Devadutta Das

Evaluation of performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a CI engine fueled with karanja biodiesel and diethyl ether blends

ABSTRACT In this experimental study, karanja biodiesel was prepared by two step transesterification process using potassium hydroxide as catalyst. This extracted biodiesel was used to determine performance, emission and combustion characteristics of different karanja oil diesel blends with 10% diethyl ether (DEE) at different loading conditions in an unmodified single cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition (CI) engine at 1500 rpm. Performance parameters evaluated are brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and brake thermal efficiency (BTE) while the emission of carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbon (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) were calculated at 20, 40, 60, 80% and full load conditions. Combustion characteristics evaluated were in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate at full load condition. The results of the investigation have been compared with that of diesel. BTE and BSFC of biodiesel blends were found to be greater than diesel. Reduction in NOX and CO2 was observed at full load condition while there was an increase in HC emission on intermittent basis. Peak in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate of B10DEE10 and B20DEE10 were found to be greater than that of diesel at full load condition.

Allocation of transmission charge by using MVA-Mile approaches for restructured Indian power utility

Transmission of electricity across the system plays a critical role in making the power available to the consumers. One of the critical issues in the liberalization of the electricity market is the way in which transmission costs are translated into tariffs. The Electricity Act, 2003 mandates that the national tariff framework implemented should be sensitive to distance, direction and related to quantum of power flow. Flow-Mile method rates explicitly reflect the fact that the cost of transmission depends on the distance and how much power is transmitted. Traditional regional postage stamp method of transmission pricing in India do not price transmission services accurately because they fail to take into account the total effects of the transaction on the network. Flow-Mile pricing involves load flow analysis to model the power flows on the transmission network to determine transmission charge. This paper expands upon the MW-Mile method into MVA-Mile method that is currently subject to considerable discussion and is under review by a number of researchers.

Transmission cost allocation by using MW-Mile approaches in a restructured Indian power system

Transmission access pricing is a key issue of restructuring and deregulation. Transmission pricing must be non-discriminatory, transparent, economically efficient, and allow full recovery of costs. In the case of electricity transmission system, economic efficiency implies promoting an optimal utilization of existing network, efficient siting of new generations and loads and promoting transmission investments. These characteristics require that the transmission circuits that pertain to each transaction must be identified and their costs properly allocated among users. Therefore cost allocation is a major issue in transmission access pricing and has given rise to a lot of methodologies. This paper presents an overview of MW-Mile method of transmission cost allocation. Under MW-Mile method there are a number of variants i.e. absolute, dominant and reverse in relation to how the cost of each circuit is allocated to the various users of the circuit. In India, with the enactment of Electricity Act, 2003 lay down the guide lines towards the transmission tariff sensitive to distance, direction and quantum of power flow.

Existing transmission charging practices in India: Discouraging for power market

The changing structure of the electricity supply industry is bringing transmission charging into a new focus. Transmission charging evaluation is a complex task and becomes important after introducing the competition into the power market. The existing transmission charging practices in India is based on regional postage stamp basis. The development of power market in India is in its initial stage, so flow based method for transmission charging might be suitable for Indian context.

Transmission charging practices in ER of indian power utility

The paper presents the structure and overview of Indian power system. The development of transmission technology has also been discussed in brief. The paper reviews the philosophy of transmission tariff in Indian scenario. The changing structure of the electricity supply industry is bringing transmission charging mechanism in to new focus. Of course, charging scheme is a complex task and it becomes important to have a comprehensive study of the existing charging scheme. A case study of Eastern Region (ER) of existing charging practices has been presented here. The paper endorses the MW-Mile method for transmission charging scheme. Finally, some concluding remarks have been produced.

Transmission Pricing Reform in India: CERC's Next Frontier

This article describes the growth of transmission sector and basic concept for the allocation of tariffs in the Indian scenario. Different phases of transmission pricing reform have been discussed. The article focuses on the existing transmission pricing mechanism with its limitations and the different initiatives taken by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission for reforming the pricing mechanism as mandated by the Electricity Act 2003. Finally, some challenges for reforming transmission pricing have been discussed.

Evolution of legal framework and regulatory challenges in the context of Indian power sector reform

The paper aims to give an overview of Indian power sector with some historical background and traces the development of regulation of electricity starting with the provisions of the Indian Electricity Act 1910, the Electricity (Supply) Act 1948, Indian Electricity Regulatory Act 1998 and the Electricity Act 2003. They gave authority to central and state governments to regulate power sector. The Regulatory Act 1998 empowers the respective government for tariff fixation and certain licensing. Still, there are some difficulties and challenges for the regulatory institutions, which need to be resolved. Also, the overall reforms so far in the different states of India have been highlighted and finally some concluding remarks have been presented.