Agricultural Energy & Power Division

 XIth Plan Research Thrust Areas

Liquid fuel from biomass (bio-diesel, bio-oil, alcohol)
Thermo chemical conversion of biomass
Energy utilization and management of farm power sources

Ongoing Research Activities

Value Chain On Biomass Based Decentralization  Power Generation For Agro-Enterprises

Development of a packed bed heat storage system couple with a solar dryer

Development of entrained gasifier based electrircity generation system

Development of fast pyrolyser for agro residues

Investigations on use of ethanol-bio-diesel stable blend as substitute fuel to diesel engines

Self-sustainable energy management for medium size dairy farm through biogas generation from dairy waste

Development of a system for purification and storage of biogas for engine application

Studies on generation of bio-char from different crop residues

Investigation of greenhouse gas emissions in different energy conversion processes for efficient utilization of surplus crop residues

Environmental impact assessment of different energy conversion processes for efficient utilization of surplus crop residues (NICRA Project)

 

                                     XI Plan Significant Achievements

Laboratories and Equipment

 Solar Tunnel Dryer : Suitable for batch drying of horticultural produce such as Aonla.  The modular concept used in the dryer facilitates easy transport and installation with enhanced capacity.  Solar photovoltaic (SPV) operated axial flow fans push hot air over absorber.  The dryer is covered with 200 micron thick translucent ultra-violet stabilized polyethylene film and has a capacity of 250-300 kg/batch.

Family size solid-state biogas plant for cattle dung of 2, 3 and 4 m³ capacity have been finalized and submitted to the concerned ministry for release.

Natural draft gasifier of 100 kW is used for thermal application.  The specific gasification rate varied from 105 to 117 kg/h-m².

Charring  and briquetting system has been developed to convert agricultural residues to smokeless briquetted fuel.  A fuel efficient cook stove for briquettes has also been developed.

Solar tracking device automatically tracks the solar photovoltaic panel and enhances the solar energy collection by 30%.  It can also be adopted for concentrating collectors.

Biogas plant spent slurry filtering system reduces the moisture content of filtrate and enables easy handling of slurry.  The leachate can be used repeatedly, saving input water.

Tractor seat design based on anthropometric date of Indian agricultural workers has been optimized to enhance operator’s comfort. These findings are being recommended to tractor manufacturers.

Bio-fuel production through methylesterification of karanj and jatropha oils has been optimized with various parameters for production of methylester. 

Technologies

Bio-fuel production through methylesterification

Tractor control locations

Dimensions of tractor control levers/pedals

Laboratories under the Division

Bio-fuel Laboratory

FTIR diesel analyzer

Flash point apparatus – continuous closed cup type

Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA)

Viscosity meter

Flame photometer

Gas Chromotograph

Bomb-calorimeter

Data logger

Farm Power Laboratory

Eddy current based dynamometer for IC engine upto 2 kW

AW-PTO dynamometer (Tractor in stationary condition)

3-point digitizer

ORAS- Make vibration measuring instrument

Flue gas analyzer 

Electrical power measuring equipment (Fluke make)

Noise vibration measuring equipment (B&K make)

 Energy Enclave

Briquetting machine

Charring Kiln

Gasifiers

Bio-gas plants

IC engine running with biogas (100%)

Solar tracker

Solar dryers

Improved sigris