Studies on Hybrid Material Reinforced Copper Based Composites- A Review

Abstract

Copper hybrid composites are a new generation of metal matrix composites that have the potentials of satisfying the recent demands of advanced engineering applications. These demands are met due to improved mechanical properties, amenability to conventional processing technique and possibility of reducing production cost of Copper hybrid composites. The performance of these materials is mostly dependent on selecting the right combination of reinforcing materials since some of the processing parameters are associated with the reinforcing particulates. This paper attempts to review the different reinforcing materials used in the processing of hybrid copper materials. The major procedures for fabricating these materials and research areas for further improvement on copper hybrid composites are suggested.

Modification, Simulation and Demonstration of Laboratory Scale Pelton Turbine for Waterfall Hydropower Plant

“…This is expected as the kinetic energy of flow is obtained from the potential energy of water at higher elevation, thus, the higher the elevation the higher the velocity. This result agrees with that obtained by Ma et al, [15] (a laboratory scale) in which water at 20 m produces a proportionate velocity of 19.41 m/s. Another operation parameter of interest whose value increases with pressure head due to velocity content and diameter due to area content.…”

“…Another possible cause is that as the jet fills the bucket inlet, there is little or no space again for the jet to travel the return trip, thus leading to a reduction in the impact of jet force, as the reaction force is countered with the party of incoming jet. In all, power increases with pressure head and nozzle diameter, but, efficiency against flow rate was limited to an average maximum value of 83.2 % as against a target of 85% mainly due to bucket geometry and containability of flow, thus, in line with the results of Buhyan et al, [2] of 85%, representing a deviation of 2.14%, and lesser than the result of Ma et al, [15] (96%), by 13.3%. Modelling, simulation, and demonstration of the feasibility of harvesting Nigeria waterfall for hydropower power generation were conducted using a laboratory-scale Pelton turbine.…”

“…The implication of this is that it is possible to generate the same quantity of energy from a lower head by optimal selection of the nozzle diameter. This is evident from the higher ratio of power to pressure head of 58.75 W/m obtained in the current work compared to similar laboratory scale reported by Ma et al, [15], with work to height ratio of 20.12, despite a height difference of 13 m. Finally, the actual efficiency was is 82.3% as against the target of 85%. The efficiency is lesser than its laboratory counterpart by 7.7% but better than the actual life system by 4%.…”

“…Water is one of the renewable energy sources providing about 15% of world water use for energy as reported by IEA, [12]. The outstanding feature of Pelton wheel as an axial flow impulse turbine is its capability to work under high heads up to 2,000 meters [15].…”

“…Thus, indicating reshaping of the bucket geometries to march high flow rate from the water in hilly areas. [15,24] designed and analyzed a Pelton wheel of 400 W output power with a coupling driven by belt arrangement. The analyses include computation of the input power, output power, buckets and speed ratio, length of belt and efficiency.…”