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

END

Different types of alternative fules
 https://www.slideshare.net/sbvijay2003/alternative-
fuels-139016464

Introduction
 Gasification is a process that converts carbonaceous
material, Such as fossil fuels and biomass in to a
mixture of mostly hydrogen and carbon monoxide(
called Synthesis gas & Syngas)
 The syngas can be burned as a fuel or
processed to produced chemical and other fuels

coal gasification is still in development, it is also supposed to
be a very perspective technology. Be a very perspective
technology. applied to many branches of industry such as
chemistry, metallurgy and energy production, provided
that different requirements about its parameters will be
fulfilled. Many characteristics of product gas are strongly
connected with its composition. Therefore, problem of
optimization of CG technology becomes an especially
important issue. In context of using syngas for particular
aims, earlier mentioned optimization could be understood
as a choice of the best scope of input parameters and
appropriate proceeding of process.

Underground Coal Gasification
 Underground coal gasification (UCG) is an industrial
process, which enables coal to be converted into
product gas.UCG is an in-situ gasification process
carried out in non-mined coal seams using injection of
oxidants, and bringing the product gas to surface
through production wells drilled from the surface.
 The process converts coal into a gaseous form (syngas)
through the same chemical reactions that occur in
surface gasifiers.
 The economics of UCG look promising as capital
expenses should be considerably less than surface
gasification Essentials.

Process Description
 Different stages for UCG:
Step 1: Find the coal
Step 2: Drill the boreholes
Step 3: Link the boreholes
Step 4: Ignite the coal
Step 5: Inject O2 and steam
Step 6: Extract the syngas

Condition suitable for UCG
 Coal seam should not have major geological disturbances
• The roof and floor of the seam should have low
permeability so that leakage is minimised.
• Seam should be preferably free from water. Water should
be drained off before process.
• Coals of low quality is preferred. Using sub-bituminous
coal has advantages of having greater permeability & its
tendency to sink and spell when heated aids to providing
the ‘packed bed’.
• Any seam thickness can be gassified. Thickness of 6m is
preferable.
• Reserve should be high and it should be nearer to
customer.

Factor Affecting UCG

Technology Involved in UCG
 Opening up coal seam for gasification
• Drilling pattern
• Linkage between boreholes
• Linking operation
• Gasification process
• Subsidence
• Extraction process at the surface (not that
mining people’s job)

Benefits of UCG
 Un-economical seams (low quality/ greater depth with thin
seam) can be made useful.
 It provides an indigenous gas/energy source.
 Flexibility in commercial use, less Nitrogen and sulphur oxides.
 Potential method of exploitation of reserves which are not
amenable to conventional mining.
 Elimination of hard and often unhealthy jobs of men in u/g
 Impact on the environment is far less. The fertile soil is
conserved. No dumps or waste heaps.
 Possibility of recovering coal with high sulphur and ash.
 Much less time for construction work of UCG station.
 The gas is a potential chemical feed stock
 Ash is left in u/g and less tipping dirt is produced
 Labour intensity is low.

Potential use for UCG

Disadvantages
 The extraction of reserve is less than deep mining
(energy balance is also less favourable)
 Capital input is greater than deep mining
 Gas produced is dirty, has a low calorific value and is
variable in quality.
 The cost of making SNG will be higher than importing
liquid natural gas
 The gas is costly to pipe much over 16km and to store
 There will be noise from drilling
 New skills are to be taught.

Surface Coal Gassification
 Developed in 1800s to produce town gas and city lighting
 Renewed interest due to rise in oil prices, depleting oil &gas
reserves
and IGCC technology
 Coal is exposed to hot steam and controlled amounts of air or
oxygen
under high temperatures (250°-900°C) and pressures.
 Produces Syngas, hydrocarbons, water vapours, anhydrous
ammonia
and phenols. The gas comprises of N2, CO2, CO, H2, CH4, O2,
etc•
 Environmental friendly
 Reduced greenhouse gases
e.g. CO2 can be captured easily and at lower costs

Advantages
 One of the most abundant energy sources
 it can be burned directly, transformed into liquid, gas, or
feedstock
 Inexpensive compared to other energy sources
 Good for recreational use (charcoal for barbequing,
drawing)
 Can be used to produce ultra-clean fuel
 Can lower overall amount of greenhouse gases (
liquification or
gasification)
 Leading source of electricity today
 Reduces dependence on foreign oil
 By-product of burning (ash) can be used for concrete and
roadways

Disadvantages
 Source of pollution emits waste, SO2 , Nitrogen Oxide, ash
 Coal mining mars the landscape
 Liquidification , gasification require large amounts of water
 Physical transport is difficult
 Technology to process to liquid or gas is not fully developed
 Solid is more difficult to burn than liquid or gases
 Not renewable in this millennium
 High water content reduces heating value
 Dirty industry—leads to health problems
 Dirty coal creates more pollution and emissions

END