Concept of Climate change and Approach of Chemical Engineers -1

The article was published in IIChE News Letter - Issue 1, 2022 - Vol 14. Jan-June 2022 as a first article on Series of Climate Change and Sustainable Manufacturing. The purpose of the series of articles is to educate Chemical Engineers for their roles and responsibilities.

# Climate change is no longer some far-off problem. It is happening here and it is happening now. – Barak Obama #

Now a days impact of Climate change is visible in each and every part of the world, whether it is melting of Glaciers, heavy rainfall and flood on one location of the world where as severe draught in other location of the world, Wild Forest fire at one location and severe cyclone at other location. Agriculture season have shown huge variation due to change in precipitation pattern. It is expected that if the same is continued, seal level will rise by more than 1 ft and can be up to 4 ft by 2100. In various national and international conferences, it was discussed and concluded that it is due to Greenhouse gas effect and all of us knows that one of the greenhouse gas is Carbon Dioxide. The change observed in climate of earth is called greenhouse gas effect and climate change.

?It is identified by Scientist that, although planet mercury is nearest to the sun, but the hottest planet is Venus where temp is almost 470 Deg C. It was attributed to very high Carbon dioxide level in the atmosphere of the Venus. Same can happen for earth if Carbon Dioxide level continuously increases. On earth, due to excessive consumption of fossil fuel as well as various industrial activities, Carbon Dioxide equivalent concentration is increased from 320 ppm in 1960 to almost 420 ppm in 2020.

?The given picture shows how increase in Carbon Dioxide equivalent level increases the temp or earth. Most of the energy of sunrays are reflected by earth and released back to space. However, greenhouses gases redirect the escaping sun energy to earth after which is called trapping of the heat of sun rays. Increase in concentration of greenhouse gas increases the increase in heat trapped in the earth atmosphere and increases its temp. The other chart shows the increase in earth temp by almost 1 Deg C as compared to preindustrial era.

So far, scientist have identified such 7 types of Greenhouse gas which are responsible for greenhouse effect. All gases have different global warming potential although the concentration of them in atmosphere of earth is lower that carbon Dioxide. The details given below in Table 1. Considering Global warming potential and their concentration in Air, Carbon Dioxide equivalent is calculated.

In order to mitigate impact of climate change, it was agreed in one of Conference of Parties in Kyoto in 1997 to reduce an emission of Greenhouse gases, which is called Kyoto Protocol. It came in force in 2005. India have developed National action plan for Climate change in 2008 consisting of 8 nos of missions, which include mitigating measures, adaptive measures as well as financial instruments to implements the action decided.

?To review and control the emission of GHG, Conference of parties meet every year as well as every 5 years, they review the progress of action taken by various countries. 21st COP met in 2015 at Parris set an objective to limit increase in global temp by less than 2 deg C as compared to preindustrial era as further increase in temp can be irreversible. They voluntarily agreed that they will pursue effort to limit Global temp increase below 1.5 Deg C as compared to pre-industrial era.

?Most of the Greenhouse gas are emitting from industries and use of fossil fuel. India also have committed for her goal in 2015 COP at Paris as well as 2021 COP at Glasgow. India have achieved the commitment of 2015 well in advance and committed very aggressive goal in 2021.

?Although, everyone needs to contribute in mission Climate change, I foresee a major role of chemical engineers to support this mission. The below is listing of approach by a chemical engineer for every Greenhouse Gas.

?1.???Carbon Dioxide – It is emitted due to use of fossil fuel, e.g. coal, crude oil in combustion in industries, domestic fuel, transportation as well as generation of electricity. Following approach can be adopted while design and operation of plants and industries.

a.???Energy audit for Energy conservation,

b.???Energy efficiency improvement program for equipment and processes,

c.????Pinch analysis of the heat integration of the plant as well as whole site to effectively utilise each heat source.

d.???Design for net zero carbon processes,

e.???Substitute fossil fuel-based energy by renewable energy, e.g. Solar, Bio, Wind, Hydro

f.?????Hydrogen generation, storage, transportation and usage

g.???Develop alternate use of Carbon Dioxide as well as design of carbon capture and sequestration system

2.???Methane – As on today, Methane contributes almost 30% of Global warming. Almost 40-50 % methane emission is from agriculture and cattle. In industries, it is emitted by leakage of natural gas systems, Gas wells, coal mining, land fill of solid waste – Domestic and industrial as well as waste water. Following approach can be adopted.

a.???Identify and Minimise Methane leakages from Gas systems, Gas wells, coal mines as well as various industrial activities.

b.???Develop alternate use of domestic and industrial Waste products to avoid solid waste to landfill activities.

c.????Bio fuel plant to utilise Agriculture, domestic and cattle waste as well as other solid and liquid waste and generate bio gas, ethanol etc.

3.???Nitrous Oxide – Nitrous Oxide is emitted due to Agriculture soil management as well as while combustion of various fuel in vehicle, furnaces, boilers as well as heaters. Following approach can be adopted.

a.???Use of low NOX burners for various combustion processes.

b.???Design of low NOX system to reduce flame temp. e.g. steam and water injection, flue gas recirculation, staged combustion etc.

c.????Catalytic NOX removal system for vehicles, furnaces etc.

4.???Hydrofluorocarbons – Hydrofluorocarbons are substitute of Ozone depleting substance and is used in various industries for refrigeration, insulations, aerosols as well as firefighting. Following approach can be adopted.

a.???Substitute HFCs by non HFC substance for Refrigeration, fire fighting

b.???Minimise leakages and Establish accounting system as almost 60% HFC use is for topping up of the system inventories.

5.???Perfluorocarbons – Perfluorocarbons have the highest life time and is emitted mainly as a by-product from Aluminium industries, Solvent in electronic and semiconductor industries. Following approach can be adopted.

a.???Substitute PFC solvent in electronic and semiconductor industries

b.???Leak detection and repair strategies

c.????Capturing PFC from Aluminium industries from waste gases.

6.???Sulphur Hexafluoride. – Sulphur Hexafluoride is also synthetic chemical and have highest global warming potential. It can be emitted from electrical transmission and distribution equipment, manufacture of semiconductor and electronics as well as production of Magnesium.

a.???Use of SF6 free circuit breakers

b.???Recycle of SF6 from old equipment

c.????Leak detection and repair strategies for electrical equipment

d.???Capture SF6 from waste gas from Magnesium industries

7.???Nitrogen Trifluoride – Nitrogen Trifluoride is the latest addition of GHG in the list. It can also be emitted from electronic and semiconductor industries, solar panels as well as chemical lasers.

a.???Substitute use of NF3

b.???Leak detection and repair strategies

We can see from the above list that most of greenhouse gas with very high potential for global warming are man-made. Its release to atmosphere needs to be stopped by engineering and administrative controls as well as by substituting its use by non GHG chemicals. Molecule level understanding of these greenhouse gases are better with chemical engineers. Therefore, Chemical engineers may have to play a significant role in mitigating use of greenhouse gas and its emission.

# Fighting climate change calls for Innovation, Cooperation and Will-power to make changes that world needs – Narendra Modi #

1 The author is Founder and Chief Consultant, Innov8 ProTech Solutions, Sustainability and Management Consultant. Formerly, he was Sr. Vice President (Head- Technical) at Reliance Industries Ltd. He is also a member of the IIChE Chemical Process Safety, Energy and Environment Committee from 2018 to 2023. Since last Five years, he is consulting for Energy and Water Management as well as Green company advise and branding and Sustainable Manufacturing. Email: [email protected]; Mob: +919374715109