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Future of Automobile fuel

 

3^rd part

 

In this part we shall consider prospects of using either pure alcohol or mixture of petrol and alcohol. Petrol engines were in the beginning operated on pure alcohol and as petrol became available in plenty and that to at throwaway prices use of expensive alcohol was permanently discarded. Chemical formula of alcohol is C₂H₅OH and that of petrol is C_nH_(2n+2). Value of ‘n’ varies from 6 to 11. You can see that number of hydrogen atoms in petrol is many times (minimum 14 to 24) over those in alcohol (only 5). As a result heat-generating capacity of petrol is far superior to that of alcohol. Grossly we can estimate that one liter of petrol produces energy four times that by alcohol. In other words we can say, engine running on petrol giving 40-horse power; if run on alcohol shall produce only 10-horse power. If we consider this option to replace petrol altogether, we shall have to make engines very bulky and that will make the proposal not acceptable. And so today alcohol is used as a supplement to petrol. Many advantages are sited about mixing alcohol in small percentages. Important amongst them is starting problem is greatly reduced. Alcohol being a good solvent keeps the interior of the engine clean and as a result less down time for engines.

It is recommended that mixing alcohol up to 15 % in petrol works best. Any more addition drastically reduced engine efficiency. The difference in the performance is specially realized when climbing steep roads. Engine remains cooler compared to petrol operated engines even after running the vehicle for a long distance and that too, at higher speeds.

Pollution effect of this fuel is very low. As compared to petrol the carbon dioxide emission is five times less and so it is appreciated as environment friendly fuel. Carbon monoxide is not produced at all when alcohol is burnt and that makes this option more acceptable in city uses. Another advantage, alcohol does not produce nitrous oxide and that is an additional plus point in favor of this fuel option. Other problems with petrol fuel is occasionally knocking is experienced with high ratio engines. This problem is not experienced with alcohol. 

Ethyl alcohol can be mixed with water to make good quality alcoholic drink and so it is possible that some may take it and instead of putting in the petrol tank will fill in other place! To solve this problem, methyl alcohol is mixed in this fuel to make it non-potable. Both these alcohols are replaceable as additives in this context.

The claim made that this fuel is eco-friendly is challenged by some experts on the grounds that this fuel is not thermally efficient. Following argument is put up by the experts.

To produce alcohol the fermented mass (wort) is distilled. To distill we need a lot of heat. It is proved that to produce one liter of pure alcohol heat required is about five times the heat that can be got by burning the alcohol. This argument clearly shows that when one liter of alcohol is used in engine, carbon dioxide produced is about one fifth of that produced when that alcohol was distilled. So the simple calculation shows that actually the carbon dioxide emission is to be considered in this context are of the total emission and not of only when alcohol is burnt. With this calculation we understand that the actual carbon dioxide emission is the highest amongst all the options we have considered so far.

We should also consider other processes used in industry to produce alcohol using comparatively lesser amount of heat. In that process, first water gas is produced by heating carbonaceous material in reduced atmosphere up to 300 degrees Centigrade and the exuding flue gases are collected and under pressure passed over catalyst at high temperature. Heat generated during the production of water gas is used. Vapor of various alcohols is collected, cooled, and stored. This is only a brief description of the process. Presently this process is being used in industry to produce varieties of alcohols and afterwards different types of alcohols are separated by fractional distillation. When we want to use this as fuel for engines we need not do the fractional distillation and use the issuing mixture of alcohol after dehydrating to remove residual vapor in the mixture. Since, we can procure large quantities of carbonaceous waste material from industry as well as from other sources such as farming and city waste this process seems to be very attractive in giving fuel. Moreover, the raw material being renewable there will be no difficulty in procuring it in future also.

As we have seen in the previous observation that alcohols having less numbers of hydrogen atoms produces less amount of useable energy as compared with petrol or diesel. Many experts suggest that in case this option is selected as standard fuel for our vehicles, we shall have to modify the engines and make use of larger capacity cylinders. Actually some of them suggest that double the size of cylinders will have to be used to produce same amount of energy. This will make engines more bulky and heavy. Some suggest that alcohol-using vehicles will be in the category of two wheelers and in that case existing engines can be used without any difficulty. Pick up of engines working on alcohol will be of medium to low grade and fast running will not be possible. That means alcohol operated vehicles are not suitable for sport of races.

A comparative study was made in an American university and the results suggested that producing alcohol fuel from molasses is much costlier than producing fuel grade alcohol from buggass, a waste product of sugar industry. Heat generated was also used to produce electricity. It observed that the actual heat required to produce alcohol from water gas is not much and so process units with combined production can be developed with advantages. The catalyst required is not very costly and is easily renewed.   

    These articles will help you understand the issue in the right perspective so that you will not be fooled by any propagandistic writing supporting any of the options mentioned in the list given above. Final solution is listed in the last article in the 4^th part.

In the 4^th part we shall consider prospects of using algae called Bytryococcus braunii Kurtz. This is the last and final answer to our problem of vehicular fuel. We shall study this option in greater details. Relation of this alga with our petroleum wells has been established recently and that gives additional weight to this option.

 

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Jokes for this week:

 

Madhu was waiting for his wife to come from her mother’s place. A taxi comes and his wife gets down from the taxi. He sees that his mother-in-law has also come. Approaching his wife Madhu whispers to her, “Did you not get my telegram? I had clearly told you in that, you will not bring your mother along,”

Wife says, “mother read that telegram and she has come to ask you about it!”

***

A suspect was under interrogation. Judge asks the man, “I have a complain that you are spreading rumors in the society. Is it true?”

Then he further asks the suspect, “tell me what rumor you were spreading this time?”

“Sir, I was telling every body that nowadays, government officers work without bribe.”

***

A big thief was absconding and there was an interview of the police commissioner. He says to all the gathered reporters, “Once I get that thief I will never let him run.”

One voice comes from the group of reporters, “First catch him.”

 

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Future of Automobile fuel

 

2^nd part

 

In the 1^st part, we considered prospects of battery-operated vehicles. In this part, we shall see prospects of much discussed and propagated option of biofuels based on process called transesterification.

Transesterification process requires methanol and a suitable catalyst to crack chemically given vegetable oil to get biodiesel and with that, we get glycerine. This process is, much appreciated, without giving adequate thought to the difficulties involved.

In this article’s context, biodiesel refers to alkyl esters made from the transesterification of vegetable oils or animal fats. Biodiesel is biodegradable and non-toxic, and typically produces about 60% less net carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum-based diesel, as it is itself, produced from atmospheric carbon dioxide via photosynthesis in plants. Some vehicle manufacturers are positive about the use of biodiesel, citing lower engine wear as one of the benefits of this fuel. However, as biodiesel is a better solvent than standard diesel, it ‘cleans’ the engine, removing deposits in the fuel lines, and this may cause blockages in the fuel injectors. For this reason, car manufacturers recommend that the fuel filter is changed a few months after switching to biodiesel (this part is often replaced anyway in regular servicing). Most manufacturers release lists of the cars which will run on 100% biodiesel. Pure biodiesel is available at many gas stations in Germany.

The standards ensure that the following important factors in the fuel production process are satisfied:

1. Complete reaction. 2. Removal of glycerin. 3. Removal of catalyst. 4) Removal of alcohol.

5) Absence of free fatty acids. 6) Low sulfur content.

Many claim to make good quality biodiesel at home or such places not properly equipped to observe above given standards. Obviously one can understand that such claims are false. We can say that it is a false propaganda to publicize this alternative to normal diesel. To produce reasonably good quality of alkyl esters from vegetable source needs expensive and well-maintained plant.

In 1977, Brazilian scientist Expedito Parente produced biodiesel through the use of transesterification and ethanol. This process, the first patented in the world, is classified as Biodiesel by international norms, conferring a “standardized identity and quality. No other proposed biofuel has been validated by the motor industry”. Currently, Parente’s company Tecbio is working with Boeing and NASA to certify bioquerosene, another product produced and patented by the Brazilian scientist.

Biodiesel has a viscosity similar to “petrodiesel”, the industry term for diesel produced from petroleum. It can be used as an additive in formulations of diesel to increase the lubricity of pure Ultra- Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) fuel, which is advantageous because it has virtually no sulfur content. Much of the world uses a system known as the “B” factor to state the amount of biodiesel in any fuel mix, in contrast to the “BA” or “E” system used for ethanol mixes. For example, fuel containing 20% biodiesel is labeled B20. Pure biodiesel is referred to as B100.

Biodiesel is a renewable fuel and it is manufactured from (algae), vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled restaurant greases. It can be produced locally in most countries. It is safe, biodegradable and reduces air pollutants, such as particulates, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons. Blends of 20 percent biodiesel with 80 percent petroleum diesel (B20) can generally be used in unmodified diesel engines. Biodiesel can also be used in its pure form (B100) by making required certain changes in engine to avoid maintenance and performance problems. The industry standard for the amount of time it takes to produce biodiesel used to be 4 hours, but a San Antonio based company is currently experimenting, and has claimed to produce biodiesel fuel in a fraction of what it formerly was, with a 1.4-minute contact time.

We have seen plus point of this transesterified biofuel from its application as a fuel in engine. Now we shall see other aspects influenced by this fuel. Important amongst them are availability of methanol. To produce a certain quantity of this biofuel we need almost same quantity of methanol.

To get it from Where? That is a question. Another problem faced by this activity is about abundant quantity of glycerin produced as a by-product. We so far do not have any use for this chemical and dumping it is also not possible. Glycerin is used as an ingredient in the manufacture of explosives. Nitroglycerin is produced and this explosive will be available to extremists to make bombs. Creating new problems in our already difficult law and order situation.

Vegetable oils used for this fuel is also required for other important uses such as food, medicine and soap making. If fuel production consumes most of this oil then that will adversely affect these activities. Much of the land will be occupied by oil production and then there will be no land for production of our food. Considering these effects of this biofuel many people think that this option is better not accepted. Worldwide production of vegetable oil and animal fat is not yet sufficient to replace liquid fossil fuel use. Furthermore, some environmental groups object to the vast amount of farming and the resulting over-fertilization, pesticide use, and land use conversion that they say would be needed to produce the additional vegetable oil.

Many advocates suggest that waste vegetable oil (WVO) is the best source of oil to produce biodiesel. However, the available supply is drastically less than the amount of petroleum-based fuel that is burned for transportation and home heating in the world. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), restaurants in the US produce about 300 million US gallons (1,000,000 m³) of waste cooking oil annually. Although it is economically profitable to use WVO to produce biodiesel, it is even more profitable to convert WVO into other products such as soap. Therefore, most WVO that is not dumped into landfills is used for these other purposes. Animal fats are similarly limited in supply, and it would not be efficient to raise animals simply for their fat. However, producing biodiesel with animal fat that would have otherwise been discarded could replace a small percentage of petroleum diesel usage. Waste vegetable oils are the end products of food supply industries (Hotels, restaurants etc.). By some food standards cooking oils cannot be used twice after it is used for frying and so it must be discarded. Such oil is called WVO. In India this is not practiced. Considering ever-increasing population of humans many are opposing the idea of accepting this option as a viable alternative to conventional petro-fuel.

    These articles will help you understand the issue in the right perspective so that you will not be fooled by any propagandistic writing supporting any of the options mentioned in the list given above. Final solution is not listed in there.

In the 3^rd part we shall consider prospects of using either pure alcohol or mixture of petrol and alcohol.

 

Send your comments on this report on below given comment box or on emails listed there.

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This weeks jokes

 

The guest was about to leave the house and while going out of the house he enquired to chotu lovingly “is you coming with me, chotu?”

Chotu replied hurriedly, “Not at all. Actually we are waiting for you to go, momma is going to serve ice-cream as soon as you leave, so how can I go with you?”

***

While teacher was busy teaching he saw that Pinto rushed out of the classroom.

Teacher turned to the boy sitting next to Pinto and asked, “What is wrong with Pinto?

Why he left the class in the middle of the hour?”

The next boy replied coolly, “Sir, Pinto has a habit of sleep walking.”

***

Teacher had asked the students of the class as to how many hours each student studies at home.

There was a sort of competition amongst the students and they started telling,

“Sir, I study for four hours at home.”

“Sir, I study for six hours at home.”

“Sir, I study for eight hours at home.”

and in this way the number of hours went on increasing.

Finally a student told that he studies for twenty-five hours!

Here teacher got annoyed and asked the student how can you study for twenty five hours when there are only twenty-four hours in the day?

“Sir, I get up one hour early!”

 

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Future of Automobile future

1^st part

 

All this began 60 years ago when we realized that mineral oil stock is not perennial. Some experts suggested that all the stock of fossil fuel will be exhausted by the year 2050 AD; that means in another 40 years the world will have no petrol or diesel and other mineral oil by-products required to run industry.

This realization has made many people think of alternative to fossil fuels. Scientists are working to solve the problem of this type of fuel for last about fifty years. In the earlier period because petrol was available and that too at the prices one can easily afford, this problem was taken jokingly all over. Gradually prices of this fuel and its derivatives are increasing and a few years ago many countries realized that their economies ill afford this fuel. With all this realization not many countries were in a position to do any thing to resolve this problem. Scientifically advanced nations were expected to take initiative in doing all the research required to get to the solution of the problem. These nations are all very wealthy and they could afford this mineral fuel even at the prices it was offered and as a result these countries were not very serious about the problem until they understood the gravity of the issue. There we always say, “a stitch in time saves nine”, now the time has come to think of this problem very seriously.

What was keeping scientific communities from these advanced countries, from taking up the issue in time? This query is put up by many observers. Many believe that petroleum industries’ stake was behind keeping these people from trying out methods and ways to find an alternative for these fuels. They were afraid; in case a suitable solution is found early, it may affect their interests in this business. Now the situation is changed. Petroleum industry has realized that their days are numbered and any solution is found will not make much of a difference for their interest. As it is this industry will come to an end in coming few years. Many petroleum industries are now interested in investing sizable funds for research in this subject. So far all the research has been done by Universities and contribution of any commercial firm in the research for the solution is not seen anywhere. Even today research in this field is controlled by universities but the picture is gradually changing in so far that some business firms are showing interest in the issue. Basic research was, as is always the case, being done by different universities even today. University research is mainly of academic value. To do commercially valuable research, needs funds university ill affords. 

Many alternative options are considered in this regard. They are:

Use of battery powered motorized vehicles, using sun power to first produce electricity and then either driving engine directly or to first save it in battery, and then use it as is required.

Use of vegetable oils, transesterification process to make fuel from thicker vegetable oils.

Using ethanol or mixture of ethanol and petrol as fuel.

And finally,

Using algae (Botryococcus braunii Kurtz) to produce Triterpenes which is further converted into regular petrol and diesel.

For last fifty years people have done a lot of work in these options and tried to make each one a preferred option. There we see many advocates of each one of these options but non of them has been found to be the successful candidate in the race. They all have their plus, minus points; and very often we see that the minus point over ride the plus points, and finally they are rejected.

In this article we shall see option of battery powered vehicle. I chose this option for discussion because; we see that quite a few models in two-wheeler and four-wheeler, powered by battery are coming in the market these days.

Arguments put up to justify this choice are, battery can be charged at home using normal electricity supply and the vehicle runs without pollution and sound. Lightweight engine, good maneuverability while driving, easy to maintain and finally cost effective. 

Arguments put up to reject this choice are, slow speed, load carrying capacity poor, high cost of battery, frequency of charging is annoying, as battery gets older charging efficiency is reduced making the vehicle uneconomical. Over discharge of battery reduces life of battery. Most of the companies coming with their models reserve the mechanism details from others and so repairing them is difficult. Local mechanics cannot repair them. This dependency becomes a serious problem when the vehicle is not working. Electronics involved is considerably complicated, proper circuit diagrams are not provided in service manuals, and that makes maintaining these vehicles almost impossible. Usually life of battery is exhausted within three years and so every three years one has to change the battery. Tubular batteries are having longer life but at present no manufacturer of these vehicles is providing them as original equipment. Lead pollution or if battery is lithium then lithium pollution are going to make these battery-operated vehicles not suitable for use in the near future. 

People having taken these two-wheeler have agreed with the list of shortcomings mentioned above. Particularly, if the user is staying far away from the site of the manufacturer, service is not provided by the local dealer to the user and that makes using these vehicles very difficult. For first three years every thing goes well but afterwards maintenance problems have made these vehicles unusable.  

We shall consider other options in the next part. This is to enlighten readers about this problem of future of automobile fuel. We shall come to the final solution, scientists from Australia have found. The research has come to the level that now; industries have began to take interest in the findings.

These articles will help you understand the issue in the right perspective so that you will not be fooled by any propagandistic writing supporting any of the options mentioned in the list given above. Final solution is not listed in there.

In the 2^nd part we shall consider prospects of process of Transesterification.

 

Send your comments on this report on below given comment box or on emails listed there.

Send your jokes.

 

ashokkothare@yahoo.co.in

ashokkothare@gmail.com

 

Use comment box that works faster.

 

You may visit my other blog

ashokkotharesblog.blogspot.com

 

Future of our vehicular fuel, next part will be taken up in next posting.

A note “OFFER OF TRANSLITERATION FACILITY TO BLOGGERS” is added at the end on page “Transliteration”.

Comments from,

 Zenopel (IP: 122.163.159.191, ABTS-NCR-Dynamic- 191.159.163.122.airtelbroadband.in)

URL: http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput

on our last posting,

Story of how beefeater Brahmins became absolute vegetarians?

To give additional information about how Adi Sankar treated defeated pundits of other religions. It looks from the findings that this Adi Sankar was an extremely cruel person and does not deserve to be considered as a great personality. He was a ruthless, unscrupulous, mean and a professional priest. Adi Sankar was no saint, as it is depicted today. He was an evil person!

Adi shankara did take the help of various Hindu kings who were influenced by him so as to persecute Jains and Buddhists. It was not by acceptance. Given below is a piece of writing by Mr. Jamnadas which amply demonstrates what was done by Adi Shankara to Jains and Buddhists.

Examples of Violence in Brahmanism - Hinduism :

Are there any examples of violence? Of course, they are in plenty! No ‘avatar’ of Brahmanic tradition is without having an arsenal of arms, with a possible exception of ‘unworshipable’ or ‘apujya’ Buddha. (Other example is Vithhal in Pandharpur, Maharashtra)

Here we will only consider examples by burning. Specially because the fire and atrocities of Holi are concerned with the backward castes.

Please, explain what you mean by that?

Among others, Kumarila Bhatta was engaged in life and death struggle against Buddhism [See K. Jamanadas, "Tirupati Balaji was a Buddhist Shrine" 1991, Sanjivan Publications]

others say that Tirupati Balaji is originally skandhha or Kartikeya.

Swami Apurvanand, an author from Vivekananda tradition, describes, on the authority of an ancient text “Shankara Vijay” by Anandagiri.

How Dharmapala, a Bouddha Aacharya of Nalanda Boudha Vidyapitha was defeated in ‘shastrartha’ by Kumarila Bhatta. Kumarila uncle of Brahmin scholar, Dharmakirti who was defeated and humiliated by Dharmapala, decided to study Buddhist shastras as he thought ‘it is always necessary to study the enemy before attacking it’ and joined Nalanda in the guise of a disciple of Dharmapala, in order to acquire enough knowledge of Buddhism so as to defeat Buddha’s doctrine. After studying Buddhism for some time, he challenged his guru Dharmapala, defeated him in ’shastrartha’, and saw his guru embrace ‘tushanal’ and avenged the humiliation of his nephew Dharmakirti. Tushanal means, a funeral pyre made up of hay and dry wood. Dharmapala declared before being burnt alive, “I am defeated by brilliance of Kumarila, but still I believe in supremacy of Buddha’s doctrine, I am not deviated at all from Buddha, His Dhamma or His Sangha, and so I would renounce my life rather than renounce Buddhism”. This is an account from a Brahmanic book and not from a Buddhist one.

Shastrartha, Swamiji tells us, involved scholarship i.e. an ability to quote from ancient texts, literary acumen, and ability to debate and argue without cause, without logic, without demonstration of so-called yogic powers etc., or in simple language ability to quarrel! [Swami Apurvananda, "Aacharya Shankara" 2nd edition. 1989, (Marathi translation of Bengali book), Ramakrishna Matha, Dhantoli, Nagpur, p. 94 ff.]

So Brahmins were quarreling and not arguing? Do you mean to say modern day debating logically was not known to Brahmins of those days?

Swami Vivekananda has described how Aacharya Adi Shankara used to enjoy the burning of Buddhist monks after defeating them in shastrartha. This is what he says: “And such was the heart of Shankara that he burned to death lots of Buddhist monks by defeating them in arguments (quarrel?). What can you call such an action on Shankara’s part except fanaticism?” [Vivekananda: Complete Works vol. VII, p. 117 ff.]

Jains were impaled:   It is reported that about eight thousand Jains were killed by impalement (killing with sword?) when they did not agree with Brahmins’ ideology and what is more important is that this incidence was celebrated and commemorated by perpetuating a festival in temple of Madurai, which goes on even today. [K.A.N. Sastri - History of South India].

This can denote why 6th of December, ‘A day of Mourning’ by millions of Bahujan followers of Ambedkar, Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists and Muslims, was converted in a ‘Day of Victory’ by Brahmins over the demolition of Babari Mosque.

Why Jains are not included in this list, while they were the ones who were impaled? Explanation required.

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Italic part is added by the blog publisher; to ask explanation from the writer of the comment.

Above given information gives following revelations. Adi Sankar was a devilish person and can be equated with modern time Devil, Osama Bin Laden. Other Devils we have seen in the history of India are Francis Xavier from Portuguese Goa, who persecuted thousands of Hindus including Brahmins simply because they did not embrace Christianity. Even until today Vatican has not asked for pardons from the people of India for theses acts of a Jesuit who was working under Vatican authority. So, can we say Adi Sankar, Francis Xavier and Osama Bin Laden are belonging to the same category? 

Can you believe, that Osama bin Laden will be revered like Adi Sankar or Francis Xavier, after about four centuries from now on?

We shall discuss similarity and difference in their activities after we get reactions of other readers.  

This topic will continue in future postings but not continuously. We have to take up other topics also.   

Send your comments on this report on below given comment box or on emails listed there.

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Jokes for the week.

Malati was explaining to her daughter, who was going to marry soon, “See, Meena one must be for progress in life if one wants to become successful. For example, see this is a set of crockery made of 20 pieces. If you can add on them and make them larger I shall accept that you can become a successful wife.” On hearing that Meena lifts the crockery set and drops it on the ground. The set breaks. Now Meena tells her mother, “See mom I have increased the number of pieces in the set. At least now you will accept me to be a successful wife?”

*   *

A noted novelist was visiting a club and there he was introduced to a very fashionable lady, after introduction the novelist says to her, “I am pleased to be introduced to you”. On that the lady remarks sarcastically, “I am not at all happy to be introduced to you.” On that the novelist suggests, “At least, for the sake of etiquettes…!”

*   *

Taatya requests Shaamya for a cigarette. On that Shaamya gives one to him and retorts, “I heard you were going to stop smoking. What happened to that?”

While smoking the borrowed cigarette Taatya comments, “Presently, I have stopped buying them. I am making good progress in that, plan to stop gradually.” Taatya.

*   *

A new artist paints a painting and decorating it in a decent frame, takes it to a shop who deals in paintings. The artist asks the shop owner to quote the price for the painting. Shop owner quotes, “Thirty rupees only”, on that the artist shouts at the shop owner and tells him, “That is the price of the frame itself.”

“I quoted for the frame only” shop owner.

*   *

A group of farmers from India was visiting an exhibition of fruits in Russia. On seeing one big fruit one of the farmers whispers, “This must be an apple from Russia.” On hearing that comment, a fat Russian woman standing next to the farmer tells him, “No, this is our grape.”

*   *

In a class of psychology professor asks a student, “What is called to a person who is continuously talking, blaa blaa blaa…,

Student, “a professor!”

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