TWO long write-ups on "Energy sufficiency" and "Bio-gas" were published in your 'views & review' page on March 5 last. As an interested reader on the 'energy and power' sectors, it appeared to be more philosophical than a realistic approach to this writer who has in his long working career in the industrial field practically applied the ideas for reducing power demand!
The realistic approach for improving power consumption is by reducing electric power consumption in factories! This can easily be done by improving power factor which is usually 0.8 and in many cases comes down to 0.7 or lower depending on the load and type of drive. However; more often than not, power factor can be improved to around 0.95 to even 0.98, by installing the needed capacitors at the source of supply cables coming into the factory! By doing this; one can reduce the actual power consumption by around 8 to10 per cent! One wonders if all our industrial plants are doing it?
Regarding biogas plant by processing market waste as fuel, there is the question of washing and segregating undesirable materials. Moreover, the big markets handling vegetables and edible grains (like, rice, pulses etc.) are not suitable except for 'rice mills'. But one wonders if this can produce the quantities needed for such waste. The best raw material for bio-gas plants is human and animal toilet waste. In fact many countries are doing this as a source for generating Methane, a popular gas fuel. This is far more efficient and easier way as it also reduces the cost for most municipalities which spend money for handling and disposal of sewage. In this writer's opinion, the WASA and local municipalities of Dhaka and Chittagong should go for this idea to generate power. Aside from benefiting the country, it will help the sweepers who can be usefully employed for this type of venture. As far as I remember, it was being practised in a number of towns and municipalities in India way back in 1980s when this writer used to go there on many occasions on professional business.
Engr. S.A.Mansoor
Dhaka
[email protected]
- Saturday, 27 April 2024 |
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