Dr.

Ravi Agrahari’s Classes

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

CURRENTS 2023 – 2024

L02 ENERGY: CURRENTS

SERIES: IMPORTANT 100+ TOPICS of Sc. & Tech

ENERGY: CURRENTS
by
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari
(PhD from IIT Delhi, Author of Mc Graw Hill)
 Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari
❏ PhD (IIT Delhi)
❏ Director (Purvanchal IAS), Gorakhpur (UP)

❏ Faculty of Science & Technology and Environment

❏ PhD IIT Delhi, Experience of Research Scientist of DST

❏ Last 18 years teaching Experiences with 1000 + Selections

❏ Author of McGraw Hill for Science & Technology (Highly Selling Book in India) and
Environment Book
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 1. Coal Gasification

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Coal Gasification
• It is the process of converting any carbon based raw material
such as coal into fuel gas popularly known as syngas.

• The coal is fed into a high-temperature pressurised container

(gasifier) and combined with hot steam and controlled
amounts of air or oxygen under high temperatures (up to 2600
°F) and high pressures (up to 1200 psig) to generate synthetic
gas or ‘syngas’.

• Typically syngas is a mixture of carbon dioxide, hydrogen,

methane, nitrogen and carbon monoxide

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Benefits of Gasification

Transporting of gas is cheaper than transporting coal.

1.Syngas burns much cleaner and reduces air pollution.

2. It has greater efficiency than conventional coal-burning

because it can effectively use the gases twice: the coal gases
are first cleansed of impurities and fired in a turbine to
generate electricity.

The exhaust heat from the gas turbine can be captured and used
to generate steam for a steam turbine-generator.
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Concerns and Challenges:

• Coal gasification is one of the more water intensive forms of

energy production.

•There are also concerns about water contamination, land

subsidence and disposing of waste water safely.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 2. Liquefaction

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

It is also called Coal to Liquid (CTL) technology, it is an alternative route
to produce diesel and gasoline and makes economic sense only in a
world of high crude oil prices.

•The process involves gasification of coal, which in turn will produce synthetic
gas (a mix of CO+H2). The synthetic gas can be liquefied to its fuel
equivalent in presence of cobalt/iron-based catalysts at higher pressure
and temperature.

• However, liquefied coal emits twice as much CO2 as burning oil. It

also emits a large volume of SO2.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Benefits of Liquefaction

The CO2 emissions are more readily and cheaply captured from CTL
plants than from conventional coal-fired power stations.

The captured CO2 can be transported and injected into underground

storage reservoirs (a procedure known as “carbon capture and storage”
(CCS) or “geosequestration”).

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Government Initiatives
Union Minister of Coal and Mines addressed a webinar on Coal Gasification
and Liquefaction.

• India aims for 100 million tonnes (MT) coal gasification by 2030
with investments worth over 4 lakh crores.

• For encouraging use of clean sources of fuel, government has provided

for a concession of 20% on revenue share of coal used for gasification.

• This will boost production of synthetic natural gas, energy fuel,

urea for fertilisers and production of other chemicals.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

3. Gobardhan Scheme

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

The Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan (GOBAR- DHAN)
scheme is implemented under the Swachh Bharat Mission Gramin-
Phase 2, by the Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation under the
Jal Shakti ministry.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

About the Scheme

• It was launched in 2018. The scheme aims to augment income of farmers

by converting biodegradable waste into compressed biogas (CBG).

• The initiative aims at attracting entrepreneurs for establishing

community- based CBG plants in rural areas.

• The Ministry of Jal Shakti has launched a unified portal on the

government’s ‘Gobardhan’ scheme. Farmers can earn 1 lakh crore in 5
years from Jal Shakti ministry’s Gobardhan scheme, says Government.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 4. HYDROGEN FUEL

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned with oxygen.

It is alternative fuel that can be produced from diverse domestic

resources such as natural gas, nuclear power, biomass and
renewable power like solar and wind.

Although the market for hydrogen as a transportation fuel is in its

infancy, it can be used in fuel cells or internal combustion
engines. It is also used as a fuel for spacecraft propulsion.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Storage Hydrogen is abundant in our environment. It is stored in water
(H2O), hydrocarbons (such as methane, CH4 ) and other organic
matter.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• Hydrogen can be stored physically as either a gas or a liquid.

• Storage of hydrogen as a gas typically requires high-pressure

tanks.

•Storage of hydrogen as a liquid requires cryogenic temperatures because

the boiling point of hydrogen at one atmosphere pressure is –252.8°C.

• Hydrogen can also be stored on the surfaces of solids (by

adsorption) or within solids (by absorption).

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Potential of Clean Hydrogen Industry in Reducing Greenhouse Gas
Emissions: Hydrogen is a clean fuel that, when consumed in a fuel cell,
produces only water.

• GAIL has started India’s Maiden Project of Blending Hydrogen

into Natural Gas System in Indore.

• In line with National Hydrogen Mission, GAIL has commenced

India’s first-of-its-kind project of mixing hydrogen into the natural gas
system to establish the techno-commercial feasibility of blending
hydrogen in City Gas Distribution (CGD) network.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• The project has been initiated in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.

• GAIL has started injecting grey hydrogen. This grey hydrogen

would subsequently be replaced by green hydrogen.

The Goal:

Government is planning to blend 15% green hydrogen with piped natural

gas (PNG) for domestic, commercial and industrial consumption.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

5. NATIONAL HYDROGEN MISSION
6. GREEN HYDROGEN

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 National Hydrogen Mission

Efforts in this Regard

• The Finance Minister in the Union budget for 2020–21 formally

announced the NHM, which aims for generation of hydrogen from green
power resources.

The National Green Hydrogen Mission was approved by the Union Cabinet
on 4 January 2022, with the intended objectives of: Making India a leading
producer and supplier of Green Hydrogen in the world.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Challenges for India

1. One of the colossal challenges faced by the industry for using hydrogen commercially is
the economic sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen.

2. The technology used in production and use of hydrogen like carbon capture and storage
(CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at nascent stage and is expensive which in turn
increases the cost of production of hydrogen.

3. The maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion of a plant can be costly, like in
South Korea.

4. The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and in industries requires mammoth

investment in R&D of such technology and infrastructure for production, storage,
transportation and demand creation for hydrogen.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Green Hydrogen

Green Hydrogen: It is produced by splitting water by electrolysis. We can store or

use the hydrogen and vent the oxygen (which is the byproduct) to the atmosphere
with no negative impact.

This process is powered by renewable energy sources, such as wind or solar

(either solely or combination of such power sources) which makes it the cleanest
option without CO2 as a by-product.

• It has no carbon footprint.

• The hydrogen that is in use today is produced through fossil fuels and biomass
through chemical processes and emits no carbon to the atmosphere.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Significance of Green Hydrogen

• Green hydrogen energy is essential for India to meet its Intended

Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) Targets (33-35%
reduction till 2030 of 2005 level) that ensures regional and national
energy security, accessibility and availability.
• Green Hydrogen can be used in railways, large ships, buses or trucks, etc.

Applications of green hydrogen

Green Hydrogen blending up to 10% may be adopted in City Gas

Distribution (CGD) networks to gain widespread acceptance.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Benefit of using Green Hydrogen

• It is a clean-burning molecule, which can decarbonize a range of

sectors including iron and steel, chemicals, and transportation.

• Renewable energy that cannot be stored or used by the grid can be

channelled to produce hydrogen.

Different types of Hydrogen

Based on the process of production, hydrogen can be classified into Green

Hydrogen, Blue Hydrogen, Pink Hydrogen, Grey Hydrogen and Yellow Hydrogen.

Green Hydrogen: Discussed earlier

Pink Hydrogen: Similar to green hydrogen, pink hydrogen is also made by splitting
water by electrolysis, but using nuclear energy as its source of power.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Blue Hydrogen

It is produced by splitting natural gas into hydrogen and CO2 either by

Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) or Auto Thermal Reforming (ATR), but
the CO2 is captured and then stored.

SMR or ATR is use that how heat is provided to activate the endothermic
steam reforming reaction.

The ‘capturing’ is done through a process called Carbon Capture Usage and
Storage (CCUS). As the greenhouse gasses are captured, this mitigates the
environmental impacts on the planet.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Grey Hydrogen: This process is almost similar to that of blue hydrogen –
SMR or ATR are used to split natural gas into Hydrogen and CO2. But the CO2
is not being captured and is released into the atmosphere. This has
been in practice for many years.

Yellow Hydrogen: Similar to green hydrogen, yellow hydrogen is also made

by splitting water by electrolysis achieved solely through solar power.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

GREEN HYDROGEN

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 Steps taken by Government to emphasize on Green Hydrogen

During the budget speech, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the
launch of the Hydrogen Energy Mission to produce hydrogen from renewable
sources.

Indian Oil Corporation has signed an agreement with Greenstat Norway for
setting up a Centre of Excellence on Hydrogen (CoE-H) which will promote R&D
projects for the production of green and blue hydrogen between Norwegian and
Indian R&D institutions/universities.

Recently, India and the US have set up a task force under the aegis of the
Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP) to mobilise finance and speed up
green energy development.
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
 Steps taken by Private Sector

Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is investing Rs 75,000 crore in its new

business focused on clean energy, which includes solar and green hydrogen.

The company will build four giga factories focusing on solar, storage
battery, green hydrogen and a fuel cell factory, which can convert hydrogen
into mobile and stationary power.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

7. Lithium Reserves in India

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• India now (Feb 2023) has
the seventh largest resource of
lithium globally, though it will
take time to convert this into
reserves.

• The Geological Survey of India

estimates it has discovered 5.9
million tons of lithium resources
in the mountainous Salal-
Haimana area of the Reasi district
in the union territory of Jammu
and Kashmir.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• lithium is the source of powering the green future electric
vehicles in lithium batteries.
• India obstruct a white gold (Lithium) of 5.9 million tons those discovered
in Jammu and Kashmir.
• It is used in phones, laptops, digital cameras and electric vehicles &
rechargeable batteries etc.
• It is valued for its lightness and for making batteries those are safer to
use.
• The pharma industry uses it as an antidepressant, to treat bipolar
disorder and depression.
• Its usage extends to space vehicles and military equipment as well.
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
• EVs and solar power these are priority areas for the government and this
discovery surely means a shot in the after all of those sectors.

• The global EVs industry is expected to reach 823 billion by 2030 from 163
billion in 2020. This is according to allied market research. Lithium needs to use
in other sectors such as sport batteries.

• India imports most of lithium from China, Japan and United States and is the
largest importer of lithium in the world. The import will for lithium is 173 crores
according to the government and having a role with lithium reserves will make a
self-reliant.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Now, out of the 98 million tons of global reserves India has found 5.5% of these
according to the Council on Energy Environment and Water.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• India imported batteries worth 1.2 billion to meet its increasing
smartphone needs and a large chunk of this came from China in the year
2020.

• So the newly found reserves are a step closer to ending the reliance on
China and placing India as an alternative to China for exports. Anyway, India
has been trying to become a hub for Lithium ion batteries in the past six
years.

• But India needs to temper its expectations:

Firstly because it’s still not clear how much of these 5.9 million tons of
resources could actually be used.
Secondly mining and refining lithium is complicated.
• Sustainable mining and scaling are some of the other challenges.
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
 8. Lithium ion Battery

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• Lithium battery technology has distinct advantages over other
older rechargeable battery technologies such as Nickel cadmium
and Nickel Metal Hydride.

• The idea for lithium ion battery technology was first proposed in
the 1970s by M Whittingham who used titanium sulphide and
lithium metal as the electrodes for his cell.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

•• Separators are also used to safeguard this battery so no
chances of short-circuit inside battery. In lithium ion battery
anode is made-up of graphite; cathode is made-up of lithium
metal (cobalt/nickel) oxide.

•• In electrolytes, water molecule should be negligible. When

we provide a load (An electrical load is an electrical component
or portion of a circuit that consumes electric power). During
discharge, the (positive) lithium ions move from the negative
electrode (anode) (usually graphite – C6) to the positive
electrode (cathode) (forming a lithium compound) through the
electrolyte while the electrons flow through the external circuit
in the same direction.
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
• Lithium ion battery has three main components: Cathode,
Anode and Electrolytes.

• Due to its main charge carrier through lithium ions it is called

as lithium ion battery. Lithium ions flow due to cathode and
anode material into which and from which the lithium ions can
flow. There are two processes involved during lithium ion
movement:

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

When the cell is charging, the reverse occurs with the lithium ions and
electrons move back into the negative electrode in a net higher energy
state. This entire process is called as intercalation and de-
intercalation.

Intercalation is a process when battery is going to discharge but in

de-intercalation process battery will charge again when lithium ions
are extracted from the electrode.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Certain Precautions:

• Don’t totally discharge: Lithium-ion batteries should be charged

before the battery is completely discharged.

• Non-use care: If a Li-ion battery is not to be used for an extended period

of time, it should ideally be brought to a charge level of between about 40%
and 60% of full charge.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

•Keep cool: Li-ion batteries should be kept cool. By keeping them cool,
possibly in a refrigerator, the ageing process becomes slower.

•Don’t freeze: Li-ion batteries should not be exposed to very low

temperatures – most lithium-ion battery electrolytes freeze at
approximately –40°C.

•Buy new batteries only when needed: Li-ion batteries should be bought
only when needed, because the ageing process begins as soon as the
battery is manufactured.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
CURRENT CONTEXT

• Union government issued new guidelines for the use of flexible

fuel vehicles (FFVs) using flex engines.

• The guidelines specified the engine configuration and other

changes required in vehicles to conform to stipulated changes in
fuel mix.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ETHANOL BLENDED PETROL PROGRAMM

• The central government has released an expert committee

report on the Roadmap for Ethanol Blending in India by
2025.

• The roadmap was proposed a gradual rollout of ethanol-

blended fuel to achieve E10 fuel supply by April 2022 and
phased rollout of E20 from April 2025.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ABOUT

• It is one of the principal biofuels, which is naturally produced by the

fermentation of sugars by yeasts or via petrochemical processes
such as ethylene hydration.

BLENDING TARGET

• The Government of India has advanced the target for 20%

ethanol blending in petrol (also called E20) to 2025 from 2030.

• Currently, 10% of ethanol is blended with petrol in India.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

BENEFITS
• Reduce the oil import bill
• Can save the country USD 4 billion (Rs 30,000 crore) per annum.
• Benefits the sugarcane farmers.
• Encourage use of water-saving crops, such as maize, to produce
ethanol, and production of ethanol from non-food feedstock.
• Decreases emissions such as carbon monoxide (CO),
hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx).

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ABOUT

• An FFV is a modified version of vehicles that could run both on gasoline

and doped petrol with different levels of ethanol blends.
• These are currently being used successfully in brazil, giving people the
option to switch fuel (gasoline and ethanol) depending on the price
and convenience.
• For India, FFVs will present a different advantage as they will allow
vehicles to use different blends of ethanol mixed petrol available in
different parts of the country.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

BENEFITS OF FFV

• Aimed at reducing use of fossil fuels thereby reducing the pollution

• Help to cut down harmful emissions
• Alternative ethanol fuel is cheaper than the petrol, thus will save money
• Are of different advantage as they will allow customers to use different
blends of ethanol mixed petrol available in the country
• India will be specially benefitted due to the surplus production of corn,
sugar and wheat.
• The mandatory blending of ethanol programme will help farmers to raise
their incomes.
• Will also save import cost
Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Possible challenges that might be faced while the implementation of
the program

• High cost of the flex fuel engines

• Running cost will be higher due to the lower fuel efficiency

• Acceptance by the customers

• Ethanol acts as a solvent and could wipe out the protective oil film
inside the engine thereby causing wear and tear.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 10. BIOFUEL POLICY

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• Since 2014, the Government of India has taken a number of initiatives
to increase blending of biofuels.

• The major interventions include administrative price mechanism for

ethanol, simplifying the procurement procedures, amending the
provisions of Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951 and
enabling lignocellulosic route for ethanol procurement.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• The Government approved the National Policy on Biofuels –
2018 in June 2018.

• The policy has the objective of reaching 20% ethanol-blending

and 5% biodiesel-blending by the year 2030.

• Among other things, the policy expands the scope of feedstock

for ethanol production and has provided for incentives for
production of advanced biofuels.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 11. STARDUST 1.0

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
12. ARTIFICIAL SUN
EAST: Experimental Advanced
Superconducting Tokamak

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

CONTEXT

China’s EAST (Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), which is

also known as “Artificial Sun” Experiment – achieved a plasma temperature
of 216 million Fahrenheit (120 million C) for 101 seconds in the latest
experiment.

Significance in current context:

The temperature of the core of the sun is believed to be 15 million C, so the

temperature produced by the EAST is nearly seven times that of the sun.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ITER

• The project EAST is part of the ITER (International Thermonuclear

Experimental Reactor) facility, which will become the world’s largest
nuclear fusion reactor when it becomes operational in 2035.

• ITER is a collaboration of 35 nations launched in 1985 – located in

France.
• It aims to build the world's largest tokamak to prove the feasibility of
fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ITER

• The 35 nations participating in ITER are: the 27 European Union

countries + (through Euratom) Switzerland and the United
Kingdom + China, India, Japan, Korea, the Russian Federation,
and the United States.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

ITER
• The project is based on fusion which is also an energy source for the Sun
and stars.

• ITER will be the first fusion device to maintain fusion for long periods of
time and also to test the integrated technologies, materials, and physics
regimes necessary for the commercial production of fusion-based
electricity.

• The ITER members include China, the European Union, India, Japan,
South Korea, Russia and the United States - share the cost of project
construction, operation and decommissioning.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 TOKAMAK

It is an experimental machine designed to

harness the energy of fusion.

EAST is one of the three major domestic

tokamaks that are presently operating across
China.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 NUCLEAR FUSION

Nuclear fusion is when two or more

atomic nuclei fuse to form a single
heavier nucleus. In the reaction, the
matter is not conserved because some
of the mass of the fusing nuclei is
converted to energy.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

WORKING OF EAST

• The reactor consists of an advanced nuclear fusion experimental research

device - located at Hefei, China.

• It replicates the nuclear fusion process carried out by the sun and the stars.

• Here, the fuel is heated to temperatures of over 150 million degrees C so that
it forms a hot plasma soup of subatomic particles.

• With the help of a strong magnetic field, the plasma is kept away from the
walls of the reactor to ensure it does not cool down and lose its potential to
generate large amounts of energy. This plasma is confined for long durations for
fusion to take place.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NUCLEAR FUSION
AND NUCLEAR FISSION
NUCLEAR FISSION NUCLEAR FUSION
• A heavy nucleus breaks up to form two • Two light nuclei combine to form a heavy
lighter nuclei nucleus
• Involves a chain reaction • Doesn’t involve a chain reaction
• The heavy nucleus is bombarded with • Light nuclei are heated to an extremely
neutrons high temperature.
• Proper mechanism to control fission • Proper mechanism to control fusion
reaction is in place reaction is not in place
• Nuclear waste generated • Nuclear waste not generated
• Raw material is easily available and is • Raw material is easily available and
costly comparatively cheap

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Why is nuclear fusion so important?

• Nuclear fission reactors produce a lot of radioactive waste, which can be

dangerous and must be stored safely - potentially for hundreds of years
whereas the waste produced by nuclear fusion is less radioactive and decays
much more quickly.

• It also doesn't generate greenhouse gases

• Fusion could generate four times more energy per kilogram of fuel than
fission (used in nuclear power plants) and nearly four million times more
energy than burning oil or coal

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Challenges with Nuclear Fusion:

• It is challenging to obtain high enough plasma densities,

temperatures, and energy confinement times simultaneously for a
reactor to approach ignition conditions.

• Forcing and keeping the elements together in fusion requires very

high temperatures and pressures.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 13. AVGAS 100 LL
(A special aviation fuel)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

The Centre launched indigenously-developed AVGAS 100 LL, a special
aviation fuel meant for piston engine aircraft and unmanned ariel
vehicles. The fuel has been developed by Indian Oil Corporation.

About AVGAS 100LL:

• Avgas or aviation gasoline is an aviation fuel that powers spark-ignited

combustion engines in aircraft. It is different from conventional gasoline
(petrol) used in motor vehicles as it contains tetraethyl lead, which is a
highly toxic substance used to prevent engine knocking (premature
detonation).

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

• It is a higher-octane Aviation fuel meeting the product specifications
with superior performance quality standards, as compared to imported
grades.

• The indigenous availability of AV GAS 100 LL will help reduce

dependence on imports and address the associated logistical challenges.

• Country will be able to save precious foreign exchange with the in-
house availability of this product. New step towards Atmanirbhar
Bharat.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

 14. Organic Solar Cells

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Scientists at IIT Kanpur have developed organic solar cell devices
consisting of a blend of organic polymer (PTB7) as a donor and
(PCBM) organic semiconductor as an acceptor on steel substrates.

• It can convert a steel roof into an energy-producing device

• This is part of emerging 3rd generation photovoltaic solar cells

technologies

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

What are 3rd generation photovoltaic solar cells technologies?

Third-generation solar cells (SCs) are solution-processed SCs based on

semiconducting organic macromolecules, inorganic nanoparticles or
hybrids.

How do organic solar cells work?

A typical organic solar cell consists of two semiconducting layers made of

plastic polymers and other flexible materials. The cell generates electricity
by absorbing particles of light, or photons.

• It is based on the photosynthesis process in Plants

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
15. Strong Hybrid Electric Vehicles
(FFV-SHEV)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

1st of this kind of project has been launched by the Ministry of Road
and Transport

A hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) is a type of hybrid vehicle that

combines a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE) system
with an electric propulsion system (hybrid vehicle drivetrain).

The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either

better fuel economy than a conventional vehicle or better
performance.

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Hybrid EVs can be:

• Full hybrid (can use electric and combustion engine at the same
time or independently)

• Mild hybrid (starter generator linked to a li-ion battery to run air

conditioning or other devices)

• Strong hybrid (batteries can be recharged completely by the engine

or regenerative braking)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Join with Dr. Ravi Agrahari

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Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)
Don’t Miss to Read these Books written by Dr. Ravi Agrahari Sir
(Published by Mc Graw Hill:
Highly Successful book for UPSC & all State PCS Exam)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)

Dr. Ravi P. Agrahari @Purvanchal IAS, Gorakhpur (UP)