Browsing Research articles (Dept of Mechanical Engineering) by Title
Now showing items 28-47 of 48
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Management of waste oil in Botswana and the possibilities of energy recovery from waste oil
(University of Botswana, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, http://ajol.info/index.php/bjt, 1998-04)Since independence, the economy of Botswana has been undergoing a rapid transition from one in which the majority of the people depend on traditional agriculture and pastoralism to one in which formal sector employment ... -
Marula oil and petrodiesel: a comparative performance analysis on a variable compression ignition engine
(Scientific Research Publishing, http://www.scirp.org/, 2011-07)The quest for biofuel production and use in Botswana is driven by factors including volatile oil prices, need for fuel security, potential for job creation, potential reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and economic ... -
Mean global radiation captured by inclined collectors at various surface azimuth angles in Nigeria
(Elsevier Science Ltd, http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description, 1995)The use of solar energy is well established for low-grade thermal applications such as water heating and purification. In many of the solar systems, the collector surface located in the Northern Hemisphere faces the true ... -
Measurement of operating forces in a ram press crushing sunflower seed
(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1475-1305, 2009)This study presents the experimental setup and results of measurement of forces and moments in a manually operated ram press machine. Tests were conducted on a BP30 ram press using electrical resistance strain gauges to ... -
Modelling and simulation of an air motor system using extended radial basis algorithm
(University of Botswana, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, http://ajol.info/index.php/bjt, 2007-04)This article proposes a new modeling scheme using extended radial basis function (RBF) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy filter for handling nonlinear uncertainties of an air motor servo valve. This model combines the fast model ... -
A new and innovative look at anti-insulation behaviour in building energy consumption
(Elsevier http://www.linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0378778808000923, 2008)This paper presents the findings of a case study with building simulation using EnergyPlus dynamic thermal simulation software, in which wall insulation was varied together with cooling set-point temperature in a hot and ... -
Oxide of nitrogen in diesel engines: formation, effects and control
(University of Botswana, 2001)Diesel engines are used in heavy duty applications because of their high effeciency an reliability. However, oxides of nitrogen emissions remain a major concern. In diesel engines, fuel combustion is responsible for a major ... -
Performance and emission characteristics of tylosema esculentum biodiesel in a diesel engine: an experimental investigation
(David Publishing, http://www.davidpublishing.com/, 2014-01-31)Biodiesel derived from indigenous feed stocks such as Tylosema esculentum kernel oil is deemed a feasible alternative to petroleum diesel for the diesel engine. This paper presents results of investigation of performance ... -
Performance evaluation of commonly used oil ram press machines
(CIGR Journal http://www.cigrjournal.org/, 2007)The ram-press technology for oil expression has received a lot of attention in many African countries during the last two decades. The technology is based on manually operated mechanical presses, which employ a slider-crank ... -
A practical model for development of viable engineering education institutions in Africa: with a focus on management and quality of engineering eduation
(University of Botswana, www.ub.bw, 2001)One of the critical elements that determine the competitiveness of nations is the population density of, and quality of its engineers. This view has been corroborated by researchers such as Biluch (1989), Garelli et al ... -
A practical model for development of viable engineering education institutions in Africa: With a focus on management and quality of engineering education
(University of Botswana, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, http://ajol.info/index.php/bjt, 2001-10)One of the critical elements that determine the competitiveness of nations is the population density of, and quality of, its engineers. This view has been corroborated by researchers such as Bilich (1989), Garelli et al ... -
PSPICE model of an open-circuit DC shunt machine
(University of Botswana, 2000)Computer models are used to replicate the essential performance features of a physical element using convenient modeling and simulation programs. Within SPICE, an acronym for the Simulation Program with Integrated-Circuit ... -
A review of mining taxation in selected SADC countries and Chile
(University of Botswana, http://www.ub.bw, 2004)Although most SADC countries have or were in the process of liberalizing their legislation and fiscal regimes some member states seemed to levy exorbitant tax rates. SADC members’ states need to note that in designing the ... -
Solar chimney power generation project - The case for Botswana
(Elsevier Science Ltd. www.elsevier.com/locate/rser, 2007)Import of a huge proportion of electrical energy from the Southern African Power Pool, and the geographical location and population distribution of Botswana stimulated the need to consider renewable energy as an alternative ... -
Solar home systems in Botswana—Opportunities and constraints
(Elsevier Science Ltd. http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rser, 2009)Lack of access to electricity grid form the main challenge facing majority of developing regions particularly in rural communities. The situation is driven mostly by the absence of electricity infrastructure in most of ... -
Some implications of driver training for road accidents in Gaborone
(Elsevier Science Ltd, http://journals.elsevier.com/00014575/accident-analysis-and-prevention/, 1995)In many African countries, including Botswana, the driving schools and instruction given to pupils are uncontrolled. Thus, this paper presents the results of an investigation into the level of professional training offered ... -
Spreadsheets: the ideal tool for distance learning in Engineering education
(Wiley Periodicals Inc. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-0542, 2009)Formal Engineering Education has traditionally been delivered using the low technology—high touch lecturing method, in which the lecturer and student meet face to face. Distance education in this field has been quite ... -
Study on impact strength of untreated and alkali treated napier grass fiber strands reinforced epoxy composites
(ACE Publications, https://theacepublications.com, 2013)Napier grass fiber strands were extracted using the combined mechanical and water retting process. The extracted fiber strands were treated with various proportions (5, 10 and 15% w/v) of NaOH solution to improve their ... -
Theoritical analysis of an offset single-stroke ram press for sunflower oil extraction
(International Symposium on Theory of Machines and Mechanisms (IFToMM), 2001)The single-stroke ram press machine is widely used for sunflower oil extraction in African countries. It is manually operated, low speed machine constructed on the basis of slider-crank mechanism. The paper presents a ... -
Total solar radiation received at various collector inclinations
(Elsevier Science Ltd, http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description, 1994)Solar energy is finding wide application via several energy-saving devices and systems. Its use, especially in rural areas, can often be limited by the non-availability of complete information on insolation data. In this ...