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Fluid Mechanics is the most exciting, thought-provoking and challenging subject in many core engineering disciplines and equally one of the difficult subjects to teach and learn its basic and applied principles. This difficulty doubled further due to lockdown to contain the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic infections and strict social distancing norms. It was a challenge to meet the outcome based education (OBE) principles of the subject stated in the lesson plan. The present work highlights an effort to show the feasibility of a new approach, which is a blend of critical thinking and eCourses software, in teaching-learning implications of fluid mechanics to undergraduate students. The author's experience in teaching this subject proved that the new approach is found to be effective in assisting students to understand and develop confidence in their ability to solve realistic fluid mechanics problems. The efficacy of the new approach was measured based on students' performance, their interactions during lecture/tutorial hours, evaluation of assignments and students' feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the purpose of semi-permeable filtration system, membrane morphological structure determines the permeation quality. Membrane surface porosity, pore size distribution, symmetric and asymmetric structure in cross-section membrane play crucial role in transport properties. Therefore, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) plays important role to visualize the microscopical pore structure of membranes. In this study, bio-based composite membranes were prepared using non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) was employed as the main material, while ginger extract (GE) and SiO2 nanoparticles were used as additives. SEM image in this study provide information of membrane structure in surface and cross-section part. Furthermore, quantitative data of membranes in term of overall porosity is also presented. ImageJ tools is applied as software-aided SEM images processing method. The result analysis shows that addition of GE and SiO2 increase membrane porosity up to 70.81%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For this research, a 5 KW standalone wind and solar power combined system is developed, manufactured and ground tested. The dimension of this transportable device is width= 8 ft, 5 in, depth =∼ 8 in, 4 in, and height = ∼ 38 ft. This device comprises of four solar panels (120 watts), a wind turbine (1.5 KW), a solar charge controller, remote power storage, battery and battery control. Without the need for a grid, this hybrid device can be used in highways, and various other applications. A summary and characterizations of this device and the photovoltaic data collected in the month of April (Mangalore) are provided. To further increase the performance of solar panel technology, this device can be used. The plan of construction the hybrid energy tower is simple. The hybrid energy tower is a combination of vertical wind axis turbine to obtain wind energy and solar panel to obtain solar energy. The tower is placed in between the divider and the automobile on the roadway, which, owing to its velocity, creates a significant amount of air. The solar panel is utilized for producing energy and is also mounted in a manner which deflects the air from the automobile to the turbine. To produce power, the generator and the gear systems are attached to the shaft of the wind turbines. So it is possible to get a portable solution to energy issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work highlights the application of finite element method to conjugate heat and mass in porous annulus. transfer Finite element discretization of double diffusion in porous medium having fixed in annular geometry is presented. The simplest of the two dimensional elements i.e. triangular element is made use of to divide the geometry of problem under investigation into a set of smaller segments. Galerkin method is applied to convert the equations that govern double diffusion in porous medium into a set of algebraic equations. The application of FEM results into 3 equation for each element which is then assembled into a global matrix to get the solution. There are three equations which results into three set of simultaneous equations in the form of global matrix. The formulation is discussed with respect to the solution methodology to be followed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deliberates the finite element formulation as applied to the conjugate heat transfer in a porous domain fixed in an annular geometry. The porous domain is such that a solid wall is attached to the iner surface of annulus. The article is aimed to discuss the application of finite element method to problem under investigation and elaborate the solution strategy as applied to porous annulus. The governing equations are taken in the form of non-dimensional equations. A simple triangular element is used to simulate the problem under investigation. The solution is presented in terms of convergence behavior of temperature and stream function. The convergence is faster at low Rayleigh number [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]