Brief description: A glove box is a sealed container that is designed to allow one to manipulate objects where a separate atmosphere is desired. Built into the sides of the glove box are gloves arranged in such a way that the user can place their hands into the gloves and perform tasks inside the box without breaking containment. Various types of electrical equipment which require power supply are handled inside glove boxes. Existing feed through connectors are permanently installed on the glove-box walls (generally made of stainless steel). They are non replaceable if they fail. To address this issue, concept of Replaceable Feed-through Connectors (RFC) has to be developed. RFC for Glove Boxes should be multi pin bulkhead type leak-proof connectors which have to be designed for installation from outside the glove box, easy replacement and removal from inside the glove box. Provision has to be given to minimize leakage even during connector replacement. The concept of replacement of the old connector should be simple, fast & cost effective.
Applications: The device will be very useful in places that use glove boxes that handle radioactive materials and containment units that handle toxic as well as hazardous chemicals.
Scope of Incubation:
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards concept of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design, testing and qualification of the RFCs. | Should provide qualified manpower for: (i) Readying the design and fabrication drawings (ii) Fabricating the components |
Machinery & Equipment | Will provide facility for testing the connectors for leakages | CNC |
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |
Brief description: Hydrogen sensors find their application in nuclear industry as well as in hydrogen fuel production, storage, transportation and utilization areas. The proposed hydrogen sensors utilize surface resistance changes in the pulsed laser deposited thin films of semiconducting metal oxides. A platinum serpentine heater printed at the back side of the alumina substrate makes the viable interaction between hydrogen and chemisorbed oxygen on the sensor’s surface. The time varying resistance converted in to voltage units by suitable instrumentation along with the user defined calibration parameters makes a direct readout in terms of concentration units. These low concentration range hydrogen sensors will sense out any leaks of the hydrogen from respective facilities at their inception.
Applications: There is a large requirement of low concentration range hydrogen sensors in industries involved in production/generation of hydrogen, storage, transportation and utilization areas. Several engineering facilities of DAE associated with fast reactors require installation of such sensitive hydrogen sensors for safety reasons.
Scope of Incubation: Incubatees will be responsible for improvements in the design and electronics of the sensors as follows:
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards the concepts of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design, guidance for all device electronics development aspects, testing and qualification of the sensors. | Should provide qualified manpower for: (i) Readying the design and fabrication drawings for the stainless steel encapsulation units to house the sensors; Fabricating the SS encapsulation units. (ii) Fabricating the thin film sensors. (iii) Integrating the sensors with with the control electronics & instrumentation |
Machinery & Equipment | Thin film deposition facility, high temperature furnace, calibrated gas cylinders, basic electronic testing devices, sensor assembly & testing facility | Raw materials required for thin film deposition; CNC; PCs or laptops for interfacing with the sensors and associated data acquisition & instrumentation control boards (if required). |
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |
Brief description: This is a table top compact digital meter for e.m.f measurements using pH/ORP probes. The instrument can be also used to measure e.m.f between custom made potentiometric electrode systems within a range of -1 Volt to +1 Volt. The meter is capable of measuring pH ranging from value 0 to 14 when used with commercially available calomel glass electrodes. Unlike conventional meters the e.m.f is measured as a function of frequency of digital pulses using voltage to frequency converter. This method offers more stability and resolution compared with measurement techniques using ADC (Analog to Digital Converter). The pH measurements can be carried out and reported at solution temperature (25 °C to 45 °C) along with temperature readings from the temperature probe connected to the unit. The meter can be calibrated and configured for desired measurement settings through user interface using text menu and keypad. An automatic regression algorithm embedded in the controller will generate the calibration coefficients required to convert frequency to parameter which enables the stand alone operation of the unit. The unit may be interfaced through communication ports to PC or laptop for continuous logging of data for further analysis.
Applications: The instrument finds applications in all chemical laboratories and reprocessing plants, food processing, agriculture and pharmaceutical industries.
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards concept of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design and testing. | Should provide qualified manpower |
Machinery & Equipment | Appropriate testing facilities | Electronics Fabrication (at incubatee’s site)
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Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |
A space with approximately 10 x 20 sq. ft. floor area to accommodate the above mentioned facilities is recommended in the premises of the incubatee. |
Brief description: Pulsating oil level sensor is an unconventional sensor developed in house. This continuous type oil level sensor is used for rapid capturing and real time measurement of change in oil level in any facility/equipments where oil levels have to be monitored/controlled. Unlike conventional sensors the oil level sensor works entirely in digital domain. The level probe can be modified as per users requirement for different level measurements, with 0.05 mm precision. The unit can be interfaced to PC or laptop for continuous logging of data for further analysis. Influence of temperature on level measurement can be normalized using a temperature sensor.
Applications: The instrument finds uses in oil refineries, coolant circuits, transformers and any dielectric (non-conducting) medium tank in any industry
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards concept of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design and testing. | Should provide qualified manpower |
Machinery & Equipment | Appropriate testing facilities |
Electronics Fabrication (at incubatee’s site)
|
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |
A space with approximately 15 x 15 sq. ft. floor area to accommodate the above mentioned facilities is recommended in the premises of the incubatee. |
Brief description: Ammonia sensors are extensively used in nuclear industry and various chemical industries that need to monitor the gas for safety purposes. The in-house developed ammonia sensor uses a semiconducting metal oxide (SMO) nanostructured thin film. The operating temperature of the sensor is between 300 and 350oC. The power requirement of the sensor is around 6W. The sensor working range is between 3 and 50 ppm and operable under both static and dynamic conditions.
Applications: The ammonia sensors developed at IGCAR are sensitive to very low concentrations of ammonia. Hence they find use in nuclear industries such as reprocessing plants and heavy water plants. Further any chemical industry involved in production, storage or utilization of ammonia will require low concentration ammonia monitors to increase occupational safety. These industries include nitric acid production plants, fertilizer, pharmaceutical and NH3 refrigeration.
Salient features of the sensors developed in-house:
Scope of Incubation: Incubatees will be responsible for improvements in the design and electronics of the sensors as follows:
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards the concepts of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design, guidance for all device electronics development aspects, testing and qualification of the sensors. | Should provide qualified manpower for: (i) Readying the design and fabrication drawings for the stainless steel encapsulation units to house the sensors; Fabricating the SS encapsulation units. (ii) Fabricating the thin film sensors. (iii) Integrating the sensors with the control electronics & instrumentation |
Machinery & Equipment | Thin film deposition facility, high temperature furnace, calibrated gas cylinders, basic electronic testing devices, sensor assembly & testing facility | Raw materials required for thin film deposition; CNC; PCs or laptops for interfacing with the sensors and associated data acquisition & instrumentation control boards (if required). |
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |
Brief description: This is a compact digital instrument for measuring turbidity and employs an in-house pulsating sensor. The instrument can measure turbidity in the range of 10 to 1000 NTU. The unique sensor design uses an opto-resistive technology to produce pulsating digital signals, which then convert into turbidity measurements using an optical-to-frequency converter. Compared to conventional methods that rely on ADC, this method provides greater stability and resolution. To use the instrument, it can be calibrated according to standard turbidity measurement methods to achieve the desired level of accuracy. The instrument's data can be continuously logged for further analysis by interfacing it with a PC or laptop using communication ports. Accuracy is 8NTU
Applications: All Chemical laboratories, water treatment plants, Reprocessing plants and all plants where water quality need to be monitored.
Scope of Incubation:
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards the concepts of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design and testing | Should provide qualified manpower |
Machinery & Equipment | Appropriate testing facilities | Electronic Fabrication
|
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials | Space A room with 10 x 20 sq.ft. floor to accommodate the above mentioned facilities is recommended in the premises of the incubatee. |
Brief description: This sensor finds application in the area where possible outbreaks of NOx gases are envisaged, like aqueous reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel. The sensor can also be employed in areas where nitric acid is handled. Each sensor is integrated with a heater to maintain the appropriate temperature for the sensor material. The sensor working range is between 1 to 50 ppm of NOx. The sensor shows cross-sensitivity with H2 and hydrocarbons. The sensor operating temperature is ~623 K. The surface conductivity change is variable, observed during the sensing operation. Presently measuring electronics is designed based on the resistance range of up to 2 MΩ.
Applications: These sensors find application in industries handling large quantities of nitric acid in plants and chemical processes involving NOx gases.
Scope of Incubation:
Facility & Infrastructure Requirements:
Title Head | To be provided by IGCAR | To be provided by Incubatee |
---|---|---|
Manpower/expertise | Expertise towards the concepts of the proposed technology, evaluation of the design, guidance for all device electronics development aspects, testing and qualification of the sensors. | Should provide qualified manpower for: (i) Reading engineering design and fabrication. Undertake drawings for the stainless steel encapsulation units to house the sensors; Fabrication of SS encapsulation units. (ii) Fabrication of thin film sensors. (iii) Development of improved electronics modules. (iv) Integrating the sensors with the electronics & instrumentation |
Machinery & Equipment | Thin film deposition facility, high temperature furnace, calibrated gas cylinders, basic electronic testing devices, sensor assembly & testing facility for prototype development. | Raw materials required for thin film deposition; CNC; PCs or laptops for interfacing with the sensors and associated data acquisition & instrumentation control boards (if required). |
Others | Mentoring to incubatee for a) Design concept b) Prototype development c) Testing & qualification d) Field trials |