Anil Kurchania | Sardar Patel Renewable Energy Res. Institute (original) (raw)

Papers by Anil Kurchania

2022 IEEE International Conference on Current Development in Engineering and Technology (CCET)

International Agricultural Engineering Journal, 2013

Precision farming is information and technology based agricultural management system to identify,... more Precision farming is information and technology based agricultural management system to identify, analyze and manage site-soil, spatial and temporal variability within fields for optimum profitability, sustainability and protection of the environment. Precision farming or satellite farming is a farming management concept based on observing and responding to intra-field variations. Today, precision agriculture is about whole farm management with the goal of optimizing returns on inputs while preserving resources. It relies on new technologies like satellite imagery, information technology, and geospatial tools. It is also aided by farmers' ability to locate their precise position in a field using satellite positioning system like the GPS or other GNSS. This article presents outline of progress and present standing of GPS and remote sensing precision agriculture technologies

2022 3rd International Conference for Emerging Technology (INCET)

Journal of Engineering and Technology, Mar 31, 2010

The study deals with the use of Jatropha curcas defatted waste as an alternative feed in biogas p... more The study deals with the use of Jatropha curcas defatted waste as an alternative feed in biogas plant for its bio-methanisation. As it remains as defatted cake after the extraction of non-edible oil from Jatropha seeds, it cannot be used directly for any purpose due to presence of toxic substance called 'curcin'. This toxin renders it unsafe for the animal feed and other purposes. It contains 5.73% nitrogen, 1.5% phosphorus and about 1% potassium. On the basis of its chemical composition, its application as substrate to the biogas plant can be a sustainable alternative as compared to the other applications of Jatropha press cake. The study was conducted on a floating drum type biogas plant. It was observed that the biogas plant, initially charged with pure cattle dung, when gradually replaced with Jatropha oil cake (0-100%), it increased the biogas production up to approximately 25% in reasonable time duration. A significant increase in the percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium during the biofermentation process invokes the use of the effluent slurry as organic manure. Simultaneous reduction in the amount of the oil (5.67 to 3.95%) sustains the possibility of degradation of oil during methanisation. The plant has showed higher biogas yields at low temperatures also. Therefore, Jatropha defatted waste can successfully be used as a adduct as well as substrate in already running cattle dung based biogas plant to get high yield of biogas in comparison to cattle dung feed.

Agricultural Engineering Today, 2005

A Solar Dryer cum Cooker (SDC) was developed for drying and cooking food materials at the domesti... more A Solar Dryer cum Cooker (SDC) was developed for drying and cooking food materials at the domestic level. The device was tested under stagnation condition and heat up condition. The two figures of merits (F1 and F2) values were found as 0.12, 0.32 and 0.12, 0.30 for winter and summer, respectively, under the two test conditions. The efficiency for drying maize in solar dryer was 15.55%, in winter and 12.97%, in summer. The total cost of SDC was worked out to be Rs 2715/.

International journal of tropical agriculture, 2015

Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 2004

Composite solar unit of solar water heater cum distillation device (SWHD) was designed and develo... more Composite solar unit of solar water heater cum distillation device (SWHD) was designed and developed for domestic use. Such composite solar unit was developed to obtain hot water and distilled water simultaneously. Solar water heater cum distillation device was tested for full load condition in winter and summer to find out its performances. In solar water heater cum distillation unit the maximum temperatures of water in storage tank were 48.68 OC and 58.28 OC in winter and summer respectively. Total distilled water in 24 hours produced from SWHD in February 2004 and April 2004 was 5007 ml/m2/day and 5275 ml/m2/day respectively. Efficiency of SWHD for winter and summer was found to be 36.70%, 27.65% for solar water heater, 49.55%, and 43.97% for distillation in winter and summer seasons. The total cost of SWHD worked out to be Rs. 8930/-.

Concentrated solar water heater-cum-distillation unit, having capacity of 70 l was developed. Ref... more Concentrated solar water heater-cum-distillation unit, having capacity of 70 l was developed. Refractive type Fresnel lens was used as solar concentrator along with a copper plate as an absorber. The developed system was tested for its technical as well as economic feasibility of solar water heating and distillation units. Overall efficiency of the solar water heater was 42.38 percent. The yield of distilled water was 4.72 kg.m−2.day−1 and efficiency of the distillation unit was 28.78 per cent. The solar water heater coupled with distillation unit performed well. Total cost of the unit was Rs.7,524. The payback period was 2 years with benefit-cost ratio of 2.64.

Agricultural Engineering Today, 2003

Bullocks are the main source of power in farming operations. In this study energy output, power o... more Bullocks are the main source of power in farming operations. In this study energy output, power output and fatigue score were studied for Haryana bullocks in different work-rest cycles for rotary mode of operation. The physiological changes were noted during the cycle of operation at two drafts and fatigue score was calculated. While comparing the power and energy output it was found that the highest power and energy output was obtained in cycle consisting of 1½ hours work in three times a day having two rests of one-fourth and one-half hour in between. In this cycle, fatigue score was comparatively lower.

Journal of Dairying, Foods and Home Sciences, 2005

Solar Dryer cum Cooker (SOC) device for cooking and drying was designed and fabricated at Departm... more Solar Dryer cum Cooker (SOC) device for cooking and drying was designed and fabricated at Department of Renewable Energy Sources, C.T.A.E., Udaipur and tested for no load condition and full load condition in winter and summer to find out its performances. F1, F2 values of solar cooker were 0.119, 0.120 and 0.32, 0.30 for winter and summer. Time required for rice, tur dal, moong dal was 90, 130 and 100 minutes in winter 60, 90 and 75 minutes in summer. The efficiency for drying maize, wheat and potato was found to be 15.55%, 10.89% and 10.42%, for solar dryer in winter, 12.97%, 8.90% and 10.16% for solar dryer in summer respectively. The total cost of SOC was Rs. 2715.

Non-availability of sufficient water required for necessary dilution of input slurry for biogas p... more Non-availability of sufficient water required for necessary dilution of input slurry for biogas plants is considered to be the major hurdle in popularization of technology. The problem can be solved through biomethanation of undiluted cattle dung. Experimentation with undiluted cattle waste through anaerobic fermentation showed good results. Along with substrate “A” i.e. undiluted cattle dung, two substrates namely, “B” (prepared by adding water equal to half of the weight of cattle dung and 9% active inoculum) and “C” (prepared by mixing cattle dung with equal weight of water and 6% active inoculum) were experimented. Total biogas production from 3 kg substrate in 5.3 litre capacity glass bottle fermenters in 80 days were recorded as 130.7, 113.5 and 85.5 litre for substrate A, B and C, respectively. Biodegradability was found as 50.5, 58 and 59% for substrate A, B and C, respectively. Results revealed that the solid-state fermentation for longer hydraulic retention time (80 days) ...

International Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2012

The study area of wakal river basin covers 1914.32 km 2 and divided in to 7 sub-basins range from... more The study area of wakal river basin covers 1914.32 km 2 and divided in to 7 sub-basins range from 203.46 to 360.22 km 2 for the analysis. The drainage network of 7 sub-basins were delineated using remote sensing data (LISS III) on 1:50,000 scale and SOI toposheets were used as reference. The morphometric parameters were computed using ArcInfo and ArcView softwares. The drainage pattern of the study area is dendritic to sub-dendritic with stream orders of sub-basins ranging from VI to VII orders and lower streams order mostly dominated in the basin. The stream length ratios are changing haphazardly at sub-basin indicating differences in slope and topographic conditions. The values of mean bifurcation ratio ranging from 3.12 to 4.56 indicate that all the sub-basins fall under normal basin category. Drainage density varies between 3.08 to 4.20 km/km 2 has a mountainous relief and fine drainage texture. The values of form factor and circulatory ratio of sub-basins indicate that they are...

A community size fixed dome cattle dung feed biogas plant of 25 m3 capacity, based on solid-state... more A community size fixed dome cattle dung feed biogas plant of 25 m3 capacity, based on solid-state fermentation, was designed and constructed with brick masonry without using RCC. The shape of the designed plant was of capsule structure. The diameter of lower spherical segment of digester was 4.95 m with the height of the middle cylindrical section as 1.98 m and the depth of bottom spherical segment as 0.98 m. Two cement pipes, diameter 600 mm, were attached to facilitate the feeding of charge. Feeding was carried out with fresh cattle dung having moisture content of 16 per cent. The gas yield varied between 19.56 and 22.45 m3/day with methane content varying between 56.2 to 61.8 per cent. The biogas was used for operating a spark plug assisted CI engine genset to generate electricity, and also for thermal application. The brake thermal efficiency was highest (24.51%) at 4 kW load. Specific biogas consumption was highest (2.81 m3/kW.h) at 1 kW power, and least (0.8 m3/kW.h) at 4 kW.h...

Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2015

Flexible balloon biogas plant based on kitchen waste was designed and installed for environmental... more Flexible balloon biogas plant based on kitchen waste was designed and installed for environmental-friendly disposal of around 250 kg waste generated per day in the kitchen of student mess at Sainik School, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. The digester balloon having volume of 25 m3 was fabricated with high tenacity rubberized nylon fabric coated with hypalon on outer and neoprene on inner surface. A stirring unit was provided for mixing the digested slurry inside the digester with the compressed biogas. Average biogas generated was 0.0439 m3.kg−1 dry matter having methane and carbon di-oxide about 67.70% and 32.30%, respectively.

The term solar air heating is a technology in which the radiant energy emitted by the sun is capt... more The term solar air heating is a technology in which the radiant energy emitted by the sun is captured in an absorber and is used for space heating. Needless to say it is a renewable and pollution free method to produce space heating and when is used in commercial buildings or industries could be very cost effective. Improvement in the thermo hydraulic performance of a solar air heater can be done by enhancing the heat transfer. In general, heat transfer enhancement techniques are divided into two groups: active and passive techniques. Providing an artificial roughness on a heat transferring surface is an effective passive heat transfer technique to enhance the rate of heat transfer to fluid flow. In this paper, reviews of various artificial roughness elements used as passive heat transfer techniques, in order to improve thermo hydraulic performance of a solar air heater, is done. The objective of this paper is to review various studies, in which different artificial roughness elemen...

Biogas production is a microbial process, in which tiny bacteria work in absence of air (anaeorbi... more Biogas production is a microbial process, in which tiny bacteria work in absence of air (anaeorbic manner). There are various types of plants, which have been developed according to the various parameters. Fixed-dome plants are appropriate technology for developing countries, especially for rural areas. They can, nevertheless, in certain dimensions, also be used for agro-industrial and community wastewater treatment. In the beginning, fixed-dome plants were mainly built in the People's Republic of China, but are now spread in several countries. A fixed-dome plant comprises a closed, dome-shaped digester with an immovable, rigid gasholder and a displacement pit. Deenbandhu model is a low-cost rural household popular biogas plant that has been used in the India since 1986. The Deenbandhu plant consists of one bottom segment and another top hemisphere over it. The bottom segment is for the digester and the top hemisphere is for both digester and gasholder. A floating-drum plant con...

International Journal of Agricultural Engineering, 2013

A composite unit of Fresnel lens concentrated solar water cum distillation unit, having a capacit... more A composite unit of Fresnel lens concentrated solar water cum distillation unit, having a capacity of 70 liters was developed to perform the functions of water heating and distillation. In this system two insulated tanks with glass cover were fabricated where one was used for water heating and the second tank was for condensation of water vapour. Solar energy concentrated by Fresnel lens was absorbed by the plate and surrounding water contained in water heating tank was heated by this absorber plate’s heat through conduction. Water vapour from hot water was condensed in dehumidification tank by the comparatively colder surfaces of copper tube used to feed fresh water and top slanting glass surface. Condensed water was collected in a collection trough. Overall efficiency of solar water heater was found to be 42.38 per cent and 27.48 per cent for distillation unit. The final hot water outlet temperature was 65.12 and the yield of distilled water was 4.72 kg/m/day. The total cost of th...

Solar Geyser cum Distiller (SGD) device, having a capacity of 100 litre was designed and develope... more Solar Geyser cum Distiller (SGD) device, having a capacity of 100 litre was designed and developed and its performance evaluation was carried out. Overall efficiency of SGD for winter and summer was found to be 36.70 and 27.48% respectively. The yields of distilled water were 5007 ml/m2 day in winter and 5275 ml/m2 day in summer respectively. The total cost of SGD device was Rs 8930.

Bioresource Technology, 2016

Biomethanation of rice straw (RS) was studied in a batch mode at high total solid content (TSC) o... more Biomethanation of rice straw (RS) was studied in a batch mode at high total solid content (TSC) of 25% in outdoor pilot scale digesters. Performance was monitored for over six months by supplementing Nickel and Cobalt 15 and 10mgkg(-1) RS to each of mesophilic and thermophilic digesters for 35 and 21days retention time (RT), respectively. The average biogas production from mesophilic and thermophilic digesters were found varying 310 and 396Lkg(-1)TS, respectively. The corresponding figures for the control digesters were 225 and 270Lkg(-1)TS. Around 37 and 46% higher biogas production was recorded by supplementing the micronutrients in mesophilic and thermophilic digesters, respectively. Methane content in biogas was 57-59%. Matured compost had nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents of 1.0-1.2, 1.3-2.2, and 1.2-2.1%, respectively. The results demonstrated that the present process is faster, requires less than 85% water and produces green energy in addition to manure in less time compared to conventional process.

International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 2019

Dust and dirt particles which fall on solar panel decreases the output of solar panel. Hence the ... more Dust and dirt particles which fall on solar panel decreases the output of solar panel. Hence the cleaning of solar panel is one of the biggest challenge of engineering. In this paper the problem is discussed and a device for cleaning the surface of solar panel is disclosed. The device is portable in nature which is controlled by using a microcontroller and a feedback from a sensor for proper movement over the surface of solar panel. Initial test of the prototype device show some great result.