Energy Environment & Society

1. Chapter Seven
Environmental Impacts of Energy Sources
by
Er. Bikal Adhikari
(B.E., M.Sc. Engg., M.Sc. ISE)
Date:- 29th Jan, 2024
Bachelor’s Degree in Electronics, Communication
& Information Engineering
(IV Year II Part)
Tribhuvan University
Institute of Engineering
Pulchowk Campus
Department of Electronics & Computer Engineering

2. Chapter 7
Environmental Impacts of Energy Sources
[4 hrs]
Course Outline:
4.1. Emission hazard
4.2. Battery hazard
4.3. Nuclear hazard
2

3. 3
Emission Hazards

4. 4

5. 5
Battery Hazards

6. 6
Nuclear Hazards

7. Emission Hazard
7
The risks to the human life/health due to the emission of
harmful gases and compound into the atmosphere is known
as Emission Hazard. The major pollutants in the
atmosphere are:
1. Carbon monoxide
From incomplete combustion of fuels.
2. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide
From industrial and vehicular exhaust,
3. Chlorofluorocarbons
CFCs, refrigerant discharges
4. Mercury emissions
From industries, fluorescent lamps and the burning of
coal
5. Carbon dioxide
Fossil fuel burning and greenhouse gas

8. Emission Hazard contd…
8
6. Methane gas
Cow farming, landfill emissions and natural sources,
greenhouse gas,
7. Volatile organic compounds
From fuel vapours, solvent, paint, etc
8. Particulate Matters (PM 2.5, PM 10)
9. Ozone
Which is bad at low altitudes and does not survive to
replenish the high altitude ozone layer which protects us
from UV light

9. 9

10. 10

11. 11
Automotive Pollution:-
Local Pollution:
Direct Toxins: CO, NOX, Ozone, Benzene, Toluene etc
Regional Pollution: Atmospheric Formation
Smog, haze, ozone, Nitric acid
Global Pollution
Ozone layer depletion, Global warming, Global Cooling
CO2, CH4, Sulphates, CFCs

12. 12
Automotive Pollution:-
Local Pollution: It is simply the direct exposure to the
evaporated fuel and tailpipe pollution which has direct
toxic effects on people.
Regional Pollution: It is the result of many cars
operating in a region and their overall pollution level
building up enough that air chemistry reactions between
those pollutants produce new pollutant.
Global Pollution: Global pollution is mostly concerned
with global warming and ozone layer depletion. TO
reduce global warming, you mostly want to make
processes more efficient and use less C in your fuel.

13. 13
Health Impacts of Common Pollutants
 Carbon Monoxide(CO) affects especially persons with
heart disease.
 Unburned hydrocarbons has serious health problems and
it causes suffering from lungs diseases, asthma, or
emphysema.
 Nitrogen oxides(NOX) is linked to a wide range of
respiratory problems; cough, runny nose and sore throat.
 Ozone can cause chest pain, coughing, and shortness of
breath
 Lead exposure will lead to the decrease in intelligence.
 Particulate matter can cause respiratory and
cardiovascular disease etc.

14. 14
Internal Combustion Engine(ICE)
It is a heat engine where the combustion of fuel occurs with
an oxidizer in a high temperature and high pressure gases
produced by combustion applies direct force to some
component of engine.
Complete combustion of fuel gives:
Fuel(HC) + Air (Oxygen+Nitrogen) CO2+H2O+unaffected Nitrogen
Incomplete combustion of fuel gives:
Fuel + Air  Unburnt HC + NOX + CO + SOX + …
Types of Engine:
Reciprocating
Rotory

15. 15
Causes of Motor Vehicle Pollution
1. Improper Maintenance
•Low quality parts
•No culture of preventive maintenance
•Lack of skills, equipments, etc.
2. Poor Transport Infrastructure and road conditions
3. Fraud and corruption
4. Driving habits
5. Tampering(Poor Performance)

16. 16
Vehicular emission control strategies
 Appropriate vehicle emission standard for new and in-use
vehicle
 Set stringent emission standards for registration of new
vehicles.
 Require use of cleaner fuel.
 Require mandatory periodic inspection
 Take stringent enforcement actions.

17. 17
Duel Fuel Engines
Natural gas can be durned in diesel engine by mixing it with
the intake air. The injectd diesel fuel in the combustion
chamber serves to ignite the natural gas. About 30-40 % of the
total energy is supplied by diesel and rest is being supplied by
natural gas.
Advantage: NOX and PM are reduced.
Disadvantage: High Cost
An electric vehicle(EV) also referred to as an electric drive
vehicle uses one or more electric motors or traction motors for
propulsion. AN electric vehicle may be powered through a
collcetor system by electricity from off vehicle sources, or
may be self contained with a battery , solar panels or a
generators to convert fuel to electricity.
Electric Vehicles

18. 18
Duel Fuel Engines
Advantages: No tailpipe emissions
Disadvantages:
•Substantial electrical energy cost
•High initial cost
•Batteries are heavy and occupy a lot of room
•Acceleration is poor
A hybrid vehicles uses two or more distinct types of power
sources such as internal combustion engine plus electric
motor. Eg: diesel electric trains
Advantages:
•Very low emission
•Greater Range
•Better acceleration
Hybrid Vehicles

19. Fuel Cell Vehicles
19
A fuel cell vehicles is a type of electric vehicle which uses a
fuel cell instead of a battery, or in combination with a battery
or superconductor to power its onboard electric motor.
Advantage:
•No vehicle emission
Disadvantage:
•Very expensive
Causes of SMOKY diesel vehicles:
Improper air-fuel ratio.
Incorrect fuel injection timing.
Inadequate intake.

20. Battery Hazards:
20
There are four main hazards associated with batteries:
a) Battery acid
b) Flammable gases
c) Electrical shock
d) Weight
Protection:
a) Goggles
b) Face shield
c) Rubber globes
d) Rubber apron
e) Recharge in safe location

21. Nuclear Hazards:
21
Risk or danger to human health or the environment posed
by radiation emanating from the atomic nuclei of a given
substance of the possibility of an uncontrolled explosion
originating from a fusion of fission reaction of atomic
nuclei is called nuclear hazard.
Nuclear Fusion: A nuclear reaction in which atomic nuclei
of low atomic number fuse to form a heavier nucleus with
the release of energy is called nuclear fusion.
Nuclear Fission: A nuclear reaction in which a heavy
nucleus split spontaneously or on impact with another
particle with the release of energy.

22. Sources of Nuclear Radiations:
22
Natural Sources:
Cosmic rays from outer space
Radiactive r
Soil, rocks, air, water.
Anthropogenic sources:
Nuclear power plants
Nuclear accidents
X rays
Diagnostic kits
Test laboratories

23. Physiological effects of Nuclear reactions:
23
1. Decrease in count of White Blood Cells
2. Mild radiation sickness
 Nausea and Vomiting
 Headache
 Fatigue
 Weakness
3. Moderate radiation sickness
 Fever
 Hair Loss
 Vomiting blood
 Bloody stool
 Poor wound healing
4. Severe radiation sickness
Diarrhoea, High Fever, 50% fatality

24. Physiological effects of Nuclear reactions: contd…
24
5. Very Severe radiation sickness
 Dizziness
 Disorientation
 Low blood pressure
 >50% fatality
6. Long term or chronic radiation effects
 Genetic mutations
 Tumors
 Cancer
 Birth defects
 Cataracts etc

25. Control of radioactive pollution
25
 Protection against radiation exposure
 Distance from the source
 Time of exposure
 Shielding
 Using lab hoods, air filters, eliminating dry sweeping.
 Use of respirators.

26. THANK YOU !!!