NEW DELHI: The latest models launched at
the 12th Auto Expo 2014 are by now
common knowledge among vehicle
enthusiasts but few are aware that IIT Delhi
has successfully tested India's first biogas-
fuelled passenger car.
Compressed biogas was tested on a regular
CNG car for over 15,000km. The best news
was for the environment — the emissions
were lower than CNG. Also, existing CNG
vehicles need not undergo any modification
to be compatible to CBG.
The water-scrubbing-based biogas upgrade
and compression/bottling system developed
at the campus is now patented with IIT-D,
promising a green and low cost fuel for
automobiles and cooking. The project is
being developed by Biogas Development and
Training Centre , Centre for Rural
Development and Technology, IIT Delhi, and
is being sponsored by ministry of new and
renewable energy.
" IIT-D has developed a small scale biogas
upgrading system using water scrubbing
technology (20 m3/h system). The system
consists of a water scrubbing column and
methane-enriched biogas compression
system. Commercial viability of the biogas
purification and bottling plant can be
attained above 500m3/d capacity. Its
payback period ranges from one to four
years depending upon capacity of plant, cost
of raw material for gas production and
selling price of CBG," Prof. Virendra Kumar
Vijay, heading the project, said.
There is no significant change in mileage of
the vehicle fuelled with CBG (24.11km/kg)
as compared to CNG (24.38km/kg).
Vijay added, "We tested the regular CNG car
on CBG for more than 15,000km. The fuel
economy and mass emission of the vehicle
fuelled with CBG with 93% methane and
compressed natural gas were evaluated.
Emissions such as CO, HC and NOx are
found to be marginally higher with CNG
than CBG."
Worldwide, biomass accounts for over two-
thirds of all renewable energy supplies.
Among biomass sources, biogas is a
interesting option with a large potential,
offering many excitingpossibilities to
supplement existing fuels, thereby reducing
our dependence on fossil fuels.
"The total potential of biogas from all
sources has been estimated to be 48,382
million cubic metres a year. Assuming 50%
of total upgraded biogas is used in transport
sector and 50% in cooking sector, bottled
biogas can fulfill 43.4% of the total
transport sector demand and 41.7% of
cooking sector needs," Vijay said.
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