Algae as alternative fuel
- 1. ALGAE AS AN ALTERNATE FUEL BY M.KARTHIGAI BALA K.PRAVIN
- 2. Abstract Due to the increase in population in today’s date the consumption of fossil fuel such as coal, crude oil has reached its top. The increase in use of non-renewable energy source such as fossil fuel has increased the problems of demand and supply. Now India is experiencing negative economic balance for the past few decades which makes India to purchase our needs from foreign country. Is there any way to fulfil our needs by our self? These can be fulfilled by using algae as a fuel. (There are many methods for extracting oil from algae. Algal fuel or algal bio fuel is an alternative to fossil fuel. Several foreign countries and companies are investing money on research based on algal fuel production. The fuel prepared from algae has been tested and it works successfully. It can be used as a substitute for gasoline and jet fuel) so the production of algae can be recommended.
- 3. Introduction Due to the increase in population level and use of vehicles increased the consumption of crude oil. India has a negative energy balance for the past few decades which has resulted in the need to purchase energy from the foreign countries. The ministry of India has set an Agenda to fulfill the entire energy need of the country. Algae are a branching-green macro algae found commonly along the Coastline of the Great Lakes. The algae grow on submerged rocks, logs, or other hard surfaces. And washes on shore when wind and waves detach it from the lake bottom. The algae are useful and is a part of the food web in the aquatic ecosystem.
- 4. Algal blooms are the exponential decay of all types of algae that can either be Toxic or non-toxic. Satellite image of a 2004 harmful algal bloom in Lake Erie. By developing specific tools and information for areas of the country, including the Gulf of Mexico, Great Lakes, Northeast, Pacific Coast, Mid-Atlantic/Southeast, and Caribbean/Pacific Islands, NOS is able to advance management capabilities in dealing with all major HAB(Harmful algal bloom) threats. There are many ways that causes algal bloom. They are nutrients, temperature, light and turbidity.
- 5. Algae-Alternative energy source Algal fuel or algal bio fuel is an alternative to fossil fuel. Universities which have been researching into the benefits of the algae energy source, have all come to the same conclusion that that algae energy source can replace oil-based fuels. It just needs more time to be properly developed and perfected, after which the algae renewable energy source may well become widely used. Algal fuel is extremely a versatile source of energy. Algal fuel releases cool CO2 which does not affect the environment as fossil fuel affects.
- 6. When it comes to transportation energy and energy for industrial Technological needs, this renewable energy source can be converted into a number of different bio fuels, such as bio diesel, bio ethanol, bio butanol , bio methanol, and various other kinds of bio fuels. Several companies and government agencies are funding to reduce capital and operating cost and make the algae fuel production commercially viable.
- 7. Transesterification of algal fuel into bio fuel The algal oil is extracted from the algae by 1: mechanical method 2: chemical method. The process of converting algae or vegetable into biodiesel fuel is called transesterification and is not a complex process as it sounds. Transesterification refers to the reaction between ester of one alcohol with the second alcohol to form the product of ester of second alcohol and original ester from the second alcohol. Transesterification of algal oil is done by adding ethanol and sodium ethanolate as catalyst with algal oil. Ethanol reacts withal gal oil to give the by-product as biodiesel and glycerol.
- 8. The products are added with ether and saltwater .After sometime they are divided into two layer that is the ether and biodiesel . The ether is removed by vaporised under high vacuum. The ether gets vaporised and biodiesel is ready to use.
- 9. Potential of algae as fuel source Over 80% of the energy we use comes from three fossil fuels: petroleum, coal, and natural gas. About 98% of carbon emissions result from fossil fuel combustion. Reducing the use of fossil fuels would significantly reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and other pollutants produced. This can be achieved by either using less energy altogether or by replacing fossil fuel by renewable fuels. Renewable energy is a promising alternative solution because it fixes CO2 in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. They also produce lower or negligible levels of greenhouse gases and other pollutants when compared with the fossil energy sources they replace.
- 10. Oil content of some microalgae strains: Algae, like corn, soybeans, sugar cane, wood, and other plants, use photosynthesis to convert solar energy into chemical energy. They store this energy in the form of oils, carbohydrates, and proteins. The plant oil can be converted to biodiesel, which is why biodiesel is a form of solar energy. The more efficient a particular plant is at converting that solar energy into chemical energy, the better it is from a biodiesel perspective, and algae are among the most photosynthetically efficient plants on earth.
- 11. Cultivation of algae Algal strains are grown and maintained on several scales depending on the application. Several methods exist for the cultivation of algae .These methods can generally be divided into two categories, open-pond system and closed bioreactor tanks. Open pond system : Open pond systems offer an agricultural based approach to the growth and cultivation of algae. The pond channels can be constructed out of low cost materials and operated over large areas.
- 12. Closed pond system : Bioreactor tanks provide a controlled environment to optimize growth conditions and generate high yields of algal cells. Environmental conditions such as light, temperature, aeration, and culture density can be precisely maintained in an indoor environment and the sealed vessel minimizes the risk of contamination.
- 13. Research on algae bio fuel The US department of energy has awarded more than $22 million in investment for projects to develop algal research. Four projects in California, Hawaii and New Mexico are awarded a total of $16.5 million to accelerate development of research. Bengal takes the lead in the production of algae. Arizona public service commission Spend $70.5million fund on a project that turns carbon di-oxide emission from a coal power plant into a bio fuel using algae. Canada spent $25 million fund on algae to crop the plants.
- 14. Useful aspects of algae The fuel prepared from algae can be used as a substitute for gasoline and jet fuel. It is used in the recycling of waste water from industries. Algae powder can be used as a fertilizer and it can be used as a feed for animal. Algal lamps need no electricity for illumination. Algae also produce hydrogen which is a fuel for future. It is a good reflector of sunlight. If algae is mixed with paint and used for painting it acts as a good reflector and keeps the resident cool. The concept of producing two products says electricity and fuel is called cogeneration. (The project is going on in north eastern Arizona at 995 megawatt cholla power plant) It has lot of valuable sources it should be used properly it has its own excellence in all the fields starting from simple field to higher fields
- 15. Conclusion Algae-based bio fuel definitely has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry and play a leading role in fight against greenhouse gas emissions, and climate change. Several foreign countries had already involved in the production of algae fuel. But India being second populated country, it should concentrate more in the production of algae bio fuel in order to create a pollution free environment around the world. Bio fuels production from algae definitely deserves more attention in years to come. Energy demand will not decrease in years to come, it will only become bigger, and we will definitely need more fuel, regardless of how dominant fossil fuels will be in the future.
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