NEW DIRECTOR FOR ERDA

 

Shri T.P. Govindan

Shri T. P. Govindan has taken over as Director of ERDA with effect from 01st April 2010.  Prior to joining Electrical Research & Development Association  -  ERDA - Vadodara  as its Director on 1st April 2010, Mr. T.P. Govindan   was the  Vice President and Head of CG Global R&D Centre, Crompton Greaves Ltd  at Mumbai. Specialised in  High Voltage Engineering  from Indian Institute of  Science, Bangalore , he has over 30  years of Industrial R&D experience at  Crompton Greaves Ltd. His core competencies include high voltage product technologies, technology and innovation management, IPR and R&D organisation building. Mr. Govindan is a holder of 5 patents and author of numerous technical reports and papers. His technology interests and responsibilities have taken him to over 30 countries and has represented India in  international technical forums for many years in the area of high voltage product technologies.

 

  

MoU’s signed

 

ERDA has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) in this quarter.

 

1.   Flow Indicate (Reed Switch Based) for Oil Filled  Power Transformers  – MoU signed on 16^th January 2010 with M/s. Ashish Engineering, Samiyala, Vadodara

 

2.   Oil Level Indicator (Reed Switch Based) for Oil Filled Power Transformers – MoU signed on 16^th January 2010 with M/s. Ashish Engineering, Samiyala, Vadodara

FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATION

 

ERDA celebrated its 37^th Foundation Day on 13^th  March 2010 at Vadodara.  Dr. B.C. Jain, Managing Director, Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Baroda graced the occasion as Chief Guest and delivered the Foundation Day lecture on “Biomass Gasification - Status & Prospects”. In his lecture he highlighted that the details of Gasification, Status of Technology  Leadership Worldwide, Decentralized, Distributed Generation – Way Forward  and related issues.

 

Dr. B.C. Jain presented the Mylavaram-; Technical Excellence-; R&D – and Best Performance Awards to the winners on this occasion.  Dr. J.J. Patel, President, ERDA, presided over the function.  Shri N.J. Buch, Acting Director, ERDA presented the Director’s report highlighting the major achievements and details of infrastructure development and also explained the capabilities and services of each technical division and their achievements.  The President, Dr. J.J. Patel presented the Incentive -; House Keeping and Punctuality Awards to the winners.  The programme was attended by Managing Committee members, industrialists and academicians besides a host of invited dignitaries and ERDA employees. A grand musical programme ‘Surmartand  Melodies’ was also organized in the evening as a part of the celebrations.

 

 

 Chief Guest, Dr. B.C. Jain, Managing Director, Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd., inaugurating the programme by lighting the lamp as the President Dr. J.J. Patel (right) and Acting Director,  Shri N.J. Buch and Dy. Director, Dr. P.A. Krishnamoorthy applaud

 

APPRECIATION CERTIFICATE

 

ERDA’s new development “LED based standalone lamp” was awarded the ‘Appreciation Certificate’ in the ‘Best Products’ contest at ELECRAMA – 2010 exhibition.  The award was presented by Shri Bharatsinh Solanki, Minister of State for Power, Govt. of India.

 

Lighting consumes about one sixth of total electrical power available. For the last several decades traditional incandescent bulb, fluorescent tube light and now compact fluorescent lamps are being used as light source. Traditional incandescent lamps are economical but are inefficient (10 to 18 lumen/W) and have limited life (1000 hours). Whereas fluorescent lamps are more efficient (50 to 60 lumen/ W) but need starter and ballast, which make them expensive than incandescent lamp. With the development of CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp), the lighting industry scenario changed considerably. CFLs are efficient, long lasting (6000 hrs), relatively robust and can be retrofitted in standard bulb socket. However CFLs contain mercury and hence are not eco-friendly.  LED (Light Emitting Diode) is the dawn of a new era in the lighting technology. LED is reliable, economical, having long life, energy efficient and eco friendly. LEDs do not contain mercury which makes it one of the best eco-friendly efficient lamps. Another major advantage of LED is its long life compared to CFLs (6000 hours).  

 

In developing countries like India, there are many remote places where electricity is not available not even today and people use lantern and candle in the night. In order to accomplish the mission “POWER TO ALL” by 2012, an alternate, reliable, eco friendly and economical light source is essential. To provide light at night (for 4 to 6 hours) a sustainable, efficient and sturdy light source is needed. In an effort to meet this need, ERDA has developed LED based stand-alone lamp with manual charging mechanism, which can be used in remote areas where grid connection is not available. The salient features of the newly developed lamp are:

 

Power consumption	:	2.3 W
Colour	:	Pure white (Cool day light)
Average illumination level on working plane	:	180 lx  (Working plane of size 0.5 m × 0.5 m)
Manual Charging time (per day)	:	15 min
Operating time (per charging)	:	4 Hours
Weight	:	1.2 kg. (Portable)

Benefits:

 

·         Maintenance free and extremely suitable for remote and rural areas where grid connection is not available

·    Suitable as a table lamp for carrying out specified task

·    It can also be used in combination with solar power

·    Useful for small road side venders in city and mobile communities because of low cost, portability and long life

 

Stand alone LED lamp

 

Participation in Exhibitions

MEE 2010 International Exhibition

 

To develop overseas clientele and to explore the possibilities of providing services to industries and utilities in Middle East Countries, ERDA has participated in the Middle East Electricity - 2010 (MEE - 2010) exhibition held at Dubai during 9 to 11 February 2010.  It was organized by IIR Middle East Exhibitions, Dubai.  This is the 3^rd consecutive year ERDA is participating in the International Exhibition.  Many industrialists, consultants from various industries, utilities visited the stall and ERDA officers interacted with them regarding various services offered by ERDA. ERDA officers have also made technical presentation on “Services for Testing and Evaluation of Equipment for Industries and Utilities” during the seminar.  The response from the visitors and delegates was quite encouraging. Consequent to the participation, several enquiries have started pouring in for testing of transformer oil, calibration of high voltage equipment at customer’s premises and testing of cables.

 

MSME EXPO 2010

ERDA also participated in the “MSME EXPO - 2010” Exhibition held at Visakhapatnam during 20 - 21 February 2010. It was organized by MSME - Development Institute, Hyderabad. The various technologies developed by ERDA along with the services offered in the field of electrical engineering were displayed. Many industrialists, consultants as well as academicians and students of engineering colleges, visited the stall and interacted with our officers about the services of ERDA.  Response from the visitors has been quite encouraging.

 

Customer Meet

ERDA has organized a ‘Customer Meet’ on 20th February 2010 at its Vadodara campus.  In this programme, our valued customers got an opportunity to spell out their expectations from ERDA and opinion about our services. About 40 valued customers participated in the meet.

 

The participants expressed their overall satisfaction with the quality of ERDA’s services.

 

ACHIEVER

 

THESIS ACCEPTED

 

The thesis entitled “Synthesis and Characterization of Ionomers as compatibilizer for Polymer Blends” submitted by Mr. Harindu A. Vyas, Sr. Research        Fellow, Materials      Research Cell, ERDA    has    been accepted by  the M.S University of Baroda for the award of Ph.D. degree in Applied Chemistry.  Mr. Harindu had worked under the Guidance of Dr. R.C. Jain, Consulting Scientist, ERDA and Prof. C.N. Murthy, Head, Department of Applied Chemistry, M.S. University of Baroda. Congratulations from all.

 

 

DEVELOPMENT OF IONOMERS FOR POLYMER BLENDS

Dr. R.C. Jain

Consulting Scientist

 

Introduction:

The ionomers are ionic polymers consisting of a hydrocarbon backbone and pendant carboxylic acid groups which are neutralized either partially or completely with metal ions normally by sodium and zinc ions. The ionic cross links due to functional groups are responsible for providing the high performance properties of polymer blends. The ionic interactions and subsequent polymer properties are dependent on the type of polymer chain, ionic content, type of ionic moiety, degree of neutralization and type of cation present in the polymer backbone. Ionomers make immiscible polymer blends to miscible and thereby the performance properties of polymer products are enhanced and become cost effective. They can be processed by conventional plastics processing equipment.

 

Architecture of Ionomers

(i)        Monochelics:         Monochelic is the ionomer with a single ion placed at the end of polymer chain. They can be prepared by anionic polymerization e.g. PS containing terminal carboxylate anion

(ii)       Telechelics:           Telechelic is the ionomer with ions placed at the both ends of the polymer chain. This type of ionomer can be synthesize by anionic or melt polymerization.  

(iii)     AB-type block: In this type one of the block segment is nonionic and the others contain of ionic repeat units. 

(iv)      ABA-type triblock: ABA type triblock consists of one completely nonioinic segment and  other partially ionic segments. 

(v)        Random Ionomers: In this type of ionomers, the ionic groups are simply distributed      randomly among the polymer chain. 

 

(vi)      Ionenes: Here the ionic groups are distributed regularly along the polymer chain. 

 

The work carried out at ERDA includes synthesis, characterization and preparation of polymer blends using ionomers as compatibilizers. The blends showed significant improvement in mechanical and electrical properties making them suitable for preparing wiring accessories. The polymer blends properties such as electrical and mechanical, improved significantly for preparing wiring accessories for electrical industries. The Ca-ionomer, Na-Ionomer and Zn-ionomer were prepared by graft copolymerization on to LDPE and PP and they were used for preparing HDPE and Nylon 6 blends.  

 

Evaluation:

 

Mechanical Properties

 

 

Electrical Properties

 

 

Code	Ratio  HDPE/ Nylon/Ionomer	Dielectric Strength, kV/mm	Insulation Resistance (at 50 0C), W.
80H20N	80/20/0	53.0	1.2 x 1011
80H20N1 Ion	79/20/1	54.6	1.4 x 1011
80H20N3 Ion	77/20/3	56.0	0.3 x 1013

 

Polymer blends prepared using ionomers pass the glow wire test, arc resistance test and ball pressure test according to respective standards which are essential tests for the materials to be used for wiring accessories.

 

Application of Ionomers:

Ionomers are thermoplastics and have wide industrial applications for preparing wiring accessories in power industries, fuel cells, Laminate, abrasion resistant surface coatings, self healing plastics, packaging film and sealants etc.

 

 

Some of the articles made from polymeric blends. CEE Connector, Single socket outlet, Plug and socket set Connection unit, low voltage switchgear

 

 

From the results and the tests conducted, it is evident that ionomers contribute significantly to enhancing the performance properties of polymer blends.