Mumbai: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay has proposed a solution for the growing demand for medical oxygen in the country by demonstrating technology for the conversion of nitrogen generator to oxygen generator.
Prof Milind Atrey, Dean (R&D) of the institute took up a pilot project to evaluate the conversion of PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) nitrogen unit to PSA oxygen unit by fine-tuning the existing plant setup and changing the molecular sieves from carbon to zeolite. The project was taken up in collaboration with Tata Consulting Engineers Limited (TCE), said media reports quoting a press release.
The release said such nitrogen plants, which take air from the atmosphere as raw material, are available across India in various industrial plants and can be converted into an oxygen generator to tackle the current shortage. A PSA nitrogen plant in the Refrigeration and Cryogenics Laboratory at IIT Bombay was selected to demonstrate the concept.
Director IIT Bombay Prof Subhasis Chaudhuri congratulated all the involved parties and said that such a partnership between academia and industry is highly desirable and essential for the growth and success of the country. He also encouraged the teams to conceptualise innovative ideas and generate indigenous IP that can be leveraged across multiple sectors in meeting the country’s needs.
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