A Report on "Educational Tour to Southern India “ for Ist Year M.Tech
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A Report On "Educational Tour to Southern India “ For Ist Year M.Tech Renewable Energy & Green Technology students Bhopal, M.P-462003 ( Date: 28/03/2016 to 06/04/2016) [1] Preamble: Energy Centre, Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology organized a one week Educational Tour/Industrial visit to Southern India during 28/03/2016 to 06/04/2016 for M.Tech Renewable Energy and Green Technology students. The visit was organized with the prior permission (MANIT Office Order : Estt./2016/3647 dated 18.03.2016 without any financial liabilities on the part of the Institute) and guidance of Hon. Director .Dr. Appu Kuttan K.K and HOD of Energy Centre Prof. A.Rehman . Students of M.Tech specially Purva Sahu, Areena Mahilong,Sreenath Sukumaran ,Samrat Kunal ,Deepak Bisoyi have taken hard efforts and initiative under the continuous guidance of Dr.K.Sudhakar,M.Tech Course coordinator and Tour in-charge, which made this visit a grand success. Total 16 students along with 1 faculty member and 1 teaching assistant have joined this industrial visit. Objective of the educational tour: To spread awareness about reducing carbon footprint and Swach Bharat (Clean and green India). To collaborate with Department of Energy and Environment , NIT Trichy and other academic institutions in the field of renewable energy To explore the possibilities of exploiting renewable energy sources in agro based food processing industries (Tea,Cashew,coffee,chocolate,spices,herbs etc) To interact, learn and understand the traditional cultures and lifestyle of south India especially the ancient temples which stands for vernacular architecture. To study the effect of climatic change and sea level rise in the coastal regions of Tamilnadu and Kerala. Duration : 28/03/2016 to 06/04/2016 Places of visit: 1) Auroville,Tamilnadu (International Township, sustainable living concept) 2) PRIST University , Pondicherry (Energy park and research centre) 3) Cuddalore, Tamilnadu (Old port,Tsunami affected beach) 4) NIT Trichy, Tamilnadu (CEESAT energy lab visit, Discussion with Director,NITT) 4) Trichy rock fort,Tamilnadu (Ancient temple and rock architecture ) 5) Dr.Spirulina Farm, Illupur ,Tamilnadu (Algae cultivation and processing) 6) Rameswaram,Tamilnadu (Ramanathaswamy temple,Ram Sethu, House of Kalam,Pamban Bridge) 7) Ramakalmedu,Kerala (25MW private Wind Farm) 8) Idukki ,Kerala (Idukki reservoir,rock tunnel,cherutoni and Idukki Dam) [2] 9) Munnar, Kerala (Topstation,Spice garden,Tea estate,Matupetty dam) 10) Athirapilly Waterfalls, Kerala (controversial dam site) 11) Cochin Airport, Kerala (visit to World’s fully solar powered airport) DAY 1 (28/03/2016) & DAY 2 (29/03/2016) – Train Journey to Pondicherry Our journey to southern region of India kick started from Bhopal Junction. Confirmed sleeper class tickets at concessional rates were obtained for students in Train No (22404) New Delhi- Pondicherry express. The 33hr long journey started with lot of excitement and enthusiasm .The hot and humid climate of southern India was felt during the travel .Once we reached Pondicherry the cool and humid breeze started to blow. Many of us got excited to see ocean for the first time Midway of the Train Journey (Nagpur station) Beginning of the Journey (Energy Centre) DAY 3 (30/03/2016) –Visit to Auroville,Tamilnadu. Site Description (Auroville, TN): The first place to visit was Auroville (City of Dawn).Auroville (City of Dawn) is an experimental township in Viluppuram district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It was founded in 1968 by Mirra Alfassa (known as "The Mother") and designed by architect Roger Anger. As stated in Alfassa's first public message about the township, "Auroville is meant to be a universal town where men and women of all countries are able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities. The purpose of our visit to Auroville is to realize human unity. We saw MatriMandir which is located at the centre of township. Go Green ,Go Clean awareness show at Auroville Students infront of MatriMandir [3] A road campaign was also started with the theme “Reduce footprint, increase hand print, Go green .Go Clean, Save Earth, Save Energy Outcome of the Auroville Visit: • Motivated by seeing human unity in diversity • Learned sustainable way of living • Understood the importance of spirituality in human day to day life Site Description (Research Park, PRIST University, Puducherry): The energy park and research facility at PRIST University was visited. An interaction was held with Dean, Dr.S .Dhanuskodi, PRIST University. The discussion was mainly focused on the current trends in the field of renewable energy and related research work undertaken by PRIST University .The Energy Park situated in front of PRIST University had many facilities which includes tunnel drier, biomass hybrid drier, forced convection solar drier etc.Later on, Cuddalore silver beach which is frequently hit by cyclones, Tsunami was visited. Outcome of the PRIST University Visit: • Research collaboration in certain areas of specialization like solar based drying • Learned about different RE based hybrid systems in drying applications. • Learned about evacuated tubular collector based solar drier. • Learned about Solar tunnel drier for fish drying • Learned about renewable energy based model smart city [4] Interaction with Dr.S.Dhanuskodi,Dean PRIST University --Puducherry With Dean and staffs of PRIST University Research Park, PRIST University- Smart city model developed by PRIST Puducherry University--Puducherry Solar Biomass Hybrid dryer setup at, PRIST Tsunami affected Cuddalore silver beach University- Puducherry DAY 4 (31/03/2016)- Visit to Energy Department ,National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (NIT-Trichy) Site Description: National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (commonly known as NIT Trichy or NITT is considered to be one of the top NITs and is consistently ranked within the top 10 universities of India. An interactive session with the faculties and students of CEESAT was [5] organized and later on with the Director, NIT Trichy. Discussion was focused on the chance of collaboration between the NITs for common curriculum, joint workshop, and training program ,joint student exchange projects and proposed to sign a MoU within a month. Laboratory visit to know about the facilities at CEESAT were organized. With Dr.Premlatha ,HOD CEESAT , NIT Trichy NITT Director Interacting with MANIT team MANIT Faculty Dr.K.Sudhakar Interacting & MANIT Team with NITT Director, discussing the possibility of collaboration with Prof.S.Sundarajan & HOD CEESAT , NIT NITT Director. Trichy. Outcome of the NIT Trichy Visit: • Reached a verbal agreement on MoU between NIT Trichy and NIT Bhopal for student exchange program, Joint student projects, Joint student conference, workshops etc • Came to know about latest and various lab equipments and procedure to use them especially for calibration. • Ph D scholars are given the handling of lab equipments. • NIIT Director’s discussed their policy of providing degree in respective branches with Energy Engineering specialisation to enhance job opportunities for their students [6] DAY 5 (01/04/2016)-Visit to rock fort and Dr.Spirulina Wind farm,Illupur,TN Site Description (Rock Fort): Tiruchirappalli Rockfort is a historic fortification and temple complex built on an ancient rock. It is constructed on a 83 metres (272 ft) high rock. There are two Hindu temples inside, the Ucchi Pillayar Temple, Rockfort and the Thayumanaswami Temple, Rockfort.The architecture of the whole fort and temple was complex and everybody was enthusiastic to understand its design. The full top view of Tiruchirapilli city can be seen from the upper portion of fort. MANIT Students walking through steps of Trichy Fort temple & Panorama view of Feeling of Thermal comfort inside the temple Tiruchirapilli town Outcome of the Rock fort Temple Visit: • Panoramic view of entire city of Trichy can be seen from the top of the fort. • Tried to understand the ancient 7th century rock architecture. • Experienced the thermal comfort irrespective of outside conditions along with the natural daylight usage inside temple Site Description (Dr.Spirulina Farm,Illupur): Gerophyta Nutraceutical , is an R&D based healthcare company, which is well established in Tamilnadu, India. This company manufactures and exports spirulina and herbal healthcare products. The wide range of products that the company offers, are Spirulina Powder, Spirulina Capsules, Spirulina tablets, Spiruvita-C, Spirudia-C and Tripala . [7] Spirulina Algae Open Pond cultivation Ms.Ruma,Ph.D Scholar testing pH and Temperature of algae pond Dr.K.Sudhakar harvesting the wet algae biomass MANIT students taking spirulina juice as energy drink Dr. Nagulendran interacting with MANIT students Ms.Ruma, Ph.D Scholar receiving training along with his herbal products and visit certificate Outcome of the algae farm visit: Got the chance to learn the method of algae cultivation and its processing so as to make valuable herbal products. Understood the wide use of spirulina as food supplement ,herbal medicines that can cure aging oxidative stress, diabetes, cardio vascular disease, hypertension, arthritis, cancer, antioxidants The whole process of algae cultivation and requirements for growth was taught to us. The possibility of solar energy for drying and processing was also discussed and is to be studied further. The transfer of technology from Dr.Spirulina farm,illupur,TN to set Spirulina R&D farm at NIT Bhopal is also proposed. [8] DAY 6 (02/04/2016)-Visit to Rameswaram,Tamilnadu (Temple,Pamban Bridge, House of Kalam ) Site description (Rameswaram) : Rameswaram is a town in the Ramanathapuram in the South Indian state of Tamilnadu. It is located on Pamban Island.It is situated in the Gulf of Mannar ,at the very tip of the Indian peninsula.This is the place from where the Hindu god Rama built a bridge, across the sea to Lanka to rescue his wife Sita from her abductor Ravana .The Ramanathaswamy is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva which is located at the centre of the town and is closely associated with Rama.