Browsing by Author "Kamoru O. Oladosu"

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    Optimization Of Clay-Bonded Graphite Crucible Using D-Optimal Design Under Mixture Methodology
    (2019-07-07) Olurotimi M. Adeoti; Olurotimi A. DahunsiA.; Olayinka O. Awopetu; Kamoru O. Oladosu; Omolayo M. Ikumapay
    The aim of this study is to optimize clay-bonded graphite crucible from the mixture of clay and graphite and selected additives (MgO and SiC) using D-optimal under the Mixture Methodology of the Design-Expert version 6.08. The samples were dried forced under the normal atmospheric condition for two weeks and were oven dried at 100oC and later fired in a muffle furnace at 11000C. The samples were subjected to the following mechanical test bulk density, linear firing shrinkage, and apparent porosity. The results obtained shows that experimental Run 7 gave the least value of bulk density (1.80) with Clay (80 %), Graphite (10 %) and MgO and SiC (10 %) respectively but Run 9 gave the lowest apparent porosity with Clay (70 %), graphite (10 %) [MgO and SiC (10 %)]. Further investigation conducted indicated that Run 13 with percentage composition of 80 % clay, 10 % graphite, 5 % MgO and 5 % SiC gave the highest value of the bulk density of 2.91 and the least value of linear shrinkage of 2.15 and the apparent porosity value of 28.20. These values fall within the experimental range given by literature. Though by natural intuition and from the literature survey, run 14 would have been selected but based on values obtained, run 13 was confirmed and concluded upon to have a better composition as a result of the computer analysis using design expert considering the values obtained from the selected mechanical test
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    Optimization of combustion characteristics of palm kernel‑based biofuel for grate furnace
    (Springer Science, 2018-06-09) Buliaminu Kareem; Kamoru O. Oladosu; Abass O. Alade; Mondiu O. Durowoju
    Grate firing is one of the main competing technologies in biomass combustion for steam and electricity generation. Ash generated in the furnace during combustion process would greatly reduce the boiler thermal performance and may lead to unscheduled shutdown. The focus of this study is to optimize the combustion characteristics of the mixture of palm kernel shell (PKS) and selected additives (Al2O3, MgO and CaO) to develop a fuel mixture of low ash yield and higher heating value (HHV). D-Optimal Design under Cross Methodology of Design Expert (6.08) was employed to mix the components alongside various particle sizes. The mixed samples were ashed in a muffle furnace (848 K) to a constant weight and their HHV were determined using Ballistic Bomb Calorimeter. Combustion test based on optimized PKS additive mixture was conducted with a 5 kW grate furnace from which the effects of varying the ratio of primary to secondary air flow rate on temperatures and flue gas compositions from the furnace were measured. The ash obtained after combustion process was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) for the purpose of identifying the mineral phase compounds that are present in PKS and PKS-additive ash. The optimum composition obtained for the process was 2.5, 0.0, 5.0, 92.5% and 5.50 mm for additives (Al2O3, MgO, CaO), PKS and particle size, respectively. The composition resulted in lowest ash yield (0.56%) and HHV (20.64 kJ/g). The coefficient of determination (R2) (0.7951 and 0.7344) and least-square errors (0.19 and 0.024) of the prediction model indicated a close fitness to the experiment results obtained for ash yield and HHV. Primary to secondary air ratio of (40:60) recorded maximum temperature (1058 K), minimum level of CO (285 ppm) and 6% oxygen. XRD results showed excellent interaction between PKS and additives. The appearance of potassium-alumino silicate (KAlSiO4) in the PKS-additive ash prevented the release of potassium chloride which has the ability to increase ash deposition and corrosion