Journal of Recent Activities in Production (e-ISSN: 2581-9771)

Production and Performance Evaluation of Biomass Pellets from Mixed Agricultural Residues with Waste Oil Additive

2026-05-15T11:43:10+00:00

The growing demand for sustainable energy and the environmental impacts associated with open-field burning of agricultural residues have accelerated interest in biomass densification technologies. This study investigates the production and performance enhancement of biomass pellets manufactured from a blend of rice husk, wheat straw, and sugarcane bagasse with controlled incorporation of waste engine oil (WEO) as an energy-enriching additive. Pellets were produced using a flat-die pellet mill while maintaining constant processing parameters to isolate the influence of additive concentration. Four formulations containing 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% WEO were evaluated for bulk density, mechanical durability, moisture, ash content, and higher heating value. Results revealed that moderate oil addition improved particle rearrangement and compaction, increasing bulk density from 612 to 668 kg/m³ at 3% WEO. The calorific value showed a continuous rise from 16.8 to 20.2 MJ/kg, representing nearly a 20% enhancement compared with the reference blend. Durability slightly decreased at higher additive levels due to lubrication-induced reduction in inter-particle friction, yet remained within acceptable commercial limits. Ash content declined marginally with increasing oil proportion, supporting cleaner combustion behavior. Considering the trade-off between energy gain and mechanical strength, the formulation with approximately 3% WEO was identified as the optimum mixture. The study demonstrates a practical pathway for simultaneous valorization of agricultural waste and used lubricating oil, contributing to circular economy practices and decentralized renewable energy solutions.

Entropy Production and Energy Dissipation in Climate Change Modeling: A Second-Law Perspective

2026-05-18T05:22:50+00:00

This study explores the climate system as a non-equilibrium thermodynamic system driven by solar radiation and balanced by infrared emission to space. Within this framework, entropy production is used as a quantitative measure of irreversibility and energy dissipation across atmospheric, oceanic, and terrestrial processes. A second-law perspective is applied to climate change modeling to assess how entropy production constrains energy conversion, circulation intensity, and feedback behavior. The study separates radiative entropy production, linked to the absorption and emission of radiation, from material entropy production, which arises from turbulence, heat fluxes, and phase transitions. Evaluating these components provides insight into how energy is redistributed and degraded within the system, and how this affects overall climate dynamics. Results indicate that increasing greenhouse gas concentrations reshape the pathways of entropy generation. Enhanced retention of long-wave radiation strengthens internal dissipative processes, leading to higher material entropy production and shifting the balance between radiative and non-radiative contributions. These changes affect the efficiency of energy transport and influence large-scale circulation patterns. In addition, variations in entropy production offer a useful lens for examining climate sensitivity and stability. Increased internal irreversibility reflects modifications in feedback mechanisms and suggests potential movement toward altered equilibrium states. This thermodynamic approach helps clarify the fundamental constraints governing climate system responses to external forcing.

Quantitative Assessment of PSM Enhancements in Chemical Manufacturing

2026-01-05T11:22:50+00:00

Process safety management (PSM) plays a crucial role in preventing major accidents in chemical plants. Despite established regulations and recognized best practices, many facilities continue to face challenges in maintaining effective safety systems. This study examines areas where PSM performance can be strengthened by identifying common gaps in risk evaluation, operational practices, equipment maintenance, worker competency, and emergency preparedness. Strengthening these aspects is essential for reducing the likelihood of catastrophic events in chemical operations. This study evaluates how targeted PSM improvements enhanced safety performance in three medium-sized chemical plants over two years. The focus was on improving process hazard analysis (PHA), management of change (MOC), mechanical integrity (MI), and workforce competency. The quantitative results show significant benefits: the use of improved hazard-identification tools and scenario-based PHAs reduced high-risk findings by 35%; digitalizing MOC processes lowered unauthorized changes by 42%; implementing predictive maintenance and equipment-health monitoring cut critical equipment failures by 28%; and enhanced worker training and competency checks led to a 22% decrease in human-error-related deviations. Overall, the plants experienced a 31% reduction in total incidents and a 46% increase in near-miss reporting, reflecting a stronger safety culture and greater employee involvement. These outcomes indicate that integrating data-driven tools with robust management practices and workforce support leads to meaningful improvements in PSM performance. The findings demonstrate that real, measurable safety advances are possible when technological and organizational enhancements are effectively combined in chemical plant operations.