IPS Journal of Engineering and Technology

Analysis of Nigerian leather industries economic sustainability using Parametric cost model approach; A case study of establishing Aba leather industry

2025-03-16T04:06:25-06:00

The Nigerian leather industry is a major driver of sustainable employment and Nigeria's output. The industry is a significant source of non-oil revenue for Nigeria, with a nationwide supply chain and rippling value. Nigeria's leather sector has produced N24.5 billion ($700 million) in revenue annually and has the potential to support the creation of around 700,000 direct and indirect jobs. However, one of Nigeria's leather industries in Aba, Abia State, is thriving in chaos, hampered by the government’s inability to provide the right environment. The aim of this study is to analyze Nigeria's leather industry processes, economic sustainability, and alternative advancements by developing recycling and processing strategies for the recovery of leather waste and also proposing a cost model to support economic decisions regarding the implementation of a circular approach in the leather industry. The result of the finding using the parametric cost model shows that an overall economic gain is conceivable with only 52% of the expenses incurred in the direct conversion of waste into recycled products. It can also be said that the largest category of expenditures is capital equipment for waste collection and processing, with transportation costs double that of the case study.

Mathematical Modeling and Optimization of Plantain Chip Drying

2025-03-02T01:20:31-07:00

Air frying is a promising technology for the production of healthy and nutritional snacks. The process optimization and parameters analysis of the drying of plantain chips was carried out using Buckingham’s pi theorem. Studies were conducted to examine how various processing conditions affected the nutritional and sensory properties. The variables considered for the study were Drying temperature (80 – 100 °C)^, Air flow rate (0.25 – 0.45 m/sec), Chimney diameter (20 – 40mm), Chip thickness (0.5-1mm) while the responses were drying rate and drying efficiency. The Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) data showed that the variables affected the responses (drying rate and drying efficiency) significantly (p < 0.05). It was observed that for the optimal response values of 0.0161177 Kg/h and 88.88 % for the drying rate and efficiency respectively. The predictive models developed in the research work will be used for predicting process performance of drying plantain chips.

Analysis of the Impact of Marine Activities and Industrial Environmental Operations on Steel Structure Corrosion within Onelga, in Rivers State

2025-02-09T20:54:24-07:00

Steel structures in marine and industrial environments are subjected to severe corrosion effect due to exposure to sulphates (SO₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), chlorides, microbial activity, and industrial pollutants, in addition to unstable environmental conditions. This study investigates the impacts of marine activities, associated gaseous release during industrial operations, and also the effect of these gases on steel structures and the economic implications. An empirical review of previous studies was conducted, and data on corrosion rates from different environmental conditions were sourced and analyzed using statistical modeling. The results highlight the significant role of chloride-induced corrosion, emission of SO₂, and temperature affecting the corrosion rate in the industrial zone of ONELGA in Rivers State. However, it was SO₂ that was observed to have the most effect on accelerating the rate of corrosion of the structural steel within the environment. Deterioration of the steel structure was prevalent since SO₂ forms acid and directly attacks the steel. The study concludes that in controlling the corrosion rate of an industrial environment, the reduction in the emission of SO₂ should be prioritized and recommends that for corrosion mitigation strategies, including protective coatings, cathodic protection, and real-time monitoring.

Climate Adaptations of Religious Buildings in Enugu State, Nigeria

2025-02-21T17:20:14-07:00

This study investigated climate-responsive design strategies employed in Orthodox church buildings within Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria, a region characterised by a temperate-humid climate with distinct wet and dry seasons, high temperatures, and intense sunshine. These climatic conditions pose significant challenges for building design, often leading to excessive heat gain and humidity issues. Climate-adaptive architecture, which integrates natural climatic factors into building design, offers a potential solution by minimising reliance on mechanical cooling and promoting indoor comfort. Focusing on religious buildings, which often accommodate large congregations and consume substantial energy for climate control, this research aimed to identify and evaluate effective design approaches for addressing local climate requirements and enhancing climate resilience as well as proffer recommendations for future building projects. A survey design was employed, utilizing observation schedules and questionnaires to collect data from six selected churches within Enugu Metropolis, with a minimum of a 1000-person seating capacity. The findings revealed that while all surveyed churches demonstrate a good response to the tropical climate, the Cathedral Church of Good Shepherd exhibits the highest performance across various parameters, including thermal comfort, natural airflow and air quality, effective shading from the Sun, and visual appeal through landscape elements and water conservation. The study concluded by providing recommendations for enhancing climate responsiveness in future church building designs in Enugu and similar tropical climates such as optimal building orientation, natural ventilation, appropriate material selection, shading devices, rainwater harvesting, and integrated landscaping.

Effects of Groove Angles and Quenchants on the Structural Integrity of a Single-Vee Butt Welded Joint of AISI 1024 Carbon Steel Weldment

2025-01-10T02:01:43-07:00

The high failure rate of welded structures has made it necessary to investigate some welding parameters that may be involved in these failures, such as groove angles, quenchants, welding current, welding voltage, and weld pass speed. This investigation aimed to investigate the impact of quenchants and groove angle on the structural integrity of a Single-V butt welded joint, using AISI 1024 steel. Nine samples, each measuring 150 x 80 mm, were cut from an 8 mm thick AISI 1024 steel plate. The findings of the study showed that, in comparison to oil and kerosene-quenched samples, the weldments cooled with natural air had significantly greater impact strength for the corresponding groove angles of 30°-130J, 45°-128J, and 60°-122J. Furthermore, out of all the groove angles taken into consideration in this study, the weldments of the samples that were cooled naturally had the highest hardness value; the maximum value of 188HBW was obtained with a groove angle of 60°. At groove angles of 45° and 60°, respectively, Mobil oil quenchant produced greater hardness values of 150HBW and 159HBW than kerosene, but at a groove angle of 30°, kerosene produced a larger hardness value of 152HBW than Mobil oil Although the observed mechanical qualities varied across all samples due to the changes in the quantities of cementite and pearlite present in the samples, the microstructural inspection studies showed phases of cementite and pearlite structures on all samples. The study's conclusions will help structural industries achieve the best possible weldment performance for AISI 1024 carbon steel

Structural simulation analysis of the developed hybrid of Momordica angustisepala fiber and Breadfruit seed-shell particles composites Bolted Flanges

2025-01-10T01:42:12-07:00

Abstract

In order to examine the mechanical behavior of a natural composite bolted flange made of Momordica angustisepala fiber (MAF) and breadfruit seed-shell particles (BFSAp), this study suggested a multiscale finite element (FE) analytical technique. Based on their properties which includes, light weight, superior strength-to-weight ratio, improved fracture toughness, fatigue and tensile properties, increased corrosion resistance in harsh environments, and other qualities, composite materials are always desired and widely used in the manufacturing sector. Based on the experimental findings, it was observed that The linear structural analysis of the developed bolted flange with sustainable materials shows that the high values of the Von Misses stress of 85.9355 MPa and 42.9677 MPa obtained in this study at 5.1 MPa and 10.2MPa internal pressure applied was attributed to the stiffness and strength obtained in this composite which resulted to high toughness obtained by the reinforcement that give a minimum factor of safety of 2.99318 ul and 1.49659 ul at 5.1 MPa and 10.2MPa internal pressure applied respectively. The tensile strength and factor of safety obtained are within the recommended standard for bolted flange application

Comparative Strength of Concrete Made with Stone Dust Sourced as Fine Aggregate from Abakaliki Ebonyi State and Nkwelle Ezunaka in Anambra State

2025-01-27T02:08:09-07:00

This study examines the use of stone dust in concrete production as a partial substitute for fine aggregates, using a water-to-cement ratio of 0.6 and a mix ratio of 1:1.5:3. In this study, concrete samples from Nkwelle and Abakaliki will be evaluated for the impact of stone dust on their workability and compressive strength. To assess the concrete's performance at different curing phases, important tests are slump and compressive strength tests. The slump test results showed that the concrete mix had good workability, with a value of 85 mm. We tested compressive strength at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days. At each interval, the Abakaliki samples showed exceptional performance, obtaining compressive strengths of 16.75 N/mm², 20.70 N/mm², 15.40 N/mm², and 16.55 N/mm², respectively. The Nkwelle samples, in contrast, showed strengths of 10.70 N/mm², 12.30 N/mm², 12.20 N/mm², and 13.30 N/mm² throughout the same periods. The increased cement-aggregate bonding and particle size distribution in the Abakaliki samples are responsible for their higher compressive strength. On the other hand, the Nkwelle samples had a more gradual and slower growth of strength, which could be attributed to variations in curing conditions and aggregate qualities. According to the study's findings, especially in places with scarce sand supplies, stone dust can be a practical and sustainable substitute for natural sand in the manufacturing of concrete. However, the final compressive strength is greatly influenced by elements like the quality of the material and the curing conditions. To maximise the potential of stone dust in concrete applications and encourage sustainable building practices, the research suggests further optimisation of the mix design and curing procedures.

Optimizing Material Management in Manufacturing

2025-02-06T09:33:32-07:00

This research analyzes the economics of material management in the Seven-Up (7Up) Bottling Company, Enugu, from 2018 to 2022, with the objective of designing an effective process inventory system. The study examines specific objectives related to product improvement and internal material management practices, offering practical recommendations for optimizing material usage. The Economic Order Quantity (EOQ) model was employed to analyze the collected data. The findings indicate that the company incurred a total production cost of ₦118.8 million while generating total sales revenue of ₦395.84 million. This suggests that the adoption of the EOQ model in production planning and material management contributes to operational efficiency and profitability. Based on these findings, the study recommends that optimizing the quality and timing of material orders is essential for maximizing profits in the manufacturing process.

Corrosion Resistance of Developed Bolted Flange Made of Momordica Angustisepala Fiber (MAF) and Breadfruit Seed-Shell Particles (BFSAP)

2025-01-20T23:00:06-07:00

Connecting pipe systems and pressure vessels requires bolted flanged joints. One of the most frequent reasons why bolted flanged joints leak is corrosion of the flange surface. This research investigates the corrosion resistance of composite bolted flanges made of Momordica angustisepala fiber (MAF) and breadfruit seed-shell particles (BFSAp). The result shows 100% polarization resistance with a corrosion rate of 0.00 mil per year was obtained for the developed composite. This shows that the corrosion problem of a metallic bolted flange can be reduced using the developed composite.