A ppt on Alternative Fuels. I hope this ppt would be useful for u all. It describes the different types of alternative fuels which can be used in today's era for saving the excessive consumption of conventional fuels. Alternative fuels are also known as Non-Conventional fuels or Green Fuels.

1. SEMINAR REPORT
ON
ALTERNATIVE FUELS
BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY
IN
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
SAM HIGGINBOTTOM INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE,
TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES
SUMMITED TO SUMMITED BY
Dr.A.S DARBARI SIMON TOPPO
12BTMECH020
HOD, Mechanical Engineering 6TH
SEMESTER

2. Introduction
 The increase in energy consumption particularly in the past several decades has raised
fears of exhausting vital natural resources
 Rapid industrialization and massive growth in population has increased the dependence
and use of natural fuels
 Approximately 90% of our energy requirement are met by fossil fuels
 Studies suggest that if exploited at the same rate, the coal reserves will deplete in the
next 200-300 years and petroleum deposits will deplete in the next few decades
 So, it is important for us to engage in research and development of alternative fuels so
we may not face scarcity of natural resources in the future

3. Alternative Fuels
Alternative fuels, known as non-conventional or advanced fuels, are any
materials or substances that can be used as fuels, other than conventional fuels.
Conventional fuels include: fossil fuels (petroleum (oil), coal, and natural gas), as
well as nuclear materials such as uranium and thorium, as well as artificial
radioisotope fuels that are made in nuclear reactors.
Some well-known alternative fuels include biodiesel, bio alcohol (methanol,
ethanol, butanol), chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen,
non-fossil methane, non-fossil natural gas, vegetable oil, propane, and other
biomass sources.

4. Need for Alternative Fuels
 World today is facing the pinch of rising energy consumption.
 Green house gas emissions and global warming is also in the forefront of critical
issues.
 India is ranked 6th in terms of energy demands but its domestic crude oil
production satisfies only ¼th of our current demands.
 Cost of conventional fuels.
 In some cases, alternative fuels are more environmentally friendly.
 Some alternative fuels are more energy efficient.

5. Classification of Alternative Fuels
 Solid Fuels
 Liquid Fuels
Ethanol
Methanol
 Gaseous Fuels
Also,
 Biodiesel
 Hydrogen

6. Solid Fuels
Solid fuel refers to various types of solid material that are used as fuel to produce
energy and provide heating, usually released through combustion. Solid fuels
include wood (see wood fuel), charcoal, peat, coal, Hexamine fuel tablets, and
pellets made from wood (see wood pellets), corn, wheat, rye and other grains.
Solid-fuel rocket technology also uses solid fuel (see solid propellants).
Solid fuels have been used by humanity for many years to create fire. Coal was the
fuel source which enabled the industrial revolution, from firing furnaces, to
running steam engines. Wood was also extensively used to run steam locomotives.
Both peat and coal are still used in electricity generation today.
The use of some solid fuels (e.g. coal) is restricted or prohibited in some urban
areas, due to unsafe levels of toxic emissions. The use of other solid fuels such as
wood is increasing as heating technology and the availability of good quality fuel
improves. In some areas, smokeless coal is often the only solid fuel used. In
Ireland, peat briquettes are used for home heating. They are also used to start a
coal fire.

7. Types of Solid Fuels
 Wood
Wood is one of the most commonly used solid fuels.
Wood is a unique fuel source in that it is a renewable resource. It is also
greenhouse gas neutral which means that the log being burned cannot
produce any more carbon than was used by it during its life. When
burning wood, it is important to allow at least one year’s time for it to
dry out completely. If burnt with water still inside it, or while it is
“green”, heat will be wasted turning that water into steam and will
produce acidic tars that can damage your heating appliances.
 Biomass
Biomass is plant material taken to be used as fuel. While wood is a type of
biomass, other plants commonly used for fuel include wheat, straw, nut shells, or
any fibrous material.

8.  Peat
Peat is a form of coal. In the life cycle of coal, biomass decomposes over
thousands of years and becomes peat and then after thousands more years,
becomes lignite, and then coal. Once it is dried, peat becomes extremely volatile.
 Lignite
Lignite is another stage in the coal making process. This fuel burns relatively
easily. A disadvantage is that it will produce large amounts of ash.
 Coke
Coke is a coal-like fuel source that are produced by heating natural coal in
specialized containers to burn only the oily surface off of the coal. The result is a
hard brick that while difficult to light, can last extremely long.

9.  Bituminous Coal
Bituminous Coal is made from wood compressed by the earth’s crust and aged
about one hundred million years. The coal is economically efficient and the flame
produced is highly desirable with low ash output. However, The smoke produced by
this fuel is dark and contains flammable gasses that if not properly contained, can
produce a dangerous environment. Exploring new fuel - coal-oil agglomerates.
 Anthracite
Anthracite is a smokeless coal that was formed over the course of over three
hundred million years. It’s density allows it to burn for long periods of time without
producing very much smoke. Also due to its density, it is very difficult to light and
often requires the use of a second, easier burning fuel to help in the process.
 Briquettes
Briquettes are generally non-organic blocks of fuel that are made of compressed
minerals. Their flames will last long periods of time.

10. Advantages
 Solid fuels, compared to liquid fuels or gaseous fuels, are more readily
available.
 Coal in particularly is utilized in the generation of 38.1% of the world’s
electricity because it is less expensive and more powerful than its liquid and
gas counterparts.
 In homes, wood can be used for heating and cooking and depending on ones
location, it can be much cheaper than other fuels.

11. Disadvantages
 In an industrial situation, especially in the maritime industry, solid fuels
become increasingly difficult to work with.
 Compared to liquid and gas fuels, solid fuels require a much larger area to store
because both liquids and gases will expand and contract more easily with
pressure and temperature variants making them more easily compressible.
 The solid fuel also tends to have a higher Nitrate and Sulphate emission rate.
From 2009 to 2013, nearly 36% of the United States CO2 emissions were due
to the burning of solid fuels.

12. Liquid Fuels
Liquid fuels are combustible or energy-generating molecules that can be harnessed to
create mechanical energy, usually producing kinetic energy; they also must take the
shape of their container. It is the fumes of liquid fuels that are flammable instead of
the fluid.
Most liquid fuels in widespread use are derived from fossil fuels; however, there are
several types, such as hydrogen fuel (for automotive uses), ethanol, and biodiesel,
which are also categorized as a liquid fuel. Many liquid fuels play a primary role in
transportation and the economy.
Some common properties of liquid fuels are that they are easy to transport, and can
be handled with relative ease. Also they are relatively easy to use for all engineering
applications, and home use. (Fuels like Kerosene are rationed and available in
government subsidized shops in India for home use.) Liquid fuels are also used most
popularly in Internal combustion engines.
Some very technically important properties include: flash point, fire point, cloud
point, and pour point.

13. Ethanol
What is it : It’s a cheap non-petroleum based fuel. As with methanol,
E-85 is the primary ethanol alternative fuel. The use of ethanol in
vehicles is not a new innovation. In the 1880s, Henry Ford built one
of his first automobiles to run on ethanol.
• Ethanol is also known as ethyl alcohol. It’s the alcohol in beer,
wine, rum, vodka, etc.
How is it produced : It can be produced by fermentation of vegetables
and plant materials. In India, its main source is molasses – a by-
product of sugarcane.
Its done in three stages :
1) Extraction of juice from sugarcane
2) Fermentation of the juice
3) Distillation

14. Environmental Characteristics :
It has approximately 30-50% fewer smog forming emissions than a gasoline
vehicle. Air toxics are also reduced by about 50% when compared to gasoline. As
with all internal combustion engines, vehicles using ethanol emit minor amounts
of aldehydes. This is resolved by installing advanced catalytic converters on the
vehicles.
Disadvantages :
 Major problem with the ethanol is corrosion.
 Ethanol driven vehicles require lines, hoses and valves to be resistant to
corrosion that alcohol can induce.
 Alcohol corrodes lead-plated fuel tanks, magnesium, copper, zinc; and
aluminium parts; and some synthetic gaskets.

15. Methanol
What is it : Methanol is an alcohol fuel. The primary alternative methanol fuel
being used is M-85, which is made up of 85% methanol and 15% gasoline. In the
future, neat methanol (M-100), may be used.
How it is produced : Methanol is created from a synthesis gas (hydrogen and CO),
which is reacted in the presence of a catalyst. Methanol can be also produced from
non-petroleum feed-stocks such as coal and biomass.
Environmental Characteristics : Emissions from M-85 vehicles are slightly lower
than in gasoline powered vehicles. Smog-forming emissions are generally 30-50%
lower; NOx and hydrocarbon emissions from M-85 vehicles are similar to slightly
lower. However, CO emissions are usually equal or slightly higher than in gasoline
vehicles.

16. Advantages :
 High octane and performance characteristics.
 Only minor modifications are needed to allow gasoline engines to use
methanol.
 There is a significant reduction of reactive emissions when using M-85.
Disadvantages :
• Methanol is extremely corrosive, requiring special materials for delivery and
storage.
• Methanol by itself is not a good CI engine fuel because of its high octane
number.

17. Gaseous Fuels
Gaseous fuels are best suited for IC engines since physical delay is almost zero.
However, as fuel displaces equal amount of air the engines may have poor
volumetric efficiency. There are quite few gaseous fuels that can be used as
alternative fuels.
Hydrogen
How it is produced : Hydrogen can be produced by number of different sources,
including natural gas, water, methanol, etc.
Two methods are generally used to produce hydrogen :
1) Electrolysis
2) Synthesis gas production from steam reforming or partial oxidation.

18. Environmental Characteristics :
When combusted, only water vapour is produced. When burned in an IC engine,
small amounts of nitrogen oxides and small amounts of unburnt hydrocarbons and
CO are produced, due to the use of engine lubricants.
Advantages :
• Hydrogen-air mixture burns nearly 10 times faster than gasoline-air mixture.
• Hydrogen has high self ignition temp. but requires very little energy to ignite it.
• Clean exhaust, produces no CO2.
• As a fuel it is very efficient as there are no losses associated with throttling.
Disadvantages :
• There is danger of back fire and induction ignition.
• Though low in exhaust, it produces toxic NOx.
• Its difficult to handle and store, requiring high capital and running cost.

19. Natural Gas
 Natural gas is a mixture of hydrocarbons, mainly methane (CH4).
 Other components : ethane, propane, nitrogen, helium, CO2, hydrogen
sulphide, water vapour ,….
Production of Natural Gas :
 Water or sewage treatment.
 Gas wells.
 Crude oil production.
Use of Natural Gas as a Fuel :
 Light-duty applications - Natural gas vehicles
 Heavy-duty and medium-duty applications - Natural gas engines

20. Advantages of natural gas :
 Its cheap
 Its Engine-Friendly
 Its safe
 There is lot of it in India
 Its clean, easy to trap, odourless.
Disadvantages :
 The storage cylinder takes a lot of space.
 CNG gas stations are not widely available in India.

21. CNG vehicles in India

22. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
 Propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is a popular alternative fuel choice
for vehicles because there is already an infrastructure of pipelines, processing
facilities, and storage for its efficient distribution.
 LPG produces fewer vehicle emissions than gasoline.
 Propane is produced as a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil
refining.
 The cost of a gasoline-litre equivalent of propane is generally less than that of
gasoline.
Environmental Characteristics : The LPG run vehicles have lower emission of
hydrocarbons (about one-third less), NOx (20% less) and CO (60% less) than
gasoline vehicles.

23. Advantages of LPG :
 Its cost is 60% of petrol with 90% of its mileage.
 Has a higher octane number and burns more efficiently.
 LPG has more of a storage and transportation advantages of liquids, along with
the fuel advantages of gases.
 Saves on the maintenance costs.

24. Biodiesel
 Biodiesel is a domestically produced, renewable fuel that can be manufactured
from vegetable oils, animal fats, or recycled restaurant greases.
 Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, and reduces air pollutants such as particulates,
carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and air toxics.
 It is composed by mono-alkyl esters made from the transesterification of both
vegetable oils and animal fats.
 Glycerine is produced as a second product.
 Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form but it may require certain engine
modifications to avoid maintenance and performance problems and may not be
suitable for wintertime use.
 Need to heat storage tanks in colder climates to prevent the fuel from gelling

25. Obtaining Biodiesel :

26. Sources for Biodiesel :
 Vegetable oils
 Genetically modified vegetable oils
 Waste vegetable oils
 Bad quality vegetable oils
Comparison to Petroleum :
 Carbon monoxide: -50%
 Carbon dioxide: -78%
 Nitrogen oxide: +20%
BUT catalytic converters
 Biodegradable and non-toxic

27. Advantages of Biodiesel :
 Low emissions
 It is biodegradable and non-toxic
 Low cost
 High Cetane number
 High lubricity
Uses :
 Popularly used in vehicles and power generators.

28. Other Possible Fuels
Biomass
 Is the most important source for energy productions supplied by agriculture
 Is a “carbon lean” fuel producing a fraction of the Carbon emissions of fossil
 Anaerobic digestion converts biomass, especially waste product such as
municipal solid waste and market waste.
Uses :
 Can offer local business opportunities and support the rural economy
 Can be used as a domestic fuel
 Used for boilers

29. Electricity
 Vehicles that operate only on electricity require no warm-up, run almost
silently and have excellent performance up to the limit of their range.
 Pure electric cars still have limited range.
 Batteries have a limited storage capacity and their electricity must be
replenished by plugging the vehicle into an electrical source.
 Electric Vehicles have lower "fuel" and maintenance costs than gasoline-
powered vehicles

30. Biogas
 During production, there is a solid by-product called digestate. This can be
used as a biofuel or fertilizer. Biogas consists of methane.
 Low-cost, renewable source of energy.
 Because of the gaseous nature of this fuel, it must be stored on-board a vehicle
in either a compressed gaseous state or in a liquefied state.
 A biogas-powered train has been in service in Sweden since 2005.

31. Emulsified diesel Fuel
 Emulsified diesel fuel is a mixture of diesel fuel with water and emulsifying
and stabilizing additives.
 Combustion is more efficient.
 Reduced NOx; and PM
Plastic Fuel
 The process involves heating shredded plastic waste with coal and a secret
chemical. This yields around 1 litre of crude oil for every kilogram of waste
plastic.
 Using infra-red energy to remove hydrocarbons from plastic without the use of
a catalyst, transforming 82% of the original plastic material into fuel.

32. Conclusion
 The alternative fuel sources are environment-friendly as opposed to fossil fuels
 By using alternative sources we can reduce, Air pollution, soil pollution and
water pollution
 Using alternative fuel helps diminish Global Warming

33. Thank You …
The end