Module – 1 Energy BESCK204D

Introduction: Role of Mechanical Engineering in Industries and Society- Emerging Trends and
Technologies in different sectors such as Energy, Manufacturing, Automotive, Aerospace, and
Marine sectors.

Energy: Introduction and applications of Energy sources like Fossil fuels, nuclear fuels, Hydel,
Solar, wind, and bio-fuels, Environmental issues like Global warming and Ozone depletion

Introduction:
“Mechanical Engineering is a branch of engineering that combines physics and mathematical
properties with material science to analyze, design and manufacture of machines, components
and devices.”
Virtually every product or service in modern life has probably been touched in some way
by a mechanical engineer to help humankind. Products range from the largest systems like
cars, planes and satellites to the smallest components like sensors and switches. The scope
of mechanical engineering is hence vast, playing a fundamental role in facilitating of modern
society.

Role of Mechanical Engineering in Industries and Society:

Mechanical engineers play key roles in a wide range of industries including, railway,
automotive, aerospace, biotechnology, computers, electronics, micro-electromechanical
systems, energy conservation (power plants), process plants, oil industries, robotics and
automations etc.,
➢ Perform a full lifecycle product development (design, develop, test prototypes, manufacture
and implement)
➢ Design systems and components that meet needs and requirements
➢ Produce outline designs
➢ Conduct experiments methodically, analyse data and interpret results
➢ Test and evaluate theoretical designs
➢ Identify, formulate and produce effective solutions to emerging problems
➢ Evaluate final product’s overall performance, reliability and safety
➢ Alter and modify design to meet requirements and to eliminate malfunctions
➢ Estimate budget and scope of project
➢ Solicit observations from operators
➢ Prepare product reports and documentation

➢ Engage in lifelong learning and develop new theories or methods

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Role of Mechanical Engineering in Society:

The life and the standard of living in the society are dictated by the infrastructure and
products being used. Every product or process is based on specific need in a society.

➢ Power Generation: Mechanical engineers design and develop power-generating

machines such as internal combustion engines, gas turbines, and steam and wind
turbines etc

➢ Heating and Cooling Systems: They design and develop heating, ventilation, refrigeration
and air conditioning systems for buildings and other structures.

➢ Transportation: Mechanical engineers are involved in designing and developing

transportation systems, including cars, trains, airplanes, steamers and boats.

➢ Industrial Equipment: They design, develop and maintain industrial equipment such as
machine tools, robots, and conveyor systems & belts

➢ Infrastructure: Mechanical engineers play a key role in the design and maintenance of
infrastructure, including buildings, bridges, roads, and transportation systems.

Emerging Trends and Technologies in different sectors

Technology today is evolving at a rapid pace, enabling faster change and progress. Emerging
technologies are setting a new trend and has been increasingly adopted by all industry sector
are:

i) Energy Sector

ii) Manufacturing Sector

iii) Automotive sector

iv) Aerospace sector

v) Marine Industry

i) Energy Sector:
➢ The growing consumption in India coupled with the depleting fossil fuels and the
significant impact of fossil fuels towards global warming and environment
degradation have become the major challenges to the energy sector.

➢ The energy sector is undergoing a massive technology transformation from the

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conventional energy supply channels like coal & oil, to renewable or green energy
technologies like solar, wind, ocean, biomass and tidal etc.,

➢ Through the make-in India initiative the government is working to attract global
companies to produce solar photo voltaic (PV), lithium batteries, solar charging
infrastructure and other advanced technologies in India.

➢ The government is strengthening its innovation efforts in a broad range of energy

technology areas, including cooling, electric mobility, smart grids and advanced
bio-fuels.

➢ Further, the entire power sector, including electricity generation, distribution and
supply networks and processes, is undergoing digitization on the lines of energy
4.0, owing to efficiency, cost and sustainability benefits.

ii) Manufacturing Sector

➢ Technological advancements have made the manufacturing industry to shift from
the traditional way (manual assistance) of production to automation, requiring
minimum or no human intervention.

➢ Currently with Industry 4.0, the manufacturing industry has reached the next
milestone of industrial revolution, by incorporating cyber-physical production
systems in association with latest technologies like artificial intelligence, Internet
of Things (IoT), cloud computing, additive manufacturing (3D printing) etc.,

➢ With new technologies, production systems, components and people can

communicate via a network, making the right information to reach the right person
at the right time.

➢ Production becomes streamline and nearly autonomous, simplifying

manufacturing processes, reducing downtime and costs, increasing quality and
productivity.

➢ For example, if each machine on the production floor has an IoT device connected
to it, the company can view their entire shop floor in virtual space.

➢ They can view the location of every asset, its usage, uptime and maintenance needs.

➢ A timely alert for human intervention can be generated, informing the predicted
cause and likely maintenance required so as to ensure an un-interrupted machine

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availability.

iii) Automotive Sector:

➢ The change from Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles to electric vehicles
(EVs) is being mandated because of the clear need to reduce carbon emission
output and reduce global warming of our planet.

➢ Manufacturing the next generation of electric vehicles and autonomous vehicles by

embracing emerging technologies of Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning,
Digital twins and Additive manufacturing

➢ Various automotive parts are fabricated using additive manufacturing technology

for a much lighter and improved strength-to-weight ratio.

➢ Assembly areas and production lines are using AI&ML applications in several ways.

➢ By using a digital twin in automotive production, the entire manufacturing process

can be planned in a fully virtual environment before physically building production
lines, conveyance systems and robotic work cells.

➢ This allows manufacturers to monitor the entire system, create models for
adjustments and make changes to the system for a faster, reliable and quality
production.

iv) Aerospace Sector:

➢ The technological complexity has been increasing exponentially in the aerospace
industry since its inception.

➢ There is a growing importance of digital technologies in aeronautical production

and maintenance such as 3D printing, augmented reality systems, robotics, Big data
autonomous systems, cloud computing, IoT and others.

➢ Many aerospace companies have implemented industry 4.0 across operations such
as manufacturing and supply chains.

➢ Research on the use of advanced and innovative materials to design aircraft

structures for efficient functioning, reduced weight and fuel consumption is a
continuous ongoing progress.

➢ The government of India has identified the Aerospace and Defence sector as a focus
area for the ‘Make in India’ programme, to push the establishment of Indigenous

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manufacturing infrastructure supported by requisite research and development

ecosystem.

V) Marine Industry:
➢ The marine/shipping industry is also adapting to this trend with smart ship
technologies.

➢ Advances in ship building with new technologies and innovative materials,

propulsion, smart shipping, use of AI, big data and analytics, Internet of Things (IoT)
and automation, sensors and communications, tend to improve ship building and
maintenance, shipping efficiency, time management and higher output from this
domain.

ENERGY
The term “Energy” is derived from Greek word called ‘Energia’ meaning capacity
to do work. Energy is defined as the ability or the capacity to do work.
Power is defined as the rate at which the energy is consumed. We use energy to do
work and make all movements. Energy either exists in the earth or comes from outer
space.

Forms of energy:
Energy exists in various forms. The different forms of energy are chemical energy,
thermal energy, mechanical energy, electrical energy, hydel energy etc.

Utilization of energy sources: (Conversion)

Utilization of energy sources means conversion of one form of energy (available form)
into another form of energy (required form). Conversion of fuel energy (chemical energy) into
heat energy to run an automobile, by combustion of fuel is an example for utilization of energy
or conversion. This can be represented as

Available form Required form

Classification of energy sources.

1) Bases on the availability and usage with respect to time and economic viability.
a) Conventional energy sources b) Non-conventional energy sources
2) Based on the possibility of renewability
a) Renewable energy sources b) Non renewable energy sources

Conventional energy sources:

The energy sources which are being use since many years i.e., fossil fuels, hydel
energy, nuclear energy, etc. Fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas.

Non-conventional energy sources:

These are the energy sources on which attention has been focussed in the recent
past i.e., solar, wind, sea, geothermal, biomass etc.

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Comparison between conventional and nonconventional energy sources

Sl No. Conventional energy sources Non-conventional energy sources

Most of the energy resources are
1. Non exhaustible energy.
exhaustible.
High extraction cost and is Freely available and are not
2.
reliable. reliable.
Energy transmission costs are
3. Energy transmission costs are low.
high.
These are widely used and are These are rarely used since initial
4.
economical. costs are high.
Most of them are hazardous to the Most of them are friendly to the
5.
environment. environment.

Renewable Energy Sources:

Energy resources that are produced continuously in nature and will not get exhausted
eventually in future are called renewable energy sources. These are
environment friendly.

The examples of renewable energy resources are:

Solar energy – It is the heat energy radiated from sun.
Hydel energy – Energy obtained from water.
Wind energy – Energy from the flow of wind.
Geothermal energy – It is the heat energy stored deep inside the earth.
Tidal energy – It is the energy obtained from the surface of water in oceans.
Ocean thermal energy – It is the heat energy obtained from the surface of water
in oceans.
Biomass energy – Energy obtained from the organic matter of plants and
animals.

Non-renewable energy sources:

The energy resources that get exhausted eventually in future are called non-
renewable energy resources. Energy resources which have been accumulated over the
ages and not quickly replenishable when they are exhausted are called non-renewable
energy resources.

The examples of non-renewable energy resources are:

Fossil fuels – Example: Coal, petroleum, coal gas and natural gas.
Nuclear fuels – Example: Uranium.

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Comparison between renewable and non-renewable energy sources.

Sl
Renewable energy resources Non-renewable energy resources
No.
These are inexhaustible. These are exhaustible.
1. Example: solar energy, wind Example: coal, petroleum, natural
energy etc.) gas etc.)
Freely available in nature and Not freely available and also not
2. environment friendly (except environment friendly. (hazardous to
biomass) environment)
They are continuously restored by These sources once used cannot be
3.
nature after utilization. recovered any more.
Initial cost for utilization of energy
Both initial and maintenance costs
4. sources is high, but maintenance
are high.
cost is low.
Availability of energy is Continuous supply of energy is
5. intermittent and hence continuous possible with non-renewable energy
supply of energy is not possible. sources.
The technology to extract the
The technology to extract the energy
6. energy sources is not yet
sources is developed.
completely developed.

Fuels/Fossil Fuels

A fuel is generally defined as substance mostly carbon and hydrogen, which on

burning with oxygen in the atmospheric air, produces a large amount of heat or both heat
and light. The heat energy obtained by burning fuel is utilized for performinguseful work.
Example: Wood, coal, kerosene, petrol, diesel, natural gas etc.

Fossil fuels are so called because they were formed over millions and millions of
years by the action of heat from the earth’s core, and pressure from the rock and soil on
the remains (fossils) of dead plants and animals including micro-organisms. The three
types of fossil fuels are coal, oil and natural gas.

Also fuel is defined as a combustible substance which generates heat when burnt
in the presence of oxygen.

Based on the physical stage of existence, fuels are classified into three types: solid fuels,
liquid fuels and gaseous fuels.

Solid fuels:
Refers to the various types of solid materials like wood and coal.
a) Wood:
Wood is the oldest type of solid fuel, easily obtainable in large quantities
and also costs less.
It is mainly used as a domestic fuel.
It has low calorific value and high moisture content.
b) Coal:
Coal is a type of fossil fuel, a highly carbonaceous matter, dug or mined from

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the underground. It is mined from the underground.

Coal has been formed from prehistoric vegetable deposits, which have been
decomposed and solidified under combined effect of pressure and bacteria.
It has been the most common source of energy in industries to generate
power. The various forms of coal are lignite coal, bituminous coal, anthracite
coal, coke, pulverised coal etc.

Liquid fuels:

Liquid fuels are usually hydrocarbons, which exist in the liquid phase at room
temperature. Majority of the liquid fuels are derived from crude oil or petroleum.
These fuels are easy to handle, burn and possess high calorific value. The crude oil is
heated and split into various types of products like petrol, diesel, kerosene, lubricating
oil etc.

a) Petrol or Gasoline:
It is a type of liquid fuel derived from the fractional distillation of
petroleum. (Temperature range 65o to 200 o)
It is the lightest fuel with specific gravity ranging from 0.70 to 0.76.
It is highly volatile in nature and easily vapourizes easily.
It is used as a fuel for the spark ignited automotive vehicles and in
aeroplanes.

b) Diesel:
Diesel oil is a type of liquid fuel obtained after the fractional distillation of
petrol and kerosene. (Temperature range 250o to 320o)
Its specific gravity ranges from 0.82 to 0.96 and is denser than petrol, thereby
providing a comparatively more energy per unit volume of fuel consumed.
It is used as fuel in compression ignited automotive vehicles and also in
airplanes.

c) Kerosene:
It is heavier than petrol but less volatile than it. (temperature range 180o to 250o)
It has specific gravity ranging from 0.78 to 0.85.
It is mainly used in aviation gas turbines a jet fuel and also in lamp and
stoves.

Gaseous fuels:
Gaseous fuels are either natural fuels or artificial fuels. Natural fuels occur in the
form of natural gas ear the petroleum fields beneath (under) the earth’s surface.
Artificial fuels are prepared artificially and used for a variety of applications.
Artificial fuels prepared are coal gas, coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, producer gas.

a) Natural gas:
Natural gas is usually found underground near an oil source.
Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel.
It is an excellent domestic fuel used for heating and cooking.
b) LPG – Liquefied Petroleum Gas
LPG is extracted from crude oil and natural gas.

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LPG consists of propane and butane.

Normally the gas is stored in liquid form under pressure of 700kPa in a steel cylinder.
LPG is a clean burning fuel that can be used to power IC Engines.
It is also used for heating and cooking.
c) Coal gas:
It is a by-product obtained during destructive distillation of coal.
It has a calorific value ranging from 21000 kJ/m3 to 25000 kJ/m3.
It is used in some gas engines for power generation purpose.

Applications of Fossil Fuels:

1) Electric Generation: Electricity (the most required form of energy) can be
produced in the various power plants by using the fossil fuels such as coal, oil,
gaseous and nuclear fuels.
2) Heating applications: Oil and natural gas are commonly used for heating at homes
as well as providing heat for industrial applications.
3) Cooling applications: Cooling systems in the houses and industries are directly or
indirectly depends on the fossil fuels for energy.
4) Transportation sector: The petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, and natural
gas are used in the transportation sector. All the major means of transporting
depend on fossil fuels whether it is surface/water/air transport.
5) Other uses: As lubricants.

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Hydel Energy

Hydroelectric Power Plant

Working of Hydroelectric power plant:

Hydro power is the energy obtained from the flowing water.
The energy obtained can be utilized to drive machines or generate electricity by
means of a turbine.
A dam is built to collect the rain water in a reservoir.
The water from the reservoir is then allowed to flow through penstock (large pipe)
and enter the nozzle, or through specially designed blade passages, wherein the
potential energy is converted into kinetic energy.
The kinetic energy of water causes the turbine runner to rotate which in turn
drives the generator to produce electricity.
After doing useful work water is discharged from the turbine to the river through
tailrace.
The electric energy produced by hydro-electric power plants is non-polluting
and is a renewable source of energy.

Advantages of Hydroelectric power plant:

a) Water is renewable resource
b) Less maintainance and are very reliable.
c) Hydro reservoirs can also be used to control flooding and irrigation.

Limitations Hydroelectric power plant:

a) Large dams are expensive to construct.
b) Dams disrupt the natural flow of water and disrupt ecosystem.

Applications of Hydel Energy:

1) Generate electricity in power plants.
2) Drive industrial machinery.

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Solar Energy (Solar Power)

Energy radiating from the sun in the form of heat and light is called solar energy.
Solar thermal energy harvesting refers to the process by which the heat energy radiated
from the sun is captured, stored, and utilized for various applications. The three
important energy harvesting systems are
Solar photovoltaic cell
Liquid flat plate collectors
Solar pond

Solar Photovoltaic Cell:

Solar energy can be converted to electricity by photovoltaic conversion.

Photovoltaic energy conversion is a direct conversion technology that produces

electricity directly from sunlight.
The word photovoltaic comes from photo meaning light and voltaic referring to
producing electricity. The basic unit of a photovoltaic system is the solar cell.
Solar cells are made of layers of semiconductors materials similar to those used
in computer chips.
When sunlight is absorbed by these materials, it causes electrons to flow through
the material and produces electricity.
Solar cells are typically circular wafers, about 76mm (3inch) in diameter and
0.3mm thick. A single cell typically produces a power of 1W at a voltage of 0.5v.
They are then connected in series parallel arrangement called a panel to produce
the required current and voltage.
The power output can be increased by connecting photovoltaic cells together in
asealed package called a module.
The solar is composed of P and N type semiconductors.
When a p-n junction of a semiconductor is exposed to sunlight, its p-region
becomes positively charged and the n-region becomes negatively charged.
If an external load is applied, this charge difference will drive a current through
it till the sunlight is effective.
This principle is used in developing a solar cell.

Cross section of a solar cell Photovoltaic silicon cell panel

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Liquid Flat Plate Collector for Water Heating:

A flat plate collector is the simplest and the most common type of solar collector
used to capture solar rays. This type of collector is preferable for low temperature
applications such as water heating, cooking, drying food grains and vegetables, etc.

The collector consists of the following components:

i. Absorber plate is usually made of copper and is coated with black so as to absorb
the solar rays falling on it.
ii. Water tubes are metallic tubes through water circulates. The tubes are attached to
the absorber plate. Water tubes are generally made of copper.
iii. Transparent cover is made of a toughened glass, usually 4mm thick, which helps in
reflecting the incident solar energy back to the absorber plate. Heat remains
trapped in the airspace between the absorber plate and the glass cover.
iv. Insulation by means of resin bonded rock wool is provided below the absorber
plate so as to prevent heat losses by conduction.

Working of a flat plate collector:

In operation, cold water from the overhead tank is made to flow through the
water tube of the solar heater.
When the sun rises to a certain level, its energy passes through the transparent
cover and falls on the absorber plate.
The heat energy absorbed by the absorber plate is transferred to the cold water
flowing through the tubes.
The heated water being lighter than the cold water rises and flows into the top of
the solar water tank.
The heated water can be used for various purposes.
The cold water from the overhead tank enters the water tubes and the process
repeats.

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Solar Pond: A
solar pond is a pool of salt water, which collects and stores solar thermal energy.
This heat energy in turn can be utilized for various applications like process
heating, desalination, textile processing, diary and cold storage, to dry agricultural
products, timber and chemicals and to generate electricity.

Working of Solar Pond

• A salinity gradient solar pond is an integral collection and storage device of solar energy.
• By virtue of having built-in thermal energy storage, it can be used irrespective of time
andseason.
• In an ordinary pond or lake, when the sun's rays heat up the water this heated water,
beinglighter, rises to the surface and loses its heat to the atmosphere.
• The net result is that the pond water remains at nearly atmospheric temperature.
• The solar pond technology inhibits this phenomenon by dissolving salt into the bottom
layer ofthis pond, making it too heavy to rise to the surface, even when hot.
• The salt concentration increases with depth, thereby forming a salinity gradient.
• The sunlight which reaches the bottom of the pond remains entrapped there.
• The useful thermal energy is then withdrawn from the solar pond in the form of hot brine.
• The pre-requisites for establishing solar ponds are: a large tract of land (it could be
barren), alot of sun shine, and cheaply available salt (such as Sodium Chloride) or bittern.
• Generally, there are three main layers. The top layer is cold and has relatively little
saltcontent.
• The bottom layer is hot -- up to 100°C (212°F) -- and is very salty.
• Separating these two layers is the important gradient zone.

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• The hot brine solution enters in to evaporator coil releases steam, these steam transfer to
turbine, it rotates with high speed by converting mechanical energy into electricity.
• The steam transfer to condenser and it will condensate from liquid phase, this cooled liquid
transfer to upper convective zone, to maintain the atmospheric temperature and cycle
repeats.

Applications of Solar Energy:

1) Heating the water, buildings and cooking purposes.
2) Generate electricity using photovoltaic cells.
3) Water pumping and lighting.
4) Source of energy for satellites in the space.
5) Air heating for agricultural and industrial applications.
6) Water distillation purpose in the coastal areas.
7) Solar furnaces.
8) Solar air conditioning.
Wind Energy:
Wind energy is an indirect form of solar energy. It is caused by the uneven
heating of the earth’s surface by the sun.
Wind energy is defined as the kinetic energy associated with the movement
of large masses of air over the earth’s surface.
Wind energy can be converted into mechanical energy for performing work
such a as pumping water, grinding grain by wind mills and producing
electrical energyby wind turbines.

Working of wind turbine:

Working Principle:
➢ Once the wind blows, a wind turbine changes the kinetic energy from the motion of the wind into
mechanicalthrough the revolution of the rotor.
➢ After that, this converted energy can be transmitted through the shaft & the gear train toward the
generator.
➢ Further, this generator converts the energy from mechanical to electrical to generate electricity.
➢ The wind flows on both faces of the airfoil-shaped blade although flows faster on the upper face
of the airfoilto create a low-pressure region on the airfoil.
➢ The pressure difference between both the top & bottom surfaces results within the aerodynamic
lift.
➢ As the blades of a wind turbine are constrained to move in a plane with the hub as the center,
the lift forcecauses rotation about the hub.
➢ In addition to the lift force, a drag force perpendicular to the lift force prevents rotor rotation.
➢ The horizontal axis wind turbine design mainly includes a high lift to drag ratio, especially for the
blades.
➢ So, this ratio can change through the blade’s length to optimize the output energy for the wind
turbine atdifferent speeds of wind.
➢ The generator & rotor shaft are arranged within the box at the top of the array.

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Advantages of wind turbine:

a) It is a self-renewing energy resource.
b) Wind energy is free, non-polluting and inexhaustible energy.
c) Windmills are highly desirable to the rural areas.
Limitations of wind turbine:
a) The wind velocity is neither constant in magnitude nor in direction.
b) High initial cost.
c) Large size conversion machines are necessary.

Applications of Wind Energy:

1) Generate power/electricity.
2) Pump the water from grounds through the wind mills.
3) Grind the food grains like wheat and corn into flour.
4) Wind sport like surfing.
5) Power the sailing ships.

Nuclear Fuels:

Nuclear power is generated utilizing the energy in the nucleus (core) of an

atom. Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe. There is
enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together. Energy can be released if
the atoms are split apart. The process of splitting atoms is called nuclear fission and
takes place in a specially designed nuclear reactor. Nuclear technology produces
huge amounts of energy from small amounts of fuel.
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➢ The nuclear fuels which are generally used in reactor are 92U
235
, 239
94PU (Plutonium) and
233
92U .

➢ Natural uranium are consists of three isotopes of uranium as 92U238, 92U235 and 92U238.
➢ In natural uranium the availability of U238 is largest upto the extent of 99.28%, U235 is only
0.715% which is most unstable and fissionable and the remaining 0.006% is U234.
➢ In 92U, number 92 represents protons, number 238 represents its mass number and the
difference (238-92=146) represents the no. of neutrons.
They are two types of Nuclear Fuels:
1) Nuclear Fusion: It is defined as the combining of two lighter nuclei into a heavier one.
2) Nuclear Fission: When the nucleus of an atom splits into lighter nuclei through a nuclear
reaction the process is termed as nuclear fission.

Difference between Nuclear Fusion and Nuclear Fission

Sl. Nuclear Fission Nuclear Fusion)
No.
1 When the nucleus of an atom splits into Nuclear fusion is a reaction through which two
lighter nuclei through a nuclear reaction, or more light nuclei collide with each other to
the process is termed nuclear fission. form a heavier nucleus.
2 When each atom splits, a tremendous The energy released during nuclear fusion is
amount of energy is released several times greater than the energy released
during nuclear fission
3 Comparatively, less energy is needed to High energy is needed to fuse two or more
split an atom in a fission reaction atoms together in a fusion reaction
4 Atomic bomb works on the principle of Hydrogen bomb works on the principle of
nuclear fission nuclear fusion.

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Bio Fuels:

Bio fuels are liquid fuels produced form biological materials or biomass,
such as sugar cane fiber, corn, cellulose or vegetable oils, agricultural residues,
sewage and other wastes.
It is a renewable source of energy.
Emission of bio fuels is less than
fossil fuels.
Bio fuels are considered as an alternative to the constantly and
rapidlydiminishing fossil fuels.

Different types of bio fuels are:

a) Fuel pellets:
These are made from wood chips, sawdust or agricultural wastes are
a few solid forms of bio fuels, but are not so popular in view of their
higher environment pollution potential.
They are used for co-combustion in coal fired power plants.

b) Biodiesel:
Biodiesel a form of liquid bio fuel is produced from non-edible oil
seeds. Bio diesel is obtained by trans-esterification process.
The oils obtained from seeds of several plants and trees like
Pongamia (honge), Neem (bevu), Hippe, Simarouba, Red physic nut
(kaduharalu), jatropha, palm, sunflower, soya bean can be used as an
alternative fuel for Diesel, or blended with Diesel to power
automotive vehicles line bus, lorry, tractor, etc., and also generators
and industrial machines that run on Diesel engine.
Bio diesel is also used as heating fuel in commercial boilers. It has
better lubricating properties and lengthens the lifetime of engines.

c) Bioethanol:
Bioethanol is a form of bio fuel, produced from carbohydrate rich
crops such as corn, wheat, sugarcane, potatoes etc., by yeast
fermentation.
It is used an alternative fuel for petrol (or gasoline) or blended with
petrol in order to reduce the vehicle emissions and fuel consumption
in Petrol engines.
It is most commonly used to power cars and boats.

Applications of Bio fuels:

1) Used in automobiles as alternative fuels.
2) Cooking purpose.
3) Power plants to generate electricity.
4) Marine industry to run ships.
5) Lubrication in place of conventional oils.

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Global Warming:
Global warming is a gradual increase in the overall temperature of the earth's atmosphere generally
attributed to the greenhouse effect caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other
pollutants.
Causes for Global Warming:
One of the biggest issues facing us right now is global warming. Its effects on animals and on
agriculture are indeed frightening, and the effects on the human population are even scarier. The facts
about global warming are often debated in politics and the media, but, unfortunately, even if we
disagree about the causes, global warming effects are real, global, and measurable. The causes are
mainly from us, the human race, and the effects on us will be severe.
➢ Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning power plants
Our ever-increasing addiction to electricity from coal burning power plants releases enormous
amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

➢ Carbon dioxide emissions from burning gasoline for transportation

With our population growing at an alarming rate, the demand for more cars and consumer goods means
that we are increasing the use of fossil fuels for transportation and manufacturing.
➢ Methane emissions from animals, agriculture such as rice paddies, and from Arctic seabed’s
Methane is another extremely potent greenhouse gas, ranking right behind CO2. When organic matter
is broken down by bacteria under oxygen-starved conditions (anaerobic decomposition) as in rice
paddies, methane is produced. The process also takes place in the intestines of herbivorous animals,
and with the increase in the amount of concentrated livestock production, the levels of methane
released into the atmosphere is increasing. the rate of global warming will increase significantly.
➢ Deforestation, especially tropical forests for wood, pulp, and farmland
The use of forests for fuel (both wood and for charcoal) is one cause of deforestation, but in the
first world, our appetite for wood and paper products, our consumption of livestock grazed on
former forest land, and the use of tropical forest lands for commodities like palm oil plantations
contributes to the mass deforestation of our world.
➢ Increase in usage of chemical fertilizers on croplands
In the last half of the 20th century, the use of chemical fertilizers (as opposed to the historical
use of animal manure) has risen dramatically. The high rate of application of nitrogen-rich
fertilizers has effects on the heat storage of cropland (nitrogen oxides have 300 times more heat-
trapping capacity per unit of volume than carbon dioxide).
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Effects for Global Warming:

➢ Higher temperatures: Every continent has warmed substantially since the 1950s. There are
more hot days and fewer cold days, on average, and the hot days are hotter.
➢ Heavier storms: The world's atmosphere can hold more moisture as it warms. As a result,
the overall number of heavier storms has likely increased since midcentury, particularly in
North America and Europe (though there's plenty of regional variation).
➢ Heat waves: Heat waves have likely become longer and more frequent around the world over
the past 50 years, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Australia.
➢ Shrinking sea ice: The extent of sea ice in the Arctic has shrunk since 1979, by between 3.5
percent and 4.1 percent per decade, on average. Summer sea ice has dwindled even more
rapidly:
➢ Shrinking glaciers: Glaciers around the world have, on average, been losing ice since the
1970s. In some areas, that is reducing the amount of available freshwater.
➢ Food supply: A hotter climate can be both good for crops (it lengthens the growing season,
and more carbon dioxide can increase photosynthesis) and bad for crops (excess heat can
damage plants).
➢ Shifting species: Many land and marine species have had to shift their geographic ranges in
response to warmer temperatures. So far, only a few extinctions have been linked to global
warming, such as certain frog species in Central America.

Ozone Layer:
A layer in the earth's stratosphere at an altitude of about 10 km (6.2 miles) containing a high
concentration of ozone, which absorbs most of the ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth from
the sun.
Causes for Ozone Layer Depletion:
The decrease in ozone concentration in the middle layers of the atmosphere – mainly in the
stratosphere – is extremely damaging to life on earth, and is largely caused by emissions of
halogenated hydrocarbons produced by man, CFCs, HCFCs, halons, carbon tetrachloride and
methyl bromide. For this reason, such substances are commonly referred to as Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer (ODS).
➢ Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs): They are compounds formed by chlorine, fluorine and carbon.
They are often used as refrigerants, solvents, and for the manufacture of spongy plastics.
When the chemicals reached the earth’s stratosphere, they reacted with Ultraviolet radiation,

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 Module – 1 Energy BESCK204D

which caused them to break down and release Chlorine and Bromine into the earth’s ozone
layer.
➢ Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs):
Compounds formed by H, Cl, F and C. They are being used as substitutes for CFCs because
many of their properties are similar and are less harmful to ozone by having a shorter half-
life and releasing fewer Cl atoms.
➢ Halons
They are compounds formed by Br, F and C. Because of their ability to put out fires are used
in fire extinguishers, although their manufacture and use is prohibited in many countries
because of their ozone-depleting action. Their ability to harm the ozone layer is very high
because they contain Br which is a much more effective atom destroying ozone than the Cl.
➢ Methyl bromide (CH3Br):
It is a very effective pesticide that is used to fumigate soils and in many crops.
➢ Carbon tetra-chloride (CCl4):
It is a compound that has been widely used as a raw material in many industries, for example,
to manufacture CFCs and as a solvent.
Effects of Ozone Layer Depletion:
i. Skin cancer: ‘Mekanma’ a types of skin cancer is the most worrisome biological effect
due to prolong exposure to UV-B rays
ii. Destruction of Marine life: Aquatic organisms like shrimps, laval, crabs and fishes have
found to be damaged by higher intensity UV-B rays
iii. Immune system damage: Strong UV-B radiation after human immune system. It also
causes contract in the eyes
iv. Decrease in plant growth: Serve exposure of plants to UV-B rays hampers, their growth
retards of seed and fruits
v. Crack in the polar ice caps: The most notable effect of global warming and ozone layer
depletion is the development of long crack in the north part of the Larsen ice shelf at
Antarctica region.

20 Department of Mechanical Engineering, SKIT, Bengaluru-90