Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Engineering

The idea behind this research is on assisting industries, manufacturers and many other sectors that are affected by technology to apply proper maintenance for longer use of their machinery and its components. Fuzzy logic and FMECA were scrutinized. FMECA is an old tool as compared to the FL and therefore authors suggest the use of FL in the latest machinery maintenance. FMECA mostly deals with assumptions and pre-knowledge whilst FL bases itself on facts and rules inserted in it. Advantages and disadvantages of each method were done and also the use of these methods in plants was carried out. Rules generated for the example of fuzzy logic were generated by the Matlab R2010b software and for the FMECA by the excel software.

Moisture content (mc) within the cotton fibre is an important aspect for all stages of the ginning process. However due to the process dynamics, mc is currently being controlled by regulating the water and air temperatures from the Humidifiers. Human intervention and lack of consistence on set-points determination has resulted in inconsistent mc during humidification. This procedure requires a control system which will be able to adjust the process set-points automatically by eliminating the need for human intervention. In this paper a robust Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) system for a Samuel Jackson Humidifier is presented. This system improves upon the existing system by creating a closed loop controller with parameters that can be updated to change the response from reference model. The control parameters are then updated based on this error thus the parameters converge to ideal values that cause the plant response to match the response of the reference model.

Wastewater reuse is being increasingly promoted as a strategy for conservation of limited resources of freshwater and as a mean of safeguarding the aquatic environment from contaminants present in wastewater. Waste water disposed of in the ground reduces the quality of ground water and surface waters. Untreated waste-water generally contains high levels of organic material, numerous pathogenic microorganisms which entails environmental and health hazards. In this project, a design of an automated control for industrial waste water treatment using fuzzy logic control is presented. Fuzzy control concepts have been adopted and control algorithms based on pH and temperature variations provided accurate and reliable treatment of waste water. Two inputs, pH and temperature, and four outputs, hot and cold water valve and acid and base valve were given to the system. The behavior of the system was observed whenever an input came in. the pH was to be kept at a neutral status of between 6.5 and 7.5 and the temperature had to be kept within a range of between 25 0 C and 35 0 C. The fuzzy rules managed to keep the system stable as was seen from the graphs.

Finite element (FE) modeling techniques were developed to isolate the different contributions of corrosion damage to structural response of experimental reinforced concrete beams with shear-dominated behavior. Corrosion-damage parameters included concrete cover spalling due to the expansion of corrosion products; uniform stirrup cross-sectional loss from corrosion; localized stirrup cross-sectional loss due to pitting; debonding of corrosion-damaged stirrups from the concrete. FE analyses were performed including both individual and combined damages. The FE results matched experimental results well and quantitatively estimated capacity reduction of the experimental specimens.

Many uncertain factors affect the operation of wastewater treatment plants. These include the physical and chemical properties of wastewater streams as well as the degradation mechanisms exhibited by biological processes. Because of the rising concerns about environmental and economic impacts, improved process control algorithms, using artificial intelligence technologies, have received wide attention. Recent advances in control engineering suggest that hybrid control strategies, integrating some ideas and paradigms existing in different soft computing techniques, such as fuzzy logic, genetic algorithms, and neural networks, may provide improved control of effluent quality. The methodology proposed in this study employs a three-stage analysis that integrates three soft computing approaches for generating a representative state function, searching a set of multiobjective control strategies, and autotuning the fuzzy control rule base used for controlling a treatment plant. The case study, using an industrial wastewater treatment plant in Taiwan as an example, demonstrates the applicability of the approach. The findings from this research suggest that a genetic-algorithmbased hybrid fuzzy-neural controller can produce better plant performance than does a simple fuzzy logic controller, in terms of both environmental and economic objectives. This methodology can be extended to control many other types of wastewater treatment processes, as well, by making only minor modifications.

Despite the fact that electrical power is a major overhead in industrial refrigeration plants, this resource still lacks full utilization in some plants of some organizations in developing countries. An unfortunate consequence of this predicament is that these organizations end up paying for more power than they have actually consumed or even necessarily need. This research however addresses solutions to the above concerns through the development of a power optimization system. Since power optimization is a broad subject the scope was only limited to power factor correction and compressor capacity control. The developed optimal design consisted of replacing part of the inductive load by a fuzzy controlled synchronous motor. The torque angle at the synchronous motor shaft was continuously regulated by the automatic compressor capacity control schematic. Simulations carried out using MATLAB RB2010 are also presented.

The main objective of the research was to investigate the structural cracks for infrastructure at the anonymous Hospital in Zimbabwe and recommend the appropriate engineering solutions to the structural problems. Desk studies, geotechnical and materials investigations and investigations of the structural designs for the existing infrastructure was conducted. Geotechnical tests included sieve analysis, soil indicator, shear strength, direct cone penetrometer, chemical dispersive and California bearing ratio tests. Most of the cracks were structural cracks. The foundation depth was determined as 1.5 m for a bearing capacity more than 100 kPa. The causes of cracks included use of substandard bricks and construction materials, thick mortar and inadequate foundation depth. The dispersive test also proved that the soils are sodic in nature. It is recommended to use reinforced strip foundations and deep foundations when constructing infrastructure at the site. Heavy duty concrete foundation underpinning is recommended for the existing buildings.

The purpose of this research was to come up with an intelligent monitoring tool to reduce the number of breakdowns of a beverage company bottle washer. The Fuzzy Logic system was derived among other artificial intelligent systems to be best appropriate to solve the breakdown challenges of the bottle washer. A gearbox is always jamming and it's not easy to troubleshoot the breakdown cause and fuzzy logic is a tool that was used for monitoring. The researchers carried out a company audit, interviews and administered questionnaires in order to gather relevant data. The results were used in intelligent condition-based-maintenance modelling to solve the problem using fuzzy logic system and it was found that oil level should be always above 40% otherwise the gearbox will be made to stop. Torque is supposed to have a range of values accepted from 0-8 000Nm beyond that we consider the stoppage of the gearbox.

Robotic manipulatorforward Kinematics involves the assurance of end-effector arrangements from connecting joint boundaries. The traditional mathematical calculation of controller forward -Kinematics is monotonous and tedious. Accordingly, it is important to execute a strategy that precisely performs forward energy while wiping out the disadvantages of the mathematical calculation technique. Versatile Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) is a computational knowledge strategy that has been effectively executed for expectation purposes in assorted logical orders. This present examination's essential goal was to evaluate the productivity of ANFIS in foreseeing 3-levels of opportunity automated controller Cartesian directions from connecting joint boundaries. A speculative 3-level of opportunity automated controller has been considered in this investigation. Model preparing information has been obtained by mathematical forward kinematics calculation of the controller's end effect...

The final case study application was at a thermal power generation company. In large-scale industrial applications, the controlling and optimization of the parameters must be done efficiently and effectively so as to attain smooth operation of the plant. In this research, the main control parameters in the boiler were identified as coal flows, temperatures in the combustion zone, airto-fuel ratio and ash content, that is, the percentage of ash in raw coal, and mineral content. These parameters are monitored to avoid clinker formation in the super heater tubes of the boiler. Condition-based maintenance (CBM) approaches were used to monitor the boiler parameters. Fuzzy logic was applied in the monitoring of these parameters.

The boiler tubes are operated continuously at high temperature and pressure. Hence at high pressure for forces acting on the boiler tubes will be high. This research paper focuses on the analysis of one of the long term effect of continued application of high pressure on boiler tubes which causes creeping. By utilizing finite element modelling software, AUTODESK INVENTOR the effect of pressure with the increase in temperature distribution across the steam generator tube was evaluated. The increase of heat transfer rate across the wall caused the oxide scale thickness to grow more rapidly than normal condition. The thermal conductivity in the boiler tubes, life of boiler tubes and creep damage is also analyzed in this research paper. The AUTODESK INVENTOR result is analyzed to determine the main and interactive effects of operating conditions. The effect of steam on boilers and creep damage in comparison with temperature were researched. Optimum condition identification in order to m...

Conference paper,This research paper explores the design of an automatic safety brake mechanism on a manual circular table saw machine which stops the blade from rotating when human flesh is detected in the blade proximity. Fatal injuries are occurring, human thumbs and entire hand cutting during operation when operator accidentally touches the spinning blade. It has become a matter of concern to develop the safety mechanism which can be retrofitted on old-model table saw machines used to train students at a university wood workshop. The researchers made use of capacitive proximity sensors to detect human flesh and then automatically activate the brake pawl to the rotating blade, D.C injection brake voltage which abruptly stop the running motor. The design procedure confirmed the quick release of the safety mechanism within 0.25 seconds as revealed from the simulation of circuits in Proteus software. With this design it is possible to stop the spinning blade in 0.25 seconds, before ...

This paper looked at the design of a power saving conveyor system which involves sizing, selection and cost benefit analysis of its installation. This paper focuses on factors that cause high belt power consumption and costs which are high starting torque and more operating hours hence there is design of drive control system consisting of soft starters and variable speed drives to reduce starting torque and load detecting switching system to reduce number of operating hours. The average power savings considering all the factors of reducing the system operating hours to the average of 12 hours a day and drive control system that reduces the starting power were calculated to be 47%. The annual costs of power consumption were reduced from $86212 to $40520 resulting in the payback period after investing to be 8 months. After doing cost benefit analysis it was ascertained that installation, operation and maintenance costs of the designed system are less than that occur on the initial system hence the design is worthy to install since it results in cost savings and increase in system life. The are some recommendations for the designed system which are clean ventilated environment to promote adequate cooling, belt protection against overload to avoid stops and also soft starters , variable speed drives and sensors protection against overvoltage and overcurrent so that the drive control system will not fail.

Intelligent systems have greatly contributed in automating the process segments that includes the maintenance function in the manufacturing industries. The purpose of this research was to come up with an intelligent monitoring tool to reduce the number of breakdowns in Krones machinery (selected the bottle washer as a study sample). The objective of the research was motivated by an appreciation of considering Human Machine Interface (HMI) and automatic monitoring of the plant while in the office. The case of a local beverage manufacturer (anonymous) was used who has installed a bottle washer of this nature. The research entirely was centred on Krones machinery in order to model around similar operational conditions regarding their design orientation and function embedded within them. The Fuzzy Logic system was derived among other Artificial Intelligent systems to be best appropriate to solve the breakdown challenges automatically. Total breakdown of the bottle washer was realised at...

Deforestation increases the amount of CO2 gas in the atmosphere and is also a permanent destruction of forests. According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 18 million acres of forest are lost each year. Thus, regulations have been placed on forests’ clearance because the loss of forests causes global warming. Having identified the severe effects of greenhouse gases on the earth, this paper focuses on finding an alternative material for furniture manufacturing in order to reduce deforestation. With wooden furniture prices increasing due to the regulations limiting deforestation, the effect being significant in the education sector, plastics are studied as the alternative material to classroom wooden furniture. Instead of having a desk and a chair, the furniture is designed as a single combined plastic arm chair to save material. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is carried out on the selected polycarbonate arm chair using Solid Works, and...

Conference paper,When an external load is applied to one of its ends, a pipe’s bends cross section tends to deform significantly both in and out of its end plane. This shell type behaviour characteristic of pipe bends and mainly due to their curves geometry accounts for their greater flexibility. This added flexibility is also accompanied by stresses and strains that are much higher than those present in a straight pipe. The primary goal of this research is to study the elastic-plastic behaviour of pipe bends under out of plane moment loading. It is also required to study the effects of changing the value of the pipe bend factor and the value of the internal pressure on that behaviour and to determine the value of the limit moments in each case. The results of these analyses are presented in the form of load deflection plots for each load case belonging to each model. From the load deflection curves, the limit moments of each case are obtained. The limit loads are then compared to...

Conference paper,Customer perceptions of products continuously change over time. Marketing specialists are generally tasked with the responsibility of rebranding and product changes. However this is normally technology driven, with inputs from engineering designers and manufacturers providing the designs and feasibilities for either modifying existing designs or developing new ones. An opportunity arose at a timber processing company where a variety of products such as domestic and commercial furniture are manufactured. This paper reports on the development of a framework for formulating new products using the wide array of hard and soft wood that the company processes. A detailed work study was conducted focusing on the company’s production capacity, sales history of the company’s twenty-three products, market trends and interviews with current customers. The research set out to develop innovative and new product platforms (product families) that are unique and represent the co...