Research Title: Productive and Sustainable H2 Production from Waste Aluminum Using Copper Oxides-Based Graphene Nanocatalysts: A Techno-Economic Analysis

Author: Firas Abdullah Obeidat, Published Year: 2022

Sustainability (MDPI), 14(22)

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Hydrogen has universally been considered a reliable source of future clean energy. Its energy conversion, processing, transportation, and storage are techno-economically promising for sustainable energy. This study attempts to maximize the production of H2 energy using nanocatalysts from waste aluminum chips, an abundant metal that is considered a potential storage tank of H2 energy with high energy density. The present study indicates that the use of waste aluminum chips in the production of H2 gas will be free of cost since the reaction by-product, Al2O3, is denser and can be sold at a higher price than the raw materials, which makes the production cost more efficient and feasible. The current framework investigates seven different copper oxide-based graphene nanocomposites that are synthesized by utilizing green methods and that are well-characterized in terms of their structural, morphological, and surface properties. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multi-layer graphene (MLG) are used as graphene substrates for CuO and Cu2O NPs, respectively. These graphene materials exhibited extraordinary catalytic activity, while their copper oxide composites exhibited a complete reaction with feasible techno-economic production. The results revealed that the H2 production yield and rates increased twofold with the use of these nanocatalysts. The present study recommends the optimum reactor design considerations and reaction parameters that minimize water vaporization in the reaction and suggests practical solutions to quantify and separate it. Furthermore, the present study affords an economic feasibility approach to producing H2 gas that is competitive and efficient. The cost of producing 1 kg of H2 gas from waste aluminum chips is USD 6.70, which is both economically feasible and technically applicable. The unit cost of H2 gas can be steeply reduced by building large-scale plants offering mass production. Finally, the predicted approach is applicable in large, medium, and small cities that can collect industrial waste aluminum in bulk to generate large-scale energy units.

Keywords: graphene; copper oxide; waste aluminum; hydrogen production; nanocomposites; catalysts

Research Title: Remote Control Package for Kuka Robots using MATLAB

Author: Mohammed Bani Younis, Published Year: 2020

2020 17th International Multi-Conference on Systems, Signals & Devices (SSD), Tunis

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Kuka is one of the leading innovative companies in the manufacturing of industrial robots. However, they lack of direct communication with PC in order to send and receive data. To overcome this drawback, Kuka offers additional communication packages to establish the needed communication. However, this communication package requires calculating the forward and inverse kinematics or additional hardware (PLCs). Then sending the data as an XML file to the Kuka controller. This paper is dedicated to use KukaVarproxy package to establish connection between a Kuka robot and MATLAB. Thus, users can program the robot through MATLAB without using any additional software provided by Kuka (RSI, mxA). The paper focuses on developing a MATLAB package, which users can use to program the robot without requiring to use KRL. Also, the implemented functions allow the user to program the robot without the need of any mathematical information about the robot.

Keywords: Service robots , Robot kinematics , XML , Kinematics , Software , Robots , Matlab

Research Title: Fast detection technique for voltage unbalance in three-phase power system

Author: Mohammed Bani Younis, Published Year: 2021

International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive System (IJPEDS), 12, No. 4

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: In this paper, the problem of voltage unbalance in the three-phase power systems is examined. A fast detection technique (FDT) is proposed to detect the voltage unbalance precisely and speedily. The well-known detection methods require more than one cycle time to detect the unbalanced voltages, whereas the proposed technique detects the unbalanced situations speedily in a discrete manner. Reducing the time duration required to detect the unbalanced voltages will enhance the dynamic response of the control system used to balance these voltages. The FDT acquires the instantaneous values of the three load voltages, calculates the sum and the space vector for these voltages at each sample, and utilizes these parameters to detect the voltage unbalance accurately within a quarter of the cycle time. A proof-of-concept simulation model for a real power system has been built. The parameters of the aqaba-qatrana-south amman (AQSA) Jordanian power system are considered in the simulation model. Also, several test cases have been conducted to test and validate the capabilities of the proposed technique.

Keywords: Power distribution; Power quality; Space vector; Voltage unbalance

Research Title: Economic evaluation of induction motor based on motor’s nameplate data and initial cost

Author: Mohammed Bani Younis, Published Year: 2022

International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive System (IJPEDS), 13, No.3

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: This paper presents a practical approach to calculate the total owning cost (TOC) of a three-phase Induction Motor, which is based on the motor’s nameplate data and the purchasing price. The economic evaluation is performed considering both the induction motor electrical energy losses and its amortized annual capital cost. The proposed technique consists of three stages, where the total power losses are determined analytically in the first stage. The load loss factor (LSF) is statistically obtained to determine the total energy losses in the second stage. In the third stage, the economic evaluation was conducted. The obtained results show that the proposed approach is a helpful tool for the decision-maker when comparing the received offers from different vendors and finding the answer to the question of which offer has less TOC. Finally, the proposed method is illustrated through a numerical example and software using MATLAB was performed. Results and conclusions have been summarized and discussed.

Keywords: Annuity factor; Motors evaluation; Motors losses; Owning cost

Research Title: A Nonparametric Approach Trained by Metaheuristic Algorithm for Voltage Regulation in the Electrical Distribution Network Equipped by PV Farm

Author: Mohammed Bani Younis, Published Year: 2022

Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology,

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: The integration of the Photovoltaic (PV) systems changes the nature of the power flow in the network and causes several problems such as voltage deviation which is considered the most important issue in electrical power systems. In this work, the Augmented Grey Wolf Optimization (AGWO) algorithm and advanced nonparametric models are proposed to mitigate the voltage deviation in the distribution network equipped with a PV farm. In the first stage of the work, the AGWO calculates the optimal value of reactive power for Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) to relieve the voltage deviation. This stage is applied only in the offline mode due to the delay in AGWO's dynamic response caused by its iteration process in the computation. Therefore, in the second stage, the data set of AGWO is used to train the nonparametric models; Linear Regression (LR) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) to mitigate the voltage deviation quickly in the online mode. Jordanian Sabha Distribution Network (JSDN) equipped by PV farm is considered and modeled as a real case study to validate the proposed approach. The results showed the superior ability of the proposed integrated approach to handle the voltage deviation quickly and accurately.

Keywords: Voltage Deviation; STATCOM; Optimization Algorithm; Load Flow Calculation; Prediction Algorithms.

Research Title: Machine Learning for Prediction Models to Mitigate the Voltage Deviation in PV-Rich Distributed Network

Author: Mohammed Bani Younis, Published Year: 2022

International Journal of Electrical and Computer Engineering (IJECE), 13, No.1

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: The voltage deviation is one of the most crucial power quality issues that occur in electrical power systems. Renewable energy plays a vital role in electrical distribution networks due to the high economic returns. However, the presence of photovoltaic systems changes the nature of the energy flow in the grid and causes many problems such as voltage deviation. In this work, several predictive models are examined for voltage regulation in the Jordanian Sabha Distribution Network equipped with photovoltaic farms. The Augmented Grey Wolf Optimizer is used to train the different predictive models. To evaluate the performance of models, a value of one for Regression Factor and a low value for Root Mean Square Error, Mean Square Error, and Mean Absolute Error are used as standards. In addition, a comparison between nineteen predictive models has been made. The results have proved the capability of Linear Regression and the Gaussian Process to restore the bus voltages in the distribution network accurately and quickly and to solve the shortening in the voltage dynamic response caused by the iterative nature of the heuristic algorithm.

Keywords: Distribution Network, PV Farms, Voltage Regulation, Predictive Models, Augmented Grey Wolf, Optimizer

Research Title: Productive and Sustainable H2 Production from Waste Aluminum Using Copper Oxides-Based Graphene Nanocatalysts: A Techno-Economic Analysis

Author: Yara Hilal Haddad, Published Year: 2022

Sustainability ,

Faculty: Engineering and Technology

Abstract: Hydrogen has universally been considered a reliable source of future clean energy. Its energy conversion, processing, transportation, and storage are techno-economically promising for sustainable energy. This study attempts to maximize the production of H2 energy using nanocatalysts from waste aluminum chips, an abundant metal that is considered a potential storage tank of H2 energy with high energy density. The present study indicates that the use of waste aluminum chips in the production of H2 gas will be free of cost since the reaction by-product, Al2O3 , is denser and can be sold at a higher price than the raw materials, which makes the production cost more efficient and feasible. The current framework investigates seven different copper oxide-based graphene nanocomposites that are synthesized by utilizing green methods and that are well-characterized in terms of their structural, morphological, and surface properties. Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and multi-layer graphene (MLG) are used as graphene substrates for CuO and Cu2O NPs, respectively. These graphene materials exhibited extraordinary catalytic activity, while their copper oxide composites exhibited a complete reaction with feasible techno-economic production. The results revealed that the H2 production yield and rates increased twofold with the use of these nanocatalysts. The present study recommends the optimum reactor design considerations and reaction parameters that minimize water vaporization in the reaction and suggests practical solutions to quantify and separate it. Furthermore, the present study affords an economic feasibility approach to producing H2 gas that is competitive and efficient. The cost of producing 1 kg of H2 gas from waste aluminum chips is USD 6.70, which is both economically feasible and technically applicable. The unit cost of H2 gas can be steeply reduced by building large-scale plants offering mass production. Finally, the predicted approach is applicable in large, medium, and small cities that can collect industrial waste aluminum in bulk to generate large-scale energy units.

Keywords: graphene; copper oxide; waste aluminum; hydrogen production; nanocomposites; catalysts

Research Title: In Vitro Evaluation of Smart Pellets as Intelligent Drug Delivery Systems

Author: Mohammad Bayan, Published Year: 2022

The 1st International Conference of the Faculty of Sciences & Faculty of Phamacy at Isra University, Isra University, Amman, Jordan

Faculty: Pharmacy

Abstract: The small intestine is where most conventional oral formulations are mostly absorbed. This restricts their usage in the treatment of several colon disorders since the medicine must act topically at the site of inflammation. This opened the door for the development of an intelligent colonic drug delivery system, which enhanced therapeutic effectiveness, decreased dosing frequency and potential side effects, and increased patient acceptance—particularly in situations where enemas or other topical preparations might not be sufficient to treat inflammation alone. This study's primary goal was to develop a smart medication delivery system based on pH-sensitive polymeric formulations made using a free-radical bulk polymerization technique. In the formulations, 5-amino salicylic acid was used as a model drug and Capmul MCM C8 was added to increase bioavailability. The in vitro swelling and release evaluation showed that the developed system may be able to delay drug release under conditions that mimic the stomach and small intestine while triggering it under conditions that mimic the colon, indicating its potential usefulness as a smart colonic drug delivery system.

Keywords: Mesalamine; Intelligent Delivery; Sustainable Development; Smart Polymers; Colon Disorders

Research Title: The effect of different processing treatments of wheat bran on serum lipids and lipoproteins in Sprague-Dawley rat.

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2005

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different processing treatments in terms of soaking and fermentation of wheat bran on serum lipids and lipoproteins in Sprague-Dawley rats, namely total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high–density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and (HDL-C/LDL-C) ratio. The experimental diets included casein diet (zero-bran), untreated bran diet, soaked bran diet, fermented bran diet, soaked and fermented bran diet, arabic bread diet and pectin diet.The animals were randomly divided into seven groups of six animals each according to body weights. Each group of rats was fed one of the seven prepared diets for 6 weeks. Untreated wheat bran has hypercholesterolemic effect since, it significantly (p<0.05) increased TC, LDL-C and decreased HDL-C values as compared with treated bran diets . The soaking ,fermentaion , and “soaking and fermentation ” processes lowered significantly (p<0.05) the TC levels in comparison with casein diet. In addition, soaking ,fermentaion ,and “soaking and fermentation ” processes lowered LDL-C levels in rat groups fed on those treated bran diets in comparison with casein diet. HDL-C values were significantly (p<0.05) increased by combination of soaking and fermentaion processes corrected to soaked bran and fermented bran diets. Pectin had a similar behviour to treated bran diet in a remarkable decrease of blood TC values in comparison with fiber-free diet. It is concluded that preparation of wheat bran foods by soaking or/and fermentation improve some physiological characteristics of insoluble fibers, including the cholesterol–lowering ability (particularly total cholesterol TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol LDL-C).

Keywords: processing treatments , wheat bran , serum lipids , lipoproteins , Sprague-Dawley rat.

Research Title: CHLOROPHYLL COLOR RETENTION IN GREEN PEPPER PRESERVED IN NATURAL LEMON JUICE

Author: Hani Jameel Mohammad Hamad, Published Year: 2016

Faculty: Allied Medical Sciences

Abstract: The effect that dipping green pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.) in natural lemon juice followed by blanching had on the rate of the pepper chlorophyll color retention was studied. Dipping green pepper in natural lemon juice immediately after blanched with chloride salts of copper, zinc and magnesium decreased the degradation of chlorophyll after 2 weeks of storage by 13.6, 31.7 and 74.3%, respectively. The minimal loss in chlorophyll of green pepper treated with copper chloride is attributed to the rapid chelating of the copper complexes and higher heat and acid stability compared to zinc that improved the green color of blanched peeper during storage. Pepper samples that blanched with different chloride salts of copper, zinc and magnesium (100 ppm) and coated with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were not significantly (P<0.05) different in chlorophyll content from uncoated samples on any given days.

Keywords: CHLOROPHYLL, COLOR RETENTION , GREEN PEPPER , NATURAL LEMON JUICE