BWI: Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award, 2011 was given to Avionics Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and Advanced Bio-Residue Energy Technology Society (ABETS), IISc, Bangalore.

Press release from Business Wire India
Source: IIT Kharagpur
Monday, August 22, 2011 06:30 PM IST (01:00 PM GMT)
Editors: General: Environment, People, Social issues; Business; Technology
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Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award, 2011 was given to Avionics Group, Vikram Sarabhai Space Center and Advanced Bio-Residue Energy Technology Society (ABETS), IISc, Bangalore.


New Delhi, Delhi, India, Monday, August 22, 2011 -- (Business Wire India) -- The 5th Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award was presented jointly to Dr. T.J. Aprenand his team, Combustion Gasification and Propulsion Laboratory, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore and Dr. Satyanarayana. S, and his team at RFAF Division & RF Facility, Avionics at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center.

A first of its kind India-wide excellence Award was instituted by IIT Kharagpur in 2006.Commemorating the spirit of its illustrious alumna Dr. Nina Saxena, the path-breaking award encourages and promotes technical innovation with a focus on social development in India.A distinguished jury selected the awardees from the nominations on the basis of innovativeness, applicability, and most importantly the potential of the application for social development with specific reference to backward areas in India.

Speaking on the occasion, Professor AmitPatra, Dean, Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur said" Dr. Nina Saxena was an exemplary alumna and an outstanding technologists produced by India. She was also interested in fostering path-breaking and exemplary research in India. This Award has kept her vision and philosophy of life intact by aptly recognizing these leading innovations".

A total of 500 man hours has been spent in developing biomass gasification technology at ABETS, IISc Bangalore. Gasification technology aims at converting solid fuel (biomass here) into gaseous fuel (producer gas). Two important elements of the technology are the reactor design and the gas cooling and cleaning system. This technology provides a potential for 16000 + 2000 MWe of electricity (8000 ton per year of biomass for 1 MWe equivalent power). Many international agencies and industrial houses have sought technology transfer. Formal technology transfers has been made to 7 manufacturers in India and 2 overseas.M/s Cummins India Limited is currently offering gas engines for producer gas operation under commercial terms & conditions (with warranty). This is a unique development in the history of gasification. Various components of this technology are being patented.

The Global Positioning System (GPS) based Search and Research Beacon is an electronic device that can be used to rescue people who are in emergency. This is very useful in areas where other communication means are not available, like deep sea (ships and boats), aviation (aircraft and helicopter) and in forests and mountains (trekking people). The Beacon developed at Vikram Sarabhai Space Center has been transferred to Kerala State Electronics development Corporation (KELTRON) for commercialization. The Beacon finds immense use among Indian fishermen. India has a vast coast and millions of people are engaged in fishing. There is no means of effective communication and imported beacons are very costly. This is a cost effective and innovative solution. A Patent has been filed as well.

About the Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award

A first of its kind, the Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award was instituted by IIT Kharagpur in 2006 to commemorate the memory of Dr. Nina Saxena, an alumna of IIT Kharagpur, B.Tech (Hons.), ECE 1992, who passed away tragically in 2005.

Nominations for the Award was open to all scientists of Indian origin. For more details visit http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/topfiles/nina.php. http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/topfiles/nina.php The Award is funded through an endowment of the Nina Saxena Memorial Fund. The fund is being collected through IIT Foundation (a non-profit organization and a US 501(c) organization).

About IIT Kharagpur

The oldest of the seven IITs, Indian Institute of Technology has always led the way in research and diversification of education. The Institute houses the maximum number of departments, schools and centres and some of these are unique to only IIT Kharagpur. This premiere education and research Institute is spread over a sprawling 2100 acres and is one of the greenest campuses in the nation. The Institute also has two other smaller campuses at Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. IIT Kharagpur strives to provide an environment of research and innovation and stresses on practical application of science and technology. The Institute also believes in maintaining a strong family bond with its alumni spread all over the globe. Nina Saxena was also a very distinguished alumna of the Institute. On the 57th Foundation Day, IIT Kharagpur salutes its founding fathers, students, faculty and staff, for making Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's dream a reality.

For further details visit http://www.iitkgp.ac.in.



CONTACT DETAILS
Prof. Patra, Dean of Alumni Affairs, IIT Kharagpur, + 91 3222 282034 / 283070 (office), deanaa@hijli.iitkgp.ernet.in

KEYWORDS
ENVIRONMENT, PEOPLE, SOCIAL, BUSINESS, TECHNOLOGY

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