Neste trabalho, pós magnéticos nanoestruturados de PrxFe94-xB6 (x = 6, 8, 10 e 12) foram preparados a partir da combinação do processo de hidrogenação, desproporção, dessorção e recombinação (HDDR) e moagem de alta energia entre uma liga em estado bruto de fusão (Pr14Fe80B6) e Fe-α em pó. As nanopartículas produzidas apresentaram propriedades magnéticas e microestruturais comparáveis aos estudos realizados em hipertermia. O tempo ideal para obtenção de nanopartículas magnéticas é de 5 horas (a 900 rpm). Foi constatado que quanto maior o tempo de moagem, maior o percentual de carbono nas partículas (0,05 - 3,43 % C). O carbono é proveniente do ácido oléico adicionado como surfactante na etapa de moagem. Os nanocompósitos obtidos exibiram forças coercivas entre 80 Oe (6,5 kAm-1) e 170 Oe (13,5 kAm-1), e momentos magnéticos variando entre 81 - 129 Am2kg-1. A partir da difração de raios X foram identificadas apenas duas fases em todas as amostras: Fe-α e a fase magnética Pr2Fe14B. Nanopartículas isoladas com diâmetro aproximado de 20nm foram analisadas. Todas as composições estudadas apresentaram aquecimento proveniente da exposição a um campo magnético alternado (f = 222 kHz e Hmax ~3,7 kAm-1) comparáveis aos reportados na literatura. As variações de temperaturas (ΔT) dos pós foram: 51 K referente à composição de Pr6Fe88B6, 41 K para Pr8Fe86B6, 38 K no composto com 10% at. Pr (Pr10Fe84B6) e 34 K em Pr12Fe82B6. As taxas de absorção específicas estimadas foram de 201 Wkg-1 para a composição Pr6Fe88B6, 158 Wkg-1 para a composição Pr8Fe86B6 e 114 Wkg-1 para as composições Pr10Fe84B6 e Pr12Fe82B6. / In this work, PrxFe94-xB6 (x = 6, 8, 10 and 12) nanostructured powders were prepared by a combination of hydrogenation, disproportionation, desorption and recombination (HDDR) process with high energy milling applied to the mixture of an as-cast alloy (Pr14Fe80B6) and α-Fe. The produced nanoparticles showed magnetic properties comparable to those reported in hyperthermia studies. The optimal time to obtain the magnetic nanoparticles is 5 hours (at 900 rpm). It was verified that longer milling times cause an increase in carbon percentage on the particles. The carbon is derived from oleic acid added as a surfactant in the milling step. The nanocomposites exhibit coercive force ranging from 80 Oe (6.5 kAm-1) to 170 Oe (13.5 kAm-1) and magnetic moments in the range of 81 129 Am2kg-1. From the x-ray diffraction analyses, only two phases were found in all samples: α-Fe and the magnetic phase Pr2Fe14B. Individual nanoparticles with diameter of about 20 nm were verified. The samples studied presented heating when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (f = 222 kHz e Hmax ~3.7 kAm-1) comparable to reported in literature. Temperature variations (ΔT) of the powders were: 51 K for Pr6Fe88B6, 41 K for Pr8Fe86B6, 38 K for Pr10Fe84B6 and T = 34 K for Pr12Fe82B6. The specific absorption rates (SARs) of the powders were 201 Wkg-1 for Pr6Fe88B6 composition, 158 Wkg-1 on the composition Pr8Fe86B6, and 114 Wkg-1 for Pr10Fe84B6 and Pr12Fe82B6 compositions.

Neste trabalho, pós magnéticos nanoestruturados de PrxFe94-xB6 (x = 6, 8, 10 e 12) foram preparados a partir da combinação do processo de hidrogenação, desproporção, dessorção e recombinação (HDDR) e moagem de alta energia entre uma liga em estado bruto de fusão (Pr14Fe80B6) e Fe-α em pó. As nanopartículas produzidas apresentaram propriedades magnéticas e microestruturais comparáveis aos estudos realizados em hipertermia. O tempo ideal para obtenção de nanopartículas magnéticas é de 5 horas (a 900 rpm). Foi constatado que quanto maior o tempo de moagem, maior o percentual de carbono nas partículas (0,05 - 3,43 % C). O carbono é proveniente do ácido oléico adicionado como surfactante na etapa de moagem. Os nanocompósitos obtidos exibiram forças coercivas entre 80 Oe (6,5 kAm-1) e 170 Oe (13,5 kAm-1), e momentos magnéticos variando entre 81 - 129 Am2kg-1. A partir da difração de raios X foram identificadas apenas duas fases em todas as amostras: Fe-α e a fase magnética Pr2Fe14B. Nanopartículas isoladas com diâmetro aproximado de 20nm foram analisadas. Todas as composições estudadas apresentaram aquecimento proveniente da exposição a um campo magnético alternado (f = 222 kHz e Hmax ~3,7 kAm-1) comparáveis aos reportados na literatura. As variações de temperaturas (ΔT) dos pós foram: 51 K referente à composição de Pr6Fe88B6, 41 K para Pr8Fe86B6, 38 K no composto com 10% at. Pr (Pr10Fe84B6) e 34 K em Pr12Fe82B6. As taxas de absorção específicas estimadas foram de 201 Wkg-1 para a composição Pr6Fe88B6, 158 Wkg-1 para a composição Pr8Fe86B6 e 114 Wkg-1 para as composições Pr10Fe84B6 e Pr12Fe82B6. / In this work, PrxFe94-xB6 (x = 6, 8, 10 and 12) nanostructured powders were prepared by a combination of hydrogenation, disproportionation, desorption and recombination (HDDR) process with high energy milling applied to the mixture of an as-cast alloy (Pr14Fe80B6) and α-Fe. The produced nanoparticles showed magnetic properties comparable to those reported in hyperthermia studies. The optimal time to obtain the magnetic nanoparticles is 5 hours (at 900 rpm). It was verified that longer milling times cause an increase in carbon percentage on the particles. The carbon is derived from oleic acid added as a surfactant in the milling step. The nanocomposites exhibit coercive force ranging from 80 Oe (6.5 kAm-1) to 170 Oe (13.5 kAm-1) and magnetic moments in the range of 81 129 Am2kg-1. From the x-ray diffraction analyses, only two phases were found in all samples: α-Fe and the magnetic phase Pr2Fe14B. Individual nanoparticles with diameter of about 20 nm were verified. The samples studied presented heating when exposed to an alternating magnetic field (f = 222 kHz e Hmax ~3.7 kAm-1) comparable to reported in literature. Temperature variations (ΔT) of the powders were: 51 K for Pr6Fe88B6, 41 K for Pr8Fe86B6, 38 K for Pr10Fe84B6 and T = 34 K for Pr12Fe82B6. The specific absorption rates (SARs) of the powders were 201 Wkg-1 for Pr6Fe88B6 composition, 158 Wkg-1 on the composition Pr8Fe86B6, and 114 Wkg-1 for Pr10Fe84B6 and Pr12Fe82B6 compositions.

Energy is one of the biggest costs of production in industries and Small scale industries in Uganda are faced with a big burden due to the high energy costs they incur in their operations. Due to the high costs associated with electricity and fossil fuels, biomass energy continues to supply the bulk (81%) of industrial energy demands. However unsustainable harvesting of tradition biomass fuels (firewood and charcoal) is leading to depletion and causing a hike in prices of this important energy source. This study determined current thermal loads for 4 small scale industries, the costs of the fuels used, possible agro waste replacement options and economic comparisons of gasification using these fuel alternatives. Questionnaires, interviews and quantitative measurements of the various parameters were undertaken to establish current fuel usage and costs. Economic and emission reductions analysis were conducted using RETScreen energy planning tool. Results of indicated that the current combustion and heat transfer devices are very inefficient leading to intensive energy demands. Proposed gasifier systems of the range of 30 kW to 100kW fuel power, would cost between US$ 6,156.35 and US$20,371.20. It was further established that installing gasifiers and incorporating agro wastes in the fuel mix (60%) would greatly reduce expenditure on fuels with pay back periods ranging from 0.4 – 3 years. Risk analysis further showed that fuel costs and operations and maintenance would attract the highest risk to the net present value of each proposed gasifier installation. From these results, it was recommended that gasification coupled with use of agro wastes provides viable cheap alternative for small scale industrial thermal energy needs

This thesis presents investigations on air-cooled air gap membrane distillation for desalination and the application of radial waveguides based on total internal reflection for solar thermal desalination. Using an air-cooled design for an air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) process may result in significantly lower energy requirements for desalination. Experiments were conducted on AGMD module to study the effect of air gap, support mesh conductivity and hydrophobicity, condensing surface hydrophobicity. A novel modular design was used in which modules could be used in a series configuration to increase the flux value for the distillate. The output from the series configuration was found to have about three times the production from a single pass water-cooled system with the same temperature difference between the saline and clear water streams. The results also indicated that the mesh conductivity had a favorable effect on the flux value whereas the hydrophobicity of the mesh had no significant effect. The hydrophobicity of the condensing surface was favorable on two accounts: first, it led to an increase in the flux of the distillate at temperatures below 60 °C and second, the temperature difference of the saline feed when it enters and leaves the module is lower which can lead to energy savings and higher yields when used in a series configuration. The second part of the thesis considers use of low-cost radial waveguides to collect and concentrate solar energy for use in thermal desalination processes. The optical-waveguide-based solar energy concentrators are based on total internal reflection and minimize/eliminate moving parts, tracking structures and cost. The use of optical waveguides for thermal desalination is explored using an analytical closed-form solution for the coupled optical and thermal transport of solar irradiation through a radial planar waveguide concentrator integrated with a central receiver. The analytical model is verified against and supported by computational optical ray tracing simulations. The effects of various design and operating parameters are systematically investigated on the system performance, which is quantified in terms of net thermal power delivered, aperture area required and collection efficiency. Design constraints like thermal stress, maximum continuous operation temperature and structural constraints have been considered to identify realistic waveguide configurations which are suitable for real world applications. The study provides realistic estimates for the performance achievable with radial planar waveguide concentrator-receiver configuration. In addition to this, a cost analysis has been conducted to determine the preferred design configurations that minimize the cost per unit area of the planar waveguide concentrator coupled to the receiver. Considering applications to thermal desalination which is a low temperature application, optimal design configuration of waveguide concentrator-receiver system is identified that result in the minimum levelized cost of power (LCOP). / Master of Science