UAE University students design eco-friendly micro-filter

Prototype of the eco-friendly micro-filter

Emirati students at UAE University (UAEU) have developed a cost-effective filter that promises to cut the dangerous emission of particulate matter such as carbon from diesel engines.

The filter uses reverse engineering and will greatly help in reducing environmental pollution caused by metallic and non-metallic particles that have been causing global warming, said Dr Mohammad Younus Salim, Associate Professor of Combustion and Heat Engines at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of UAEU.

Dr Salim, who conceived and supervised the project, said a prototype of the eco-friendly micro-filter is ready. “Independent tests have proved that the filter does not slow down the performance of the engine and saves a considerable quantity of fuel,” he said.

The team of students that worked on the project include Afra Al Darmaki, Haya Al Nuaimi, and Maitha Al Daheri. The project was funded by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) and Dr Salim is currently working to get a US patent for the filter.

The test, said Dr Salim, showed that the filter absorbs between 60 and 90 per cent of the particulate matter emitted by the engine. “These percentages are determined by horsepower, engine speed, and the type of materials used,” he added.

This micro-filter, he said, removes 10 grams of global-warming emissions in a diesel generator with a fuel cylinder capacity of half a litre. “This reduction results in better fuel mileage, cleaner air and greater savings,” he said.

The research project was a part of Adnoc’s commitment to sustainable development that ensures a harmonious balance between human needs and the Earth’s resources. From a public point of view, said Dr Salim, the filter lowers consumer costs and protects the environment.