Conventional and non-conventional Energy
 Conventional sources of energy (e.g. coal, petroleum and
natural gas) are non-renewable sources of energy. Non-
conventional sources of energy (e.g. solar and wind
energy) are renewable sources of energy.

overview
World energy consumption has been steadily increasing for a variety of reasons
which include;
 Enhancements in quality of life
 population increase
 industrialization
 rapid economic growth of developing countries
 increased transportation of people and goods
There are many types of fuel available worldwide, the demand for
which strongly depends on application and use, location and regional resources, cost,
“cleanness” and environmental impact factors, safety of generation and utilization,
socioeconomic factors, global and regional politics, etc. The energy utilization cycle
consists of three phases: generation, distribution, and consumption, all of which must
be closely balanced for an ideal energy infrastructure. Any shortage
would immediately affect the entire cycle as a limiting factor. Further, based on the supply and
demand principle, the consumer price of this fuel type would undoubtedly rise. Even a
breakdown in the transportation system of a certain fuel type would affect the consumer
market directly, and consequences such as fuel shortage and price hike
would be realized at least for a limited time in the affected region.
Study suggest that if exploited at the same rate, the coal reserve will deplete in the next century,
and petroleum deposits will deplete in the coming few years.
So it is important for us to engage in research and development of alternative fuels so we may
not face scarcity of natural resources in the future.

Needs for Alternative Fuels
1. Diminishing reserve of conventional fuels
2. To reduce environmental pollution
3. To protect against global warming
4. To reduce import cost and improve nations economy
5. Meeting the current global energy demanding

Needs for Alternative fuels
1. Diminishing reserve of conventional fuels
The traditional fuels including petroleum would be
depleted after sometimes, because that are not
renewable
2. To reduce environmental pollution
The use of alternative fuels considerably decreases
harmful exhaust emission (such as carbon dioxide,
carbon mono oxide , particulate matter and sulfur
dioxide) as well as ozone-producing emission

Needs for Alternative fuels
3. To protect against global warming
According to a commonly accepted scientific theory,
burning fossil fuel was causing temperature to rise in
the earth atmosphere (global warming).
Though global warming continues to be just a theory, a
lot of people across the globe are of the belief that
discovering sources of cleaner burning fuel as an
essential step towards enhancing the quality of our
environment.

Needs for Alternative fuels
4. To reduce important cost and improve nations economy
The majority of oil field located in middle east are associated with
problems, both political and economic, so the production rate is
uncertain and may or may not meet the demand. This cause rise
in price abruptly.
On the other hand the feed stock for alternative fuels are
renewable and can be and can be produce locally with less
expenses. This interns means saving of money in the long time.
5. Meeting the current global energy demand
Every day an increase in
demand of energy has
create large gap between
demand and supply.

Properties of alternative fuels
Key properties for alternative fuels to be considered are;
 Combustion and Performance: heat of combustion, heat
contents for Stoichiometric mixture, octane number(SI
engine), Cetane number(CI engine), boiling points,
flammable limits
 Emission: chemical composition and nature, adiabatic
flame temperature
 Storage and Handling: Boiling points, volumetric energy,
density, vapour pressure, flammability limits

Properties of alternative fuels
 Volatility: volatility is one of the main characteristics
properties of petro/gasoline which determines its suitability
for use in an SI engine. Since gasoline is a mixture of different
hydrocarbons, volatility depends on the fractional composition
of the fuels. The usual practice of measuring the fuels volatility
is the distillation of the fuels in a special device at atmospheric
pressure of known vapour.
 Starting and Warm up: a certain part of the gasoline should
vaporize at the room temperature for easy starting of engine.
As the engine warm-up, the temperature will gradually
increases to the operating temperature.

Properties of alternative fuels
 Antiknock Quality: abnormal burning or detonation in Si
engine combustion chamber causes a very high rate of energy
release, excessive temperature and pressure inside the
cylinder adversely affects its thermal efficiency. therefore, the
characteristics of the fuels used should be such that it resist
the tenancy to produce detonation and this properties is
called its antiknock property
 Gum Deposits: reactive hydrocarbon and impurities in the fuel
have tendency to oxidize upon storage and form liquid and
gummy substances. A gasoline with high gum contents will
cause operating difficulties such as sticking values and piston
rings carbon deposits in the engine, gum deposits in the
manifolds, clogging of carburetors jets and enlarging of the
valve stems , cylinders and piston.

Properties of alternative fuels
 Sulfur Contents: Hydrocarbon fuels may contain free sulphur,
hydrogen sulphide and other sulphur compounds which are
objection able for several reasons. The sulphur is a corrosive
element of the fuel that can corrode fuel lines, carburettors and
injection pumps and it will unite with oxygen to form sulphur
dioxide that, in the presence of water at low temperatures, may
form sulphurous acid . The presence of sulphur can reduce the self-
ignition temperature, then promoting knock in the SI engine
 Viscosity : CI engine fuels should be able to flow through the fuel
system and the strainers under the lowest operating temperatures
to which the engine is subjected to.
SI Engine: Higher Octane number is required (above 86-94)
CI Engine: Above 45 Cetane number is preferred 18

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