Diesel automobiles are a popular choice for these trying to purchase a used automobile in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. In any case, diesel automobiles value much less to take care of, burn much less gas, and have an extended engine life. Though 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 cut 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 treasured metals.
Trying to make alternative filters extra environmentally pleasant and inexpensive, a group of engineering college students from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, in Dhaka, designed a carbon-based model with bamboo. The Inexperienced Warriors thought received the US $300 prize for greatest influence within the IEEE Women in Engineering Big Idea Pitch competition. The competition’s aim is to encourage feminine engineering college students and researchers to grow to be extra entrepreneurial as a approach to enhance the variety of technical startups led by ladies.
“We discovered that previous diesel automobiles are a big contributor to CO₂ emissions, and we needed to do one thing about that,” group chief Tasmiah Afrin mentioned in an e-mail interview.
“Our groundbreaking activated-carbon-based filter represents a big leap ahead in environmental and financial effectivity,” {the electrical} engineering pupil added. “The filters can quickly and successfully seize carbon-based gases from automobile emissions, contributing to instant enhancements in air high quality and decreased carbon emissions.”
A carbon-based particulate filter
Diesel engines produce extra polluting particulate matter than gasoline engines. As a result of the particles are so small, they’ll move simply via a catalytic converter, which is designed to scale back a automobile’s poisonous emissions. Diesel particulate filters due to this fact are put in within the exhaust system, usually on the exit of the catalytic converter. The preferred sort forces the exhaust via a ceramic honeycomb construction coated with a skinny layer containing a treasured steel corresponding to platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
“Our undertaking,” Afrin says, “is predicated on a modified air filter for incoming air into the catalytic converter.”
The Inexperienced 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 move 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 supply a exceptional 5 to 7 p.c value effectivity enchancment in comparison with current filters, making them a cheaper answer for carbon seize in automobile exhaust techniques,” she says. “Not solely are they cost-efficient, however additionally they boast a powerful absorption pace. This implies the filters can quickly and successfully seize carbon-based greenhouse gases from automobile emissions, contribute to instant enhancements in air high quality and scale back carbon emissions.”
She says she believes the group’s diesel particulate filter would value lower than a present filter, which due to its precious-metal content material can value a number of thousand U.S. {dollars}.
A system for changing filters
The filters are only one a part of the group’s imaginative and prescient for lowering auto emissions. The scholars’ pitch additionally included a transport-management system they’d construct known as CarGreenTech and its accompanying smartphone app. Utilizing the app, homeowners of older diesel automobiles might buy the alternative filter or prepare for one to be put in. An alternative choice could be for CarGreenTech to purchase the older automotive, outfit it with a brand new filter, and resell the automobile. The aim is to increase the life of those older automobiles, Afrin says.
“CarGreenTech is a platform to make current automobiles extra climate-positive—which gives an all-in-one answer,” Afrin says. “It captures carbon from the diesel engine exhaust by using layered lively carbon filters, upcycling older automotive components via a automotive shopping for/promoting/upgrading business-to-business and business-to-consumer answer.” A motivator for student-led startups
The group additionally consists of 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 lately graduated from the college with a level in electrical engineering.
The group’s mentor was IEEE Member Toufiqur Rahman Shuvo, a lecturer on the college.
The scholars are all members of the IEEE pupil department on the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology.
“IEEE WIE has a terrific influence on giving motivation to pupil startups like us,” Afrin says. “Coming into the IEEE WIE pitch competitors was one in every of our greatest selections. We have been tremendously 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 corporate helps initiatives that intention to contribute to a greener, extra sustainable future.