IIT Bombay Innovates with Alternative Cooking Fuel Amid Growing Energy Concerns
MUMBAI: Amid escalating fuel prices and the apprehension of potential LPG shortages, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay remains steadfast and optimistic.
This resilience is underpinned by a proprietary answer that enables its campus kitchens to continue operations during gas crises.
By harnessing its patented biomass gasification technology, the institute has adeptly transformed fallen leaves into a sustainable cooking fuel.
The endeavor, as elucidated in a recent post on IIT Bombay’s official social media account, is the culmination of extensive research efforts spanning a decade.
Initiated in 2014 under the guidance of Professor Sanjay Mahajani from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the project originally aimed to address the disposal of substantial amounts of dry leaf waste prevalent on the institute’s verdant campus.
“Given the considerable green cover on campus, managing this waste posed a significant challenge. Thus, we embarked on a pathway to convert dry waste into usable energy,” Mahajani articulated.
However, the path to innovation was fraught with challenges. “Initial experiments were characterized by excessive smoke, operational challenges, and skepticism from kitchen personnel,” the post detailed.
A pivotal obstacle arose from the formation of clinkers—solid residues that obstructed conventional systems. Undeterred, the research team persevered, fine-tuning their technology. By 2016, they unveiled a patented gasifier, which significantly mitigated clinker formation, enhancing both practicality and efficacy.
In 2017, Professor Sandeep Kumar from the Department of Energy Science and Engineering joined the initiative, concentrating on the design of an improved burner.
The institute’s Living Lab initiative provided an avenue for real-time testing on campus, facilitating the resolution of safety concerns and rebuilding confidence among users.
After a year of rigorous trials and advancements, the system was effectively implemented in the staff canteen by 2024.
Currently, the canteen operates with a notable reduction of 30% to 40% in LPG consumption, achieving about 60% thermal efficiency accompanied by significantly low emissions.
This pioneering technology not only lowers fuel expenditures but also safeguards cooking activities from interruptions caused by LPG supply disruptions.
- Annual reduction of approximately eight tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
- Plans are in motion to install larger units in hostel messes, potentially decreasing LPG consumption and realizing annual savings of up to ₹50 lakh while simultaneously curtailing hundreds of tonnes of carbon emissions.
Professor Sandeep Kumar remarked, The system is exceptionally versatile, capable of utilizing various forms of dry waste, including non-recyclable materials.
Our team has developed both the gasifier and burner in-house, with aspirations to extend its application beyond academic institutions to industries and large-scale culinary operations. The objective is to diminish reliance on LPG and present a cleaner, more economical energy alternative.
In addition to this endeavor, IIT Bombay operates a biomethanation facility that processes roughly two tonnes of wet kitchen waste daily.
Established in 2019 with the backing of alumni from the 1990 cohort, this plant converts organic waste into energy, bolstering the institute’s commitment to sustainable and self-reliant waste-to-energy solutions.
Source link: Hindustantimes.com.
