DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING,

The traditional batch process for biogas production has been dominant, but it often leads to inefficiencies and inconsistent gas output. This project aims to address these issues by designing and producing a continuous household biogas digester, which promises a more stable and reliable method for generating renewable energy from organic waste. The development of the digester was guided by the design tree process, starting with feasibility studies and progressing through design specifications, conceptual designs, and detailed design phases. The fabrication involved constructing key components such as the inlet system, a 150-liter
steel digester tank, and the outlet system. Although most planned components were successfully incorporated, some were excluded due to unforeseen challenges.
The digester demonstrated the potential for continuous biogas production, though improvements are needed. The project concluded with recommendations for enhancing system efficiency and exploring alternative materials to reduce production costs, suggesting that with further refinement, this design could become a viable household solution for renewable energy production.

The siting of filling stations in urban areas, such as Benin City Metropolis, involves complex risk and uncertainty analyses due to the interplay of environmental, socioeconomic, and regulatory factors. This study examines the challenges associated with locating filling stations in Benin City, focusing on the risks posed by improper siting, including environmental pollution, fire hazards, traffic congestion, and public health concerns. The analysis incorporates Geo-spatial data, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder inputs to identify uncertainties related to land use, population density, and compliance with safety standards. A multi-criteria decision-making approach is employed to evaluate potential sites, balancing economic benefits against environmental and social risks. The findings highlight the need for robust urban planning policies, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and community engagement to mitigate risks and uncertainties. This study provides a framework for sustainable siting of filling stations in rapidly urbanizing areas, offering insights for policymakers, urban planners, and industry stakeholders in Benin City and similar contexts.

In evaluating the performance of organic coating (Polyethylene Tape) in the corrosion protection of mild steel pipelines, pipelines around the shores of Escravos in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria with organic coating (Polyethylene tape) installed at the soil-to-air interface (Transition section) for 14 years was considered in the scope of this study. This was to provide performance data when considering the use of Polyethylene Tape coating on the of pipeline transition section
that is susceptible to accelerated corrosion attack due to numerous environmental variables.Corrosion damage ranging from surface rust to mild external corrosion were noted on the specimen pipeline surfaces and with no evidence of through wall perforation noted on the
polyethylene tape coating, however, coagulation failure (Adhesive failure between adhesive
layer and pipe surface) was observed in all specimen examined. A limitation in the effectiveness of organic coating (Polyethylene Tape) in corrosion protection of mild steel due to its none continuous spread (many joining points) over the coated pipeline surfaces thereby providing failure prone locations was established.

This research explored the viability of natural fibers for ballistic armor, a traditionally synthetic field. Following a literature review, two natural fibers underwent characterization to assess their mechanical properties. These fibers were then tested to evaluate their ability to stop projectiles,
absorb impact energy, and minimize wearer injury. The results provide insights into the potential of natural fibers for ballistic applications, highlighting areas for improvement like strength and moisture resistance. Future research directions include advanced fiber modification techniques, optimized composite design strategies, and life cycle assessments to promote the development of sustainable and effective natural fiber-based ballistic armor.

Over the years there’ve been need to transition from fossil fuel into cleaner forms of energy as a result of the detrimental effect the burning of fossil fuel has on the environment. The storage related issues of hydrogen are some of the challenges limiting its exploration as a cleaner energy source. Specifically, compressed form of hydrogen storage which is the most adopted method of storing hydrogen faces various challenges such as the hydrogen embrittlement of steel and loses of structural integrity over the course of usage.
This study is aimed at addressing this issue by exploring two configurations and comparing them to the conventional all alloy steel configuration. The two configurations (HDPE, Carbon fiber configuration(H-C) and carbon fiber, HDPE, carbon fiber configuration (C-H-C)) were investigated for performances characteristics at various pressure levels and compared to the all-alloy steel configuration. At a pressure of 15Mpa, the H-c configuration had a stress value of 7.89E+07N/mm while the C-H-C configurations had a stress value of 1.05E+08N/mm. various parameters including stress, displacement, strain, and factor of safety for the two configurations were investigated and compared to the all-alloy steel configuration. The two configurations should good performance for various pressure values. However, the carbon fiber, HDPE, carbon fiber configurations should the closest performance to the all-alloy steel configurations, with the factor of safety almost equal for pressure values above 35Mpa.
Suggesting that the Carbon fiber, HDPE, Carbon fiber to be a good alternative to the all-alloy steel as it address the hydrogen embrittlement issue without compromising structural integrity.