Background and objectives of activities

Summary of Activities

SDGs means Sustainable Development Goals. We have set 17 common global goals with a deadline of 2030, aiming to realize a world where the economy can develop sustainably without destroying the global environment and where human rights are protected. From the standpoint of energy systems in mechanical engineering, our laboratory is working on the following themes, for example, to mitigate global warming and the heat island phenomenon.
1. promotion of introduction of renewable energy (life cycle CO2 reduction, carbon neutral)
2. energy conservation of air conditioners and other equipment (fossil fuel saving)
The following is an explanation of "1. promotion of introduction of renewable energies. Together with Professor Eiji Kinoshita's laboratory in the Mechanical Engineering Program, we are investigating the development of biodiesel fuel and its exhaust gas characteristics. Biodiesel fuel is a type of biofuel that is obtained by the ester reaction of plant oils with alcohols, and is intended to be carbon neutral by increasing the amount of biodiesel fuel used. As an example of a research theme, Kagoshima Prefecture, with its many remote islands, is developing bio-butanol-mixed heavy oil A diesel fuel as a countermeasure to stricter emission regulations for marine diesel engines.

Expected Benefits

Fat Current Results
Net thermal efficiency BTE
The net thermal efficiency of butanol-mixed Fuel Oil A was about 25% to 35% when the concentration of butanol was 30 mass% or less, almost the same as that of Fuel Oil A. However, at a concentration of 40 mass%, it was slightly worse than that of Fuel Oil A due to ignition delay.
HC and CO2 concentrations in exhaust gas
The HC and CO2 concentrations of butanol-mixed Fuel Oil A are almost the same as those of Fuel Oil A. However, when the concentration of butanol is increased to 40 mass%, it is slightly worse than that of Fuel Oil A due to ignition delay.
Smoke concentration in exhaust gas
Smoke concentration of butanol blended Fuel Oil A is better than that of Fuel Oil A when the load is high, but almost the same as that of Fuel Oil A when the load is low.
Nox concentration in exhaust gas
Smoke concentration of butanol blended Fuel Oil A was almost the same as that of Fuel Oil A.