In large scale utilisation of biodiesel as a traction fuel for Indian Railways

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In large scale utilisation of biodiesel as a
traction fuel for Indian Railways
Policy Considerations
Government of India Ministry of Railways
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Introduction

• Approx two billion litres of diesel fuel are
  consumed annually by nearly 4,000 freight and
  passenger locomotives in the Indian Railway fleet
• The annual expenditure of Indian Railways on
  diesel fuel is approx Rs.4400 Crore
• Biodiesel blended with petrodiesel can serve as
  an alternate fuel

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Diesel Loco fleet of Indian Railways

• Indian Railways operate around 4000 Diesel
  Locomotives.

• Around 100-120 locos are added to the fleet every
  year

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Biodiesel Key Advantages
Mainstream Alternative
Renewable - vegetable oil derived
Simple to make
Carbon Neutral 78 life cycle decrease in CO2
Used directly in unmodified diesel engines
Non-toxic
Less noxious - fuel exhaust emissions
Used neat or blended in any ratio with petroleum
diesel
Higher Lubricity - can prolong engine life
Biodegradable
High flashpoint - safer to store transport
Dramatically reduced emissions
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Policy Map
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Anticipated savings of HSD and Annual requirement
of Biodiesel
Thus if B10 blend is used by IR, then 200 million
liters of diesel shall be required annually.
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Land requirement

• Land availability with Indian Railways 44000 ha
• Ministry of Rural development plans for large
  scale plantation of Jatropha curcas 4 Lakh ha
  of wastelands
• Land availability through Intercropping

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Raw material

• Non-edible oils
• Jatropha Curcas (Ratanjyot),Pongamia Pinata
  (Karanj), Shorea Robusta (Sal), Mahua, Neem,
  Rubber, Tree Seed Oil, etc. etc.
• Production of non-edible oils(Linseed, Castor) in
  India 400 thousand tons
• Waste vegetable oils
• Lard/ Other waste animal fats
• Imported oils
• Surplus edible oils(??)
• Biomass - BTL

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Quality

• Standards
• IS 156072005
• ASTM D 6751
• EN 14214
• Test Laboratories
• IOC(RD)
• RDSO
• IIP
• IICT
• Others
• Private Sector

• Problems
• Long term stability
• Compatibility with natural rubber, plastics
• Purity is process dependent
• Pour point is high
• Special equipments for certain parameters

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American Initiative
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY GOALS

• Dramatically reduce, or even end,dependence on
  foreign oil.

• Speed the creation of a domestic Bio-Industry

• To establish commercial Bio-refinery technology
  by 2010

• Biomass oils can displace upto 10 billion
  gallons of petroleum
• by 2030. Incentives and mandates likely.

• R D Product Schedule in 6 areas

- Bio- distillation process optimisation
2006 - 2008
- Improved oil extraction technology
2006 - 2008
- Develop industrial products from meal
2007 - 2011
- Improved glycerine refinery technology
2009 - 2011
- Co-products from glycerin
2011 - 2015
- Develop close loop oil producing
micro-organisms 2011 - 2015
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European Scenario

• European Union is the world leader in Biodiesel
  production
• 1.4 million tons of biodiesel is produced in EU
• Directive 2003/30 on the promotion of biofuels,
  setting a target of 2 market penetration in 2005
  and a 5.75 in 2010
• Directive 2003/96 on biofuels detaxation
• Energy Crops scheme under the Common Agricultural
  policy
• Sweden, Spain, Poland and Germany have new
  legislations for biodiesel
• Legislative drafts in Netherlands, Belgium, UK
  etc.
• Investment is increasing and the average size of
  the biodiesel production units is getting larger

- Develop close loop oil producing
micro-organisms 2011 - 2015
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Government of India policies required in areas of

• Financial and fiscal incentives
• Tax and duties structure
• Subsidies
• Knowledge banks
• Financial assistance
• Micro-credit
• National Biofuels Development Board
• Core groups on Technology development

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Research Development

• Plantation methods
• Generative Propagation
• Vegetative Propagation
• Drip Irrigation
• High yield plants 160 types of Genus Jatropha
• Heterogeneous transesterification, 2nd generation
  conversion methods
• Quality Control
• Engine Studies/ Optimisation
• Field trial
• Engine Development Experiments
• New Raw Materials
• Algae, Fungi etc.
• Biomass

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Contract Management

• Public Private Partnership
• Vendor selection procedures
• ISO TS 16949
• Jurans 16-step vendor development procedure,
  etc.
• Market friendly contract conditions
• Reduction of delay points
• In synchronisation with International practices

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Business Process Management

• Steering Committee
• Project monitoring committee
• Identification of processes
• Reengineering of processes
• Process Owners
• Adequate Financial powers
• Obsolescence of departmental working
• Project Management

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MoU with IOC - salient features

• Signed in February 2003 for a period of 15 years
• Railways has offered about 500 hectare land to
  IOC for plantation of jatropha curcas
• 81 hectares are under plantation and normal yield
  expected from 2008
• IOC will take up plantation, extraction,
  transesterification
• IR will use bio diesel supplied by IOC
• Starting with 1-5 bio diesel Indian Railways
  will go upto 20 depending on field experience

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Current Status

• MOU with IOC signed
• Engine experimentation with imported Soya based
  biodiesel completed
• Limited Field trials with imported soya based
  biodiesel undertaken
• Two Diesel Multiple units being run on B5 blend
  in Southern Railway
• Large scale Field trials under progress in
  Northern Railway
• Two biodiesel production plants set-up in
  Southern Railway and South-Eastern Railway
• Plantation of Jatropha taken up in Kharagpur
  division of South-Eastern Railway

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Testing in RDSO

• Bio diesel was tested on the test bed at Engine
  Development Directorate of RDSO

3100 hp engine under test at RDSO
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Engine development studies
Brake Specific Fuel Consumption with biodiesel
blends
Thermal Efficiency with biodiesel blends
NOx emissions with biodiesel blends
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Shatabdi Express Trial

• Indian Railways tried a 5 blend of bio diesel on
  a WDM2C locomotive to haul the prestigious
  Shatabdi express (2013) from New Delhi to
  Amritsar on 31st Dec, 2002.
• Hauling Capacity No adverse effect was observed
  during the run in terms of haulage capacity etc.
• Filters No unusual deposits were noticed on the
  filter surface.
• Fuel Injection System The fuel injection pumps
  and injector nozzles were also found in
  satisfactory condition.

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Future

• Setting up of pilot biodiesel plant at RDSO with
  heterogeneous catalyst technology
• Biodiesel plants in Zonal Railways
• Well to wheel project for biodiesel at RDSO
• Transesterification with multiple stocks
• Engine studies and optimisation with multi-stock
  biodiesel, Jatropha, Karanja, etc.
• Development of Industry for production of
  biodiesel
• Implementation of B10/B20 blended biodiesel on
  whole fleet of diesel locomotives

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Expectations from the Industry

• Participate in biofuel plantation, Indian
  Railways have already called for Expression of
  Interest for 44000 ha land with IR
• Extraction, storage and logistics facilities
  development
• Import of cheaper non-edible oils without
  adversely impacting the local agricultural
  interests
• Quality control facilities development under a
  central monitoring body
• Develop heterogeneous other 2nd generation
  biodiesel production facilities
• Annual requirement of IR is 400 m liters of
  biodiesel per year with B20 blend and expected to
  go up if higher blends are used
• Supply of biodiesel at a reasonable cost
• Supply the IS 15607 quality biodiesel to IOC who
  shall supply blended biodiesel to IR, a
  tripartite contract between IR, IOC and Industry
• Ensure sustained supply of biodiesel

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Conclusion

• Bio diesel can be used in medium-speed diesel
  engines Optimisation might be required
• Use of bio diesel can reduce the amount of
  harmful emissions
• A blend of 10 percent bio diesel and 90 percent
  petrodiesel (B10) to be implemented to start with
  
• Biodiesel Industry required to develop in India
• For price competitiveness Fiscal and Financial
  incentives by the Government required
• Raw material planning critical to success
• Development of second generation conversion
  process essential
• The associated agencies should actively monitor
  the initiatives underway in India to promote and
  financially facilitate commercial supply of bio
  diesel

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• Thank You