Pondicherry University’s Green Energy Department Conducts One-Day Industrial Visit

PONDICHERRY UNIVERSITY UNESCO MADANJEET SCHOOL OF GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES (UMSGET) DEPARTMENT OF GREEN ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

 PROGRAM REPORT

ONE-DAY INDUSTRIAL VISIT TRIP organized by the DGET, MSGET, PU from the support of SAF

The Department of Green Energy Technology was established in 2010 under the aegis of the South Asia Foundation (SAF) to provide teaching and research on various renewable energy technology for M.Tech and Ph.D. Courses. The Department promotes research in Fuels and combustion, Thermal power from biomass/waste, Solar Photovoltaic, Solar Thermal, Biofuels, Wind Energy, Small Hydropower, Ocean Energy, and Material development in energy conversion. As a part of the M.Tech (GET) program, the students are made to get exposure to the industry to know the actual working environment to develop their practical understanding of the techniques and processing. The DGET organizes the industrial visit annually, aiming to provide students with an opportunity to observe and understand the various aspects of energy and related sectors. As a part of the curriculum and to gain practical insights into industrial operations, 22 M.Tech. students and two faculty members from the Department visited the Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited/NLC India Ltd., Neyveli, and the SLR Biogas Generation Plant, Cuddalore, on 14th July 2023. 

 Visit to Thermal Power Plant Extension and Mining – I, NLC India Ltd., Neyveli

          The visit to Neyveli Villudayan Murugan Temple, located inside the NLC township, and after having a mini breakfast in a suitable mode, entered the NLC office. The students were warmly welcomed by the NLC representatives/staff. Upon verification of the student’s ID details, we were guided by the NLC staff to the power plant, mines, and eco-tourism park. There, after document verification, the students were advised to wear safety helmets provided by the NLC office and guided to the Unit -1 control room, wherein they were able to have a live experience on how coal-fed thermal power plant works and how the parameters are monitored and maintained time to time by continuous online monitoring.

An introductory session provided an overview of the company's history, operations, and contribution to India's energy sector. The students were amazed to understand that the NLC, as a central public sector undertaking the administrative control of the Ministry of Coal, Govt. of India, annually produces more than 30 million tons of Lignite from the opencast mines at Neyveli. The company operates four lignite-based pithead thermal power stations at Neyveli with a combined capacity of 3390 MW. Observing the power generation process and mining techniques, the students had a deeper understanding of the complexities involved in these industries. The safety and environmentally sustainable related procedures followed by the NLC have encouraged the students to prioritize safety measures and environmental concerns in their future careers. The students had a brief understanding of the Neyveli Thermal Power Station's design, capacity, effectiveness, environmental policies, and potential for future integration of renewable sources.

The NLC staff guided the students to the control unit, mining section, and the afforestation at the NLC, Neyveli. The students were informed that German excavation technology in open cast mining, using Bucket Wheel Excavators, Conveyors, and Spreaders, was used for the first time in the country in Neyveli Mine-I. The capacity of this mine was 6.5 MT which met the fuel requirement of TS-I. The capacity was increased to 10.5MT of Lignite per annum from March 2003 under Mine-I expansion scheme and met the fuel requirement for generating power from TPS-I and TPS-I Expansion. Then the students were taken towards Ecotourist Park at NLC, the afforested area of the first coal-mined area, now transformed into a pleasant ambiance through planting trees, agriculture, and herding deer.

 Visit to SLR Biogas Generation Plant, Cuddalore.

We visited the SLR Biogas generation plant, Cuddalore, after the half-a-day fruitful visit to the Power stations of NLC India Ltd., intending to provide students with practical insights into the operations of the biogas generation facility and its role in sustainable energy production. The Co-founder of the plant, Mr. Vigneshwaran Prabakaran and his team received a warm welcome and treated us with the utmost hospitality. The SLR’s team gave a brief introduction outlining the importance of biogas as a renewable source and its potential contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. SLR Biogas Generation plant specializes in biogas production through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste. The plant utilizes advanced technologies to convert organic materials, such as cow dung, agriculture waste, Napier grass, broiler waste, and sugarcane mill waste, etc. The students explored a completely functioning large single-stage biodigester with a capacity of 700 tons of biogas, chiefly comprising methane along with CO₂, H₂S, and ammonia.

 The students were briefed on the importance of the purification of biogas and the safety measures that the SLR Biogas Plant follows. The students were given a brief explanation about the importance of the elimination of the acid gas impurities from the biogas prior to the usage of fuel. The methods and concerning principles that are used to remove pollutants and biogas purification are encouraging sessions for the students.

The SLR Biogas Generation Plant demonstrated its commitment to sustainable waste management practices. The students of the DGET had the opportunity to practically understand the environmental impact of the biogas generation process and its benefits in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. The industrial visit organized by the DGET with the support of the SAF Fellowship helped the students of the DGET in bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge gained in the classroom and real-world applications of renewable energy technologies. It has inspired the students to explore and contribute to the field of renewable energy and environmental conservation. The DGET extend heartfelt gratitude to the managing team and staff of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation India Limited, Neyveli and SLR Biogas Generation plant, Cuddalore, for their warm hospitality and for providing us with this excellent learning opportunity. Additionally, we thank the SAF-India for supporting the DGET to organize and make this One-Day Industrial visit a success.

Head of the Department

Prof. R. Arun Prasath

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