Masjuki Haji Hassan

Analysis of the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a turbocharged diesel engine fuelled with Jatropha curcas biodiesel-diesel blends using kernel-based extreme learning machine

The purpose of this study is to investigate the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a four-cylinder common-rail turbocharged diesel engine fuelled with Jatropha curcas biodiesel-diesel blends. A kernel-based extreme learning machine (KELM) model is developed in this study using MATLAB software in order to predict the performance, combustion and emission characteristics of the engine. To acquire the data for training and testing the KELM model, the engine speed was selected as the input parameter, whereas the performance, exhaust emissions and combustion characteristics were chosen as the output parameters of the KELM model. The performance, emissions and combustion characteristics predicted by the KELM model were validated by comparing the predicted data with the experimental data. The results show that the coefficient of determination of the parameters is within a range of 0.9805–0.9991 for both the KELM model and the experimental data. The mean absolute percentage error is within a range of 0.1259–2.3838. This study shows that KELM modelling is a useful technique in biodiesel production since it facilitates scientists and researchers to predict the performance, exhaust emissions and combustion characteristics of internal combustion engines with high accuracy.

A Review on Effects of Lubricant Formulations on Tribological Performance and Boundary Lubrication Mechanisms of Non-Doped DLC/DLC Contacts

ABSTRACT Tribological efficiency of industrial applications involving boundary lubrication regime can be improved to an appreciable extent by the deposition of hard coatings on interacting surfaces. Among such coatings, diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are considered to be one of the most suitable ones for the said role. DLC coatings possess a unique combination of physical, chemical, and material properties due to which they can help in minimizing friction-induced energy and material losses even under starved lubrication conditions. Since commercial lubricants are optimized for steel surfaces, therefore, a lot of experimental investigations were carried out to analyze the tribological compatibility of these lubricants with various DLC coatings. However, there is still a lack of understanding about how DLC coatings interact with conventional lubricant additives. Some researchers reported tribologically beneficial interactions between DLC coatings and formulated lubricants while others observed no such behavior. To address these inconsistencies, there is a need to rearrange the published data in a more apprehensible and organized manner with a special emphasis on the mechanisms responsible for a particular tribological behavior. In this way, it can be determined whether synergistic or antagonistic correlation exists between a particular DLC-lubricant combination and research on DLC coatings can be continued in a logical way. In this article, most widely investigated non-doped DLC coatings (ta-C, a-C:H, a-C, and ta-C:H) are tribologically analyzed. Average values of friction and wear coefficients are calculated for various DLC-lubricant combinations using already published data and compared to quantify the effectiveness of a particular lubricant additive in enhancing tribological characteristics of symmetrical non-doped DLC contacts. Moreover, tribological performance parameters of non-doped DLC coatings are compared with those of doped-DLC coatings to understand differences in their tribological behavior in combination with additives.

A study conducted on the impact of effluent waste from machining process on the environment by water analysis

Ferrous block metals are used frequently in large quantities in various sectors of industry for making automotive, furniture, electrical and mechanical items, body parts for consumables, and so forth. During the manufacturing stage, the block metals are subjected to some form of material removal process either through turning, grinding, milling, or drilling operations to obtain the final product. Wastes are generated from the machining process in the form of effluent waste, solid waste, atmospheric emission, and energy emission. These wastes, if not recycled or treated properly before disposal, will have a detrimental impact on the environment through air, water, and soil pollution. The purpose of this paper is to determine the impact of the effluent waste from the machining process on the environment through water analysis. A twofold study is carried out to determine the impact of the effluent waste on the water stream. The preliminary study consists of a scenario analysis where five scenarios are drawn out using substances such as spent coolant, tramp oil, solvent, powdered chips, and sludge, which are commonly found in the effluent waste. The wastes are prepared according to the scenarios and are disposed through the Institute of Product Design and Manufacturing (IPROM) storm water drain. Samples of effluent waste are collected at specific locations according to the APHA method and are tested for parameters such as pH, ammoniacal nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids. A subsequent study is done by collecting 30 samples of the effluent waste from the machining operations from two small- and medium-scale enterprise locations and the IPROM workshop to test the quality of water. The results obtained from the tests showed high values of chemical oxygen demand, ammoniacal nitrogen, and total suspended solids when compared with the Standard B specification for inland water bodies as specified by the Department of Environment, Malaysia.

Investigation of the tribochemical interactions of a tungsten-doped diamond-like carbon coating (W-DLC) with formulated palm trimethylolpropane ester (TMP) and polyalphaolefin (PAO)

Modern day industrial applications involve rigorous operating conditions, which include high temperature, heavy applied loads, and starved lubrication conditions. In these scenarios, either the lubricant slips out of the contact or only a thin layer of lubricant resides between interacting surfaces. The deposition of diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings possessing extreme wear resistance and ultra-low friction characteristics and using lubricants capable of physically adsorbing on the interacting surfaces can significantly improve the tribological performance. Due to their superior tribological characteristics, chemically modified vegetable oils, such as palm trimethylolpropane ester (TMP), are one of the potential candidates to be used as lubricant base-oils. To prove the suitability of TMP and DLC coatings for applications involving a boundary-lubrication regime, a logical step forward is to investigate their tribological characteristics in combination with conventional lubricant additives. In this study, the extreme pressure characteristics of TMP formulated with glycerol monooleate (GMO), molybdenum dithiocarbamate (MoDTC), and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) in combination with steel/steel contact were investigated using a four-ball wear tester. In addition, the tribochemical compatibility of the abovementioned additives with TMP and a tungsten-doped diamond-like carbon coating (W-DLC) was also analyzed using a universal wear testing machine. For comparison, additive-free and formulated versions of polyalphaolefin (PAO) were used as a reference. Moreover, various surface characterization techniques were used to investigate the mechanisms responsible for a particular tribological behavior. TMP-based lubricants exhibited superior extreme pressure characteristics and friction performance as compared to those containing PAO. An improvement in the tribological performance was observed when W-DLC-coated surfaces were used instead of uncoated-surfaces irrespective of the lubricant formulation.

Magnetic, thermal, mesomorphic and thermoelectric properties of mononuclear, dimeric and polymeric iron(II) complexes with conjugated ligands

Three iron(II) complexes with conjugated multidonor ligands (L1 and L2) studied as thermally stable magnetic and thermoelectric materials were [Fe2(CH3COO)4(L1)2] (1), [Fe(L1)3](BF4)2·4H2O (2), and {[Fe2(CH3COO)4(L2)]·2H2O}n (3). These complexes have low optical band gaps (1.9 eV for 1 and 2, and 2.2 eV for 3) and were magnetic with 57% high-spin Fe(II) in 1, 33% in 2, and 100% in 3 at 25 °C. Complex 1 melted at 57.2 °C and exhibited mesomorphism, while 2 melted at 96.9 °C, defining it as an ionic liquid. The thermal stabilities of 1 (Tdec = 199 °C) and 3 (Tdec = 191 °C) were lower than 2 (Tdec = 248 °C). Their Seebeck coefficients, Se (in mV K−1) were −0.65 for 1, −0.54 for 2, and +0.25 for 3, identifying them as potential thermoelectric materials. Complex 1 formed stable thin films on quartz by the spin coating technique. The films formed at aging time t = 0 (F1) and t = 7 days (F2) were made up of monomers of 1. The optical band gaps of the films (1.39 eV for F1 and 1.57 eV for F2) were lower than 1. The films were free of cracks and have a fairly homogeneous morphology. The films with the best morphology were F1 annealed at 40 °C and F2 annealed at 60 °C.

Tribological compatibility analysis of conventional lubricant additives with palm trimethylolpropane ester (TMP) and tetrahedral amorphous diamond-like carbon coating (ta-C)

Modern industrial applications involve rigorous operating conditions due to which lubricant either slips out of the contact or its thin layer resides between the interacting surfaces. Deposition of diamond-like carbon coatings and using lubricants capable of physically adsorbing on the interacting surfaces can significantly improve tribological performance. In this study, tribological compatibility of glycerol mono-oleate, molybdenum dithiocarbamate and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate with palm trimethylolpropane ester and tetrahedral amorphous diamond-like carbon coating has been investigated using universal wear testing machine. For comparison, additive-free and formulated versions of polyalphaolefin were used. Moreover, spectroscopic techniques were used to investigate mechanisms responsible for a particular tribological behavior. Among base oils, trimethylolpropane ester proved to be more effective in enhancing friction performance and mitigating wear of contacts when one of the interacting surfaces was ferrous-based. Self-mated tetrahedral amorphous diamond-like carbon coating surfaces resulted in lowest values of friction and wear coefficient of balls.

Comparative corrosion characteristics of automotive materials in Jatropha biodiesel

ABSTRACT This study investigated the corrosion characteristics of widely used automotive materials: copper (Cu), aluminum (Al) and stainless steel (SS) in Jatropha biodiesel. The corrosion rate of the materials was measured by the weight loss and changes in the surface morphology using immersion test in biodiesel. Before and after the immersion test, fuel samples were characterized by the change in chemical composition, viscosity, density, and water content. Experimental results revealed that Cu had the highest corrosion rate, while SS had the lowest. The main fatty acids observed in the tested biodiesel were oleic (44.6 wt %), linoelic (31.9 wt %), Palmitic (14.6 wt %), and Stearic (7.6 wt %). Apart from linoelic acid, the compositions of all other acids were increased after the immersion test of 1600 h. Also, the viscosity, density, and water content of the fuel samples were increased after the immersion test. However, these properties were within the maximum standard limit except water content.

Nanotribology of nanooxide materials in ionic liquids on silicon wafers

Nanotribological properties have a significant impact on daily life. Ionic liquids (ILs) are becoming new favourable lubricants currently in researches. Addition of nanooxide materials in lubricants provide improvements to new technology. In this study, we determine nanotribological properties of BMIM+BF4− IL addition of different amount of ZnO nanomaterial on single crystals silicon wafer (Si110). The viscosity changes of IL samples against temperature increase were determined by rheological method. Nanotribological properties were determined by changes in friction coefficient and wear rate on silicon substrate surfaces using a reciprocating friction and wear monitor in 1 hour duration time. Aluminium cylinders acted as pins used to rub Si (110) substrate sample surfaces. Thus, on range between 0 mg to 3.5 mg of ZnO nanooxide material dispersed in 10ml BMIM+BF4− showed a good friction coefficient, wear and surface roughness reduction.