NML One Week One Lab: Experts brainstorm on problem solving

Jamshedpur: CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML) is organising the One Week One Lab campaign to showcase its technological innovations and achievements.

The third day events at the laboratory included, the continuation of “Technology Challenge Hackathon” for students, researchers and technocrats of ITI, Diploma, UG, PG, PhD and Industries, with a vision to obtain outreach to society at large. Around 11 teams were selected for final round presentation in the Industrial Problem Solving (IPS) contest. Problem statements received from Tata Steel, Jindal Steel, Saint Gobain and CSIR NML R&D projects were attempted to be solved by the participating teams. The participants presented detailed ideas and solutions for problems on Ferroalloys, Steel making, Industrial and E-Waste management and Mineral processing.  Panel of senior scientists Dr. Sanjay Agarwal, Dr. Ganesh Chalavadi and  Lalit Kumar Meena interacted with the teams and judged the presentations.  Sovan Kumar Patra and  Yashraj Kanaskar from Tata Steel stood as First Award Winners for their presentation on solution for the problem “Reduction of Carbon Footprint in Ferroalloys”, and  Adhiraj Kanrar and  Sambit Tripathy, Project Assistants from CSIR-NML received Second Award in the competition for their solution for the problem “Utilizing AI Based Nozzles in Continuous Casting Operations to Minimize Water Consumption”.   Sambit Tripathy and  Shubendu Chaterjee, Project Staff, CSIR-NML were awarded the Third Award in the event for their idea on using microwave in “Reduction of Mn Ores to Reduce Energy Consumption in Ferroalloy Processing”. Participation was received from NIT Jamshedpur, IIT Hyderabad, Govt. Polytechnic Adityapur, KIIT Bhubneshwar, Shavak Nanavati Technical Institute, Tata Steel Limited and CSIR NML.

As a part of the Day-3 OWOL event, CSIR-NML organized a half a day workshop on “Materials Challenges in Unlocking the Hydrogen Era” on 26^th April, 2023. Hydrogen plays an important role in decarbonizing the energy mix, but major investment and development along the supply chain are desired. Many challenges are associated with transporting hydrogen molecules by ship and pipeline, namely, the high-energy input needed for liquefaction is costly for exporters.The workshop aimed to focus only on the materials for the storage and transportation of gaseous hydrogen. The workshop formally began with the security announcements and the ceremonial lamp lighting. Dr. Avanish Kumar Srivastava, Director CSIR-NML, in his welcome address and briefed about the purpose of the workshop and the significance of the Hydrogen Energy for the development of the society. A total of eight technical lectures were presented by the eminent industry experts in the field. In the first half of the session, Dr. Indranil Chattoraj, Former Director, CSIR-NML delivered a lecture on “Hydrogen in Steel Making –Indian Context”. He emphasized on increasing research on the topic before use of Hydrogen in steel industry can become economically feasible.