GENERATE ENERGY FROM WASTE: BIOFUEL

Recycling the waste is gaining importance worldwide as the resources are getting used up. What better utilization can there be than converting the waste into biofuels?

Bioenergy is the energy that is derived from biomass i.e. energy from biological origin. Biofuel are the fuels which generally originate from agricultural crops known as Energy Crops. Biofuels can also be made through chemical reactions, carried out in a laboratory or industrial setting, that use organic matter to make fuel. Biomass is simply organic matter (dead material) that was once living. Kernels of corn, mats of algae, and stalks of sugar cane are all biomass.

The main concern of is to reduce the problem arising from the accumulation of waste & the need of their management. As the non- renewable sources of energy (fossil fuels) are slowly coming to a stage of being completely used up, an alternate source of energy is of gaining importance. It is envisaged that this conversion may also decrease the speed of global warming. As per a recent report, by the year 2020, 19 million tons of oil equivalents could be derived from biomass. Out of this, 46% is obtained from bio-wastes like farm waste, agricultural waste, municipal solid waste and other biodegradable waste streams.

In addition to environmental benefits of using biofuels as an alternative source of energy, Biofuels are also economically feasible.

Biomass technology today serves many markets that were developed with fossil fuels and modestly reduces their use. Biomass processing technologies and biofuels use have the potential to increase emissions of ozone precursors.

Sources of energy such as Biodiesel can be generated from waste oils & fats using a number of techniques which not only helps in generation energy but also helps in conversion of waste to energy.

Recovering energy from food waste has gained popularity around the world as it increases the ng prospect of generating renewable energy source to meet future energy requirements. Biofuels can also be produced from Municipal Solid Waste, Waste Wood, Sewerage, Effluents from industry

Biodiesel (methyl ether of fatty acids) is envisioned to be a substitute of the hydrocarbon fuel & is derived from Waste food & oil. It can be generated either from Base or Acid catalyzed transmogrification or by Conversion of oil to fatty acids and then to Ester by acid catalysis. Bio diesel has many benefits as it has a high cetacean number & flash point in addition to its property of being a good lubricant, biodegradable & low toxicity.

Biodiesel needs to be tested for its Physical, Chemical & com positional properties so that its quality can be evaluated. The most basic test for bio diesel is to carry out visual inspection which requires a great deal of expertise. A number of analytical testing methods are considered to test   biodiesel for its quality as per national & international standard test procedures. The test method includes study of the specific gravity of bio diesel using hydrometer, measuring its pH,Flash Point, Cloud Point ,Cetane Number, Viscosity & many more parameters…

Biodiesel can be used to power existing Diesel Engines used in Automobiles. It also finds its application in heating of homes, generation of electricity etc among others.

                          

   

ULTRASONIC DETECTION USING SENSOR DEVELOPED BY MICROMACHINING

ULTRASONIC DETECTION USING SENSOR DEVELOPED BY MICROMACHINING

Ultrasonic transducer finds its application in development of Ultrasonic detection equipments used for fault detection, level, motion-state monitoring. The technique can also be used for ultrasonic medical-imaging and non-destructive materials testing (NDT Testing) devices.

 A team of researchers from Institute of Microelectronics, Singapore have developed a type of tilt sensor used in ultrasonic devices for sensing applications. The device is based on principle of Echolocation, used by Dolphins & Microbats for locating prey & navigation. The technique uses sound/ultrasonic waves to located objects & surfaces. The principle is also made use of by Ships & submarines to avoid collisions Micromachining technique is used to develop capacitive micro machined ultrasonic transducers' (CMUTs) on silicon wafer .When ultrasonic waves are applied on the membrane of the sensor (biased CMUT) an alternating signal(energy transduction)is generated w.r.t change in capacitance. Since the device is fabricated using micromaching, the component is very compact & can be conveniently integrated with standard electronics components, which are also based on silicon.

 The tilt sensors measure the local slope of the structure and are therefore sensitive to any distortion that might result from damage. Tilt sensor are applied to carry out Non Destructive Testing of Bridges for damage detection. Tilt Sensors are also used in Camera to capture real-time views and images from inside voids such as tubes, pipes, machines, and enclosed structures for Remote Visual Inspections

NDT Testing is used to evaluate the structural integrity of a material for Internal Flaws, defects & discontinuities without destructing the subject under inspection. Spectro Analytical Labs Ltd provides complete NDT Testing & Inspection Services under one roof for the testing of Pipelines, structural evaluation of buildings, bridges etc.