| Ethanol from 'MADHURA'
sweet sorghum |
Solar powered
ethanol distillation plant | 
Solar
collectors for the distillation
plant |
|
|
| A solar powered ethanol distillation plant was set
up in the Institute campus. It was capable of distilling
50 l/day of 94% (v/v) ethanol from MADHURA sweet sorghum
hybrid developed at NARI. The solar collector area was
38 sq. m. About 70% of the energy for distillation came
from solar energy. | |
Yearly
production of food, fuel and fodder from 1 ha of
'Madhura' .
- 60-80 tons of stripped stalks
- 21-28 tonnes of bagasse
- 2000-3000 liters of ethanol ( 95% v/v)
- 2-4 tons of good quality
grain
| |
| Ethanol can be used as a substitute for
kerosine for household
lighting and cooking energy needs. Besides it can be
mixed with diesel and petrol to help reduce the
pollution and also foreign exchange outflow in importing
petroleum products. At NARI suitable stoves
have been developed to run on low concentration (50% and
above) of ethanol/water mixtures.
| |
|
|
|
