Diesel vehicles are a well-liked alternative for these trying to purchase a used automobile in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. After all, diesel vehicles value much less to keep up, burn much less gasoline, and have an extended engine life. Although the pollutant emissions of a diesel engine are lower than these of a gasoline one, it nonetheless emits carcinogens, nitrous oxides, and soot. Older fashions don’t even have the emission-control options that newer ones do.
To scale back emissions, diesel automobiles use filters that catch exhaust particles and different contaminants. The filters can value 1000’s of {dollars} to switch, nonetheless, as a result of they’re made with valuable metals.
Looking to make substitute filters extra environmentally pleasant and reasonably priced, a workforce of engineering college students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, in Dhaka, designed a carbon-based model with bamboo. The Green Warriors concept received the US $300 prize for greatest affect within the IEEE Women in Engineering Big Idea Pitch competitors. The contest’s purpose is to encourage feminine engineering college students and researchers to change into extra entrepreneurial as a method to increase the variety of technical startups led by girls.
“We found that old diesel cars are a significant contributor to CO₂ emissions, and we wanted to do something about that,” workforce chief Tasmiah Afrin mentioned in an electronic mail interview.
“Our groundbreaking activated-carbon-based filter represents a significant leap forward in environmental and economic efficiency,” {the electrical} engineering scholar added. “The filters can rapidly and effectively capture carbon-based gases from vehicle emissions, contributing to immediate improvements in air quality and reduced carbon emissions.”
A carbon-based particulate filter
Diesel engines produce extra polluting particulate matter than fuel engines. Because the particles are so small, they will cross simply via a catalytic converter, which is designed to cut back a automobile’s poisonous emissions. Diesel particulate filters subsequently are put in within the exhaust system, usually on the exit of the catalytic converter. The hottest kind forces the exhaust via a ceramic honeycomb construction coated with a skinny layer containing a valuable steel akin to platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
“Our project,” Afrin says, “is based on a modified air filter for incoming air into the catalytic converter.”
The Green Warriors’ prototype filter is constituted of bamboo and makes use of carbon granules to additional scale back emissions.
Activated carbon granules in an absorption chamber and metallic mesh type the filters, Afrin says. Gases cross via both double or a number of chambers. Their prototype is extra aerodynamic and light-weight than current designs used for carbon filters, Afrin says.
“These filters offer a remarkable 5 to 7 percent cost efficiency improvement compared to existing filters, making them a more cost-effective solution for carbon capture in vehicle exhaust systems,” she says. “Not only are they cost-efficient, but they also boast an impressive absorption speed. This means the filters can rapidly and effectively capture carbon-based greenhouse gases from vehicle emissions, contribute to immediate improvements in air quality and reduce carbon emissions.”
She says she believes the workforce’s diesel particulate filter would value lower than a present filter, which due to its precious-metal content material can value just a few thousand U.S. {dollars}.
A system for changing filters
The filters are only one a part of the workforce’s imaginative and prescient for decreasing auto emissions. The college students’ pitch additionally included a transport-management system they might construct referred to as AutomotiveGreenTech and its accompanying smartphone app. Using the app, homeowners of older diesel vehicles might buy the substitute filter or organize for one to be put in. Another choice can be for AutomotiveGreenTech to purchase the older automobile, outfit it with a brand new filter, and resell the automobile. The purpose is to increase the life of those older automobiles, Afrin says.
“CarGreenTech is a platform to make existing vehicles more climate-positive—which provides an all-in-one solution,” Afrin says. “It captures carbon from the diesel engine exhaust by utilizing layered active carbon filters, upcycling older car parts through a car buying/selling/upgrading business-to-business and business-to-consumer solution.” A motivator for student-led startups
The workforce additionally contains Ishman Tasnim, Fahmida Sultana Naznin, and Nusrat Subah Shakhawat. Tasnim is learning industrial and manufacturing engineering, and Naznin is pursuing a level in laptop science and engineering. Shakhawat just lately graduated from the college with a level in electrical engineering.
The workforce’s mentor was IEEE Member Toufiqur Rahman Shuvo, a lecturer on the college.
The college students are all members of the IEEE scholar department on the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
“IEEE WIE has a great impact on giving motivation to student startups like us,” Afrin says. “Entering the IEEE WIE pitch competition was one of our best decisions. We were greatly motivated by the judges and getting an award for our work.”
The IEEE WIE competitors was sponsored by the IEEE Life Members Committee and Smart WTI, a supplier of IoT/synthetic water administration options. The firm helps initiatives that purpose to contribute to a greener, extra sustainable future.