Journal of Fluid Mechanics and Mechanical Design

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology for Sustainable Energy Conversion

Shreeyash Mhatre — 2026-02-20

This study explores the potential of fuel cell technology as an efficient and environmentally conscious method of generating electricity. Using hydrogen or alternative fuels, fuel cells produce only water, heat, and electricity as by-products, making them a clean energy source. As the hydrogen economy grows, fuel cells are expected to become key components in providing reliable, quiet, and safe energy solutions for various applications. This study analyzes hydrogen fuel cell technology, its working principles, production methods, and sectoral applications, the need for cleaner energy, its operational mechanisms, and their applications in modern energy systems. Fuel cells provide an efficient and clean source of energy using hydrogen. Applications span transportation, industry, and residential energy systems, industry, and residential energy, with fuel cells helping reduce emissions and support a sustainable energy future. The fuels used for hydrogen production include methanol, natural gas, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol, and hydrogen. Except for steam reforming methanol and pure hydrogen, all methods require large reactors due to the high temperatures that produce excess carbon monoxide. Fuel cells are commonly used with renewable energy and batteries for their ability to quickly adapt to changes in energy production, aiding in the integration of variable resources into the power grid. Hydrogen energy generated by fuel cells in various sectors has fixed power generation in power stations, and it is turning into a more efficient source with many possible developments. The fuel cells are considered a promising technology for sustainable energy production. A hydrogen fuel cell converts hydrogen’s chemical energy into electrical energy by chemical reaction.

The Quest for Sustainable Cutting Fluids: Palm Kernel Oil as an Eco-friendly Alternative

A. Nwoko Iyeshim — 2026-02-16

Cutting fluids are employed in the industry to maintain workpiece quality, tool life, and overall high productivity in machining. However, a large proportion of these cutting fluids pollute the environment and are toxic and harmful to human health, wildlife and the environment. This study aims to enhance the performance of palm kernel oil as a cutting fluid for machining operations, addressing the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional cutting fluids. The primary objectives are to evaluate the performance of palm kernel oil in terms of machining parameters, tool wear, surface finish and cutting temperature of AISI 304 alloy steel. An experimental design approach is employed involving samples of Palm kernel oil, castor oil, Aquicut 40 soluble cutting oil (commercial cutting fluid) and formulated palm kernel base cutting fluid (mixture of palm kernel oil and castor oil), which were characterized by investigating the physiochemical properties. The experimental results revealed that the formulated palm kernel-based oil showed a 10.10 pH value, 2.023 Pas viscosity value at 280°C, resistant to corrosion, stable, dark yellowish coloration and generally liquid at 280°C. At the spindle speed, feed rate, and depth of cut of 800 rev/min, 0.20 min/rev and 1200 mm, the utmost cutting temperature is 780°C. The optimal signal-to-noise ratio response parameters were achieved with palm kernel/castor oil turning using a cutting velocity of 800 rev/min, feed rate of 0.15 min/rev and depth of cut 1.0 min. Also, segmented, short, snarled, and washed chip formation was obtained during machining. The results show significant improvements in the machining performance with formulated palm kernel-based oil concentrations yielding reduced tool wear and improved surface finish. This research contributes to the development of sustainable cutting fluid solutions for machining operations.

Environmental Challenges in the Transport Sector: Issues, Impacts, and Strategies for Sustainable Mobility in India

Swapnil Thikane — 2026-03-10

The transport sector plays a vital role in economic growth and social development; however, it is also a significant contributor to environmental degradation worldwide. In India, rapid urbanization, population growth, and increasing vehicle ownership have intensified environmental concerns such as air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel dependence, and rising energy consumption. This study examines the key environmental challenges associated with the transport sector, with special reference to the Indian context. It reviews recent emission trends, health impacts resulting from deteriorating air quality, and land-use changes driven by expanding transport infrastructure. The study further explores sustainable mitigation strategies, including vehicle electrification, stricter fuel efficiency standards, promotion of public and non-motorized transport, and the integration of intelligent transport systems. A scenario-based assessment indicates that, under ambitious and well-implemented policies, India could reduce transport-sector CO₂ emissions by up to 71% by 2050 compared to business-as-usual projections. The study concludes by discussing implementation barriers and providing policy recommendations to support a transition toward sustainable and low-carbon mobility in India.

Investigation of Pipeline Leaks and Maintenance Cost Allocation

S. L. Bani — 2026-02-17

Pipelines are modern infrastructures used for transporting gas, oil, water, and other liquids over long distances. To enhance uninterrupted production, pipeline technology has experienced major improvements or advancements. Obviously, the advancement is not devoid of leakage, resulting from both controllable and uncontrollable factors, including corrosion, damage, and natural disasters, responsible for significant economic, environmental, and social impacts. Hence, resource allocation for pipeline leaked repair and replacement is a critical aspect of ensuring resilience and reliability of pipeline networks. This study investigates offshore pipeline leaks and maintenance costs. Regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to analyze maintenance cost, while leak growth model was used to determine leak growth rate. From analyses, leak growth rate was 0.20 mm per hour. Leak increased from 0.5mm to 1.35mm in five hours of investigation. The volume of leaked was 4.5557m³ in 5 hours, which represent revenue loss of about 1834 dollars in five hours. The leak flow rate was 13.94 barrels per day (bbl/day). The total repair cost during the period investigated was 81, 637.9 Naira, while the total replacement cost was 216,197.44 Naira. The expected economic effect for equipment for five years period was 352,800,000.00 Naira. The coefficient of determination was R-square 99.98%. Replacement cost of leaked pipeline has a significant effect on maintenance cost.

A Review paper on Sustainable machining with Minimum Quantity Lubrication (MQL)

Bharat Yashavant Bhosale — 2026-02-16

In the highly competitive global manufacturing sector, the implementation of cost-effective and environmentally responsible machining strategies has become essential to achieve high surface integrity, dimensional accuracy, and process efficiency. Conventional metal cutting operations extensively rely on cutting fluids for thermal regulation, lubrication at the tool-chip interface, and effective chip evacuation, thereby improving tool life and machining stability. However, the ongoing reliance on mineral oil-based cutting fluids has become a major concern because of their poor biodegradability, non-renewable nature, complicated disposal processes, and possible risks to workers’ health. In response, minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) has gained attention as a sustainable machining approach, significantly lowering cutting fluid usage while still providing satisfactory tribological and heat-control performance. This paper provides an extensive review of recent advancements in MQL-assisted machining across a wide variety of materials, including ferrous and non-ferrous alloys, superalloys, and composite materials. Furthermore, the environmental implications of MQL adoption are critically examined within the framework of sustainable manufacturing, with emphasis on reducing ecological impact, improving operator safety, and supporting compliance with stringent environmental regulations.