Transportation Purposes Research Articles

Determination of the optimal construction parameters of dust collection facilities after pneumatic transport installation

In metallurgy pneumatic transport installations for powders and metal particles (swarfs, shav- ings, etc.) generated during production processes are widely used. Fine-grained metal waste and/ or intermediate products are characterized by a wide range of particle size composition, different particle shapes and significant differences in the densities of individual components of the disperse system (from 2 to 10 g·cm-3). The listed features of the materials intended for pneumatic transport create certain difficulties in determining the parameters of the disperse system intended for carrying out the transport purposes. The differences in the physical characteristics and properties of the dispersed particles also cause significant differences in their aerodynamic behaviour in the facilities for separating the two phases (solid and gaseous) and for purifying the fluid (most often air) before releasing it into the environment. Unlike dust collection systems for process flue gases, pneumatic conveying systems require initial sedimentation of the transported material and subsequent purification of the transporting fluid (air). The present report summarizes the results of analytical determination of the physical characteristics of waste fine-grained metal materials and calculation of the aerodynamic parameters of dust collection equipment included in the system for the separation of solid-phase particles with sizes greater than 100 μm and subsequent purification of the waste gas to achieve concentration of fine dust particles lower than 5 mg·m-3. Based on the physical parameters of the disperse system, the best available techniques are de- termined for the separation of the solid phase particles and the purification of the waste fluid that is released into the atmosphere, as follow: gravity dust chamber;inertia cylindric cyclone. As a result of calculating the design parameters of the specified dust collection devices, the optimal conditions have been determined for the most complete separation of the transported material from the air flow and the subsequent purification of the air released into the atmosphere to meet the legal limit for emissions of dust particles.

Twin-tunnelling: Case studies in clay

New developments in the theory and practice of tunnel construction are essential for the industry to progress but it is the relationship between these two areas that is equally as important. Tunnelling practice has greatly benefited from laboratory research; specifically, centrifuge modelling linked with field measurements. The wide body of work on the construction of single tunnels has led to the identification of parameters and techniques that are widely accepted for predicting and assessing the magnitude and extent of tunnelling ground movements. However, the usage of twin tunnels in urban areas for transportation purposes have increased and better understanding on the associated ground displacements are required. This paper firstly provides background to ground displacements due to single tunnel, twin tunnel constructions and common prediction methods used in practice. Then, it introduces recent technological advancements in centrifuge modelling, applied to the complex geotechnical events of twin-tunnelling, that has led to further insight. The tunnelling induced ground displacements obtained from twenty four case studies in clay around the world and eighteen centrifuge tests are presented for further analyses. From that, a comparison between the recent theories of proximity-dependent tunnelling-induced ground movements with case histories has been carried out to establish their validity and limitations. Published field measurements have been reanalysed taking into account newly discovered relationships between the tunnels’ proximity and the magnitude and extent of ground movements, reflected via volume loss and the settlement trough width, respectively. The applicability to field measurements of the additional volume loss prediction method (derived from consideration of the experiment work) for tunnelling in clay is assessed.

Assessing the Impact of Public Transportation, Bicycle Infrastructure, and Land Use Parameters on a Small-Scale Bike-Sharing System: A Case Study of Izmir, Türkiye

Many cities in the world have deployed bike-sharing systems (BSS) to promote the use of bicycles. Previous studies analyzed the factors affecting the BSS usage, but these studies were predominantly conducted in cities that already possess well-established bike-sharing systems. However, there is a lack of comprehensive studies focusing on the factors influencing bike usage in cities where 1) bicycle culture is evolving and small-scale BSS is present, and 2) bicycles are not primarily considered as a transportation mode. This study aims to investigate the trip purposes and trip patterns of a small-scale docked BSS operating in Izmir, Türkiye. A two-step process was employed to determine the trip purposes, as cycling for leisure and cycling for transport. Later, ordinary least squares (OLS) and partial least squares regression (PLS) models were generated. The results showed that while the influence of public parks, residential areas and educational areas varied based on trip purpose, public transportation systems, particularly rail transit stations, and car parks appeared to have a more significant impact on transportation-oriented trips. Recommendations will be provided for the development of environmentally more sustainable BSS by accurately placing stations in the future to promote its usage for leisure or transportation purposes.

Thermal storage power plants – Key for transition to 100 % renewable energy

Transition from fossil/nuclear towards renewable energy supply can be achieved in three phases: firstly, variable renewable electricity (VRE) can be fed into the electricity grid just as available, while its fluctuations are balanced by thermal power plants fired by fossil fuels. Secondly, after achieving grid saturation with VRE, the residual load gaps must be covered and grid stability must be secured by highly flexible thermal power stations that generate dispatchable renewable electricity (DRE) without using fossil fuels. Thermal Storage Power Plants (TSPP) that integrate solar- and bioenergy are proposed for that purpose. Finally, in the third phase, renewable power supply can be extended to other sectors via power-to-X technologies, reducing fossil fuel consumption for transport, heat and industrial purposes. The phases of energy transition are described in the frame of a model scenario of the German electricity sector with TSPP as central element for the realization of Phase 2.

Optimization of pulsed electric fields combined with mild heat treatment on microbial inactivation of tender coconut water and evaluation of quality attributes during storage

This work aimed to investigate the processing conditions of pulsed electric fields (PEF) combined with mild heat for microbial inactivation in tender coconut water (TCW) using response surface methodology and to evaluate the quality of the products. Combining 40 °C with PEF at a field strength of 22.5 kV/cm and specific energy of 119 kJ/l was optimal to inactivate Escherichia coli K12 and Listeria innocua by a 6.60 and 5.90 log CFU/ml from the initial numbers of 6.65 and 6.04 log CFU/ml, respectively, thereby meeting USFDA requirements. This was seen to damage bacterial cell membrane and reduce total plate and yeast mould count in TCW comparable to thermal pasteurization (85 ± 2 °C for 10 min), resulting in a shelf-life extension of >35 days at 8 ± 2 °C while retaining physicochemical properties and polyphenols similar to the untreated sample. During refrigerated storage, the development of a pink colour in the TCW was also delayed for 7 days compared with the heat treatment. This study proved that the combination of PEF with mild thermal treatment (40 °C) was effective in regard to microbial inactivation for food production while preserving the fresh-like attributes of TCW as confirmed by volatile profile along with sensorial analysis. Industrial relevanceThis research provides the industry with an original investigation into the use of a combination of mild heat treatment and pulsed electric fields (PEF) to inactivate Escherichia coli K12 and Listeria innocua, achieving more than a 5-log reduction. The results highlighted the potential of PEF as an alternative technique for pasteurizing tender coconut water and extending the shelf-life. This approach shows promise in extending the shelf-life of the product, which can be advantageous for both transportation and stock management purposes.

ENHANCING THE ACCESSIBILITY OF RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES

The purpose of public mass transport is the general accessibility for all of its users. The lack of (or insufficient adjustment of) the tourist transport infrastructure to the needs of persons with disabilities and seniors is an obstacle to their free movement. The aim of this article is to determine to what extent the railway infrastructure is adjusted to the needs of disabled persons and what problems these persons struggle with most frequently. The aim of this article is to determine and discuss various aspects of disability. The primary research method used in the paper is the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA), which is a method used to assess the state of adaptation of the station for people with disabilities. The purpose of the tests is to identify existing and potential defects as well as their causes and effects. Research results verify the degree of adaptation of rail transport for people with disabilities and have diagnostic value. Future research should focus on the full usability of transport infrastructure for people with disabilities. The results of the current research have a number of practical implications, mainly for people involved in the transport industry. Building awareness regarding problems related to the mobility of people with disabilities, sensitize to the needs and challenges of such people has significant social implications. This paper has cognitive value for the development of knowledge, science, and quality in terms of adapting transport for people with disabilities. To achieve the study’s purpose, the FMEA was conducted on the example of the main railway station in Bielsko-Biała, Poland. Suggestions were also formulated to allow persons with disabilities to use railway transport to a greater extent.

Review of the implementation of road preservation and road shoulder widening on SP. Lempake - SP3. Sambera - Santan Project

The main road is a crucial transportation facility that plays a significant role in various community activities in a region, both in urban and rural areas. The total length of this road improvement project is 52.71 km. The enhancement of the SP.Lempake-SP3.Sambera-Santan Road is expected to help improve services and facilitate upgrading road facilities for transportation purposes, benefiting the local community and existing industries. This study utilizes the participatory observation method. Participatory observation is a data collection method that directly involves a researcher in the research location, allowing them to participate in observational activities. The purpose of observation here is for the researcher to be directly engaged in supervising the road preservation and widening project of the SP. Lempake-SP3.Sambera-Santan road. Data collection involves primary data, including on-site observation methods, interviews, documentation, and secondary data used in this report, such as plan drawings, time schedules, and organizational structure. The widening of the SP.Lempake - SP3. Sambera-Santan road consists of several tasks, including preparatory work, excavation, spreading and compacting of Class A aggregates, structural work, and the final finishing work. Challenges faced during the project include weather conditions (rain) and material depletion.

Propagation of the blast wave in the enclosed blast wall structure (EBWS) at a hazardous chemical storage yard—A mechanism study

The storage and transportation of hazardous chemicals is an essential aspect of modern economic activities. The explosion of hazardous chemicals can cause significant damage to surrounding infrastructure and human life, and has become a major public concern. The enclosed blast wall structure (EBWS) is commonly used in open-air storage yards to segregate explosion hazards. However, the understanding of blast wave propagation in an EBWS is limited. In this study, the propagation of blast waves in an EBWS at a hazardous chemical storage yard was analyzed through a combination of scaled field tests and numerical simulations. The study focuses on reflection and diffraction effects in the access passage, which is connected to the opening of the EBWS for transportation purposes. A decoupling technique was proposed to evaluate the contribution of blast waves propagating through the entrance of the access passage and diffracting from above the blast wall separately. Several special wave propagation effects in EBWS were identified, such as leakage pressure and oblique incidence. The blast load experienced in the access passage were compared with current codes and prediction methods. It was found that the commonly adopted assumptions of a semi-infinite blast wall and normal incidence of blast waves underestimates the peak overpressure in the access passage and could not predict the following multiple overpressure peaks. Finally, a calculation procedure based on the TNT equivalent was proposed to predict the overpressure behind the blast wall with a slant angle.

Four-DOF Robotic Arm System for Goods Transport

Paper presents the design, development, and implementation of a Four-Degree-of-Freedom (Four-DOF) Robotic Arm System tailored for the purpose of efficient goods transport. The increasing demand for automation in logistics and industrial sectors has prompted the need for versatile robotic solutions capable of manipulating objects in various environments. The proposed robotic arm system addresses this need by offering four independent degrees of freedom, enabling it to perform intricate tasks involved in goods transport. The system's mechanical design incorporates four joints, each contributing to a specific movement: lifting, lowering, rotating, and extending. These movements provide the necessary flexibility to manoeuvre in complex spaces, making it suitable for applications within warehouses, factories, and distribution canters. The design process involved careful consideration of structural integrity, weight distribution, and motion optimization to ensure safe and precise operation. In conjunction with the mechanical design, the robotic arm is equipped with advanced sensing and control mechanisms. Sensor arrays, including proximity sensors and cameras, enable the arm to perceive its environment and detect objects, ensuring accurate object detection and collision avoidance. The control system, driven by a combination of microcontrollers and software algorithms, orchestrates the movement of each joint to achieve seamless coordination and efficient goods transport. Real-world implementation of the Four-DOF Robotic Arm System showcases its ability to streamline goods transport operations. By automating tasks that previously required manual intervention, the system enhances operational efficiency, reduces labour costs, and minimizes the risk of human error. Furthermore, its adaptability to diverse environments underscores its potential to revolutionize the logistics industry.

Fuzzy Logic Algorithm of Sugeno Method for Controlling Line Follower Mobile Robot

The industrial world has been increasingly using robots for production purposes. One type of robot used is a line follower robot for the purposes of transportation of production materials. Various researches and competitions of line follower robots were held to improve its performance. This study proposed a fuzzy logic algorithm using Sugeno method for a line follower mobile robot. This algorithm received input from the readings of 8 sensors mounted on the bottom of the robot and generated the speed of each left and right motor. This speed was used to keep the robot on track. The performance of this algorithm was compared with the fuzzy logic algorithm of the Mamdani method. The proposed fuzzy logic algorithm was better in terms of speed. The results of this study can be used as material to study the application of fuzzy logic algorithm in real time.

Comparison of two sedation protocols for long electroretinography in horses using the Koijman electrode

BackgroundIn modern times, horses are utilized not only for labour and transportation purposes but also for recreational activities such as competition and pleasure riding. In these various pursuits, the role of vision plays a crucial role. Electroretinography is the most used test to diagnose diseases of the retinal outer segment. There is a wide variety of devices to perform the electroretinography differing one from each other in the corneal electrode and the light stimulation. The Koijman electrode has been tested in dogs but not in horses. The main purpose of this study was to compare electroretinography parameters from horses sedated with detomidine alone or in combination with butorphanol, during a standardized protocol using the Koijman electrode and RETI-port® system. Seven mares were allocated to the detomidine and detomidine plus butorphanol group in a randomised, controlled, crossover study. Friedman and Willcoxon-signed ranked tests were used to compare the electroretinogram parameters. A Student’s t-test was used to compare differences in the number of artefacts to valid values ratio obtained under both sedation protocols.ResultsDark adaptation peaked after 16 min under scotopic conditions in both groups. No significant differences in electroretinogram parameters between groups were observed. During the mixed rod and cone response evaluation under scotopic conditions, all mares made a movement of the head resulting in a high number of artefacts. The detomidine plus butorphanol group showed a non-significant tendency to have fewer artefacts and a longer duration of sedation compared to the detomidine group.ConclusionsDetomidine alone or combined with butorphanol may be suitable to use Koijman electrode and the RETI-port® to perform a standardized long protocol in horses with some adaptations.

Pollution and Risk Level Assessment of Pollutants in Surface Water Bodies

The study was carried out to assess the pollution, impact, and risk level to the surface water environment of pollutants in the water bodies of Soc Trang province, Vietnam. The parameters for evaluating surface water quality and risks included temperature, pH, TSS, DO, BOD, COD, NH4+-N, NO2--N, NO3--N, PO43--P, Cl-, Fet, and coliform. Surface water samples were collected at 35 locations with a frequency of six times (February, April, June, August, October, and December) in 2022. The water quality index (WQI), impact and risk level (risk quotient or RQ, RQ-F), correlation analysis, and principal component analysis (PCA) were utilized in the study. The results show that the surface water has been seriously polluted due to organic matter, nutrients, microorganisms, iron, and salinity. The values of WQI in the dry and rainy seasons fluctuated between bad and very good, indicating that surface water quality is suitable for water transport and other purposes with higher quality requirements. TSS, COD, Fet and coliform have a high impact and risk for the environment in this study area. There were no environmental impacts and risks to NO3--N. Locations with many high-risk pollutants were mainly distributed in residential and coastal areas. The significant negative correlation between the WQI and RQ indicated that the lower the WQI, the higher the environmental risk. The PCA results show that at least six polluting sources affected water quality and caused environmental risks. The results of this study contribute essential and valuable information for improving water quality in the study area through the assessment of environmental impacts and risks. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-08-03 Full Text: PDF

System Hydrodynamics of a 1 MWth Dual Circulating Fluidized Bed Chemical Looping Gasifier

Chemical looping gasification (CLG) is a novel dual-fluidized bed gasification technology that allows for the production of high-calorific syngas from various solid feedstocks (e.g., biomass). Solid circulation between the two coupled fluidized bed reactors, serving the purpose of heat and oxygen transport, is a key parameter for the CLG technology, making system hydrodynamics the backbone of the gasification process. This study serves the purpose to provide holistic insights into the hydrodynamic behavior of the dual-fluidized bed reactor system. Here, special focus is placed on the operational principles of the setup as well as the entrainment from the circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactors, the latter being the driving force for the solid circulation inside the entire reactor system. Using an elaborate dataset of over 130 operating periods from a cold flow model and 70 operating periods from a 1 MWth CLG pilot plant, a holistic set of ground rules for the operation of the reactor setup is presented. Moreover, a novel easily-applicable approach, solely relying on readily-available live data, is presented and validated using data from the 1 MWth chemical looping gasifier. Thereby, a straightforward estimation of solid entrainment from any CFB setup is facilitated, thus closing a crucial research gap.

Assessment and Policy Interventions for Neighborhood Walkability Improvement

One of the most common forms of physical activity is walking which is the mother of all the modes of transport which provides inexpensive and equal transportation options to improve residents’ health and quality of life. Due to several associated advantages such as wellbeing of residents and improving health, reducing air pollution, traffic congestion and decreasing energy consumption, walking has become an interesting topic for researchers. To have modern cities with highly efficient transportation facilities which support walking, cities and neighbourhoods are trying to promote a pedestrian-friendly environment. As a result, walkability is a sustainable concept to improve the liveability of growing cities that describes the level of capability of the built environments to support walking for multiple purposes including transport, leisure and exercise purposes. Although measurement of walkability includes several methods and approaches, this research has emphasized on the walkability index as well as neighbourhoods features that influence the willingness of people to walk. Since Lucknow is not considered a walkable city, it is valuable to investigate how this city has tackled this issue. Therefore, for better interpretation, one such neighbourhood in Lucknow was selected to examine the level of walkability and the factors affect that

So called other facility on the land as a thing in the legal sense

The Civil Code of 1964 introduced a separate conceptual category of "facilities," which includes buildings, among others. In exceptional cases, such facilities are treated as separate things in the legal sense. The lack of a definition of "facilities" and, at the same time, treating only buildings as possible separate properties leads to the question of the material status of facilities that are not buildings. Moreover, it is unclear what criteria are to determine that a particular tangible legal asset is a "facility" in the civil law sense.Under current regulations, "facilities" in general cannot be considered real property in the legal sense. The only exception may be buildings, which constitute separate real estate in special cases. This is dictated in each case by the economic purpose of their operation. In this sense, both buildings and other facilities constitute a "main" thing in relation to the land itself. It is expedient to consider making significant changes in this regard. First, it is reasonable to prejudge that the status of an immovable thing separate from the land may have any facility, the ownership of which is associated with a specific limited, "purposeful" title to the exploitation of the land. Secondly, the derogation from the principle of superficies solo cedit cannot presuppose an "automatism" of treating as separate things any facilities, regardless of their purpose. Third, the needs of trading practice lead to the conclusion of the desirability of extending these exceptions to facilities located not only on the surface of the ground, but also under the ground. This refers to such facilities that serve transportation purposes (in particular, road, rail or subway tunnels), which justify the possibility of treating them for economic reasons as an immovable thing separate from the land.

Abrasive Wear Resistance of Ultrafine Ausferritic Ductile Iron Intended for the Manufacture of Gears for Mining Machinery.

The purpose of this study was to experimentally determine the abrasion wear properties of ausferritic ductile iron austempered at 250 °C in order to obtain cast iron of class EN-GJS-1400-1. It has been found that such a cast iron grade makes it possible to create structures for material conveyors used for short-distance transport purposes, required to perform in terms of abrasion resistance under extreme conditions. The wear tests addressed in the paper were conducted at a ring-on-ring type of test rig. The test samples were examined under the conditions of slide mating, where the main destructive process was surface microcutting via loose corundum grains. The mass loss of the examined samples was measured as a parameter characteristic of the wear. The volume loss values thus obtained were plotted as a function of initial hardness. Based on these results, it has been found that prolonged heat treatment (of more than 6 h) causes only an insignificant increase in the resistance to abrasive wear.

A review of recent studies and emerging trends in plasma-assisted combustion of ammonia as an effective hydrogen carrier

Recently, ammonia is getting more attractive as a potential alternative fuel for future power generation and transportation purposes due to its ability to reduce consumption of fossil fuels, soot, CO2 emissions, and hydrocarbon pollutants. In the recent past, several studies aimed to the development of ammonia combustion systems have been conducted. However, ammonia combustion systems face several challenges, such as poor ignition timings, lower burning velocity, low energy density, shorter flammability limits than hydrocarbons. These issues are compounded by the significant increase in NOx emissions, which makes practical application of ammonia challenging.Various conventional methods, such as blending ammonia with other hydrocarbons and hydrogen, have been employed to improve combustion performance and reduce NOx emission. Meanwhile, it increased the engine complexities and at the same time, it raised CO2 and NOx emissions. Recently, plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) has emerged as a promising technology to boost the ammonia combustion process by improving ignition delay timings, increasing flame speed, extending flammability limits, and reducing NOx emissions. In recent years, plasma-assisted combustion (PAC) has emerged as a promising technology to enhance the ammonia combustion process by improving ignition delay timings, increasing flame speed, extending flammability limits, and reducing NOx emissions. Nevertheless, only a few studies on plasma-assisted ammonia combustion (PAAC) are available in the literature.This review paper aims to summarize the latest advancements in the field of PAAC during the last years, including progress in the development of numerical models and experimental studies. The paper highlights the detailed procedure of PAAC numerical modeling and the limitations of numerical models. Finally, the latest numerical and experimental developments of PAAC have been discussed.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE SELECTED INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSPORT

An important role in the effective functioning and promotion of transport is played not only by transport and forwarding companies, but also by non-governmental organizations, closely cooperating with the industry and representing them in decision-making bodies. The article presents selected organizations representing the transport sector at the global and community forums. The analysis covers the influence of these organizations on establishing international law, unifying technical, organizational, operational and economic solutions, and the preparation of shipping documents. The activities aimed at standardization and unification of land transport for the purposes of intermodal transport were also discussed.

LOCAL RESOURCE-BASED INDUSTRIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY IN THE DISTRICT OF DHUBRI IN ASSAM

India cannot be developed without development in rural areas. Villages of the country are backward in every respect. Agriculture is the backbone for each of the rural economy. Dhubri district in Assam is not an exception to the general features of the villages of the country. Development of the district is not possible without active participation of the rural people in the channel of economic activities. Main objectives of the study are to know the utilisation of local resources to form resource-based industries and development in rural areas and to recommend suggestions to make utilisation of local resources for economic development. Study is based on secondary data, observation, and interaction with the rural people. In the district, growth rate of population is very high, and it is 24.44 percent. 89.55% people of the district live in rural areas. Literacy rate of the district is as low as 58.34 percent. The district is poor very poor and lagging other districts of the state. All-round development in the villages can be achieved with the establishment of local resource-based industrialisation. But this process involves several problems in rural areas like unskilled labour, rural poverty, infrastructural bottlenecks, flood problem, lack of training institute, etc. The mighty Brahmaputra flows along the district and this is boon for the district. Water can be utilised for fishery, irrigation in agricultural field and water transport purpose. There is huge production in agricultural field due to alluvial soil on the bank of the river Brahmaputra. So, there is greater possibility of growing agro-based industries. With the utilisation of local resources with people’s active participation and eliminating all hurdles faced on the path, rural economic development can be possible.

A simple analytical model for bamboo-reinforced slopes using modified Bishop method

Introduction: Embankments are constructed in many places for transportation purposes such as railways and roads. The stability of slopes in embankments has always been a concern, especially in cohesionless soils. There are many methods to increase the safety factor of cohesionless soil slopes using geogrids, geocells, concrete piles, and so on. The conventional material used to stabilize slopes has a huge impact on the environment. Nowadays, researchers are using natural fibers such as bamboo and coir fiber for stabilization purposes.Methods: In this paper, bamboo piles are used to stabilize slopes. The bamboo piles are inserted vertically on the slope face to increase the shear strength and stability against slope failure. A limit equilibrium method has been developed to estimate the stability of a slope improved by friction piles after modifying the Bishop method of slices. The stability of the slope is analyzed for both the reinforced conditions and the unreinforced conditions using the developed analytical formula.Results and Discussion: The analytical equations were developed by considering three modes of slope failure: shear failure of the bamboo piles along the failure surface, movement of the upper part of the soil, leaving the bamboo pile embedded in the base soil, and pulling out of the bamboo along with the upper part of the soil mass. Further validation of the results is carried out with the limit equilibrium method-based software SLOPE/W using a modified Bishop method. The factor of safety increased after reinforcing the slope with bamboo piles for all three modes.