green earth intiatives

In the last posting I described about global warming and steps to mitigate this phenomena
In this posting I would like to share my experience in the industry where I was working on this green earth initiatives.
I was heading a ceramic plant which is a fuel intensive factory. You may be aware that the special types of clays and stones are mixed and baked in furnaces.The factory is located with in the city limits and stricter emission norms are to be adhered.
The furnaces are of high temperature and usually oil fired. (our daily consumption of Oil was 12000 liters per day)We were using ultra high sulphur diesel which was expensive and at the same time it emits pollutants like carbon and soot.The factory also requires steam used for drying of molds. for this purpose we were using boilers using coal .This was also polluting the atmosphere.
As a green earth initiative we decided to covert all furnaces from oil fired to gas (LPG) fired. There were 7 furnaces and one of them was a continuous kiln which means it works 24x7 and can not be switched off.Being a process industry we can not afford to close even other furnaces for a long period. The main job was to change the oil fired burners to dual fired burners in quickest possible time and some of them incitu(on line). with a meticulous planning this job was accomplished with out affecting the production schedule. We also installed 2nos 25 ton LPG bullets in factory premises to ensure continuous supply of gas. In the next step the boilers were revamped and cover ted coal fired boilers to gas fired one. With this initiative we could reduce carbon em mission and reduce pollution . A step in maintaining green earth. In addition lot of other initiatives were taken like reprocessing of waste water and using for gardening,rain water harvesting, use of CFL tubes ,solar lamps, use of LPG gas for heating & cooking purpose in the canteen etc.
Electrical energy was reduced by installing capacitors at both load end and supply end , installing variable speed drives for compressors and motors etc
Any step towards saving energy is a step towards saving the earth

World climate by 2050

Due to rapid industrialisation in the world over global warming has taken place resulting in climatic changes. If this is not controlled our next generation has to bear the burden of severe climatic catastrophe. This blog is to bring awareness in the readers about impending danger and to understand what this is about and how to mitigate this.

What is Global Warming

It is the increase in the average atmosphere of earth's near surface air and oceans due to increased emission of green house gases

Green house gases are, water vapour,carbon dioxide (CO2),methane,ozone etc.

Major contributors are water vapour and CO2

How this Green house gases affect

Due to rapid industrialisation there is increase in emission surface temperature of the earth.This increase in temp will cause sea levels to rise which in turn will change the pattern of precipitation including subtropical deserts.The continuing retreat of glaciers,perma-frost and sea ice is expected , with the Arctic region being particularly affected.Other likely effects include shrinkage of Amazon and Boreal forests,increase in intensity of extreme weather events, extinction of Species,change in agricultural yields etc Increase in atmospheric CO2 increase in amount of CO2 dissolved in oceans.CO2 reacts with water to form carbonic acid resulting ocean acidification effecting marine Eco system .

Since Mid 20 th century till date global surface temperature has increased by 0.8 C .However it is projected that this temperature will increase by 2 to 3 degrees during 21 st century.

So What is to be done by us to mitigate this affect

The international community have come together under U N Frame work and signed an agreement called Kyoto protocol which emphasises reduction of green house gases by rich countries and targets levels have been fixed. US is yet ratify the proposal

What we can do

Main emission of green house gases comes from burning of fossil fuels like coal & petroleum products like petrol,diesel,aviation fuel, gas etc

Power production

Coal and petroleum products are burnt for steam /gas for running turbines. the flue gas emmited contains green house gases. While power is required for industrial growth, the emissions can be controlled using latest technologies.

We should go in alternative fuels for power generations like Hydro, wind,and solar power.

Use of Bio fuels and wind /solar for small requirement of power

In transport sector develop technologies for controlling exhaust emission.Use of gas /CNG for automobiles and buses. Use of suitable additives like ethanol for controlling emission

Encourage car pooling use of public transport

Enhance R&D effort to find alternate fuels like fuel cells, battery operated vehicles etc

Massive drive to conserve energy and to avoid wastage

We discuss more about energy conservation in the next posting