[en] Highlights: • Experimental and optimization study on forced draft cooling tower is done. • New correlations for splash, trickle and film type fills are proposed. • Multi-objective performance optimization study has been done using NSGA-II. • Weighted decision making criterion is proposed depending upon user priority. • Proposed generalized methodology can be implemented in industrial cooling towers. - Abstract: In the present study, a forced draft mechanical cooling tower has been experimentally investigated using trickle, film and splash fills. Various performance parameters such as range, tower characteristic ratio, effectiveness and water evaporation rate are first analyzed for each fill. Thereafter, based upon the experimental data, pertinent correlations have been developed for performance parameters by considering mass flow rates of water and air as design variables. Each of the performance parameters is considered to be an individual objective function and all objectives are then simultaneously optimized for maximizing the performance of the cooling tower using elitist Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm (NSGA-II). The multi-objective optimization algorithm gives a set of possible combinations of design variables, which is referred as the optimal Pareto-front, out of which a unique combination is selected based upon a decision making criterion. The proposed decision making procedure evaluates a Decision Making Score (DMS) based on assigned performance priorities for each point of the Pareto-front. Depending on DMS a unique combination of design variables is then selected for each type of fill that maximizes the tower’s performance. These optimal points and the corresponding objective function are finally compared and based upon the highest DMS value, the wire-mesh (trickle) fill is found to be the most efficient fill under the present experimental conditions. The methodology presented in this work has been made more generalized, so that it can be easily implemented in industrial forced draft cooling tower operating under a wide range of temperatures.

[en] Highlights: • Development of new correlations for outlet parameters with all inlet parameters. • Simultaneous achievement of required heat load and minimum exergy destruction. • Multiple combinations of parameters found for same heat load at minimized exergy. • Study useful for optimum control of cooling tower under varying ambient conditions. • Generalized optimization study can be implemented for any mechanical cooling tower. - Abstract: In the present work, a constrained inverse optimization method for building cooling applications is proposed to control the mechanical draft wet cooling tower by minimizing the exergy destruction and satisfying an imposed heat load under varying environmental conditions. The optimization problem is formulated considering the cooling dominated heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and hybrid ground source heat pump (HGSHP). As per the requirement, new second degree correlations for the tower outlet parameters (water temperature, air dry and wet-bulb temperatures) with five inlet parameters (dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity, water inlet temperature, water and air mass flow rates) are developed. The Box–Behnken design response surface method is implemented for developing the correlations. Subsequently, the constrained optimization problem is solved using augmented Lagrangian genetic algorithm. This work further developed optimum inlet parameters operating curves for the HGSHP and the HVAC systems under varying environmental conditions aimed at minimizing the exergy destruction along with the fulfillment of the required heat load.

[en] Reversed phase paper chromatography (RPPC) procedures have been developed for effective separation of the mother and daughter in ⁹⁵Zr-⁹⁵Nb pair using TOA, TIOA, TDDA and Aliquat 336 as ion exchangers. The liquid ion exchangers impregnated on Whatman paper no. 1 and the mixtures of H₂SO₄ -oxalic acid - H₂O₂ have been used respectively as stationary and mobile phases. Separation of the radioisotopes has been verified through gamma-ray spectrometry. (author). 5 refs

[en] Highlights: • Effect of mixed-use neighborhood scenarios on WtE-CHP plant performance is studied. • Various mixed-use neighborhood design parameters are correlated with WtE-CHP. • Feasibility of single and two stage WtE-CHP plants is examined. • Comparison of energy demand and WtE generation presented for various scenarios. • Useful method for optimal selection of WtE-CHP plant for mixed-use neighborhoods. -- Abstract: In this work, the influence of residential and commercial buildings on the performance of waste-to-energy (WtE) combined heat and power (CHP) plant, within a mixed-use neighborhood is quantified. The waste incinerator-based single and double stage CHP plants considered in study are modeled and simulated in Matlab-Simulink. The performance of WtE-CHP plant is evaluated based on hourly electricity and heat generations, heat extraction temperatures, and GHG emissions. The key results indicate that the use of single or double stage CHP plant is decided by various types commercial buildings, commercial land fraction, and commercial land to total area ratio. Considering a commercial land to total land area fraction of 0.25, two stage WtE-CHP plant can be used irrespective to varying proportions of residential buildings types and their unit densities. The heat extraction temperatures of 100–112 °C can be yielded for two stage CHP, whereas, for single stage CHP it lies between 170 and 180 °C. The GHG emissions for WtE-CHP plants decreases with the increase in proportions of offices, single detached houses, and townhouses. However, it increases with the increase fraction of retails and apartments. The energy generation to consumption fraction lies between 17 and 57% for conventional neighborhoods, whereas, for the high-performance neighborhoods it varies between 22 and 65%.

[en] The ₅₅Cs nuclei lie in the transitional region between the primarily spherical ₅₀Sn and the well-deformed ₅₇La and ₅₈Ce nuclei. High spin states in doubly-odd ¹²²Cs nuclei were studied

[en] Spectroscopic studies of nuclei in A∼125 mass-region continue to be a focus of attention due to the multiplicity of shapes and a richness of nuclear structure phenomena. In continuation to earlier studies some experiments have been done to study high spin states in ¹²⁵Cs nuclei

[en] In continuation to the earlier investigations in beam γ-ray spectroscopy, the high spin states in ¹²³Cs nuclei have been studied

[en] It is clear from the energy-level systematics of the even-spin positive-parity states in the light even-mass radon isotopes, where one can observe decreasing excitation energy of the 2"+ state towards "1"9"8Rn. The radon isotopes (Z=86) can be expected to have similar proton-hole analogs to the platinum isotopes, where spectroscopic information on deformed intruder states exists beyond the neutron mid-shell. A corresponding deviation from sphericity at N=116 is observed in the mean-square-charge radii, earlier still than in the Po isotopes

[en] The ₅₅Cs nuclei are expected to display a rich variety of band structures as the deformation remains well-developed across a large range of the neutron Fermi surface. High spin states in ¹²⁹Cs populated in the fusion-evaporation ¹²²Sn (¹¹B, 4n) reaction at E_lab = 55, 60 and 63 MeV, respectively, have been investigated through in-beam γ-ray spectroscopic techniques

[en] Band structures of the ¹²³Cs nucleus have been investigated using the ¹⁰⁰Mo(²⁸Si,p4n) reaction at a beam energy of 130 MeV. The previously observed rotational bands based on πh_11/2,πg_7/2 and πg_9/2 orbitals have been extended. The excitation energies of these bands have been established with the help of interband transitions and those connecting to the low-energy levels established from the β⁺/EC decay of ¹²³Ba(T_1/2=2.7 m). The bandhead of the πg_9/2 band at the 328.1 keV (I^π=9/2⁺) is proposed to be isomeric following arguments based on the intensity balance of the feeding and de-exciting γ transitions. New multiquasiparticle bands based on πh_11/2 x νh_11/2 x νg_7/2, πg_7/2 x π(h_11/2)² and πg_7/2 x π(h_11/2)² x ν(h_11/2)² configurations have been identified. (orig.)