IIT-BHU has joined hands with Power Grid Corporation of India Limited to carry out research work that will make superconductors - an emerging technology which can be used for more effective power transmission - commercially viable.
The three-year Memorandum of Understanding between IIT-BHU and PGCIL was signed last week, said the varsity's Press, Publication and Publicity Cell chairman, Ravi Pratap Singh.
"It is the only one of its kind agreement as hardly any work has been done in this field in the country so far," Singh told The Indian Express.
The aim behind the collaboration, explained Prof R K Mishra of the varsity's Department of Electrical Engineering, is to explore the technology of high temperature superconductors for transmission as well as bulk storage of electricity in the country.
While any other cable transmitting electricity offers resistance leading to certain power loss, superconductors are known to offer zero resistance while conducting electricity, Mishra explained. However, superconductors are maintained at such low temperature of around zero Kelvin. Even the "high temperature superconductor" needs temperature below zero degree Celsius to work. Thus, maintenance of such low temperature makes superconductor commercially non-viable for energy transmission.
"Our aim is to research and develop superconductor technology as commercially viable," he said.
The high temperature superconductor, if successfully harnessed for commercial purpose, will not only reduce wastage of power while transmission, it will also open up the possibility of bulk storage of power. "It will prove to be a major shift in technology if we can find ways of using it for commercial purpose," said Mishra.
Apart from superconductors, the MoU also aims at application-based research in other new emerging technology and advance material such as nano particles and high-temperature diamond material for performance improvement of electric equipment and systems, said Mishra.
Link: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/iitbhu-aim-to-make-superconductors-commercially-viable/1191856/
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