Engineering and Technology Journal

Research Paper

Studying the Effect of Phosphogypsum Addition on Ceramic Membrane Properties

Adel Zrelli; Elhem Metoui; Abdoulaye Doucouré

Volume 41, Issue 9 , September 2023, Page 1130-1138

https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.2023.139309.1426

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effects of phosphogypsum addition on ceramic membrane properties. In this regard, clay and phosphogypsum were characterized using FTIR and laser ... Read More ...

Research Paper

Servo and Regulatory Response of an Industrial Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit under Fuzzy Logic Supervisory Control

Princewill N. Josiah; Ipeghan J. Otaraku; Benson O. Evbuomwan

Volume 41, Issue 9 , September 2023, Page 1139-1151

https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.2023.139485.1432

Abstract

A self-tuning hierarchical controller in which a Fuzzy logic controller supervises the control actions of a conventional PID has been proposed, implemented and presented in this paper. ... Read More ... A self-tuning hierarchical controller in which a Fuzzy logic controller supervises the control actions of a conventional PID has been proposed, implemented and presented in this paper. The controller has been applied to a control study of Fluid Catalytic Cracking unit (FCCU) riser temperature, and regenerator temperature respectively. Comparison between the performance of the proposed Fuzzy-PID controller and the conventional PID was made in simulation studies of regulatory and servo performances of the two controller types. Six performance measures: Percent overshoot (OS), settling time (ST), integral absolute error (IAE), integral square error (ISE), integral time absolute error (ITAE) and integral time square error (ITSE) were employed as the tools for performance comparison between the conventional PID and the Fuzzy-PID controller. For the tracking of riser temperature with a set point at 524oC, the performance indicators under PID control gave the following results overshoot (14.5%); settling time (40 seconds) Integral absolute error (8.246), integral square error (3.3); integral time absolute error(1762);integral time square error (43.77) while for the same indicators under Fuzzy-PID control the following values: overshoot (3.3%); settling time (40 seconds) ;Integral absolute error (8.811); integral square error (14.5); integral time absolute error(280),;integral time square error (31.11) .The results allude to the superiority of the fuzzy-PID scheme over the PID scheme in tracking the optimal set point of riser temperature. More so, for tracking the regenerator set point temperature of 746oC, comparative study of step response under the two schemes gave the following results in six performance indicators: overshoot (PID (12.6%) / Fuzzy-PID (6%)); settling time (PID (80 seconds) / Fuzzy-PID (20seconds)); Integral absolute error (PID (14.29) / Fuzzy-PID (8.63)); integral square error (PID(6.713). Fuzzy-PID (4.506)); integral time absolute error(PID(2858)/Fuzzy-PID(305.9)), integral time square error (PID(77.55)/Fuzzy-PID(33.05)) . Moreover, the fuzzy-PID controller also showed superior performance over the conventional PID controller in terms disturbance rejection (regulatory response) of both riser and regenerator temperature. The results from this study suggest that the application of fuzzy-PID scheme to temperature control offers good promise of improved fluid catalytic cracking unit (FCCU) operations.

Review Paper

Decontamination of Aqueous Nuclear Waste via Pressure-driven Membrane Application – A Short Review

Taisir K. Abbas; Khalid T. Rashid; Saad Al-Saady; Alanood A. Alsarayrehd; Alberto Figoli; Qusay F. AlSalhy

Volume 41, Issue 9 , September 2023, Page 1152-1174

https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.2023.140193.1454

Abstract

Radioactive waste poses significant risks to human health and the environment due to the emission of gamma rays, beta particles, and alpha particles from natural or artificial radioactive ... Read More ... Radioactive waste poses significant risks to human health and the environment due to the emission of gamma rays, beta particles, and alpha particles from natural or artificial radioactive elements. This paper reviews the essential sources of radioactive waste, their potential risks to humans and the environment, their classification depending on their chemical, physical, and radiological features, and the treatment techniques utilized to prevent them from leaking into the environment. In addition, the current study focuses on using membranes exclusively and membrane technologies in the remediation of radioactive liquid wastes. The use of pressure-driven membrane technologies, such as reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration, is particularly emphasized. Additionally, the use of nanomaterials like titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, silica, alumina, silver oxide, zeolite, copper ferrocyanides, and carbon nanotubes embedded with membranes to improve their effectiveness and enhance their applicability decreases the risks associated with radioactive contamination via modifying membrane properties including flow rate, the result of rejecting radioactive particles dissolved or suspended in contaminated water, hydrophobic and hydrophilic membrane's ability and among other properties. Moreover, incorporating nanoparticles into reinforced membranes enhances the mechanics of nanocomposite membrane surfaces via processes like adsorption and ion exchange with various radioactive ions. Besides increasing nanocomposite membranes' performance in reducing the hazardous radionuclides effects, it modifies membrane properties, such as enhancing antibacterial capabilities, antifouling, mechanical stability, and thermal stability. The article review also discusses hybrid pressure-driven membrane processes in disposing of radionuclides generated in nuclear power plants, hospitals, research facilities, and decontamination projects to protect human health and the environment.

Research Paper

Production of High-Efficiency Alternative Biodiesel from Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil Using an In-house Made Y-Type Zeolite Catalyst

Huda A. Abdul-Kader; Zaidoon M. Shakor; Bashir Y. Al-Zaidi; Shurooq T. Al-Humairi; Musa Salihu

Volume 41, Issue 9 , September 2023, Page 1175-1192

https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.2023.141766.1513

Abstract

Y-zeolite catalyst, with a Si/Al ratio of 2.23 and a high surface area of 703.34 m2/gcat, was prepared with three different particle sizes: 75, 600, and 1000 μm, from commercial ... Read More ... Y-zeolite catalyst, with a Si/Al ratio of 2.23 and a high surface area of 703.34 m2/gcat, was prepared with three different particle sizes: 75, 600, and 1000 μm, from commercial Ludox AS-40 colloidal silica 40 wt.% suspension in water using the hydrothermal method. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analyses were all utilized to analyze the properties of the synthesized Y-zeolite catalyst. Waste cooking oil (WCO) was transesterified to biodiesel in a batch reactor under different temperatures (e.g., 40, 50, and 60 °C) for 3 hours, and the activity of the catalyst was evaluated before and after being loaded with potassium oxide (K2O) molecules using the impregnation method. It is observed that the biodiesel conversion and yield, in the presence of a non-KOH-loaded catalyst, rose with increasing temperature and/or reaction time. However, increasing the reaction time beyond 2 hours in the presence of the catalyst loaded with 10% KOH decreased biodiesel conversion and yield. It has also been found that using catalysts with smaller particle sizes (e.g.,75 μm) is more favorable for enhancing the conversion of the catalytic process due to the acceleration of the reaction rate. A maximum biodiesel yield and conversion of 84.44% and 80%, respectively, were obtained. Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS), the composition and physical characteristics of the produced biodiesel were compared with those of standard fuels and the comparison results were particularly satisfactory. The spent Y catalyst loaded with KOH was recovered, reactivated, and reused in subsequent reactions. It exhibited outstanding catalytic activity, which is a testament to its cost advantage since it could significantly reduce the need for large quantities of costly homogeneous catalysts that are difficult to separate from the reaction products.

Research Paper

Heat Transfer Coefficients in Air-Solid Fluidized Bed Using Vertical Heating Element

Fadhil H. Faraj; Jamal M. Ali; Sarmad T. Najim

Volume 41, Issue 9 , September 2023, Page 1193-1203

https://doi.org/10.30684/etj.2023.140024.1451

Abstract

In various chemical industrial applications such as hydrocracking, drying, and Fischer-Tropsch, the utilization of fluidized bed systems is prevalent. Efficient heat transfer is crucial ... Read More ...

Volume & Issue: Volume 41, Issue 9, Chemical Engineering, September 2023 (5 articles)

Studying the Effect of Phosphogypsum Addition on Ceramic Membrane Properties

Abstract

Servo and Regulatory Response of an Industrial Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) Unit under Fuzzy Logic Supervisory Control

Abstract

Decontamination of Aqueous Nuclear Waste via Pressure-driven Membrane Application – A Short Review

Abstract

Production of High-Efficiency Alternative Biodiesel from Transesterification of Waste Cooking Oil Using an In-house Made Y-Type Zeolite Catalyst

Abstract

Heat Transfer Coefficients in Air-Solid Fluidized Bed Using Vertical Heating Element

Abstract