Ludhiana: CSIR-CMERI (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research - Central Mechanical Engineering Resarch Institute), Ludhiana, has invented non-continuous biodiesel plant which will be capable of converting any

(edible and non-edible) and animal fat to biodiesel. Two principal scientists of CSIR-CMERI came up with the innovation to be used for farm machinery under ministry of science and technology.

As explained by CSIR-CMERI, the plant design is based on process timing and simulation so that all the components can work for the designated time and ultimately produce biodiesel per day (24 hours working basis).

Principal scientist of CSIR-CMERI, Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery and head of department, Energy and Post Harvest Technology Krishnendu Kundu and principal scientist and head, Farm Machinery and Precision Agriculture, CSIR CMERI Centre of Excellence for Farm Machinery Pradeep Rajan are the key innovators of the technology.

Krishnendu Kundu said, “There should be an organized system for collection of used cooking oil in Ludhiana. The work should preferably be done by Biodiesel Association of India (BDAI) to result into a viable business model. This plant can easily run sustainably in Ludhiana to convert used cooking oil to biodiesel.’

“Average collection cost of per litre of used cooking oil is about Rs 40 per litre. With this plant, the cost of biodiesel production will come around Rs 48 per litre. Therefore, the manufacturer can easily make a profit of Rs 5 to 8 per litre with a payback period of less than one year.” He added.

“In turn, the produced biodiesel can be used in diesel engines, gensets and furnaces in order to make the city clean and green and it will reduce city’s dependence on fossil fuel,” said Rajan.

The technology has been transferred to M/s Sains Engineering Works, Janta Nagar on Wednesday.

Managing director of M/s Sains Engineering Works Harbans Singh said, “The plant is low cost, easy to operate, can be upscaled or downscaled depending upon customer requirement and involves minimum manual intervention. Only one operator can operate the plant. All the switches, motors, valves, pumps and heaters are operated from a single control panel.”

CSIR-CMERI director Prof Harish Hirani said, “These non-edible oils are having limitation of higher market price, and hence are not being preferred by the biodiesel producers. But they possess lower free fatty acids.”

In India, annually about 23 million tonnes of cooking oil is consumed out of which about three million tonnes can be recovered and used for producing biodiesel.