material for long spans. More recently, high-rise steel-framed buildings have further demonstrated the versatility of steel. This is happening despite the fact that throughout its history, the steel industry has been dogged by high production costs, almost inevitably resulting in heavily subsidized steel. Dramatic improvements in process technology and a better understanding of the behaviour of structural steel coupled with an extensive market programme are now putting structural steel in its rightful place.

Determinants of improved cassava processing technologies’ (ICPT) utilization among rural processors in Oyo State.

The study examined the factors determining the utilization of Improved Cassava Processing Technologies (ICPTs) in Oyo State, Nigeria. One hundred and eighty respondents were selected from twenty randomly sampled villages across four agricultural zones in the state. Analytical tools used in the study include the descriptive and inferential statistics such as Probit model and chi-square analyses. Results showed that aggregated R2 valve was 0.6573, indicating that 65.73% variation in the utilization of the technologies was explained by the variables considered in the study. Socioeconomic factors of respondents such as age, gender marital status, education, experience, family size and contact with extension agents determined utilization of improved processing technologies while the technologies use were constrained by inadequate capital, skills required, operation complexity, disinterest and unavailability of equipment. It was recommended that unpopular processing technologies be made available in the study area in such a way that all attached bottlenecks are drastically reduced in order to enhance wide utilization of the technologies in the state.Key words: Imrpoved Cassava Production Technologies (ICPTs),rural

Foinaven: 4D processing comes up trumps

A good 4D image shows the effect on the seismic of production-related changes from within and sur-rounding a reservoir. It is well understood that the quality of 4D images is driven by two main ingredients: the quality of the acquisition and the quality of the processing. While 4D acquisition has been taking the limelight recently, the evolution of 4D processing algorithms has been steadily, and perhaps quietly, enhancing the quality of 4D images, including data acquired before the advent of carefully designed, dedicated 4D surveys. Using data from the Foinaven Field, one of three BP-operated fields in the West of Shetlands area, this paper shows how such improvements in processing technology over the last decade have enhanced the quality of the 3D imaging, the 4D seismic difference image, and improved the 4D repeatability.

Comparative study on differently concentrated aqueous solutions of MEA and TETA for CO2 capture from flue gases

Next to IGCC and oxyfuel technology amine scrubbing is one possible process pursued for industrial-scale CO2 capture from power plant flue gases. Aqueous solutions of Monoethanolamine (MEA) are commonly used for the existing amine scrubbing processes because of their high reaction kinetics during CO2 absorption. However, the required energy demand for regeneration of the MEA solution is comparably high, requiring improvements in process technology and solvent development. Within this work the results from lab-scale experimental research on the CO2 absorption from flue gases using differently concentrated aqueous solutions of MEA and Triethylenetetramine (TETA) are presented and discussed. The amine content of the solutions was varied in order to show the influence of concentration on CO2 loading, cyclic capacity and limitations within physical parameters. The equilibrium CO2 loading of the concentrated amine solutions was obtained at temperatures from 30 to 95°C using synthetic flue gas with different CO2 concentrations of up to 15vol% CO2. From these results the cyclic capacities of the different solutions are calculated and discussed with focus on the influence of the amine concentration. Furthermore MEA and TETA will be compared on molar and mass basis specifying the significance of TETA as polyamine and its advantages regarding the scrubbing process.

Experimental research on the performance of CO2-loaded solutions of MEA and DEA at regeneration conditions

Amine-based post combustion CO2 capture is considered as one of the most advanced technologies to be implemented in new and existing coal-fired power plants for CCS. Although it has proven technically viable, it has not been installed on a large-scale application yet. The main drawback of the process is the high energy requirement for the regeneration of the amine solution. Values around 4MJ/kg of CO2 for the standard MEA-based process have been reported. The heat duty must be supplied by means of low-pressure steam from the power plant, which causes a decrease in the power plant net efficiency of up to 13%-points. Therefore, improvements in process technology and solvent development are important to reduce the penalty in the power plant efficiency.Results from lab-scale research on the absorption and desorption of MEA and DEA at different concentrations are presented and discussed. Absorption and desorption capacities, as well as the regeneration of the CO2-loaded solutions in a stripper column and the influence of different operating parameters have been experimentally investigated.

307 ディーゼル微粒子フィルタのセル構造の検討(水・排ガス処理(物理化学処理))

The environmental regulation tends to become strict rapidly, and the further highly performance of DPF is demanded. Generally, the square cell design of DPF is worldwide standard. In recent years, DPFs with some another cell design have been realized by the improvement of processing technology. These DPFs have been developed for higher Ash capacity and lower pressure loss. In this study, we compared two DPFs performances between hexagonal cell and traditional square cell. We measured particle number concentration by EEPS to obtain filtration efficiency on early filtration stage; and we also measured pressure drop during soot loading at engine test bench. Results show that, the soot leakage on early filtration stage reduced rapidly with hexagonal cell. Backpressure during soot loading with hexagonal cell is lower than that of traditional square cell.

A study on thermal stability of lycopene in tomato in water and oil food systems using response surface methodology

Summary Thermal processed tomato-food products rich in Z-lycopene isomers have demonstrated higher bioactivity compared to fresh products which contain mainly all-E-lycopene isomer. The objectives of this study were to optimise processing conditions for production of tomato products rich in Z-lycopene isomers in water and oil systems. The results showed that the optimal conditions for water and oil systems were temperature 120 °C, heating time 2.14 h, and the percentage of Z-lycopene isomers content was 51 ± 1% and 57 ± 2%, respectively. The ratio of tomato extract to oil/water had no influence on the Z-lycopene formation. Therefore, from these results it can be concluded that the combination of high temperature and relatively short heat treatment time could improve formation of Z-lycopene isomers or degradation of Z-isomers is lower during tomato processing .These research results could be useful in assisting the industry to improve processing technology, nutritional value and health-benefits of tomato-based foods.

Processors’ perceptions of various cassava processing technologies: A case study of selected districts in Ghana

A purposive sample of 100 cassava processors were interviewed in the Suhum-KraboaCoaltar, Awutu-Efutu Senya, Ho, and Ga districts of Eastern, Central, Volta, and Greater Accra regions of Ghana, respectively, to assess their perceptions of various cassava processing technologies transferred under the Root and Tuber Improvement Programme. These technologies included production of high quality cassava flour (HQCF) and the use of improved stoves, graters, and presses for the production of gari. To over 70 per cent of the respondents, the improved processing technologies were suitable to the village/community-based setting. However, the use of screw press was assessed to be labour-intensive, and lack of maintenance culture limited the efficiency of graters. Unearthing the opportunities in the cassava processing industry, small and large-scale linkages, and the use of intermediate processing options were thought necessary to meet local and export market demand.

Adoption and impact of high quality bambara flour (HQBF) technology in the Northern Region of Ghana

The study focused on the level of adoption of high quality bambara flour (HQBF) processing technology and its impact on end-users. A random sample of 100 women, mainly bambara processors, was selected from Gushiegu/Karaga, Tolon Kumbungu, Savelugu-Nanton, and Tamale districts of the Northern Region of Ghana for interview in June 2004. The Statistical Package for Social Scientist (SPSS), Excel and Econometric Views were used to analyse general data, and the Logit model used to investigate the determinants of adoption. The findings established an effective utilisation level of HQBF at 68 per cent. Variables hypothesized to influence adoption of the improved processing technology from the respondents' own assessments included time of awareness, consumer acceptability/quality of products, credit, availability of raw materials, and sunshine. However, the first two were statistically significant using the Logit model. The technology had had economic impact on 28 per cent of the processors interviewed as a result of 12.5 per cent increase in demand for bambara-based products.

Changes of Total Tocopherol and Tocopherol Species During Sunflower Oil Processing

AbstractThe changes of total and individual tocopherols were investigated during different sunflower oil processing stages by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The results revealed that the levels of total and individual tocopherol content were decreased during the neutralization, bleaching, and deodorization processes. The overall loss of total tocopherols during these stages was found to be 37.9%, although the general reduction trend of delta (δ), gamma (γ), and alpha (α) tocopherols is very similar during neutralization (35.3%), bleaching (38.3%), and deodorization (37.8%). However, in contrast to the neutralizing and deodorizing stages, the bleaching process caused relatively less reduction for individual tocopherol contents. Deodorizer distillates were also analyzed and were found to be rich with tocopherols content (29,348.24 μg/ml). The results of the study indicated that most parts of the tocopherols are wasted during processing. Therefore, the proper concentration of nutritionists, industrialists, and manufacturers is needed for the necessary improvements in processing technology to avoid the major loss of tocopherols and to increase the shelf life, as well as the nutritive value of processed oil.

The continuing challenge of air pollution

Once a severe but local problem of highly industrialised and densely populated cities, air pollution has now morphed into a more insidious threat to the public health of entire nations. Smoke from domestic coal fires, power plants and heavy industry has largely vanished from our skies. This has been achieved through the use of clean fuels, filtration of flue gases, improvements in process technology, and export of the most polluting industries to countries with lower wages and less pollution control. At the same time, motor vehicle transport has increased enormously and other sources of air pollution, such as intensive livestock farming, have emerged. Pollution is transported over long distances and secondary pollutants such as ozone are formed through photochemical reactions. The erstwhile distinctions between “dirty” cities and the “clean” countryside have become blurred as a result, and nowadays a much larger fraction of the population is exposed to some form or level of hazardous air pollution than 50 yrs …

A Unified Performance Estimation Method for Hardware and Software Components in Multiprocessor System-On-Chips

With the growing complexity of consumer embedded products and the improvements in process technology, multiprocessor system-on-chip (MPSoC) architectures have become widespread. These MPSoCs include not only multiple processors but also multiple dedicated hardware accelerators that can be designed from software programs, written in high-level languages like ‘C’, using high-level synthesis tools (HLS). Traditional techniques of HW/SW co-simulation are very slow and time consuming when used for exploring HW/SW partitioning strategies. There is a strong need for methodologies that quickly and accurately estimate the performance of such complex systems. In this paper, we present a system level performance estimation method for exploring the trade-off between hardware and software implementations in such “hybrid” MPSoC architectures. The key feature of our performance estimation is the unified timing model, in the form of a program trace graph (PTG) for both software executions on processors as well as the hardware blocks (finite state machines) synthesized by a HLS tool. The RTL code from the HLS tool is analyzed and its state transition graph is transformed into the PTG, which was originally developed for software timing annotations. These PTGs represent the workload of the computation that is driven by program execution traces in the form of ‘Branch Bitstreams’. Our methodology allows highly accurate performance estimation under the existence of data dependent behavior of software and hardware components.

Exploratory and multidisciplinary survey of the cowpea network in the Tolon-Kumbungu district of Ghana: a food sovereignty perspective.

An exploratory survey of selected deprived communities in the Tolon-Kumbungu district of northern region of Ghana was conducted in August 2007 by a multi-disciplinary team of social scientist, food technologist, plant breeder and food nutritionist. The survey sought to identify with farmers their critical agronomic needs and production constraints in order to develop appropriate breeding strategies, as well as cowpea varietal preference for improved processing technology development. A rural participatory and conventional survey approaches were used. Close to half of the interviewed farmers cultivate both improved and local varieties. It was realized that 33 and 22% cultivated only local and improved varieties respectively. Generally, farmers indicated preference for improved varieties due to market value but rather preferred local varieties for household consumption and food sovereignty purposes. The top three most preferred varietal traits mentioned by farmers for breeding considerations included yield, tolerance to diseases and pests and seed colour. Processors preferred white seed coat varieties due to their good whipping ability and short cooking period. Farmers stressed the role of local varieties in food sovereignty with the early maturing ones being the most significant in household food provision. Key words: Cowpea, varieties, food, sovereignty, Ghana.