Annual Report 1999-2000

Technology Development

Instrument Development Programme (IDP)

Department of Science & Technology supports the projects/programmes for indigenous development of instruments under its Instrument Development Programme (IDP). About 55 projects are currently being implemented at various R&D Organisations in the country. Identified areas of instrumentation are : Analytical, Medical, Environmental Monitoring & Pollution Control, Test & Measuring, Food Processing, Geo-scientific, Agri-electronic, Textile & Leather Instrumentation and Sensors.

Technologies Under Development

Instruments/systems to be developed are identified and recommended by an Expert Group of Scientists. Main considerations of choosing the instruments for development are demand, innovativeness of the technology and availability of expertise/infrastructure with R&D institutions/industries. DST provides financial support to R&D institutes for development. Industries are, however, associated with each project which offer technical specifications, expertise and workshop facilities during R&D and subsequently commercialise the product.

Some of the major instruments/systems under development are as follows:

Glow Discharge Lamp, Atomic Emission Spectrometer, Differential Scanning Calorimeter, Photoacoustic and Photopyroelectric Spectrometers, Deuterium Lamp, Concealed Explosive Detector, Equipment for study of realtime kinetics of ligand ligate interaction, Rheometer, Dispergraph for analysis of carbon black dispersion in rubber, Contactless fully automatic diameter measurement system, Portable stack opacity monitor for chimneys & kilns, Computer controlled system for mixed juice flow stabilisation in plantation white sugar manufacturing process, Laboratory freeze dryer, Fibre length measurement counter, ZrO2 -Ti O2 based capacitive ceramic humidity sensor and associated instrumentation, Metal oxide gas sensor, Smart humidity sensor employing solid state technology, Microhardness Tester, Remote after loading system for treatment of carcinoma cervix uteri, Laser ultrasound tomography technique for early detection of human breast cancer, Clinical chemistry analyser, Anaesthesia ventilator, Ultrasonic nebulising spray system for medical application, Resistivity equipment for deep electrical investigations, System for estimation, monitoring and control of energy consumption at different stages of yarns in mills.

Technologies Developed

Technology of the following instruments has been completed and are under process of transfer to industries for manufacturing:

Thermo-mechanical Analyser, Infragauges for On-line thickness measurement of Polycoatings, Magnetic sensor for material characterisation, Precision temperature calibration system upto 1000o C, Automation in rice/grain flaking industry, Microcomputer based biosensor instrumentation, Automation of sunflower dehuller, Online Energy Analyser, Unit for destruction of benign & malignant tumors in ENT region based on JT cryoprobes, Ultrasonic biometry equipment, Piston gauge pressure standard upto 80 MPa.

Technology Demonstration

Before transfer of the technology to industries for commercialisation, the product is tested with users. The following three systems have been demonstrated:

(a) On-line Infragauge system for Thickness Measurement of Polycoatings

The performance of the system was demonstrated to the experts at M/s. Packaging India Pvt. Ltd., Pondicherry. The prototype was installed in the blow film plant for thickness monitoring. It has IR Sensor mounted on Scanning platform which scans the entire width of the polyfilm and measures its thickness. It is coupled with industrial computer which controls sensor position and has provision for realtime data acquisition & display. The system has range of 20-300 microns with accuracy within 2%.

(b) On-line Energy Monitoring System

The system after development at CSIO, Chennai centre was installed at M/s. Manali Petrochemicals Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. The system records consumption of power every minute & displays on a monitor. CII conducted comprehensive energy audit and work out the saving potential of Rs.23.22 lakhs by installing this system. Abnormal consumption of power at any instant reveals some faults in the plant. Large companies are approaching for installing this system.

(c) Multiprobe Bore Hole Logger

The instrument has been demonstrated under field operations. It measures ground water level and physical parameters like temperature, porosity etc. upto a depth of 30 meters.

Commercialisation of Technology

The information of the technologies of completed instruments is disseminated through scientific journals, newspapers and personal interactions. Know-how of instruments is transferred to interested industries for commercialisation on payment of licence fee and royalty.

The know-how of the following instruments/systems have been transferred to industries after development at R&D Organizations:

1.	Portable multiprobe borehole logger	R& D Organization:	NGRI, Hyderabad
		Industry:	M/s. IGIS Pvt. Ltd., Hyderabad
2	Concentric needle electrodes for neurophysiological applications	R&D Organization	SCTIMST, Trivandrum
		Industry	M/s. SPIC India Ltd., Chennai.

Important Achievements

(i) Revenue Generation.

An amount of Rs.5 lakhs has been generated by way of getting licence fee from the industries.

(ii) Innovative Technologies

Infragauge and Energy Monitoring systems are appropriate technologies to suit Indian industries. ‘Remote After Loading System for Cancer Treatment’ is a new technology based device developed at RCC, Trivandrum.

(iii) R&D - Industry Interaction

Industries are associated with each project from the very beginning. This has resulted in absorption of the technology by industries and early commercialisation of the products.

New Initiatives

Programmes on development of instruments/systems for new areas like Leather and Rubber have been initiated.