Annual Report 2005-2006

Science & Engineering Research Council

Engineering Sciences

During 2005-2006, support to both basic and applied research was continued. 108 new research projects have been initiated. A brief highlights of scientific achievements of activities initiated under individual engineering science programmes, is given below:

Chemical Engineering

• Extensive work on Acoustics and Hydrodynamic cavitations, carried out in the past, has been used to develop menu-driven-user friendly software for investigating dependency of cavitational effects on different operating parameters. This software will be of great utility for academic/ research purposes and industrial applications. It will soon be put in the public domain for use by interested parties by providing a link to DST web site.
• Work has been done to prepare Nylon-6/clay nano-composites at various loadings to ascertain their crystallization behavior. These nano composites have been used for fibre spinning to demonstrate feasibility and the preliminary studies indicate significant improvement in mechanical properties. These properties can be further improved by optimizing spinning and drawing parameters, which will be taken up in the next phase.
• Under a small sub programme on software development, work on various packages related to risk assessment, reactor database and modeling & optimisation is nearly complete. With minor improvements in the front end GUI, these packages would be available to users through an appropriate link from the DST web site. An amalgamation of domain knowledge and IT Tools, these packages would be of good utility for academic/research purposes as well for industrial simulations.
• The work on isolation, purification and stabilisation of tubulin has started off well, with carrying out the molecular studies. A protocol has been invented to this effect which is cost effective, faster and a single step separation process. One patent has already resulted out of this work, which will eventually lead to a process for tubulin at substantially reduced cost. Tubulin is a high value added item and has specialty applications including cancer drugs.
• Work on arsenic removal from drinking water by electro-coagulation route is under process with good results. In about a year's time, a prototype unit is likely to be developed to deal with this perennial problem in a cost effective manner and adhering to the future WHO limits of 10 PPB.

Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering

• Developed a methodology for optimal bidding strategy using Actor Critic Learning (ACL) algorithm under Reinforcement Learning (RL) domain. The results are compared for pay-off with conventional strategies like game theory and the method is found to be far better as temporal difference error is accounted for. Further, it is observed that the real market is an oligopoly market, with some dominant players having market power. Behavioral model is applied to pool based spot market to analyze the effect of contracts on market power mitigation. The conclusion derived from the above study states that the generators have to be motivated to enter into contracts through regulation to mitigate the market power. After The Electricity Act 2003, more IPPs are expected to join and compete in the market. In the future, a day-ahead 24 hour market can come into existence in India. So, this research can be useful there.
• Developed the device which emits both UV and white light at room temperatures. This is a novel feature since the only other polysilane reported so far emits only UV at room temperature. It can be used as white light source while UV portion can be used to tune the coordinates of white light. Patent has been filed on this.
• Developed a new instruction sequencing method, which minimizes the register pressure for out-of-order issue superscalar processors. And also developed power-aware software pipelining and instruction scheduling methods to construct performance optimal and power minimal schedules for software pipelineable loops which reduce leakage energy, peak-power, step power, and power hot-spots. Further developed heuristic for applying various loop transformations (loop fission, fusion, and tiling) for array-intensive loops in order to simultaneously improve data locality and decrease number of simultaneously active data arrays, and putting the memory banks that are not currently accessed in low-power modes, thereby achieving reduction in energy consumption.
• Developed bidding strategies for a Genco using Reinforcement Learning, which show better performance than conventional Game Theory Approach. A new concept called "Normalized Distribution Factors" developed from unconstrained and constrained OPF solution to account for effect of congestion in the profit generation.
• Developed a new family of temporal logics for assume-guarantee reasoning, including model checking tool suite and new formal methods for verification of architectural intent of a design through RTL property coverage. And also developed a new style of coverage analysis for formal property suites for analysis against a high level reference fault model.
• Developed a fast computational procedure (based on Structure Preserving Energy Functions (SPEF)) for calculating the energy margin and its sensitivities .The applications include the determination of the effectiveness of locations of Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC). And also developed an algorithm for the on-line detection of the loss of synchronism using locally measurable quantities (on critical transmission lines). This algorithm has been tested on large practical systems (a 355 bus, 55 generator system adapted from WREB). And also developed a generalized control strategy for the discrete control of FACTS controllers including Unified Power Flow Controller (UPFC), for the improvement of transient stability and damping of power oscillations following a major disturbance.

Material, Mining & Mineral Engineering

• Detailed archeometallurgical studies on ancient mining and smelting practices in northern India are under progress at BHU, Varansi literature survey has been completed, a few field trips have been undertaken, few ore rich potential sites for further studies have been identified, and a few samples collected.
• Pure alumina, and alumina-aluminium titanate (AT) composites have been synthesized through solgel route at RRL, Trivandrum. Alumina - AT composite discs and crucibles were made and tested for studying the wettability with molten aluminum.
• A detailed study of a dip coating process for applying metal oxide coatings on glass substrates by sol-gel technique has been conducted at NPL, New Delhi. Precursor solutions for making doped as well as undoped TiO₂ films have been successfully prepared. An indigenous dip coating facility, capable of handling large area substrates upto 1mx1m in size, has been designed and fabricated.
• A detail study is under progress for development of innovative process for selection of flotation collectors in mineral/metallurgical industry at RRL, Bhubaneswar.
• One-dimensional mathematical model for the Acheson process, used for manufacturing of silicon carbide in a graphite resistance furnace, has been developed along with a computer code at IISc, Bangalore. Mass transfer of CO has been worked out in one-dimension. A two-dimensional model for the same process is also being developed. Further work is under progress.
• Investigation of the influence of alloying elements on hydrogen absorption by candidate bulk amorphous alloys is under progress at NML, Jamshedpur.
• A joint project for development of toughened zirconia composites for tribological applications is under progress at IIT, Kanpur & NML, Jamshedpur. The influence of ZrO₂ matrix composition (Y₂O₃ content) and different pre-sintering temperature on the densification, microstructure and mechanical properties of the sinter-HIPed (Hot Isosatic Pressing) composites is being investigated.
• An investigation on the control of superheat in continuous casting mold through the application of a hollow jet nozzle is under progress at IIT, Kanpur. Extensive mathematical modeling of temperature fields were carried out in two different tundish systems (28T and 10T). Validation of mathematical model is under progress.
• Number of master alloys (Al-₃Ti, Al-₃B, Al-₅Ti-1B and Al-1 Ti-₃B) have been prepared indigenously by the reaction of the molten aluminum with halide salts like K2 TiF₆ and KBF₄ in an induction furnace is being investigated at BVVS Basaveshwar Engineering College, Bagalkot, Karnataka.
• A detail study is under progress for preparation of an energy storage device; super capacitor based on conducting polymers at IICT, Hyderabad.
• Microwave dielectric resonator materials Sr₂Ce₂Ti₅O₁₆, BaCe₃Ti₄O₁₅, BaCe₂Ti₃O₁₁ and BaCeTi₄O₁₃ which are excellent material for wireless communication through solid state ceramic route has been prepared at RRL, Trivandrum.
• A Novel Chemical method has been developed for the preparation of nanosized powders of Ba(Sn_x Ti_xO₃)[BST] at Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology, Thrissur. A multilayer Actuator from these synthesized Nano BST has also been developed.

Mechanical, Civil Engineering and Robotics

• A Testing Facility for General Purpose Rolling Element Bearings has been developed at CMERI, Durgapur with collaboration of TATA Bearings; Kharagpur (Figure 2.8). It has applications like testing and calibration of bearings, experimental evaluation of fatigue life and wear of various sizes of ball bearings, determination of friction coefficient in bearings at various loads and speeds. The facility has computer-controlled test rigs to test up to 10 bearings simultaneously.

Figure 2.8: Testing Facility for General Purpose Rolling Element
Bearings developed at CMERI, Durgapur

• A non destructive testing method for measurement of crack growth and detection of cracks in pipes is being developed.
• The behavior and damage to RC members during fire is being studied to arrive at appropriate Repair Procedure for fire damaged RC members.
• Optimal reservoir operation rules for Vaipar basin using ANN based techniques are being studied.
• A dam beach flood analysis model to determine the stage and discharge hydrograph at different stations from the dam as a function of time is being studied.
• A numerical model for estimation of unsaturated soil parameters using inverse procedure is being developed.
• A low cost indigenous adsorbent using agro-waste for dephenolation of aqueous industrial waste water is being developed.
• An oscillatory combustor Gasifier for low grade fuel is being developed.
• A pulse tube nitrogen liquefier of about 1 litre/ hour capacity is being designed and developed.
• A model and design curves for thickness of compacted clay liners below municipal solid waste landfills is being developed.
• A centrifugal pump is being developed to work as a turbine and integrate with load controller.
• A model for optimizing the solar thermal energy storage using PCM capsules of various geometries.