Why in news? Indian Railways Collaborates with Indian Oil Corporation to Develop MD-15 Fuel

Highlights:

• The blended composition fuel decreases harmful pollutant emissions, contributing to a cleaner and greener environment.

What is MD-15?

• MD-15, short for Methanol Diesel-15, is a special fuel developed by the Indian Railways’ Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) in collaboration with the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).
• It is a cost-effective blended fuel containing 15% methanol, 71% mineral diesel, and 14% indigenously developed additives by IOCL.

Benefits of MD-15

• MD-15 offers superior performance, combustion, and emission characteristics compared to regular mineral diesel fuel.
• It has the potential to reduce diesel consumption by 15% and result in substantial annual savings.
• Fuel showed lower cylinder temperatures at all levels, thereby extending the lifespan of engine components.
• It demonstrated reduced emissions of NOx, also known to contribute to smog formation and pollution.

Challenge of MD-15

• Methanol cannot be directly mixed with diesel, necessitating the addition of specially formulated additives to achieve compatibility with existing diesel locomotives.