Involving Students in Appropriate Involving Students in Appropriate Technology Projects in the UniversityTechnology Projects in the University

Walter L. Bradley, Ph.D.Walter L. Bradley, Ph.D.

Engineering DepartmentEngineering Department

Baylor UniversityBaylor University

Waco, TexasWaco, Texas

Two Kinds of ProjectsTwo Kinds of Projects

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development Converting coconuts into diesel fuel, food, Converting coconuts into diesel fuel, food,

and cheap housing materialsand cheap housing materials Peanuts into peanut butter – Mali, AfricaPeanuts into peanut butter – Mali, Africa Substitution of cast iron for cast steel – AfricaSubstitution of cast iron for cast steel – Africa Composite housing materials using local Composite housing materials using local

fibersfibers DeploymentDeployment

Micro hydroelectric installations in Papua New Micro hydroelectric installations in Papua New GuineaGuinea

Solar cells and battery in Papua New Guinea Solar cells and battery in Papua New Guinea

Different Service-Learning OptionsDifferent Service-Learning Options

Research and DevelopmentResearch and Development Master of Engineering thesis projectsMaster of Engineering thesis projects Junior or Senior Design projectsJunior or Senior Design projects Senior research thesesSenior research theses

DeploymentDeployment Two week trips in late May (e.g., to Africa)Two week trips in late May (e.g., to Africa) Ten week trips during summer (e.g., to PNG)Ten week trips during summer (e.g., to PNG)

Key -- Have a PartnerKey -- Have a Partner

INTRODUCTION

•Coconuts Palms:•Are the most widespread and naturally Are the most widespread and naturally sustainable tropical agricultural crops sustainable tropical agricultural crops grown abundantly in the South Pacific grown abundantly in the South Pacific Islands and parts of Asia. Islands and parts of Asia. Can tolerate poor sandy soils with Can tolerate poor sandy soils with saline water and survives frequent saline water and survives frequent cyclones.cyclones.Can bear a bunch of fruit each month Can bear a bunch of fruit each month for about 65 of their 70 to 80 year life for about 65 of their 70 to 80 year life span.span.Require minimum maintenance.Require minimum maintenance.Are and have been way of life for the Are and have been way of life for the indigenous island people. They call the indigenous island people. They call the coconut palm the “Tree of Life”.coconut palm the “Tree of Life”.

MAIN USES OF COCONUTS•Copra:

This is the dried This is the dried flesh (the white flesh (the white endosperm) of the endosperm) of the nut which is the nut which is the commercial product commercial product that enters the world that enters the world trade.trade.Has an oil content Has an oil content of between 65% and of between 65% and 72%.72%.Is typically the Is typically the highest priced highest priced vegetable oil on the vegetable oil on the world markets.world markets.

Important Diesel Fuel and Vegetable Oil Properties

FuelFuel

SpecificSpecific

EnergyEnergy

(MJ/kg)(MJ/kg)

Cetane Cetane NumberNumber

Kinematic Kinematic ViscosityViscosity

(cS)(cS)

SolidificaSolidifica

tion Pointtion Point

(C)(C)

IodineIodine

ValueValue

SaponificatSaponification Valueion Value

Petroleum Petroleum DieselDiesel 45.3 Gross45.3 Gross 45 - 5545 - 55 4 @ 4 @ 4040°C°C -9-9 --

--

Coconut Coconut OilOil 42.0 Gross42.0 Gross 6060 20 @ 4020 @ 40°C°C 2424 1010 268268

Palm OilPalm Oil 39.6 Gross39.6 Gross -- 37 @ 4037 @ 40 3535 5454 199199

Rapeseed Rapeseed OilOil 39.7 Gross39.7 Gross 3838 37 @ 4037 @ 40°C°C -10-10 125125 175175

Soybean Soybean OilOil 39.639.6 37.937.9 33 @ 4033 @ 40°C°C -16-16 130130 191191

Linseed Linseed OilOil 39.739.7 -- 29 @ 4029 @ 40°C°C -24-24 179179 190190

IMPORTANT PHYSICAL AND IMPORTANT PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF

VEGETABLE OILVEGETABLE OIL Specific EnergySpecific Energy – indication of the – indication of the

fuel’s energy released when it is fuel’s energy released when it is burned. burned. Coconut oil’s energy (42 Coconut oil’s energy (42 MJ/kg) is more or less equivalent MJ/kg) is more or less equivalent to Petroleum Diesel.to Petroleum Diesel.

Cetane Number (CN)Cetane Number (CN) – indication – indication of the fuel’s willingness to ignite of the fuel’s willingness to ignite when it gets compressed. when it gets compressed. Coconut Coconut oil’s CN (60) is the highest.oil’s CN (60) is the highest.

ViscosityViscosity – indication of the fuel’s – indication of the fuel’s ability to atomize in the injector ability to atomize in the injector system. system. Coconut oil’s viscosity is Coconut oil’s viscosity is comparable with other oils but comparable with other oils but much more than petroleum diesel. much more than petroleum diesel. Higher viscosity will cause poor Higher viscosity will cause poor volatilization of the fuel.volatilization of the fuel.

Solidification PointSolidification Point – indication of – indication of the temperature at which the fuel the temperature at which the fuel will turn solid. Coconut oil’s will turn solid. Coconut oil’s solidification point (25solidification point (25°C)°C) is at is at room temperature. room temperature.

Iodine Value (IV)Iodine Value (IV) – indication of – indication of the ability of the fuel to polymerize the ability of the fuel to polymerize due to the fuels’ degree of bonds due to the fuels’ degree of bonds available. available. Coconut oil’s IV (10) is Coconut oil’s IV (10) is the lowest among all the fuel so it the lowest among all the fuel so it can be used directly in the engines can be used directly in the engines without modification.without modification.

Saponification Value (SV)Saponification Value (SV) – – indication of the fuel’s ability to indication of the fuel’s ability to vaporize and atomize due to the vaporize and atomize due to the fuels carbon chains. fuels carbon chains. Coconut oil Coconut oil has the highest SV (268) which will has the highest SV (268) which will ignite more quickly than othersignite more quickly than others..

Bio-diesel is Environmentally Friendly

Processing Coconut Oil into Bio-Diesel Processing Coconut Oil into Bio-Diesel Transesterification ProcessTransesterification Process

Transesterification is the process of reacting Transesterification is the process of reacting vegetable oil (triglycerides or coconut oil) with an vegetable oil (triglycerides or coconut oil) with an alcohol (methanol) in the presence of a catalyst alcohol (methanol) in the presence of a catalyst to produce biodiesel (fatty acid esters) and to produce biodiesel (fatty acid esters) and glycerol.glycerol.

Production Procedures:Production Procedures: 200-ml of methanol per liter of coconut oil200-ml of methanol per liter of coconut oil 3.5-g of Catalyst (Sodium hydroxide – NaOH) 3.5-g of Catalyst (Sodium hydroxide – NaOH)

Cost of consumable and energy use in bio-diesel Cost of consumable and energy use in bio-diesel production = $.65/gallonproduction = $.65/gallon

Laboratory Biodiesel Production SystemLaboratory Biodiesel Production System

FuelMeister Biodiesel FuelMeister Biodiesel Production System:Production System:

Complete System to Complete System to producing Biodiesel in a producing Biodiesel in a laboratory or home laboratory or home environment. environment.

System includes:System includes:• Polyethylene tanks:Polyethylene tanks:

Reactor or ProcessorReactor or Processor Premix system or tankPremix system or tank

• Pumps:Pumps: System pump (Electric)System pump (Electric) Alcohol pumpAlcohol pump BiodieselBiodiesel

• Barrels or Drums;Barrels or Drums; Coconut oilCoconut oil MethanolMethanol Final Product - BiodieselFinal Product - Biodiesel

Availability of Alcohol in PNGAvailability of Alcohol in PNG

Currently PNG Government is negotiating Currently PNG Government is negotiating with a company to build a methanol plant with a company to build a methanol plant in PNG.in PNG.

Ethanol could also be used instead of Ethanol could also be used instead of methanol as ethanol is being produced in methanol as ethanol is being produced in the sugar refineries which are not being the sugar refineries which are not being utilized.utilized.

Catalyst (Lye) is the only product that Catalyst (Lye) is the only product that could brought in from overseas. could brought in from overseas.

Chemical Analysis of Coconut Chemical Analysis of Coconut BiodieselBiodiesel

ASTM tests that need to be done and what ASTM tests that need to be done and what they will tell us, for example, we need to they will tell us, for example, we need to be sure that we don’t have unreacted lye be sure that we don’t have unreacted lye that could corrode diesel engines , which that could corrode diesel engines , which would mean post-processing to meet would mean post-processing to meet ASTM specs, increasing costs (or deciding ASTM specs, increasing costs (or deciding ASTM specs are unnecessarily high on ASTM specs are unnecessarily high on some points)some points)

Engine Testing of Coconut Bio-diesel Engine Testing of Coconut Bio-diesel To be done at TAMUTo be done at TAMU

Testing the bio-diesel in an engine with a Testing the bio-diesel in an engine with a dynamometer to determine its dynamometer to determine its performance:performance: To verify that it doesn’t gum up engineTo verify that it doesn’t gum up engine Compare its performance with petroleum Compare its performance with petroleum

DieselDiesel Emissions measurements to verify how Emissions measurements to verify how

much cleaner it runs than petroleum based much cleaner it runs than petroleum based diesel fueldiesel fuel

Implementation IssuesImplementation Issues 19 coconuts / liter of coconut oil ?????19 coconuts / liter of coconut oil ????? What to do with huge waste productsWhat to do with huge waste products

Coconut core might be useful as foodCoconut core might be useful as food Coconut shell might be useful for:Coconut shell might be useful for:

• Building materialBuilding material• Fuel for domestic cooking and heat for drying copra Fuel for domestic cooking and heat for drying copra

(currently being used).(currently being used).• High quality charcoal as a feedstock for making the activated High quality charcoal as a feedstock for making the activated

carbon required for industrial chemistry (e.g. activated carbon required for industrial chemistry (e.g. activated carbon is used in the separation of gold fragments from carbon is used in the separation of gold fragments from waste material in pulverised gold ore).waste material in pulverised gold ore).

• Lubricating paste for rock drills and as the fuel component in Lubricating paste for rock drills and as the fuel component in mosquito cols after the shell has been ground to a fine mosquito cols after the shell has been ground to a fine powder. powder.

Food Value of Coconut MealFood Value of Coconut Meal

Coconut Meal or Cake – It is the left over Coconut Meal or Cake – It is the left over after the oil has been extracted:after the oil has been extracted: Contains about 18-25% protein:Contains about 18-25% protein:

• Coconut protein contains a high percentage of Coconut protein contains a high percentage of lysine, cystine, histidine, arginine, methionine and lysine, cystine, histidine, arginine, methionine and other essential amino acids.other essential amino acids.

Mostly being used for:Mostly being used for:• Animal feed (piggery, poultry & cattle)Animal feed (piggery, poultry & cattle)• FertilizersFertilizers

Could be used to make cookiesCould be used to make cookies

Economic Analysis of Economic Analysis of Commercialization Commercialization

Cost of equipment per village Cost of equipment per village ReactorReactor Diesel generatorDiesel generator Other simple equipment for processing into Other simple equipment for processing into

food and housing materialsfood and housing materials Economic value and return on investmentEconomic value and return on investment Identify sources of capital investment Identify sources of capital investment

using a micro-investment approachusing a micro-investment approach

Ideal OutcomeIdeal Outcome

Coconut oil provides a cheap, renewable Coconut oil provides a cheap, renewable source of bio-diesel fuel to be used in source of bio-diesel fuel to be used in diesel generators to provide electricity in diesel generators to provide electricity in remote villagesremote villages

Core is processed into food for ????Core is processed into food for ???? Shell is processed into cheap, durable Shell is processed into cheap, durable

housing materialhousing material

Coconut Tree – Tree of LifeCoconut Tree – Tree of Life

The coastal and the small 600 island The coastal and the small 600 island people in PNG can not live without people in PNG can not live without coconut. Every part of coconut palm plays coconut. Every part of coconut palm plays a part in any activities in the village. a part in any activities in the village.

It is weaved into the culture of PNG and It is weaved into the culture of PNG and so it is called “the tree of life”. so it is called “the tree of life”.

This project could truly make this an even This project could truly make this an even greater reality. greater reality.

SummarySummary

Service learning can be Service learning can be Deployment of existing technology at a Deployment of existing technology at a

particular locationparticular location Developing new technology and deploying it Developing new technology and deploying it

in a country or region by partnering with in a country or region by partnering with business/entrepreneurship studentsbusiness/entrepreneurship students