Mechanical Engineering

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    Energy generation using palm waste for Heating applications, case study for Palestine.
    (2024-03-12) Ahmad Abuarra; Dirar Hara; Firas Mnasour
    Abstract Date palm trees, especially Alhayani, Barhi, and Majhool, have a rich history in Palestine. However, the waste produced by these trees, such as unripe dates, date pits, and palm fronds, is usually burned on farms, leading to environmental concerns, or collected them inside the farms for long periods, which leads to the emergence of the red date palm weevil, which works to damage palm trees.These wastes are a significant source of excellent biomass that can be used in many applications such as energy production, livestock feed, fertilizer for soil, and wooden boards, and can even be used as insulating materials. This project focuses on utilizing agricultural waste from date palm trees in Palestine by grinding and transforming it into wooden blocks for use in heating, bakery ovens, household wood stoves, and other applications. The effectiveness of these waste materials for use as excellent heat value resources has been demonstrated, especially when compared to other tree waste. The heating values for date kernel (17.1267 MJ/Kg), palm leaf (16.8873 MJ/Kg), and palm frond petiole (15.9897 MJ/Kg) indicate their promising potential for use in heating applications. A feasibility study was conducted for a production line that converts these waste materials into wooden blocks for use in heating applications. The annual profits were estimated at approximately 150,240 NIS, with a payback period of around 2.4 years and a return-on-investment rate of 36.3%
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    Energy generation using palm waste for Heating applications, case study for Palestine.
    (2024-02-25) Ahmad Abuarra; Dirar Hara; Firas Mnasour
    Abstract Date palm trees, especially Alhayani, Barhi, and Majhool, have a rich history in Palestine. However, the waste produced by these trees, such as unripe dates, date pits, and palm fronds, is usually burned on farms, leading to environmental concerns, or collected them inside the farms for long periods, which leads to the emergence of the red date palm weevil, which works to damage palm trees.These wastes are a significant source of excellent biomass that can be used in many applications such as energy production, livestock feed, fertilizer for soil, and wooden boards, and can even be used as insulating materials. This project focuses on utilizing agricultural waste from date palm trees in Palestine by grinding and transforming it into wooden blocks for use in heating, bakery ovens, household wood stoves, and other applications. The effectiveness of these waste materials for use as excellent heat value resources has been demonstrated, especially when compared to other tree waste. The heating values for date kernel (17.1267 MJ/Kg), palm leaf (16.8873 MJ/Kg), and palm frond petiole (15.9897 MJ/Kg) indicate their promising potential for use in heating applications. A feasibility study was conducted for a production line that converts these waste materials into wooden blocks for use in heating applications. The annual profits were estimated at approximately 150,240 NIS, with a payback period of around 2.4 years and a return-on-investment rate of 36.3%
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    Utilizing Solar Energy for Extracting Freshwater in Palestine.
    (2024-02-25) Ahmad Zabadi; Ahmad Zabadi; Wael Ibrahim; Mohammad Omar
    1 | P a g e Abstract Despite the recognition of freshwater challenges in Palestine, no prior research has been conducted to assess the effectiveness of AWG systems in harnessing atmospheric water in this particular context. The effectiveness of an Atmospheric Water Generation (AWG) system for obtaining freshwater in Palestine, is examined in this study. The study focuses on the effects of temperature and humidity on the system's performance and offers information about the system's suitability for reducing freshwater scarcity. The study also investigates how solar energy might be incorporated into AWG systems, offering a novel strategy for producing freshwater that is consistent with Palestine's sustainability objectives. To achieve this, the experiment was conducted for 12 months in 2022 under specific climatic conditions for the Palestinian cities studied (Tulkarm, Nablus, Jenin, Ramallah, and Jericho). Knowing the effects of temperature and humidity on the system's performance in Palestinian cities will help reduce costs and the suitability of the device’s work in the regions. The results summarized that in the city of Tulkarm, the highest production is in March, and the lowest production is in July, there is no production in either Jan, Feb, or Dec. in the city of Ramallah, the lowest production is in April, the highest is on July and There is no production in either May, June, and October. in the city of Jenin, the lowest production is in July, the highest is in March and There is no production in either Jan or Feb and Dec. in the city of Jericho the lowest production is in Feb, the highest is in Jun and There is no production in either April, May, Nov, and Dec. in the city of Nablus the lowest production in is on March and the highest is on November. We can also conclude that in the city of Tulkarm, there is a need for a solar system with a capacity of 5007 watts per 30 liters of water, in the city of Ramallah 15878.1 watts per 30 liters of water, in the city of Nablus 9540 watts per 30 liters of water, in the city of Jenin 6545 watts per 30 liters of water and in the city of Jericho. 5356 watts per 30 liters of water. In conclusion, this research focuses on evaluating the efficiency of the AWG system in extracting fresh water from the atmosphere in the climatic conditions of Palestine. By examining the impact of humidity and temperature on system performance and exploring solar integration, this study provides valuable insights and potential solutions to enhance freshwater availability and sustainability in the region.
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    Optimizing Biowaste Material Mixing for Efficient Biogas Production via Airlift Pump-Equipped Digesters
    (2024-02-04) Tariq Malhis
    In today's world, the energy demand is experiencing a significant surge, underscoring the imperative to explore and sustain alternative sources of renewable energy, such as biogas derived from organic materials like food waste. This research paper is dedicated to the development of a sustainable methodology for repurposing and recycling food waste through an anaerobic digestion process to yield biogas. The efficacy of extracting biogas from food waste is evaluated using a digester or bioreactor equipped with multiple strategically placed airlift pumps, deviating from the conventional and less efficient continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTRs). The examined digester incorporates multiple airlift pumps at equally spaced circumferential locations, reinjecting biogas to circulate and blend the liquid sludge, thereby enhancing its mixing rate within the digester. Additionally, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation is employed to evaluate the mixing process within the digester, particularly with the implementation of four standard riser airlift pumps. The analysis involved evaluating the velocity contours and vectors of air-water with those of biogas-liquid sludge, noting differences in the average velocity of water and liquid sludge. The study also explores the rheological property changes, whether Newtonian or non-Newtonian, in the behavior of liquid sludge at varying mass flow rates of biogas. The study reveals that despite the liquid sludge's high viscosity and density, its average velocity aligns with the trend observed in water, suggesting Newtonian fluid behavior within the digester at low mass flow rates of both liquid and gas phases. However, as the mass flow rates of liquid sludge surpass 216 L/min, it reverts to its original non-Newtonian fluid characteristics due to an increased shear rate, leading to an increase in liquid sludge's viscosity. This shift causes the average velocity trend for liquid sludge to deviate from that of water, resulting in lower values of average velocity for the liquid sludge. Therefore, the identified maximum mass flow rate for liquid sludge exhibiting Newtonian fluid behavior is 216 L/min. When the liquid sludge acts like a Newtonian fluid its active volume will be maintained at a sufficient level for a certain period, thereby enhancing the overall formation of biogas. Best regards,
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    The Effect of Parameters on Three-Dimensional Printer
    (2023-09-26) Sobhe Mayaleh; Fakhri Abd-Alnabi
    Abstract In the pursuit of sustainable energy practices, the reuse of electric vehicle (EV) batteries in solar energy storage systems offers a promising solution, that by extending the lifespan of these batteries and reducing waste, while supporting the integration of renewable energy sources. This study investigates the potential of reusing hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) batteries in solar energy storage systems. The study focuses on a sample of five (Hyundai Ioniq 5) battery modules, subjected to state testing to assess their capacity and suitability for second-life applications. That basically by charging and discharging the modules, then evaluating their performance. The results revealed that four batteries exhibited technical issues, like swelling and voltage drop, which makes them unfit for reuse, while only one module demonstrated satisfactory performance. To further investigate the charging and discharging characteristics of the same modules, a simulation model was developed using MATLAB and Simulink. The model was validated by comparing its outputs with the experimental results of the good module, utilizing the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) method. The comparison showed an acceptable agreement between the simulation and experimental data during the discharging phase. Meanwhile, the charging process was not simulated accurately due to the difference on the charging source. Additionally, the developed simulation model was utilized to predict the remaining cycle life of the modules in their second life, considering different depths of discharge (DoD). The findings demonstrated a clear relation between DoD and the number of remaining cycles, with higher DoD values leading to a decrease in the expected cycle life.