[Assam] The Man, The Machine

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From: Neeraj Kakoty <tomahawknk at yahoo.com>
Date: Mar 28, 2006 11:37 AM
Subject: Assam.org: Comment
To: webmaster at assam.org


I wanted to make people aware of the following indegenious invention by an
Assamese:(as posted in the Sentinel Melange march 26th)

The Man, The Machine

The success story of Nripen Kalita, a self-made man proves the truth of the
dictum that necessity is the mother of invention. Nripen's invention of Zero
Head Water Turbine and the Muga Reeling Machine has put him among the ten
India's best rural inventor for the year 2005 by a leading weekly news
magazine. Mobaraque Hussain divulge in details into the working of the man
and the machine.

T he success story of the 43 year old Nripen Kalita, a resident of Ziakur
village in Palasbari, Kamrup who was conferred with the third National
Grassroots Technological Innovations and Traditional Knowledge award at the
Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Ahmedabad for his invention of Zero
Head water (ZHM) Turbine proves the truth of the dictum that necessity is
the mother of invention.
"My only source of livelihood is my earning as a TV mechanic. I had to
invest a considerable sum of my earning in the paddy field where I
cultivated boro variety of rice. I had to spend Rs 100 everyday on fuel
required to run the power pump to water my fields. Then the thought struck
me, why not invent a device that could pump water from the Kulsi river,
flowing close to my paddy field without using fuel but only the moving
energy of the river. After 8 years of research, I invented a device called
Zero Head water Turbine that can pump water using the flow energy of water
and can also generate alternating current (electricity)," Nripen said .
It was morning when I reached the house of Nripen Kalita. His bed was
cluttered with various gadget, tools and equipment and he was completely
engrossed over his paraphernalia. His wife Kamala Kalita, was also assisting
him in his work.
Last year, recognition for Kalita came in the form of the national award
which was conferred on him by the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
Nripen's Turbine is expected to change the face of rural economy. The award
was sponsored by National Innovation Foundation — an organization that has
Board of Directors from IIM, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of
Finance, leading industries, banks, NGOs, Indian Council Agricultural
research, State Government agencies etc.
Taking a drive down memory lane, Nripen recalled those years when he slogged
on with his research, "Initially, in 1998-1999, I made the turbine with a
bamboo frame but I soon realized that the bamboo frame would not last long
due to mechanical stress from the moving water energy and it will decay
naturally and hence with assistance of Rs 4000/- in 2002 from Grassroots
Innovation Augmentation Network (GIAN-NE), I developed an iron frame",
Nripen told.

This man with a scientific temperament was born to Lt Saruram Kalita and Lt
Pramila Kalita in 1959 and was the youngest amongst his five siblings. He
had his primary education at No 1 Ziakur LP School, and passed his
matriculation from Rohini Kumar Choudhury High School in second division.
Because of his interest in science, he did his higher secondary in science
stream from Arya Vidyapeeth College in 1981.
"I was an ardent member of CPI (ML) and when I was doing my BSc (1st year),
the Assam Agitation reached its peak and fearing the wrath of the students
in Assam, I left the State for Calcutta — a leftist hotbed — with one of my
closest friend Debajit Choudhury."
The Asian Games in New Delhi in 1981 popularised television watching and
Nripen thought that a career in TV mechanic would have great scope. So he
took admission in Sethi Institute of Advanced Electronics and Electrical
Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta for a 11/2 year diploma course on Electronics and TV
servicing. "This course proved to be of great help in my inventions as I
became familiar with basic electronics and electrical circuits, so vital for
inventions of mechanical devices," Nripen said.
After coming back to Asom, he worked as the chief service technician in
Crown TV company at Naharkotia in upper Assam for six months. Later, he came
down to Bijoynagar in South Kamrup, his home place, in 1984 and started his
career as professional TV mechanic. However he could just earn a meagre
amount daily.
Nripen's Zero Head Water Turbine has several advantages over the
sophisticated thermal turbines. In thermal engines, the internal combustion
produces excessive heat for which it can not be operated for longer time,
besides it causes pollution. But, the hydro device such as Zero Head Water
Turbine can be operated by natural moving cooled water energy and chances of
producing heat is nil, besides having continuous operational time for months
or even years without maintenance. It is fully eco-friendly and sustainable.
It's construction and installation cost is minimal Rs 8000 as compared to
other hydro electric steam or any other power plant where a micro hydel
generator costs around Rs 40,000. The maintenance cost is quite low compared
to other hydro plants. It can be set up anywhere, be it plains or mountains.
And, the most important factor is that the turbine has great potential in
rural areas where electric power supply is not available.
Nripen divulged the working principle of his iron model.

The first Iron model : The first model had a spiral offset arrangement of
blades. In this the blade axis is perpendicular to flow direction. The
offset arrangement of blades provides constant thrust to the system. In
conventional water wheels, thrust is available only once when the blade is
perpendicular to the flow direction. In the present arrangement it is
similar to multi cylinder crank arrangement in which the turbine gets thrust
constantly from blades. The offset arrangement also provides sufficient
clearance between blades so that floating debris will not clog the blades.
Since the path of the water takes spiral shape from entrance to the exit,
the arrangement of blades acts as screw conveyor. This facilitates the
debris to pass on from entrance to exit, which facilitates smooth running of
the turbine. The arrangement of the baffle operated pump, which acts as a
submergible pump facilitates the lifting of water.

Working principle : The turbine is completely submerged below the water
(river). The linear kinetic energy of the water is used for giving rotation
movement to the turbine. The water passing through the turbine forces the
turbine to rotate with low speed but at a high torque. When the linear
kinetic velocity of the water is two meter per minute the turbine starts to
rotate with a speed of 20 rpm. A compound gear mechanism is used to convert
the rotational speed of the turbine (20 rpm) to a considerable requirement.
An armature coil (generator) is used to extract the electrical energy. A
submergible pump is also coupled in the turbine set for irrigation purposes.
The rotational speed of the turbine is given with the help of the driven
gear and a flat belt.
The turbine is made up of steel foils with a rim where the blades are
welded. A frame is made to hold the turbine in running condition when the
turbine is submerged in the water. A compound gear mechanism is used to
increase the speed of the armature coil shaft. The generating set (turbine)
consists of the following parts namely twelve turbine blades (flat type), a
supporting frame/trust, a drive gear with 10 teeth and a driven gear with
140 teeth, a pulley, a connecting belt (flat type), an armature coil and a
chain belt.
The blades are welded in a four feet circular rim at an angle of 35o. The
upper parts of the 12 blades are fixed in the circular rim that is four
inches in width and the lower part of the turbine is fixed in an axle. A
chain is fitted to the turbine axis and the drive gear. A lever mechanism is
used to control the generation of the power by disengaging the driven gear
where the shaft is coupled. A pump with guide blade is used for irrigation.
The driven gear with the help of a flat belt gives the required rotation of
the pump for pumping water.
Nripen developed his second model having two horse power (HP) capacity
turbine which could pump 3000 litres of water per hour and that output
electricity delivery ranges from 1 kw (kilowatt) to 1.5 kw if the turbine is
installed in a small river like Kulsi. "When the turbine is installed at
Brahmaputra, the efficiency of turbine increases by 7 times due to higher
energy of the moving water." Nripen is thankful to National Innovation
Foundation (NIF), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Guwahati for the
technical guidance.
He has a very clear vision on a wide range of topics and have strong opinion
of socialism. He intends to go on inventing new devices for the benefit of
the poor section of the society. He would like India to be self reliant in
technology and strongly opposes any kind of subservience to USA. Nripen is
delighted over the fact that USA and Canada have placed order for his Zero
Head Water turbine. Nripen says he had signed an agreement with Steel and
Industry Stores (SIS) Limited, Calcutta last year for commercial
manufacturing and sale of Zero Head water Turbine and the first set is
expected to hit the market in June this year.
Nripen often forgets names of people but is very good in remembering
scientific terms and formulae. "Once he forgot the name of his elder son
before the headmaster when he went to admit his son in high school," his
wife Kamala Kalita said.
Nripen has added another feather to his cap. He devised a new muga reeling
machine last year that is very cost effective, portable, sophisticated, and
result oriented. "My muga reeling machine was deviced with an objective for
rural uplift. It has several advantages over the Bangalore patented muga
reeling machine and may be considered as world's best machine related to
reeling or spinning of muga. The Bangalore patented device is big, require
16 sq. ft, the device cannot be operated by DC current and current
consumption rate is high (0.8 kw/hour) and the device has no automonitoring
facilities. But, my reeling device cost much less only Rs 1500/-, has
automonitoring censor( the device automatically stops with an alarm sound
when the spinning thread tears or detaches), the rpm (revolution per motor)
can be controlled and it maintains yarn (thread) uniformity." Nripen further
elaborated adding that his device has adjustable speed, the reeler can
control the speed of motor — high or low — as required for gradation of
thread.
The device requires only a 4" (inches) x 1 foot space and operates in both
DC and AC current, even a 12 volt DC battery can run it. It has reeling
capacity of extracting 1 to 1.5 kg of thread per eight hours from 3,500
cocoons. Nripen expects the device to revolutionize rural India where
electricity is not available. He has already filed for patent of the device.
He said that Kishore Kakati, Director, Assam Silk Development Board has sent
him a proposal for marketing the muga reeling device.
Nripen Kalita is associated with Man & Wild — a leading NGO — for the last
15 years, "With help from the NGO, I am planning to send proposal before
different competent agencies to raise muga seed production and increase
culture of muga in existing Som, Sowalu plantations and facilitate muga
reeling in rural areas with the device," said Nripen about his future plans.
He had made a survey of the entire riverine areas for Brahmaputra Livelihood
Development (BLD) project launched by Man & Wild. "We will irrigate the
cropland in the riverbank, char areas and islets and supply current for the
flood-ravaged people for lighting their house and run food processing and
other small industries by installing my Zero Head Water turbine in the
Brahmaputra river. I am planning to open a workshop with an investment of Rs
5 lacs to manufacture my device for the BLD project with funds from the
Central and State Government and other institutions," divulged Nripen.
When asked how his scientific temperament came, Nripen recalling his
childhood days said that he was fascinated by reading books on scientific
inventions made by Thomas Alva Edison, Albert Eistein, JJ Thomson, Graham
bell etc. He added that his interactions with famous scientists in Kolkata
such as Ajoy Mukherjee (agriculture scientist) Dr Susil Kumar Raha
(physicist), Chittaranjan Dey (biochemist) had reinforced his invention
oriented mind.Nripen is thankful to Diganta Kalita, the scout of GIAN-NE who
took him to IIT-G and offered its workshop.
Nripen recalled with a smile two of his memorable events, "When I was
demonstrating my Zero Head Water turbine in the artificial river at IIM,
Ahmedabad, President of India, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam was keenly observing my
device, he called me and said 'Thank you' and had a discussion with me for a
few minutes. It was one of my most exciting moments when I received the
award from Dr Kalam. The 10th anniversary special of Outlook — the weekly
news magazine (July 10, 2005 issue) singled out 10 India's best rural
inventors for the year 2005 and I was figured with my device. That was
another memorable event in my life."
Despite his little education, Nripen is fluent in several languages —
English, Hindi, Bengali, Assamese, Nepali etc — that helped him in
exchanging his views with other skilled scientists in various workshops.
The third important invention made by Nripen Kalita is the solar gasifier
that can produce bio-diesel at the cheapest price. The solar gasifier has
multiple applications — ranging from driving car to cooking food. "The
device is now under research and development level in my own makeshift
laboratory and a prototype (experimental) device has already been tested
with satisfaction. The device is simple and produces bio-diesel from
Jatropha skale (not much of detail is given as the device is yet to be
patented)."
Nripen also harbours interest in aerodynamics and has carried out some
experiments for vertical lifting aircraft after a successful experiment for
a light glider. He admitted that poverty becomes an obstacle in the way of
his inventions. He said that the Department of Science and Industrial
Research (DSIR) could induct him into its laboratories to do research for
inventing new and sophisticated devices according to his wish but DSIR
appears least bothered to heed to his cries.
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