Sonam Rana updated Content Curator updated
Content Curator updated
New Delhi: Researchers from IIT Delhi Department of Energy Science and Engineering (DESE), Indian Oil Corporation (IOC R&D) and Ashok Leyland Ltc. have managed to develop a technology that enables a diesel-powered automotive vehicle to run in the flex fuel mode .
The researchers used this technology to convert a diesel-powered automotive vehicle into a flex fuel (100% diesel or Dimethyl Ether and Diesel mode) on a pilot basis. This flex fuel technology based vehicle DOST was jointly launched on April 8, 2022 at IIT Delhi by Dr. SSV Ramakumar, Director (R&D), Shri Krishnan Sadagopan, Senior Vice President, Ashok Leyland, Professor Sunil Kumar Khare, Dean R&D, IIT Delhi, Professor K. A. Subramanian, Head, DESE, in the presence of other stakeholders.
The flex fuel engine technology for the usage of DME is developed by IIT Delhi and IOC R&D undertook the responsibility of field trials tests and developed the engine oil with the technical support from Ashok Leyland. The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, funded the project.
About DME:
DME is one of the alternative fuels to compression ignition engines or vehicles as it has a higher cetane number (58) than that of the conventional diesel (51). It can be produced from Biomass, Coal, Industrial Wastes, Municipal Solid Wastes, Black Liquor (pulp product) through gasification and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis process. The other ways are Catalytic Dehydration of Methanol.
The product is stored in liquid and phase change from liquid to vapour or gas can easily occur.
“DME fuel is injected into the intake manifold of the engine, and diesel is directly injected into the engine cylinder. The CRDI system controls both diesel and DME fuel injection with respect to the load. The engine/vehicle operates with the optimum DME energy share without a knock”, as stated by Professor K. Subramanian, regarding the flex fuel automotive vehicle technology.
Key Highlights of the Technology:
Here are some of the key highlights of the technology developed by IIT Delhi, IOC R&D and Ashok Leyland:
- Flex Fuel Vehicle Technology (These vehicles can run both modes: either 100% diesel or DME-Diesel mode)
- The transition of diesel trucks from conventional diesel to DME as an alternative, eco-friendly fuel (First phase as Flex Fuel Vehicle; Second Phase as dedicated 100% DME/alternative fuelled vehicle)
- Less or negligible smoke/soot/PM emission
- Lower noise with smoother engine/vehicle operation
- Improvement in the transient engine performance
- Enhancement of energy security
- Sustainable environment as there is substantial reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emission
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