BIT takes a STEP towards innovation

With the increase in vehicle density causing high fuel emission, ‘green fuel’ to check the impact on environment is the common call.

Students at Bearys Institute of Technology (BIT) have come out with four inventions – two among them are said to have little negative impact on environment. The inventions were unveiled on Monday here, marking the opening of the Science and Technology Entrepreneurs Park (STEP) of BIT.

One such innovative production is that of a ‘water hybrid car’ that has been put into shape by a group of four final-year students at the Department of Mechanical Engineering led by Noumaan and including Salman, Irshad U N and Bharat.

Minister for Higher Education Basavaraj Rayareddi, who dedicated the STEP, also went on a drive in the same vehicle, as a co-driver.

Noumaan, the team leader explained, “The two-seater custom-built car, which uses the engine of Maruti 800, 1996 model, ensures an increase in mileage by at least 40%. The engine has been designed and modified to enable it to work with standard air-fuel ratio of 1:8-1:8.8. Further, 60% hydrogen is used to one part to volume of gasoline fuel as an additive, which gives this car is called dual-fuel or hybrid car.”

He added, “Initially, the engine is turned on with the help of petrol, later a switch has to be turned on, as the provision has been made to generate hydrogen in the rear of the car, which will be used to get desired results.”

Most of the parts of the car have been procured from scrap yard, with the total cost touching Rs 70,000.

“In addition to this, a hybrid electrical vehicle (HEV) or hybrid scooter has also been developed. It runs on two sources of power – gasoline and battery. For low power application, battery drive is used, whereas, for high-power application, gasoline engines are used. Gasoline drive is most efficient at high speed drive.

Thus HEV’s both modes of operation occur at their maximum efficiency. It gives double the mileage of other vehicles, and also 50% less emission, as compared to other vehicles, thus reducing the pollution level. It is most suitable for urban areas with high traffic density,” explained the team leader.

The other two innovationsare – a miniature sugarcane harvesting machine and a compressed air engine car.

Addressing the gathering later, Syed Mohammed Beary, the chairperson of Bearys Academy of Learning, said, “The idea behind promoting students to take up innovative projects is to forge a bond between students and industry.”