Journal Articles

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://idr.nitk.ac.in/handle/123456789/19884

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 20
  • Item
    Performance evaluation of reference evapotranspiration equations across a range of Indian climates
    (2006) Nandagiri, L.; Kovoor, G.M.
    Reference crop evapotranspiration (ET0) is a key variable in procedures established for estimation of evapotranspiration rates of agricultural crops. In recent years, there is growing evidence to show that the more physically based FAO-56 Penman-Monteith (PM) combination method yields consistently more accurate ET0 estimates across a wide range of climates and is being proposed as the sole method for ET0 computations. However, other methods continue to remain popular among Indian practitioners either because of traditional usage or because of their simpler input data requirements. In this study, we evaluated the performances of several ET0 methods in the major climate regimes of India with a view to quantify differences in ET0 estimates as influenced by climatic conditions and also to identify methods that yield results closest to the FAO-56 PM method. Performances of seven ET0 methods, representing temperature-based, radiation-based, pan evaporation-based, and combination-type equations, were compared with the FAO-56 PM method using historical climate data from four stations located one each in arid (Jodhpur), semiarid (Hyderabad), subhumid (Bangalore), and humid (Pattambi) climates of India. For each location, ET0 estimates by all the methods for assumed hypothetical grass reference crop were statistically compared using daily climate records extending over periods of 3-4 years. Comparisons were performed for daily and monthly computational time steps. Overall results while providing information on variations in FAO-56 PM ET0 values across climates also indicated climate-specific differences in ET0 estimates obtained by the various methods. Among the ET0 methods evaluated, the FAO-56 Hargreaves (temperature-based) method yielded ET0 estimates closest to the FAO-56 PM method both for daily and monthly time steps, in all climates except the humid one where the Turc (radiation-based) was best. Considering daily comparisons, the associated minimum standard errors of estimate (SEE) were 1.35, 0.78, 0.67, and 0.31 mm/day, for the arid, semiarid, subhumid, and humid locations, respectively. For monthly comparisons, minimum SEE values were smaller at 0.95, 0.59, 0.38, and 0.20 mm/day for arid, semiarid, subhumid, and humid locations, respectively. These results indicate that the choice of an alternative simpler equation in a particular climate on the basis of SEE is dictated by the time step adopted and also it appears that the simpler equations yield much smaller errors when monthly computations are made. In order to provide simple ET0 estimation tools for practitioners, linear regression equations for preferred FAO-56 PM ET0 estimates in terms of ET0 estimates by the simpler methods were developed and validated for each climate. A novel attempt was made to investigate the reasons for the climate-dependent success of the simpler alternative ET0 equations using multivariate factor analysis techniques. For each climate, datasets comprising FAO-56 PM ET0 estimates and the climatic variables were subject to factor analysis and the resulting rotated factor loadings were used to interpret the relative importance of climatic variables in explaining the observed variabilities in ET0 estimates. Results of factor analysis more or less conformed the results of the statistical comparisons and provided a statistical justification for the ranking of alternative methods based on performance indices. Factor analysis also indicated that windspeed appears to be an important variable in the arid climate, whereas sunshine hours appear to be more dominant in subhumid and humid climates. Temperature related variables appear to be the most crucial inputs required to obtain ET0 estimates comparable to those from the FAO-56 PM method across all the climates considered. © 2006 ASCE.
  • Item
    An empirical model for the estimation of moisture ratio during microwave drying of plaster of Paris
    (2008) Ganesapillai, M.G.; Iyyaswami, I.; Murugesan, T.
    The drying characteristics of plaster of Paris (POP) under microwave irradiation were studied for different shapes of materials through various drying parameters like microwave power, initial moisture content, and drying time. An empirical model for the estimation of moisture ratio was developed using the drying kinetic data of POP. Further, the experimental data on moisture ratio of POP for different operating conditions were fitted with the nine basic drying model equations. Based on the observations, the constants and coefficients of the literature models were rewritten in the form of Arrhenius and logarithmic expressions considering microwave power as input variable. Fifty-eight new model expressions were derived by changing the constants and coefficients and tested using the present experimental data. From the analysis of RMSE, ?2, and EF parameters for the derived models, a suitable empirical model (Model No. 55, RMSE = 0.0874; ?2 = 0.0020; EF = 0.9999) was established to represent the present experimental data on microwave drying of POP.
  • Item
    Discrete cosine harmonic wavelet transform and its application to signal compression and subband spectral estimation using modified group delay
    (2009) Narasimhan, S.V.; Harish, M.; Haripriya, A.R.; Basumallick, N.
    This paper proposes a new harmonic wavelet transform (HWT) based on discrete cosine transform (DCTHWT) and its application for signal or image compression and subband spectral estimation using modified group delay (MGD). Further, the existing DFTHWT has also been explored for image compression. The DCTHWT provides better quality decomposed decimated signals, which enable improved compression and MGD processing. For signal/image compression, compared to the HWT based on DFT (DFTHWT), the DCTHWT reduces the reconstruction error. Compared to DFTHWT for the speech signal considered for a compression factor of 0.62, the DCTWHT provides a 30% reduction in reconstruction error. For an image, the DCTHWT algorithm due to its real nature, is computationally simple and more accurate than the DFTHWT. Further compared to Cohen-Daubechies-Feauveau 9/7 biorthogonal symmetric wavelet, the DCTHWT, with its computational advantage, gives a better or comparable performance. For an image with 6.25% coefficients, the reconstructed image by DFTHWT is significantly inferior in appearance to that by DCTHWT which is reflected in the error index as its values are 3.0 and 2.65%, respectively. For spectral estimation, DCTHWT reduces the bias both in frequency (frequency resolution) and spectral magnitude. The reduction in magnitude bias in turn improves the signal detectability. In DCTHWT, the improvement in frequency resolution and the signal detectability is not only due to good quality DCT subband signals but also due to their stretching (decimation) in the wavelet transform. The MGD reduces the variance while preserving the frequency resolution achieved by DCT and decimation. In view of these, the new spectral estimator facilitates a significant improvement both in magnitude and frequency bias, variance and signal detection ability; compared to those of MGD processing of both DFT and DCT fullband and DFT subband signals. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2008.
  • Item
    An analytical model for spiral wound reverse osmosis membrane modules: Part II - Experimental validation
    (2011) Sundaramoorthy, S.; Srinivasan, G.; Murthy, D.V.R.
    This paper presents the experimental studies carried out for validation of a new mathematical model [1] developed for predicting the performance of spiral wound RO modules. Experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale spiral wound RO module taking chlorophenol as a model solute. Experiments were carried out by varying feed flow rate, feed concentration and feed pressure and recording the readings of permeate concentration, retentate flow rate, retentate concentration and retentate pressure. A total of 73 experimental readings were recorded. The membrane transport parameters Aw (solvent transport coefficient) and Bs (solute transport coefficient) and the feed channel friction parameter b were estimated by a graphical technique developed in this work. The mass transfer coefficient k, estimated using the experimental data, was found to be strongly influenced by solvent flux and solute concentration apart from the fluid velocity. Taking the effects of solvent flux, solute concentration and fluid velocity, a new mass transfer correlation for Sherwood number is proposed in this work for the estimation of mass transfer coefficient. Comparison of model predictions with experimental observations demonstrated that the model was capable of predicting permeate concentration within 10% error, retentate rate flow within 4% error and rejection coefficient within 5% error. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
  • Item
    Land use scenario analysis and prediction of runoff using SCS-CN method: A case study from the Gudgudi tank, Haveri district, Karnataka, India
    (2011) Bhagwat, N.B.; Shetty, A.; Hegde, V.S.
    Runoff from the Gudgudi tank catchment (209 ha) near Hangal in the Northern Karnataka is estimated employing Soil Conservation Services(SCS) model based on the hydrological data and land use/ land cover data. Rainfall measured for 2006 using a tipping bucket indicated annual rainfall of 887.7mm in the tank catchment. Textural characteristics of the soil indicate sandy-clayey type which corresponds to hydrological soil group "C and D". Average Soil infiltration rate of 0.18 cm/hour for the forest-land and 0.21 cm/hour for agriculture land has been observed. Weighted curve number is arrived based on the antecedent moisture conditions, and runoff is estimated for the existing land-use. Areastorage curve is constructed using the tank bed contours. Considering the hypothetical changes in the agriculture and forest area coverage, optimum conditions for maximizing the runoff and storage in the tank is arrived. The analysis suggests land use pattern of 15% of forest cover and 85% of agriculture land coverage in this region provide maximum runoff and storage in the tank for sustainable development. © 2011 CAFET-INNOVA TECHNICAL SOCIETY.
  • Item
    Reprint of: “An analytical model for spiral wound reverse osmosis membrane modules: Part II — Experimental validation”
    (Elsevier B.V., 2011) Sundaramoorthy, S.; Srinivasan, G.; Murthy, D.V.R.
    This paper presents the experimental studies carried out for validation of a new mathematical model [1] developed for predicting the performance of spiral wound RO modules. Experiments were conducted on a laboratory scale spiral wound RO module taking chlorophenol as a model solute. Experiments were carried out by varying feed flow rate, feed concentration and feed pressure and recording the readings of permeate concentration, retentate flow rate, retentate concentration and retentate pressure. A total of 73 experimental readings were recorded. The membrane transport parameters Aw (solvent transport coefficient) and Bs (solute transport coefficient) and the feed channel friction parameter b were estimated by a graphical technique developed in this work. The mass transfer coefficient k, estimated using the experimental data, was found to be strongly influenced by solvent flux and solute concentration apart from the fluid velocity. Taking the effects of solvent flux, solute concentration and fluid velocity, a new mass transfer correlation for Sherwood number is proposed in this work for the estimation of mass transfer coefficient. Comparison of model predictions with experimental observations demonstrated that the model was capable of predicting permeate concentration within 10% error, retentate rate flow within 4% error and rejection coefficient within 5% error. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
  • Item
    An analytical model for spiral wound Reverse Osmosis membrane modules: Part I - Model development and parameter estimation
    (2011) Sundaramoorthy, S.; Srinivasan, G.; Murthy, D.V.R.
    A mathematical model for spiral wound Reverse Osmosis membrane module is presented in this work. The model incorporates spatial variations of pressure, flow and solute concentration in the feed channel and uniform conditions of pressure in the permeate channel. Assuming solution-diffusion model to be valid, explicit analytical equations were derived for spatial variations of pressure, flow, solvent flux and solute concentration on the feed channel side of the module. Analytical procedures for estimation of model parameters were presented. Graphical linear fit methods were developed for estimation of parameters Aw (solvent transport coefficient), Bs (solute transport coefficient) and b (feed channel friction parameter). The mass transfer coefficient k was assumed to vary along the length of the feed channel with varying conditions of flow, solute concentration and pressure. Explicit analytical equations for estimation of mass transfer coefficient were presented. In this paper (Part I), theoretical studies on development of mathematical model and methods for estimation of model parameters are presented. In Part II of this paper series [1], Studies on validation of this model with experimental data are presented. The studies cover experimental work on a spiral wound RO module with an organic compound namely chlorophenol as a solute. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.
  • Item
    Quantifying aquifer properties and freshwater resource in coastal barriers: A hydrogeophysical approach applied at Sasihithlu (Karnataka state, India)
    (2012) Vouillamoz, J.-M.; Hoareau, J.; Grammare, M.; Caron, D.; Nandagiri, L.; Legchenko, A.
    Many human communities living in coastal areas in Africa and Asia rely on thin freshwater lenses for their domestic supply. Population growth together with change in rainfall patterns and sea level will probably impact these vulnerable groundwater resources. Spatial knowledge of the aquifer properties and creation of a groundwater model are required for achieving a sustainable management of the resource. This paper presents a ready-to-use methodology for estimating the key aquifer properties and the freshwater resource based on the joint use of two non-invasive geophysical tools together with common hydrological measurements.

    We applied the proposed methodology in an unconfined aquifer of a coastal sandy barrier in South-Western India. We jointly used magnetic resonance and transient electromagnetic soundings and we monitored rainfall, groundwater level and groundwater electrical conductivity. The combined interpretation of geophysical and hydrological results allowed estimating the aquifer properties and mapping the freshwater lens. Depending on the location and season, we estimate the freshwater reserve to range between 400 and 700 L m??'2 of surface area (A± 50%). We also estimate the recharge using time lapse geophysical measurements with hydrological monitoring. After a rainy event close to 100% of the rain is reaching the water table, but the net recharge at the end of the monsoon is less than 10% of the rain. Thus, we conclude that a change in rainfall patterns will probably not impact the groundwater resource since most of the rain water recharging the aquifer is flowing towards the sea and the river. However, a change in sea level will impact both the groundwater reserve and net recharge. © Author(s) 2012.