Other Operations Research, Systems Engineering and Industrial Engineering Commons^™

Comparison Of Meteorological Drought Indices In Tanzania Using The Meteorological Drought Monitoring Software Package, Paul Ts Limbu

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Low precipitation, substantial evaporation, and an unequal distribution of precipitation throughout the area are the characteristics of drought, a climatic abnormality. This study used the Meteorological Drought Monitoring (MDM) software and monthly rainfall data from the Tanzania Meteorological Authority (TMA) to examine and compare the Deciles Index (DI), Standardised Precipitation Index (SPI), Percent of Normal Index (PNI), Rainfall Anomaly Index (RAI), Z-Score Index (ZSI), China-Z Index (CZI), and Modified China-Z Index (MCZI) for drought monitoring in Tanzania from 1988 to 2017. It was found that ZSI represented the dry years better than other indices, followed by DI, RAI, PNI, SPI, …

Evaluation Of Cybersecurity In Remote Working Settings For Mobile Network Operators, Victoria Mahabi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Cybersecurity has increasingly been a primary concern to people as technology advances and allows them to work remotely. This study thus evaluated the cybersecurity posture for organisations that have opted for remote working culture, whereas emerging cyber threats, practices to combat them, and appropriate guidelines for managing cyber threats were discussed. The study used a descriptive design with a quantitative approach from 118 information technology personnel working for Tanzania's three major mobile network operators (MNOs). SPSS analysed the collected data. The study revealed that predominant cyber-threats affecting MNOs in remote working include human errors, phishing attacks, malicious domains, denial of …

Sol-Gel Synthesis And Microstructure Characterization Of Nio-Tio2 Semiconductor, Godlisten N. Shao

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

NiO-TiO2 is a fascinating p-n semiconducting binary metal oxide with unique electronic and optical properties. The NiO-TiO2 has been synthesized using complicated preparation methods and expensive precursors that hamper their large-scale production. The present study reports the preparation of NiO-TiO2 semiconductor with improved physicochemical properties. NiO-TiO2 samples were prepared through one-pot sol-gel synthesis process followed by sintering of the as-synthesized materials at temperatures ranging from 600 to 1000 °C. The role of thermal treatment and NiO content on the microstructures was exquisitely studied. The microstructure of the NiO-TiO2 samples was examined by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, XRF, SEM-EDAX, high resolution TEM, …

An Optimization Tool For A Standalone Photovoltaic System, Johanes Kasilima

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Stand-alone photovoltaic systems (SAPV) are often used in remote areas where access to grid electricity is limited. This system depends on solar energy. However, Photovoltaic (PV) systems need a greater initial investment than conventional sources of energy, and their effectiveness is reliant on a number of environmental conditions such as the unpredictable solar radiation. One step in reducing the investment cost of a PV system is determining the optimal size of solar PV components that minimize costs. This paper presents a Particle Swarm based optimization tool for sizing Stand-alone PV systems. The optimization tool selects the optimal Levelized Cost of …

Optimal Load Shedding During Service Restoration In Electrical Secondary Distribution Network Based On Reinforcement Learning, Rukia J. Mwifunyi

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Increased stress in traditional power systems results in blackouts due to voltage instability attributed to a mismatch between available capacity and load demand, especially in distribution networks. Service restoration schemes are designed to return power supply to the affected parts of the networks. The availability of insufficient supply is a complex problem that requires operational experience or an automatic system. The stochastic nature of load demand significantly impacts service restoration as it results in increased restored demand in case a fault occurs during off-peak hours and helps reduce overload if the fault occurs during peak hours. The study adopts an …

Design And Optimization Of An Azeotropic Distillation Pilot Plant For The Production Of Pure Ethanol, Samwel V. Manyele

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

This study aimed to design an azeotropic distillation plant using Aspen Plus® V10 software and determine optimal process conditions for producing pure ethanol greater than 95% from pre-concentrated near-azeotropic ethanol-water solution. The non-random two-liquid Redlich-Kwong thermodynamic model was the base method for property analysis and performance prediction. Modelling and simulation of the converged process were conducted for fixed column variables (R = 5, N = 12 and p = 1 atm). Plant operating parameters were varied in the range of 0 to 1 for the pre-heater vapour fraction, 2 to 10 for the column feed plates (NFP), 2 to 6 …

Effect Of Zr And W Doping On Microstructures, Transition Temperature And Solar Transmittance Modulation Of Thermochromic W/Zr Co-Doped Vo2 Thin Films, Haji F. Haji

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

Thermochromic W/Zr co-doped VO2-based thin films with different concentrations of Zr were successfully deposited on soda lime glass substrates by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering of V(99)W(01) alloy and Zr targets at a substrate temperature of 425 °C. The films were characterized by x–ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), two-point probe and UV/VIS/NIR spectroscopy. The film’s structural properties evolution was significantly influenced by Zr concentration in the films. The transition temperature and hysteresis loop widths of the films were found to decrease with increasing Zr concentration. For the Zr concentrations of 0.21 at.%, 0.23 at.% …

Optimization Of Human Interactions In The College Campus Model Via Simio Integration, Benjamin E. Chaback

Doctoral Dissertations and Master's Theses

College campuses are a significant part of life in some cities. Many students each year attend university, pursuing additional knowledge from faculty members. Both staff and faculty members rely on these students to have successful jobs and to ensure the university functions. Yet recently, more and more students are attending, leading to overcrowding, lower admission rates, and difficulty getting into good programs. Previous work exists on qualitative student affairs and quantitative retention data, yet little on using simulations to model this problem. This work aimed to (a) Determine the ability to successfully model human interactions/people flow on a college campus, …

A Neural Network Model For Monitoring And Forecasting The Process Of Storing Oilseeds, N.A. Kabulov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

The paper presents the results of research on the control, forecasting and management of the storage process of oilseeds. Vegetable oil production and energy consumption are two important factors of oilseed storage systems. The first ones should meet the needs of the population quantitatively and qualitatively. As a result, in order to properly control these two important aspects, it is necessary to maintain an appropriate microclimatic environment using a computational decision support system (DSS) that is able to adapt to changes in environmental characteristics. The multilayer perceptron neural network (MLP-NN) was developed to simulate the temperature and relative humidity profiles …

Efficient Connectivity Management And Path Planning For Iot And Uav Networks, Amirahmad Chapnevis

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores how to better manage resources in mobile networks, especially for enhancing the performance of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)-supported IoT networks. We explored ways to set up a flexible communication architecture that can handle large IoT deployments by making good use of mobile core network resources like bearers and data paths. We developed strategies that meet the needs of IoT networks and enhance network performance. We also developed and tested a system that combines traffic from several mobile devices that use the same user identity and network resources within the core mobile network. We used everyday smartphones, SIM …

Ambient Air Emission Profiles Of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Around A Typical University Power House In Nigeria, Oyetunji Okedere

Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology (TJET)

The level of electricity generation in Nigeria is presently grossly inadequate. Consequently, the productive sectors of the economy do not presently enjoy an uninterrupted supply of electrical energy from the country’s national grid and the downtime is in most cases too much. Using diesel-fueled electric power generators has become an attractive alternative to meet the shortfall in the energy supply gap. In this study, the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the vicinity of the diesel-fueled electric power generators operated by Osun State University, Osogbo, Nigeria were investigated with a view to ascertain the priority levels and carcinogenic PAHs. Since …

Algorithm For Calculating The Parameters Of A Multi-Position Electromagnetic Linear Mechatronic Module, Nazarov Khayriddin Nuritdinovich, Matyokubov Nurbek Rustamovich, Temurbek Omonboyevich Rakhimov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

Currently, in the world in the field of science, engineering and technology, including in mechatronics and robotics, the creation of multi-coordinate mechatronic systems that perform power and control functions is becoming of paramount importance, this is due to a number of important positive qualities of the systems, such as simplicity and compactness of the design, the possibility of obtaining significant efforts, high accuracy and stability of the establishment of fixed positions, ease of control and high reliability. This article presents the calculation of the parameters of multi-position mechatronic modules based on linear execution elements. In the construction of this model, …

Integration Of Blockchain Technology Into Automobiles To Prevent And Study The Causes Of Accidents, John Kim

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

Automobile collisions occur daily. We now live in an information-driven world, one where technology is quickly evolving. Blockchain technology can change the automotive industry, the safety of the motoring public and its surrounding environment by incorporating this vast array of information. It can place safety and efficiency at the forefront to pedestrians, public establishments, and provide public agencies with pertinent information securely and efficiently. Other industries where Blockchain technology has been effective in are as follows: supply chain management, logistics, and banking. This paper reviews some statistical information regarding automobile collisions, Blockchain technology, Smart Contracts, Smart Cities; assesses the feasibility …

Algorithm For The Synthesis Of The Control System Of A Double Mass Elastic Dynamic Object, Isomiddin Khakimovich Siddikov, Gulchekhra Rakhimjonovna Alimova, Davronbek Abdalimovich Khalmatov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

There are dealt with the creation of a control system for a dynamic object with an elastic property, described by a system of second-order differential equations, further transformed into two polynomial equations in matrix form in a paper. In order to solve the problem of synthesizing the control system, two matrix polynomials with unknown parameters were introduced into the system of equations, which is the transfer function of the controller, the order of which is two, giving the system the properties of astatism. To solve the delivered problem posed, the matrix polynomial equation was transformed into a matrix linear equation …

A Transdisciplinary Analysis Of Just Transition Pathways To 100% Renewable Electricity, Adewale Aremu Adesanya

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The transition to using clean, affordable, and reliable electrical energy is critical for enhancing human opportunities and capabilities. In the United States, many states and localities are engaging in this transition despite the lack of ambitious federal policy support. This research builds on the theoretical framework of the multilevel perspective (MLP) of sociotechnical transitions as well as the concept of energy justice to investigate potential pathways to 100 percent renewable energy (RE) for electricity provision in the U.S. This research seeks to answer the question: what are the technical, policy, and perceptual pathways, barriers, and opportunities for just transition to …

Solar Photovoltaic Performance Monitoring: A Bibliometric Review, Research Gaps And Opportunities, Javed Sayyad, Paresh Nasikkar

Library Philosophy and Practice (e-journal)

Electrical power generation has been revolutionized by growing demand and use of Renewable Energy (RE) sources such as Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) as the main electricity source in modern times. The main objective of this bibliometric analysis is to understand the scope of the literature available for SPV performance characterization. This detailed reviewed was performed on the documents related to SPV research considering all the subject categories from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases. The patterns for the particular set of keywords were broke down with the recuperated outcomes from Scopus database in the language, publication type, year of publication, …

Cost Analysis Of Optimized Islanded Energy Systems In A Dispersed Air Base Conflict, Jay F. Pearson, Torrey J. Wagner, Justin D. Delorit

Faculty Publications

The United States Air Force has implemented a dispersed air base strategy to enhance mission effectiveness for near-peer conflicts. Asset dispersal places many smaller bases across a wide geographic area, which increases resupply requirements and logistical complexity. Hybrid energy systems reduce resupply requirements through sustainable, off-grid energy production. This paper presents a novel hybrid energy renewable delivery system (HERDS) model capable of (1) selecting the optimal hybrid energy system design that meets demand at the lowest net present cost and (2) optimizing the delivery of the selected system using existing Air Force cargo aircraft. The novelty of the model’s capabilities …

A Multi-Criteria Logistics Analysis Of Photovoltaic Modules For Remote Applications, Nathan Thomsen, Dimitri Papazoglou, Torrey J. Wagner, Andrew J. Hoisington, Steven J. Schuldt

Faculty Publications

Reliable electrical power grids are frequently unavailable or inaccessible in remote locations, including developing nation communities, humanitarian relief camps, isolated construction sites, and military contingency bases. This often requires sites to rely on costly generators and continuous fuel supply. Renewable energy systems (RES) in the form of photovoltaic (PV) arrays and energy storage present a rapidly improving alternative to power these remote locations. Previous RES literature and PV optimization models focused on economics, reliability, and environmental concerns, neglecting the importance of logistics factors in remote installations. This paper proposes additional optimization variables applicable to remote PV systems and compares PV …

Dual-Axis Solar Tracker, Bryan Kennedy

All Undergraduate Projects

Renewable energies, and fuels that are not fossil fuel-based, are one of the prolific topics of debate in modern society. With climate change now becoming a primary focus for scientists and innovators of today, one of the areas for the largest amount of potential and growth is that of the capturing and utilization of Solar Energy. This method involves using a mechanical system to track the progression of the sun as it traverses the sky throughout the day. A dual-axis solar tracker such as the one designed and built for this project, can follow the sun both azimuthally and in …

36% Reduction In Fuel Resupply Using A Hybrid Generator & Battery System For An Austere Location, David J. Chester, Torrey J. Wagner, Douglas S. Dudis

Faculty Publications

The DOD energy policy is to increase energy security resiliency, and mitigate costs in the use and management of energy^[1] Forward operating bases (FOBs) are remote, austere base camps that support an operationally defined mission with a limited or no ability to draw from an energy grid and have historically relied on diesel-powered generators for the primary production of energy.^[2] Generators are sized to meet a theoretical peak demand, but steady state loads are far below this peak, resulting in under-loaded generators.^[3] Under-loaded diesel generators decrease efficiency and increase the need for maintenance, affecting the lifespan of …

Application Of Real Field Connected Vehicle Data For Aggressive Driving Identification On Horizontal Curves, Arash Jahangiri, Vincent Berardi, Sahar Ghanipoor Machiani

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

The emerging technology of connected vehicles generates a vast amount of data that could be used to enhance roadway safety. In this paper, we focused on safety applications of a real field connected vehicle data on a horizontal curve. The database contains connected vehicle data that were collected on public roads in Ann Arbor, Michigan with instrumented vehicles. Horizontal curve negotiations are associated with a great number of accidents, which are mainly attributed to driving errors. Aggressive/risky driving is a contributing factor to the high rate of crashes on horizontal curves. Using basic safety message data in connected vehicle data …

Answering Food Insecurity: Serving The Community With Food And Knowledge Using Technology, Courtney Simpson

Purdue Journal of Service-Learning and International Engagement

The courses of Tech120, CGT110, and ENGT 180/181 and Red Gold at Purdue collaborated to design a robot that would plant and water a garden for a local community charter school. The students centered the project on the users’ needs for fresh food, nutrition education, and early exposure to STEM for children. The school, Anderson Preparatory Academy (APA), is comprised of many children who come from low-income families and are in the free or reduced lunch program. Inspired from “Farm Bot,” a similar system that allows for almost hands-free gardening, the “Boiler Bot” is designed to be scalable so children …

An Exact Analysis For Four-Order Acousto-Optic Bragg Diffraction Which Incorporates Both Incident Light Angle And Sound Frequency Dependencies, Adeyinka Sunday Ademola

Electrical Engineering Theses

This thesis extends the prior work which produced an exact solution to the four-order acousto-optic (AO) Bragg cell with assumed fixed center frequency and with exact Bragg angle incident light. The extension predicts the model that incorporates the dependencies of both the input angle of light and the sound frequency. Specifically, a generalized 4^th order linear differential equation (DE), is developed from a simultaneous analysis of four coupled AO system of DEs. Through standard methods, the characteristic roots, which requires solving a quartic equation, is produced. Subsequently, a derived system of homogeneous solutions, which absorbs the roots obtained using …

Low Volume Dispensing With High Speed Dispensers, Sunny Agarwal

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

With the high pace of innovation in the semiconductor manufacturing industry, there has been an increasing demand for more energy efficient and environmental friendly products. This research relates to a complex process of fluid dispensing at low volumes on a printed circuit board. Currently, a more refined non-contact dispensing terminology named “Streaming” is widely used to stream out material at low volumes for various applications. The key solution is to frame a dispensing method that lends itself most closely to the requirements of a specific production process.

This study represents a detailed approach of dispensing low volumes of materials in …

Patent Analysis For Smart Grid Development In The U.S, Abrahim Abdulsater, Bahareh Saatchi, Farshad Madani

Engineering and Technology Management Student Projects

By increasing demand for energy among nations the rate of fossil fuel consumption is boosting. The raise of fossil fuel consumption has motivated nations to gain some capabilities for the purpose of dealing with some consequences; the more fossil fuel consumption, the higher price for energy, and the higher rate of GHG as well. Recently smart grid technology has been introduced as a healing approach in terms of using energy more efficiently. This study made an effort to have some discussions around smart grid technology development in the United States by patent analysis and forecasting. The outcomes in both technology …

Automatic Target Recognition User Interface Tool, David A. Kerns

Theses and Dissertations

A computer tool to aid in selecting the best Automatic Target Recognition (ATR) algorithm is developed. The program considers many quantifiers, accepts user-defined parameters, allows for changes in the operational environment and presents results in a meaningful way. It is written for Microsoft Excel. An ATR algorithm assigns a class label to a recognized target. General designations can include "Friend" and "Foe." The error of designating "Friend" as "Foe" as well as "Foe" as "Friend" comes with a high cost. Studying each algorithm's error can minimize this cost. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves provide only information on the probabilities given …

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.

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 …

A Game-Theoretic Improvement Model For Stochastic Networks: Reliability Vs. Throughput, Jeffrey A. Schavland

Theses and Dissertations

Prescriptive models used to allocate resources for network improvement traditionally have used reliability or flow as Measures of Effectiveness (MOEs). Such metrics do not give value to efforts which make a component more difficult to exploit. This study developed an entirely new MOE for stochastic network improvement, flow damage utility, which uses a two person, zero-sum, non-cooperative game to optimize a probabilistic network for an estimate of expected flow minus performance degradation after a worst case component loss. A multiple criteria optimization problem that uses flow damage utility and an analogous, previously developed metric for the reliability problem is used …