| 1 |
Author(s):
Habibu Rabiu.
Page No : 1-7
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OCCUPANCY BASED AIR CONDITIONER DIGITAL ENERGY SAVING SYSTEM
Abstract
Electrical energy consumption in public offices is dominantly caused by air-conditioning loads (AC). In the past, several energy reduction strategies were proposed to lower the cooling cost, which include employing alternative building materials, using variable speed compressors, etc. One fundamental problem that results in heavy cost in term of energy consumption of AC is the poor user behaviour. It is a common practice in Government offices to have ACs left working for hours while the office occupants are not in or have even close for the day. To ensure energy supply security, this paper proposed to employ passive infrared sensor (PIR) and microcontroller to keep up scanning the offices space at a top speed to monitor the presence of staff. It shuts down the AC if it did not detect any movement after the elapse of a present period. To evaluate the effectiveness of the new method, we employ an ethnography approach. Results got show a significant energy saving, which sometimes reaches up to saving of 15hours of wasted energy per day.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Mari H. H., Kiman Silas, B. Mala, A. N. Jibril.
Page No : 8-15
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Extraction, Characterization, and Formulation of Bio-lubricant from Neem (Azadiracta Indica) Seeds
Abstract
Environmental pollution from excessive petroleum-based lubricants is risky, their disposal is hazardous hence the pollution-free environment and diminishing petroleum reserves has brought attention towards the use of vegetable oils as an alternative to petroleum oil-based lubricants. Neem seed can serve as a very good alternative to petroleum-based lubricant due to its biodegradability, availability, and environmental friendliness. In this research, the neem seeds were extracted with solvent extraction method using n-Hexane as extraction solvent and its yield was determined to be 40.1% at 65oC and 0.335 mm particle size. The physicochemical properties of extracted neem oil were determined using the ASTM standard procedures. The results obtained was found to have a low acid value 20.10 mg/KOH/g, low iodine value 56.47g/100g but relatively high specific gravity 0.902, density 902 kg/m3, kinematic viscosity at 40oC and 100oC was found to be 109 mm2/s, and 22.6 mm2/s respectively, pour point 12oC, cloud point 9oC and flash point 265oC. The neem oil has kinetic viscosity at 100oC, acidic value, density, and specific gravity compared to the SAE 20W50, whereas the SAE20W50 is better than the neem oil in other measured properties. The bio-lubricant obtained from Neem oil was produced using a transesterification process with methanol as alcohol and potassium hydroxide (KOH) as reaction catalyst and its yield was determined to be 82%. It is therefore recommended that there is a need for an additive that should be used to improve the quality of the bio-lubricant.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Nuraddeen Mukhtar Nasidi, Nura Jafar Shanono, Muazu Dantala Zakari.
Page No : 16-31
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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON RAINFALL EROSIVITY AND WATER RESOURCES USING ENSEMBLE GCMS
Abstract
Rainfall erosivity is one of the key factors of soil erosion which is expected to change whenever climate variables change and have significant effects on soil conservation policies. It is crucial to identify the future trends of rainfall erosivity and its consequences on water resources in a tropical area where rainfall records are expected to continue to rise. This study aimed to simulate potential precipitations using Global Circulation Models (GCMs), predict erosivity, and determine its impact on water resources in Cameron Highlands. In this study, we used 14 GCMs, AR5 emission sce-narios, and two future projection periods. The erosivity factor was determined through the relationship between baseline rainfall intensity and Modified Fournier Index. The result shows a correlation coefficient of 96% between observed and simulated rainfalls. Similarly, the model validation indicated that MAE, SE, and RMSE for the cali-brated model are 0.1487, 1.3692, and 1.2499, respectively. The highest rainfall erosivity of 6,039 MJmmha-1hr-1yr-1 was projected to occur at the Tanah Rata catchment area located in the Southwestern part by the 2080s under the RCP8.5 scenario. Also, peak streamflow discharge through Ringlet River is expected to increase by 9.72% up to 110% to reach a peak value in December by 2080s under the RCP8.5 emission scenario. This study revealed a potential increase in rainfall erosivity and corresponding water resources that could be emerged due to climate change which requires appropriate conservation strategies.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Usman Kamalluddeen Mahmud, Fatima Sani, Amir Abdullahi Bature.
Page No : 32-39
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Implementing Control Engineering Algorithm on ESP32 Microcontroller: Case Study – DC Motor Speed Control
Abstract
Implementing control engineering algorithm on a microcontroller will aid students understanding of the subject matter. Practically, the effect of different type of excitation with or without disturbance can be viewed in real-time. Students will be conversant with control algorithms and also, be able to apply it on any kind of system. This paper presents a cheap and easy method of implementing control engineering algorithm on ESP32 microcontroller focusing on speed control of a DC motor. Two popular control algorithms: proportional integral derivative (PID) and pole placement (PP) controller were used. A linearized model of the DC motor was obtained, and a discretized PID and PP controller was designed. For the PID controller, a trial by error tunning method was used to obtain suitable gains. While for PP controller, it was designed with poles located at different locations on the unit circle of the z-plane. Simulations were carried out in MATLAB to investigate the performance of the PID and PP controller before implementing on a real DC motor.
| 5 |
Author(s):
DR ALI UMAR BASHIR, DR ADAM LAWAN NGALA, Dr. Mohammed Modu Maina.
Page No : 40-53
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COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION METHODS ON MAIZE PHENOLOGY IN MAIDUGURI, NIGERIA
Abstract
Declining water resources and limited clean water reservoirs call for more efficient water use for future food production. The objective of this research was to compare different irrigation methods based on maize yield components and sandy loam soils. A field experiment was conducted in the 2014 and 2015 dry seasons to study the effect of irrigation methods on maize growth parameters and grain quality. The experiment consisted of furrow, drip, and sprinkler irrigation methods. Growth, yield and yield parameters of maize were recorded during the crop growth and development. Maize kernel quality, the performance of irrigation systems used in terms of uniformity of water distribution, water savings and their irrigation efficiencies were evaluated. The result of the study revealed that the growth, yield and yield parameters were significantly affected by irrigation methods in both growing seasons with better performance from drip compared to sprinkler and furrow irrigation methods. The drip irrigation method has resulted in water savings of 17.31% and 31.75% when compared with sprinkler and furrow irrigation methods, respectively. The uniformity of water distribution was higher in the drip irrigation method with emission uniformity of 91.2% compared to a sprinkler with a coefficient of uniformity of 75% and furrow with distribution uniformity of 75%. The irrigation efficiencies of the drip, sprinkler and furrow irrigation methods used were 80%, 76% and 64% respectively. Maize crops irrigated using the drip irrigation method had the highest contents of carbohydrates, ash and fibre of 73.04%, 2.40% and 2.56%, respectively. The study revealed that the gravity drip irrigation method is the most viable alternative in maize production for the semi-arid region environment of Nigeria for improved yield, higher water savings and higher maize kernel quality.
| 6 |
Author(s):
DR ALI UMAR BASHIR, DR ADAM LAWAN NGALA, Dr. Mohammed Modu Maina.
Page No : 54-68
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EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION SCHEDULES ON GROWTH, YIELD AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF MAIZE IN MAIDUGURI, SEMI-ARID NIGERIA
Abstract
The demand for Maize grain as human food, feed for livestock and in the production of biofuel is on the increase. These demands are putting pressure on scarce water resources. Two field experiments were conducted in the 2014 and 2015 dry seasons to investigate the effect of irrigation schedules for maize production on sandy-loam soils of semi-arid Nigeria. The experiments consisted of irrigation scheduling at three levels: fixed irrigation interval (7 days), soil moisture-based schedule using tensiometer and climate-based schedule based on the ratio of irrigation amount to cumulative pan evaporation of 1 (1.0 IW/CPE) set up in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth and yield parameters were recorded and subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The crop water use and irrigation water use efficiencies were evaluated. The results of the growth and yield were significantly affected by irrigation schedules in both growing seasons. Schedule using tensiometer and the ratio of irrigation amount to cumulative pan evaporation methods that resulted in 4 days irrigation interval performed better compared to the fixed interval of 7 days, with significantly higher yields of 4637 and 4603 kg/ha, respectively and water use efficiencies of 0.77 kg/m3 compared to the yield of 2296 kg/ha and water use efficiency of 0.67 kg/m3 obtained using the fixed irrigation interval of 7 days. The higher irrigation frequency creates a favourable soil moisture condition in the root zone of plants which resulted in improved crop performance in terms of growth, yield and crop water use efficiency. It can be concluded that the soil moisture and climate-based schedules that resulted in 4 days irrigation interval are the most economically viable alternative for improved maize yield, higher water savings and water use efficiency in the semi-arid environment.
