Diesel automobiles are a common selection for these seeking to purchase a used car in Asia, Europe, and elsewhere. In any case, diesel automobiles value much less to keep up, 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 scale back emissions, diesel autos use filters that catch exhaust particles and different contaminants. The filters can value hundreds of {dollars} to exchange, nevertheless, as a result of they’re made with treasured metals.
Seeking to make substitute filters extra environmentally pleasant and inexpensive, a staff of engineering college students from the Bangladesh College of Engineering and Expertise, in Dhaka, designed a carbon-based model with bamboo. The Inexperienced Warriors thought received the US $300 prize for greatest impression within the IEEE Ladies in Engineering Massive Concept Pitch competitors. The competition’s aim is to encourage feminine engineering college students and researchers to develop into extra entrepreneurial as a approach to enhance the variety of technical startups led by girls.
“We discovered that outdated diesel automobiles are a big contributor to CO₂ emissions, and we wished to do one thing about that,” staff chief Tasmiah Afrin mentioned in an e mail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 car emissions, contributing to speedy 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 will cross simply by means of a catalytic converter, which is designed to scale back a car’s poisonous emissions. Diesel particulate filters subsequently are put in within the exhaust system, usually on the exit of the catalytic converter. The preferred sort forces the exhaust by means of a ceramic honeycomb construction coated with a skinny layer containing a treasured steel similar to platinum, palladium, or rhodium.
“Our venture,” Afrin says, “relies on a modified air filter for incoming air into the catalytic converter.”
The Inexperienced Warriors’ prototype filter is produced from 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 by means of both double or a number of chambers. Their prototype is extra aerodynamic and light-weight than present designs used for carbon filters, Afrin says.
“These filters provide a exceptional 5 to 7 p.c value effectivity enchancment in comparison with present filters, making them a cheaper resolution for carbon seize in car exhaust methods,” 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 car emissions, contribute to speedy enhancements in air high quality and scale back carbon emissions.”
She says she believes the staff’s diesel particulate filter would value lower than a present filter, which due to its precious-metal content material can value a couple of thousand U.S. {dollars}.
A system for changing filters
The filters are only one a part of the staff’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, house owners of older diesel automobiles might buy the substitute filter or prepare for one to be put in. An alternative choice can be for CarGreenTech to purchase the older automotive, outfit it with a brand new filter, and resell the car. The aim is to increase the life of those older autos, Afrin says.
“CarGreenTech is a platform to make present autos extra climate-positive—which gives an all-in-one resolution,” Afrin says. “It captures carbon from the diesel engine exhaust by using layered energetic carbon filters, upcycling older automotive components by means of a automotive shopping for/promoting/upgrading business-to-business and business-to-consumer resolution.” A motivator for student-led startups
The staff 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 staff’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 College of Engineering and Expertise.
“IEEE WIE has a fantastic impression on giving motivation to pupil startups like us,” Afrin says. “Getting into the IEEE WIE pitch competitors was one among our greatest choices. We had 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 Sensible WTI, a supplier of IoT/synthetic water administration options. The corporate helps initiatives that goal to contribute to a greener, extra sustainable future.
