19-10-2024

MCN201 SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING

Dr. Bindu Kumar K

Professor in Mechanical Engineering
Government Engineering College, Barton Hill
Thiruvananthapuram

MCN201 SUSTAINABLE ENGINEERING

Objective
To inculcate in students an awareness of environmental issues and the global
initiatives towards attaining sustainability. The student should realize the
potential of technology in bringing in sustainable practices.

Syllabus
Sustainability- need and concept, technology and sustainable development-
Natural resources and their pollution, Carbon credits, Zero waste concept.
Life Cycle Analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment studies, Sustainable
habitat, Green buildings, green materials, Energy, Conventional and
renewable sources, Sustainable urbanization, Industrial Ecology.

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Course Outcomes
• Understand the relevance and the concept of sustainability and the
global initiatives in this direction
• Explain the different types of environmental pollution problems and
their sustainable solutions
• Discuss the environmental regulations and standards
• Outline the concepts related to conventional and non-conventional
energy
• Demonstrate the broad perspective of sustainable practices by
utilizing engineering knowledge and principles

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Syllabus
• Module 1 : Sustainability: Introduction, concept, evolution of the concept; Social, environmental and
economic sustainability concepts; Sustainable development, Nexus between Technology and Sustainable
development; Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Clean
Development Mechanism (CDM).
• Module 2 : Environmental Pollution: Air Pollution and its effects, Water pollution and its sources, Zero waste
concept and 3 R concepts in solid waste management; Greenhouse effect, Global warming, Climate change,
Ozone layer depletion, Carbon credits, carbon trading and carbon foot print, legal provisions for
environmental protection.
• Module 3 : Environmental management standards: ISO 14001:2015 frame work and benefits, Scope and goal
of Life Cycle Analysis (LCA), Circular economy, Bio-mimicking, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA),
Industrial ecology and industrial symbiosis.
• Module 4: Resources and its utilisation: Basic concepts of Conventional and non-conventional energy,
General idea about solar energy, Fuel cells, Wind energy, Small hydro plants, bio-fuels, Energy derived from
oceans and Geothermal energy.
• Module 5: Sustainability practices: Basic concept of sustainable habitat, Methods for increasing energy
efficiency in buildings, Green Engineering, Sustainable Urbanisation, Sustainable cities, Sustainable
transport.

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Syllabus
Module 4
Resources and its utilisation: Basic concepts of Conventional and non-
conventional energy, General idea about solar energy, Fuel cells, Wind
energy, Small hydro plants, bio-fuels, Energy derived from oceans and
Geothermal energy.

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Introduction
• Energy is an important input for development.

• It aims to the natural resources, energy resources are also renewable as well
as non renewable.

• Renewable energy resources : Energy sources that are easily replaced after
being consumed.

• Non-renewable energy resources : Energy sources that are not replaced or

replenished after being used. (May take several years6 to replace).
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Energy - Introduction
Sources of energy

Conventional sources Non-conventional sources

● Solar energy
● Wind energy
Commercial Non-commercial ● Tidal energy
● Coal ●Firewood ● Geothermal
●Oil & natural (Fuel wood) energy
gas ●Hydro power ● Biomass -
●Thermal power ●Nuclear power based energy

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Conventional Energy
• Energy that has been used from ancient
times (natural resources) is known as
conventional energy.
• A conventional resources are the ones that
are commonly used. ( like pen or a pencil ).
• These are available in limited amount and
develop over a longer period. As a result of
unlimited use, they are likely to be
exhausted one day.
• These are also known as a non-renewable
( or exhaustible ) energy sources. 8

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Conventional Energy
• Conventional energy sources have two type of source like…
1) Commercial energy sources
2) Non-commercial energy sources
Commercial energy sources: The sources of energy that are
usually available in costly to the users are reffered to as
Commercial energy sources.
Non-commercial energy sources : The sources of energy that are
usually availably free of cost to the users are reffered to as non-
commercial energy sources.
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Commercial Energy Sources
i) Coal :
• Coal releases large amounts of energy it is
burned because of the density of hydrocarbon in
the material.
• Coalification : Coal is formed by dead plants being
put under significant pressure and temperature for
million of years.
• There are four grades of coal : lignite,
subbituminous, bituminous and anthracite.
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Commercial Energy Sources
ii) Oil & Natural gas :
• Sedimentary rocks containing plants, animals
remains about 10 to 20 crore year old are the source
of mineral oil.
• Mineral oil is very unevenly distributed over space
like any other mineral.
• There are six regions in the world which are rich in
mineral oil. USA, Mexico, former USSR and West
Asian region are the major oil reproducing countries.
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Commercial Energy Sources
ii) Oil & Natural gas :
• Natural gas is really a mixture of gases that formed
from the fossils remains of ancient plants and
animals buried deep in the earth. The main
ingredient in natural gas is methane.
• Natural gas can be used both as energy source and
also an industrial raw material in petrochemical
industry. The gas is also used for fertiliser plants.

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Commercial Energy Sources
iii) Thermal power :
• A thermal power station is a power station in which heat energy converted to
electric power.
• Thermal power plants use coal, petroleum and natural gas to produce
thermal electricity.
• These sources are of mineral origin and also called fossil fuels.
• They are exhaustible and polluting.
• This is in great demand in industry, agriculture, transport and domestic
sectors.
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Non - Commercial Energy Sources

i) Fire wood (Fuel wood ) :

• One must combine supply of fire wood and other
biomass energy sources.
• Besides, we need technologies for total utilisation of
biomass and or conversion to solid (densification), liquid
(liquification) and gaseous (gasification) fuel.

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Non - Commercial Energy Sources
ii) Hydro power :
• Water energy is most conventional renewable energy
sources and obtained from water flow, water falling from
a height.
• Hydro power is a clean, non polluting sources of energy.
It can be transmitted to long distance through wires and
cables.
• In South America about 75% of the total electricity
consumption comes from water. Japan, USA and former
USSR are the leading countries in production of hydro
power.
• In India the generation of hydro electric power was
emphasised from the first five year. 15

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Small Hydro Power (SHP)
Small Hydro Power (SHP) is hydro plant with power under 10 MW as
defined by United Nations Industrial Development Organization
(UNIDO):
Pico 5 kW & below
Micro 100 kW & below
Mini 2000 kW & below
Small 25000 kW & below
Medium 100,000 kW & below
Large above 100,000 kW
P= Power plant
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Hydro project schematic

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Typologies of Hydropower plants
a) Run of River Plants
• A Run of River plant uses the available river flow. A Run of
River plant has a little cumulative water. High cost
b) Pondage Plants
• Cumulative water flows permits storage of water for few
weeks. Pondage Plant can works when the level of river is low
c) Reservoir Plants
• Energy prodution of a Reservoir Plant is based on
cumulative water flows. Construction of a very large dam to
cumulate water. Usually this kind of plant is not a SHP
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Major attributes of hydropower
Positive Negative
No emissions Social impacts (land inundation,
change land use)
Mature tecnology High initial capital costs:
3- 4,5 kEuro/kw
Renevable resource with high Impacts on river flows and aquatic
efficienty (> 80%) ecology
Long life (40-50 years) Variable output-dependent on rainfall
Low maintenance costs and snowfall
Skilled work High costs of dismission
Change using area Bureaucracy
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Non - Commercial Energy Sources
iii) Nuclear power :
• A small quantity of radioactive material can
produce abnormal amount of energy. For
instance, one ton of Uranium²³⁵ would provide as
much energy by three million ton of coal or 12
million barrels of oil.
• Atomic power is also used as fuel for marine
vessels, heat generation for chemical and food
processing plants and for spacecrafts.
• For atomic energy, we need a nuclear reactor.
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Non - Conventional Energy sources
• Energy that has been used from natural resources which made by
artificial is known as Non-conventional energy resources.
• A non-conventional resources are one that work but are not commonly
used. ( like an ionic laser ).
• These are available in unlimited amount in nature since these can be
renewed over relatively short period of time. It can reproduce themselves
in nature.
• These are also known as renewable ( or inexhaustible ) energy resources.

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Non - Conventional Energy sources
1) Solar energy :
• Energy obtained from the sun in the form of heat and
light.
• Energy derived in the form of solar radiation.
• The solar energy received by the near earth space is
approximately 1.4 kilojoules/second known as solar
constant.
• The heat energy is used in solar heating devices like solar
cooker, solar water heater, solar furnaces etc. The light energy
is used in solar cells.
• Using photosynthetic and biological process for energy
trapping. In the process of photosynthesis, green plants absorb
solar energy and convert it into chemical energy, stored in the
form of carbohydrate.

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Solar Energy - Types
• Passive Solar Energy: Passive Solar Energy is a method in which
solar energy is harnessed in its direct form without using any
mechanical devices. Drying Clothes in daylight is an example of
using solar energy passively

• Active Solar Energy: Active Solar Energy employs mechanical or

electrical equipment for functioning and increase system efficiency.
• For example water pumps are used to circulate water through the
active solar energy water heating system.

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Solar Energy - Types
• Photovoltaic Solar Power: Photovoltaic cells/ solar cells convert solar energy
into electric energy. The energy generated is termed as Photovoltaic energy.

• Solar Thermal Energy: Solar Thermal Energy is the heat energy derived from
incident solar energy (sunlight). This energy is used by the Solar Heating
Panels. Electricity generated using solar energy commonly known as Solar
Thermal Electricity.

• Concentrated Solar Power: Concentrated Solar Power is a branch of Solar

Thermal Energy which is used to generate solar power electricity.
• Electricity is produced on a large scale by using this technology.

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Solar Energy – Advantages & Disadvantages

• Advantages
• Renewable resource, eco-friendly, Reduces Electricity Bills, Can enhance the
value of a home, Requires little maintenance, Easy Installation, Can Be Used
in Remote Locations

• Disadvantages
• Solar Energy Storage is Expensive, Weather Dependent, Solar Energy is not
always Reliable.

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Non - Conventional Energy sources
2) Wind energy :
• Air flows can be used to run wind turbines.
• Wind energy is used in wind mills which convert the kinetic
energy of the wind into mechanical or electrical energy.
• A single wind mill produces only a small amount of electricity.
• Large number of wind mills in a large area coupled together to
produce more electricity in wind energy farms.
• The minimum wind speed required is 15 km/hr.
• At present wind power potential of India is 1020 MW.
• Largest wind farm is near Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu
generate 380 MW electricity.
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Wind into electricity?
Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power.
This mechanical power can be used for specific tasks (such as grinding grain or
pumping water) or a generator can convert this mechanical power into electricity.
A wind turbine works the opposite of a fan. Instead of using electricity to make
wind, like a fan, wind turbines use wind to make electricity. The wind turns the
blades, which spin a shaft, which connects to a generator and makes electricity.
The energy in the wind turns two or three propeller-like blades around a rotor. The
rotor is connected to the main shaft, which spins a generator to create electricity.
Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30
meters) or more above ground, they can take advantage of faster and less
turbulent wind.
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Wind turbine working
Wind turbines operate on a simple principle:
The energy in the wind turns the propeller-like blades around a rotor.
The pitch of the blades makes optimum use of the wind direction.
The rotor is connected to the main drive shaft, which spins a generator
to create electricity.
Wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At
30 metres or more above ground, they can take advantage of faster
and less turbulent wind.
Wind turbines can be used to produce electricity for a single home or
building, or they can be connected to an electricity grid for more
widespread electricity distribution.
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Wind Turbine – Advantages & Disadvantages
• Wind energy is friendly to the surrounding environment, as no fossil fuels
are burnt to generate electricity from wind energy
• Wind turbines requires less space than average power stations.
• When combined with solar electricity, this energy source is great for
developed and developing countries to provide a steady, reliable supply of
electricity
• The main disadvantage regarding wind power is down to the winds
unreliability factor. In many areas, the winds strength is not enough to
support a wind turbine
• Wind turbines generally produce allot less electricity than the average
fossil fueled power station, which means that multiple wind turbines are
needed to make an impact

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Non - Conventional Energy sources
3) Tidal energy :
• The energy associated with the tides of the ocean can be
converted into electrical energy. First tidal power plant is in
France (1996).
• India could take up ocean thermal energy conversion
(OTEC) and by the process it will be capable of generating
50,000 Mw of electricity, to meet the power requirements
of remote oceanic islands & costal towns.

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Non - Conventional Energy sources
4) Geothermal energy :
• The geothermal energy may be defined as the heat energy obtainable from hot rocks present inside
the earth crust.
• At the core temperatures may reach over 9,000° F.
• This heat comes from the fission of radioactive material naturally present in the rocks.
• The deeper regions of the earth’s crust is very hot. This heat melts the rocks & forms magma.
• The magma moves up and collects below at some places called Hot spots.
• The under ground water in contact with hot spot gets heated into steam at high pressure.
• By drilling holes into hot spots the steam coming out can be used to rotate turbines of generators to
produce electricity.
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Non - Conventional Energy sources
5) Biomass - based energy :
• The organic matters originated from
living organisms like wood , cattle dung,
sewage, agricultural wastes etc. are
called as biomass.
• These substances can be burnt to
produce heat energy which can be
used in the generation of electricity.
• Thus, the energy produced from the
biomass is known as biomass energy.
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The Fuel Cell
• A Need for Change
• Battery technologies are not keeping
pace with demand
• Battery life
• Miniaturization
• Global warming
• A Possible Solution
• Fuel Cell: A device that uses hydrogen
(or a hydrogen-rich fuel) and oxygen
to create an electric current
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What Fuel Cells Do
• Combustion engines like the turbine and the gasoline engine
burn fuels and use the pressure created by the expansion of the
gases to do mechanical work. Batteries converted chemical
energy back into electrical energy when needed. Fuel cells
should do both tasks more efficiently

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How Fuel Cells Work

• Hydrogen molecules are delivered to the anode

side of the fuel cell
• Electrons are stripped from the molecules and
forced to travel through a circuit, producing
electricity
• The leftover protons pass through the fuel cell
and are recombined with the lost electrons on
the cathode side, producing water molecules

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Fuel Cells Vs Conventional Power Sources
Chemical energy of fuel and oxidizer
FC is an electrochemical device in
Combustion Fuel cell which the energy of fuel and oxidant
chamber
continuously supplied to electrodes is
Heat
directly converted into electricity
without low-efficient combustion
Turbine or engine
process.

Mechanical
As there is no heat/power conversion in
energy these devices, their energy efficiency is
much higher than that of traditional
Electric
generator power units, and can reach 90%.
Electric current

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How much hydrogen?
• Transportation:
• gasoline yields  40 kJ/g
• average annual use: 500 gallons (4000 kg)
• energy use in one year: 1.6  108 kJ
• H2 yields  250 kJ/g, need 640 kg H2
• Electricity:
• average annual energy use: 1.5  107 kJ
• H2 yields  250 kJ/g, need 60 kg H2

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Sources of Hydrogen
• Hydrocarbons:
• Oxidation: CH4 + 2 O2 → CO2 + 2 H2O
• Still produces CO2!!
• Syn-gas: 2 CH4 + O2 → 2 CO + 4 H2
• Produces CO that must be converted to CO2!!
• Electrolysis of water
• remember H2 + O2 → H2O, E = 1.23 V
• can be reversed H2O → H2 + O2
• Requires large amounts of energy!!

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Fuel Cells vs. Batteries
◼ Designed to be continuously powered
◼ Fuel source can be re-supplied without interrupting power
◼ Unlike batteries, the fuel source is not contained inside the fuel cell
- increases shelf life and decreases time before replacement is
necessary
◼ Produces water waste only
◼ Environmentally friendly - companies such as Dell must currently
offer recycling programs for batteries in order to comply with
government environmental regulations
◼ More efficient than batteries

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Fuel Cells - Benefits
• Environmental Reasons • Increased Efficiency
• Driving force • Up to 80% with pure Hydrogen
• Lowered emissions • With reformer about ~24-32%
• Less noisy • Gasoline ~20%
• Higher quality • Battery-Powered ~26% with
• Can be programmed for recharging
99.999% uptime • Distributed Generation
• More reliable • Flexible Technology
• On site • Portable
• No movable parts • Modular

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Fuel Cells - Limitations
• Hydrogen:
• Not readily available, must use other energy sources to
convert
• Infrastructure not in place
• Difficult to store/distribute
• High Capital Cost
• Non-technical barriers
• Could have dramatic impact

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Biofuels
• Biofuel is the fuel which is produced from organic products and
wastes.
• The common commercially used biofuels are bioethanol, biodiesel
and biomethane.
❑ Bioethanol is made from sugar, algae, wheat and sugar beet
❑ Biodiesel is made from vegetable oil, algal lipids, animal fats
❑ Biomethane can be produced from waste organic material, sewage,
agriculture waste and domestic wastes.

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Biofuels - History
• In 1890s Rudolf Diesel was a first person who made biodiesel from
vegetable oil.
• In 1970s and 1980s environmental protection agency EPA situated in
America suggested that fuel should be free from sulphur dioxide, carbon
monoxide and nitrogen oxides.
• In 1998 EPA allowed the production of biofuel on commercial level which
was the alternative source of the petrol.
• In 2010 the production of biofuels reaches up to 105 billion liters worldwide.
• In 2011, European countries were the largest that made biodiesel almost
about 53%. The international Energy Agency set a goal to reduce the
usage of petroleum and coal and will be switched on to biofuels till 2050.

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Biofuels - Feedstock

Soybean Corn Sugarcane Sugar beet

Switchgrass Jatropha Camelina Algae

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Biofuels - Feedstock

Cassava Palm oil Certain fungi

Animal fat Agricultural wastes

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Biofuels – Classification

➢ 1st Generation Biofuels: Also called conventional biofuels. It

includes sugar, starch, or vegetable oil
2nd Generation Biofuels: known as advanced biofuels and can
be manufactured from different types of biomass. The biomass
contains lignocellulosic material like wood, straw and waste
plastic
3rd Generation Biofuels: Extract from algae mostly marine algae

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Biofuels – Types
Bioethanol

Biobutanol Biodiesel

Biogas
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Biofuels – Types
▪ Bioethanol is produced by the fermentation of carbohydrate rich source
which includes sugar cane, sugar beet, corn etc. It is colorless and clear
liquid. One of the widely used alternative automotive fuel in the world
▪ Biodiesel, an alternative diesel fuel, is made from re-new able biological
sources such as vegetable oils and animal fats. Similar to petroleum diesel
fuel in structure (straight chain) and number of carbon atoms (10 to 21).
The Biodiesel can be prepared by Transesterification.
▪ Butanol made from renewable resources such as grain or cornstalks by
fermentation process . Bacteria; known as, solventogenic Clostridia is
used. Butanol is more similar to gasoline than to ethanol.
▪ Biogas is a fuel used as domestic purpose. Obtained from cow manure,
fruit and vegetable waste. Biogas is produced by the breakdown of
organic waste by bacteria without oxygen anaerobic digestion
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