The current scenario of society is to produce fuel from renewable energy resources. The purpose of this research work is to develop an integrated approach for glycerol valorization and biodiesel production. Employing a range of methodologies widely used in the industry, technical analysis and assessments of the process’s applicability in real-world situations are also made. The integrated process plant is simulated using Aspen Plus^®. Several different sensitivity analyses are carried out to describe the process that improves efficiency and are designed to maximize hydrogen recovery from the reforming section. The integrated process results are compared with several existing standalone biodiesel production processes. Additionally, the results are verified with the theoretical studies on glycerol valorization. The outcomes of the process plant simulation reveal coherent results with the current industrial standards for the two processes. The results show that the amount of glycerol produced (stream 7) is 60.72 kmol/h in mass flow rate, this translates to 7272.74 kg/h. The hydrogen produced is 488.76 kmol/h and, in mass flow rate, this translates to 985.3 kg/h. The total yield of hydrogen produced is around 13%. The biodiesel yield is at 92.5%. It shows a realistic recovery that would be attained if the process is implemented, contrary to theoretical studies.

The design and development of a photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector were developed in this study, and electrical and electrical thermal efficiency were assessed. To improve system performance, two types of coolants were employed, liquid and liquid-based MnO nanofluid. Flow rates ranging from 1 to 4 liters per minute (LPM) for the interval of 1.0 LPM were employed, together with a 0.1% concentration of manganese oxide (MnO) nanofluid. Various parametric investigations, including electrical power generation, glazing surface temperature, electrical efficiency, and electrical thermal efficiency, were carried out on testing days, which were clear and sunny. Outdoor studies for the aforementioned nanofluids and liquids were carried out at volume flow rates ranging from 1 to 4 LPM, which can be compared for reference to a freestanding PV system. The research of two efficiency levels, electrical and electrical thermal, revealed that MnO water nanofluid provides better photovoltaic energy conversion than water nanofluid and stand-alone PV systems. In this study, three different domains were examined: stand-alone PV, liquid-based PVT collector, and liquid-based MnO nanofluids. The stand-alone PV system achieved a lower performance, the liquid-based MnO performed better, and the liquid-based PVT achieved an intermediate level.

Cost estimation of deep drawn sheet metal parts requires substantial knowledge and experience. It is a time consuming task and dependent on the expert personnel available. This paper presents the research work involved in the development of a knowledge based system for cost-estimation of deep drawn sheet metal parts. The proposed system is structured in form of two modules viz., module COMPC for estimation of total manufacturing cost of deep drawn parts and module TOOLC for estimation of total tooling cost of deep drawing tool. The system modules are coded in VB.6.0 in windows operating environment. The system has been tested for various types of axisymmetric deep drawn sheet metals parts taken from industries. System is flexible enough as its knowledge base can be extended or modified easily

Integrating Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies with Lean Six Sigma (LSS) tools holds significant potential for enhancing manufacturing excellence (ME). This paper provides a comprehensive review of 181 research articles published from 2016 to September 2025 on I4.0 technologies, LSS tools, potential synergies from their integration, and critical success factors (CSFs) for the successful integration of these two notions. A systematic literature review (SLR) that consists of descriptive, bibliometric, and detailed content analysis. This tri-dimensional analysis was performed using data retrieved from the Scopus database and analysed through the Bibliometrix package of Biblioshiny interface in R Studio (version 4.4.1), and VOS viewer. The study aims to identify key LSS tools and I4.0 technologies, CSFs, and their synergies, to ultimately support manufacturing firms in surmounting current challenges, recognizing and capitalizing on emerging opportunities, and eventually cultivating a culture of continuous improvement. The findings revealed that integrating these two paradigms can streamline operations, enhance quality, and optimize manufacturing operations. However, this integration necessitates careful consideration of CSFs including management support, resource allocation, comprehensive training, and a few more. In the end, this research contributes to the progression of the research field by pinpointing future research avenues. The novelty of this research lies in its unique phased roadmap, which outlines all necessary LSS tools, I4.0 technologies for each phase, with consideration of CSFs.