KLE Society's

KLE Technological University

th
6 Semester B.E.

A Report on

Open Ended of Thermal Lab

Name: Nikhil Katti

2018-19

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Problem statement:
Required power for lighting purpose is catered by an automotive vehicle run by an alternative
fuel. Justify the use of the above vehicle to meet the requirement. Exhaust emissions from the
automotive are the major contributors for the major contributors for the pollution. Analyze the
exhaust emission in the above context.

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Introduction
An alternative fuel vehicle is a vehicle that runs on a fuel other than traditional petroleum fuels
(petrol or Diesel fuel); and also refers to any technology of powering an engine that does not
involve solely petroleum (e.g. electric car, hybrid electric vehicles, solar powered). Because of a
combination of factors, such as environmental concerns, high oil prices and the potential for peak
oil, development of cleaner alternative fuels and advanced power systems for vehicles has
become a high priority for many governments and vehicle manufacturers around the world. As of
2017, there were more than 1.4 billion motor vehicles on the world's roads,[6] compared with
just more than 116 million alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles that had been sold
or converted worldwide at the end of 2016.
Alternative fuels are found to have higher power inducing capacity compared to traditional
gasoline and diesel. Hence the power produced per gallon of alternate fuel can be used in
Electricity generating in a wider scale than that of traditional fuels.

Abstract
Light duty vehicles consist of passenger cars, light-duty trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUV),
minivans and pick-up trucks. These vehicles constitute approximately seventy percent of all
vehicles in use around the world. While petrol engines power the majority of these vehicles, the
demand for vehicles running on fuels such as diesel, biodiesel, ethanol, and autogas has
increased. The rising costs of petrol and concerns about global climate change have driven many
consumers to consider cheaper clean alternative fuels and automobile manufacturers have begun
to introduce flex and alternative fuel vehicles to meet this demand. Autogas (LP Gas) is an
alternative motor fuel consisting of mainly propane and butane. The use of autogas as an
automotive fuel varies widely from region to region, based on the cost and availability of the fuel
in comparison to other fuels, the availability of LP Gas conversion kits and dedicated LP Gas
vehicles, the availability of LP Gas refueling stations, and safety standards. Many governments
are utilizing the advantages of autogas fleets to decrease urban pollution and GHG emission

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Alternate fuels

1. Ethanol

An alcohol-based alternative fuel made by fermenting and distilling crops such as corn, barley or
wheat. It can be blended with gasoline to increase octane levels and improve emissions quality.
Positive: Materials are renewable. Negative: Ethanol subsidies have a negative impact on food
prices and availability.

2. Natural Gas

Natural gas is an alternative fuel that burns clean and is already widely available to people in
many countries through utilities that provide natural gas to homes and businesses. Positive: Cars
and trucks with specially designed engines produce fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or
diesel. Negative: Natural gas production creates methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times
worse for global warming than CO2.

3. Electricity

Electricity can be used as a transportation alternative fuel for battery-powered electric and fuel-
cell vehicles. Battery powered electric vehicles store power in batteries that are recharged by
plugging the vehicle into a standard electrical source. Fuel-cell vehicles run on electricity that is
produced through an electrochemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen and oxygen are
combined. Positive: Electricity for transportation is highly efficient, and we already have an
extensive electricity network. In the case of fuel cells, they produce electricity without
combustion or pollution. Negative: Much electricity is generated today from coal or natural gas,
leaving a bad carbon footprint. (Nonetheless, electric vehicles are still the greenest option around
when it comes to cars.)

4. Hydrogen

Hydrogen can be mixed with natural gas to create an alternative fuel for vehicles that use certain
types of internal combustion engines. Hydrogen is also used in fuel-cell vehicles that run on
electricity produced by the petrochemical reaction that occurs when hydrogen and oxygen are
combined in the fuel “stack.” Positive: No bad emissions. Negative: Cost. And also the lack of
fueling infrastructure and difficulty of putting it in place.

5. Propane

Propane—also called liquefied petroleum gas or LPG—is a byproduct of natural gas processing
and crude oil refining. Already widely used as a fuel for cooking and heating, propane is also a
popular alternative fuel for vehicles. Positive: Propane produces fewer emissions than gasoline,
and there is also a highly developed infrastructure for propane transport, storage and distribution.
Negative: Natural gas production creates methane, a greenhouse gas that is 21 times worse for
global warming than CO2.

6. Biodiesel
Biodiesel is an alternative fuel based on vegetable oils or animal fats, even those recycled after
restaurants have used them for cooking. Vehicle engines can be converted to burn biodiesel in its
pure form, and biodiesel can also be blended with petroleum diesel and used in unmodified
engines. Positive: Biodiesel is safe, biodegradable, reduces air pollutants associated with vehicle
emissions, such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Negative: Limited
production and distribution infrastructure.

7. Methanol

Methanol, also known as wood alcohol, can be used as an alternative fuel in flexible fuel
vehicles that are designed to run on M85, a blend of 85 percent methanol and 15 percent
gasoline, but automakers are no longer manufacturing methanol-powered vehicles. Positive:
Methanol could become an important alternative fuel in the future as a source of the hydrogen
needed to power fuel-cell vehicles. Negative: Automakers are no longer manufacturing
methanol-powered vehicles.

Generating Electricity in automotives

An automotive thermoelectric generator (ATEG) is a device that converts some of the waste heat
of an internal combustion engine (IC) into electricity using the Seebeck Effect. A typical ATEG
consists of four main elements: A hot-side heat exchanger, a cold-side heat exchanger,
thermoelectric materials, and a compression assembly system. ATEGs can convert waste heat
from an engine's coolant or exhaust into electricity. By reclaiming this otherwise lost energy,
ATEGs decrease fuel consumed by the electric generator load on the engine.
In ATEGs, thermoelectric materials are packed between the hot-side and the cold-side heat
exchangers. The thermoelectric materials are made up of p-type and n-type semiconductors,
while the heat exchangers are metal plates with high thermal conductivity.[1]

The temperature difference between the two surfaces of the thermoelectric module(s) generates
electricity using the Seebeck Effect. When hot exhaust from the engine passes through an
exhaust ATEG, the charge carriers of the semiconductors within the generator diffuse from the
hot-side heat exchanger to the cold-side exchanger. The build-up of charge carriers results in a
net charge, producing an electrostatic potential while the heat transfer drives a current.[2] With
exhaust temperatures of 700 °C (≈1300 °F) or more, the temperature difference between exhaust
gas on the hot side and coolant on the cold side is several hundred degrees.[3] This temperature
difference is capable of generating 500-750 W of electricity.[4]

The compression assembly system aims to decrease the thermal contact resistance between the
thermoelectric module and the heat exchanger surfaces. In coolant-based ATEGs, the cold side
heat exchanger uses engine coolant as the cooling fluid, while in exhaust-based ATEGs, the
cold-side heat exchanger uses ambient air as the cooling fluid.

Pollutants

LPG is considered a "clean" fuel because it does not produce visible emissions. However,
gaseous pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and organic
compounds are produced as are small amounts of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter
(PM). The most significant factors affecting NOx, CO, and organic emissions are burner design,
burner adjustment, boiler operating parameters, and flue gas venting. Improper design, blocking
and clogging of the flue vent, and insufficient combustion air result in improper combustion and
the emission of aldehydes, CO, hydrocarbons, and other organics. NOx emissions are a function
of a number of variables, including temperature, excess air, fuel and air mixing, and residence
time in the combustion zone. The amount of SO2 emitted is directly proportional to the amount
of sulfur in the fuel. PM emissions are very low and result from soot, aerosols formed by
condensable emitted species, or boiler scale dislodged during combustion.

Carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions are all produced
during LPG combustion. Nearly all of the fuel carbon (99.5 percent) in LPG is converted to CO2
during the combustion process. This conversion is relatively independent of firing configuration.
Although the formation of CO acts to reduce CO2 emissions, the amount of CO produced is
insignificant compared to the amount of CO2 produced. The majority of the 0.5 percent of fuel
carbon not converted to CO2 is due to incomplete combustion in the fuel stream. 1.5-2
Formation of N2O during the combustion process is governed by a complex series of reactions
and its formation is dependent upon many factors. Formation of N2O is minimized when
combustion temperatures are kept high (above 1475o F) and excess air is kept to a minimum
(less than 1 percent). Methane emissions are highest during periods of low-temperature
combustion or incomplete combustion, such as the start-up or shut-down cycle for boilers.
Typically, conditions that favor formation of N2O also favor emissions of CH4.
The 97.5 HP engine will be run on propane fuel. The fuel consumption rate is 345 scfh. Engine
emissions are provided by the vendor. For this report, it is assumed that the emission value of
non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) is equivalent to the emission value of POC. The engine will
be abated by a Three-Way NSCR System.

Engine emission

Unabated Abated with three way NCR

The emissions of SO2 from a 4-stroke rich burn natural gas engine will be used to approximate
the SO2 emissions from the propane engine.

SO2 5.88E-4 lb/MMBtu

CO = (0.73 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(100hrs/yr)(lb/454g) = 15.68 lb/yr = 0.008 TPY

POC = (0.34 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(100 hrs/yr)(lb/454g) = 7.302 lb/yr = 0.004 TPY

PM10 = (0.0 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(100 hrs/yr)(lb/454g) = 0.000 lb/yr = 0.000 TPY

SO2 = (5.88E-4 lb/MMBtu)(345 scf/hr)(2500 BTU/scf)(MMBtu/1E6 Btu)(100 hr/yr= 0.051 lb/yr

Maximum Daily Emissions:

A full 24-hour day will be assumed since no daily limits are imposed on intermittent and
unexpected operations.

NOx = (0.69 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(24 hrs/day)(lb/454g) = 3.538 lb/day

CO = (0.73 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(24 hrs/day)(lb/454g) = 3.743 lb/day

POC = (0.34 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(24 hrs/day)(lb/454g) = 1.752 lb/day

PM10 = (0.0 g/hp-hr)(97.5 hp)(24 hrs/day)(lb/454g) = 0.000 lb/day

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The above graph show the total NOx,co,POC per day

The above graph shows the total carbon emission in India. The LP gas contribute 72.8kg of CO 2 .

Conclusion: - By above calculations and the amount of the nitrogen oxides emission per day is
more than other exhaust emissions.
Bibliography
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automotive_thermoelectric_generator
https://cleantechnica.com/2012/03/08/top-eight-alternative-fuels/
https://www.afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1465-7287.1990.tb00582.x