Process Control and Systems Commons^™

Participatory Evaluation And Improvement Of Cassava Processing Machines For The Eastern Zone Of Tanzania, V Silayo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Cassava processing machines previously introduced in Tanzania were chippers and graters of the International Institute Of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) design. Popularization of such machmes in Tanzania required thorough participatory testing with stakeholders. When tested with farmers in Muheza and Kibaha districts average throughputs were 11-18 kg/h, 752 kg/h and 270 kg/hfor the manual chipper, engine-powered chipper and the engine-powered grater, respectively. Despite their low throughputs the manual chipper and the grater were Veo difficult to operate, and therefore demanded improvement. Improvement on these machines included modifications on the design for increased throughput, ease of operation and safety. The improved machines …

Review Of The Product Development Process And Information Flow In The Manufacturing Industry: Problems And A Possible Wav Forward, E Opiyo

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

No abstract provided.

Teaching Coupled Transport And Rate Processes, Yaşar Demirel

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering: News Releases

Coupling refers to a flux occurring without its primary thermodynamic driving force; for example, mass flux without a concentration gradient called the thermal diffusion is a well-known coupled process. Coupling also refers to a flux occurring in a direction opposite to the direction imposed by its driving force; for example, a mass flux can occur from a low to a high concentration region and is called the active transport or uphill transport, such as potassium and sodium pumps coupled to chemical energy released by the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in biological systems. Although the coupled processes seem to be …

Centrifugal Extraction Of Avocado Oil From The Pulp, J. W. Ntalikwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Absract

Simulation Of The Communication Process In A Pin Mill, Ambrose J. M. Itika

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Prediction of the performance of comminution equipment by mathematical models and simulation poses a great challenge to the chemical engineer. This paper describes the simulation of grinding results obtained using an impact mill. Single particle results have been used to generate breakage and selection coefficients that were used for the evaluation of the model. Results have shown that simulation model is in good agreement with the experimental data obtained at a circumferential speed above 60 m/s. At lower speeds, the models shows only partial agreement in the middle particle size ranges. The application of the model is therefore limited for …

Discrete Element Modelling Of The Abrasive Dehulling Process Of Sorghum And Millet, E. L. Lazaro

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The abrasive dehulling process of sorghum and millet was modelled using a three-dimensional discrete element model. The model was validated by comparison between experimental and simulation results. Good correlation between experimental and simulation results was obtained. Several numerical experiments were also carried out using the developed model to investigate the influence of mill and grain parameters on dehulling of sorghum and millet. The simulated results correlated well with experimental results from literature. The developed model therefore provides a simple and cheap tool, which can be used to study the dehulling process in more detail than, is currently possible using the …

Non-Classical Level Control Of The Utc Distillation Column, Mevan Ranasinghe

Honors Theses

This paper researches the enhancement of accuracy for level control for an operational distillation column. This was achieved through an analysis of both controller and sensor components. The UTC distillation column reboiler level control, like any control system, has multiple sources of error resulting in increased imprecision and inaccuracy. Several fundamental inaccuracies in processing of data were identified and then minimized by the introduction of a non-linear mathematical model prior to any actual controller development. This provides more accurate level measurement and a base for developing accurate controllers.In exploring the effectiveness of alternative controllers, two non-classical controllers are considered in …

Extraction Of Silymarin Compounds From Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) Seed Using Hot, Liquid Water As The Solvent, J.F. Alvarez Barreto

Inquiry: The University of Arkansas Undergraduate Research Journal

High value specialty chemicals are usually obtained from natural products by extracting with generally regarded as safe (GRAS) solvents. Because organic solvents are quite often used, high operating and disposal costs often occur. When compared to traditional solvents, water can be viewed as an interesting alternative because of its low operating and disposal costs. Milk thistle contains compounds (taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin, silybinin A and silybinin B) that display hepatoxic protection properties. This paper examines the batch extraction of silymarin compounds from milk thistle seed meal in 50'C, 70'C, 85'C and 100'C water as a function of time. For taxifolin, silychristin, …

Comparative Analysis Of Rng K-E And 'Standard' K-C Models For Fluid Flow Around A Cylinder, A Temu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A two-dimensional computational scheme for simulating fluid flow around a cylinder was investigated. RNG (Re-NOrmalisation Group) and 'standard' turbulent closure models were used. simulation was implemented with assistance OfFLOW-3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code. The governing equation Of fluid motion, in Eulerian form, included body forces as well as surface forces. The computational model predictions for fluid velocity showed good agreement between the two models. Comparison Of the viscosities showed a large deviation from the two models, with RNG k-E model giving a better approximation. Comparison Of the velocity around the cylinder, as obtained from RNG k-c model, with approximation …

Diamondlike Carbon Thin Film Deposition Using A Rf Planar Coil Inductively Coupled Plasma System, Wai Soon Liew

Student Works (2000-2009)

A RF planar coil inductively coupled plasma system (ICPs) is setup for this project. The system is powered by a 13.56MHz, 550W, 500 RF generator. The RF power is transferred to the plasma via a planar induction coil. The impedance matching circuit consists of an air-core step-down transformer and a tunable vacuum capacitor. The typical E-H mode transition which is distinctive to the ICP has been observed in argon plasma, hydrogen plasma and hydrogen-methane admixture plasma. The studies carried out include the observation of intensity of light emission from the plasma, the power transferred at different pressures, the concentration of …

Time-Varying System Identification Using Modulating Functions And Spline Models With Application To Bio-Processes, Sridhar Ungarala, Tomas B. Co

Chemical & Biomedical Engineering Faculty Publications

Time dependent parameters are frequently encountered in many real processes which need to be monitored for process modeling, control and supervision purposes. Modulating functions methods are especially suitable for this task because they use the original continuous-time differential equations and avoid differentiation of noisy signals. Among the many versions of the method available, Pearson–Lee method offers a computationally efficient alternative. In this paper, Pearson–Lee method is generalized for non-stationary continuous-time systems and the on-line version is developed. The time dependent parameters are modeled as polynomial splines inside a moving data window and recursion formulae using shifting properties of …

The Effect Of System And Oxygen Partial Pressure On Single Coal Particle Heterogeneous Ignition Temperature Under Conditions Of Negligible Convection; Experimental Observation, H. Katalambula

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Abstract Under conditions of high volatile concentrations, the influence of oxygen concentration on single coal particle ignition becomes more significant. The high volatile concentration conditions have been simulated by employing a microgravity environment. Results show that under these conditions, the heterogeneous ignition temperature decreases faster with increasing oxygen concentration than under normal conditions. The ignition temperature also decreases with increasing system and oxygen partial pressure under both conditions. Generally, the system and oxygen partial pressure show similar and complimenting effects on ignition temperature.

Application Of Vibrational Techniques In Determination Of Dynamic Properties Of Agricultural Products-State Of The Arton Of Vibrational Techniques In Determination Of Dynamic Properties Of Agricultural Products-State Of The Art, Silas Kajuna

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Vibration is one of the techniques employed in the determination of dynamic properties of fruits and vegetables. It entails generation of a mechanical or acoustic vibrational signal which is propagated through the flesh of the agricultural material. A transducer is either attached or held close to the specimen to monitor the propagation of the signal through the specimen. The manner in which the signal is transmitted through the material is analyzed, and the dynamic properties of the specimen which relate to its firmness or its internal being are derived. The technique has been around for the past 30 years or …

Measurement Of Markstein Lengths In Laminar Spherical Explosion Flames, E .M.J Mushi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Schlieren photography was used to record the development of spherical flames in a combustion bomb. Flame speed and flame stretch were evaluated from the data and used to evaluate Markstein lengths and numbers. The results indicate a strong influence of both the spark discharge energy and equivalence ratio. Low spark discharge energy is observed to give rise to more unstable flames compared to high energy sparks. It is observed that for the range of energy tested, 80 and 400 mJ gave the best stability for the flames. For equivalence ratio less or equal to 1.225 an 80 mJ discharge results …

Use Of Dissolved Oxygen Concentration Probes In Biological Wastewater Treatment Plants, S Manyele

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A study on use Of dissolved oxygen probes (DOP) for measurement Of oxygen concentration in warer and wastewater treatment is presented. The principles Of operation, design considerations and selection criteria for Two types of probes, viz. galvanic and polarographic, are discussed Use of polarographic probes in n rhree-phase fluidized bed bioreactor and in laboratory experiments is presented and discussed. The effect of airflow rate and treatment time on dissolved oxygen concentration was found to be significant. It was found that polarographic probes are important equipment in determining the pollution of the industrial effluents. Finally, the use of the DOC probes …

An Alternative Method Of Interfacing A Dc Motor To A Microprocessor For Mo- Tion Control, M Selekwa

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

A Simple and cheap alternative method Of interfacing a permanent mag- net dc motor to a motion control using switch- ing transistor motor drivers is presented. This method involves the use Of very few transistor-transistor logic (TTL) devices and a 555 timer to pro- duce a pulse width modulated (P WM) signal which is required by the mo- ror driver. The motor driver in this case should be of an H-bridge type. Like other methods currently in use, it relieves the MPU of all timing func- tions which are necessary in the generation of P WM signals. The present method, …

A Mathematical Model And Simulation Of Natural Circulation Loop Thermalhydraulics, Nihad E. Daidzic

Aviation Department Publications

In this work, a simple, nonlinear, seventh-order mathematical model with lumped parameter analysis of the thermalhydraulic processes in a natural circulation steam boiler loop is presented. Digital simulation has been performed in order to predict open loop transients in severe accidental situations. Parts of the circulation loop such as the steam drum, downcomer, and riser were modelled separately on the basis of the integral balance equations. The two-phase flow in the steam drum and in the riser was modelled with the aid of a homogeneous-equilibrium, two-phase flow model. Special care was taken to ensure the stability of the numerical scheme, …

Investigation On The Use Of Ethyl Acetate As Solvent For Seed Oil Extraction, E. L. Rivera Porras

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

An investigation on the use of ethyl acetate as a solvent for the seedoil industry was carried out. As hexane is the most used solvent in extraction of oil from seeds, the study focuses on the comparison of the two solvents. The parameters studied were: contact time between solvent and seed cake, temperature of the solvent, quantity of solvent used for extraction and type of solvent. The results are presented on a relative basis where hexane is given a factor of 100. From the results obtained it can be seen that ethyl acetate is in general a better solvent than …

A Continuous Distillation Operation At The University Of Tennessee At Chattanooga, David H. Cummins

Honors Theses

This paper describes the work done on the design, construction, monitoring, and control of a distillation column. This work was done as a Departmental Honors Project in the School of Engineering at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The column has been completed and the various tests performed with the column have produced satisfactory results. The column parameters are monitored and controlled by automatic controllers with manually adjusted set points. In addition to this, micro-computer based control for the column has been designed, however implementation of this control has not yet been achieved.

Process Control Of Activated Sludge Treatment, Phase Ii, Richard I. Kermode, Robert W. J. Brett, Joseph D. Pault Jr.

KWRRI Research Reports

Material balances on substrate and microorganisms were derived in conjunction with various mixing configurations thought to accurately describe the activated sludge process. These models include the completely mixed with bypass, plug flow, and plug flow with bypass. Two sets of kinetic mechanisms for substrate utilization and bacterial growth were employed.

A feed forward controller was designed from linear approximations of the material balances derived in the completely mixed with bypass mixing model. Utilizing frequency response methods, the controller was found essentially identical to a completely mixed modeled controller developed in a prior investigation.

Through computer simulation the controller's effectiveness was …