Ranchi, May 07, 2006, Dipankar Bose (The Statesman)

Researchers at the Jharkhand-based Mecon Limited, a government of India enterprise, have developed cooling units based on a thermo-electric cooling system and heating gloves and socks, exclusively for the Indian Army.

The units are meant for installation in main battle tanks (MBT) and armoured vehicles of the Army and for patrolling personnel stationed at the Siachen post. The chief controller of the research and development wing of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Dr W Selvamurthy, has already accepted both the units and has termed them as “important milestones in research and development, which have significant implications for the troops.”

According to Dr Shuchitangshu Chatterjee, the deputy general manager, I/C (R&D), of Mecon, the project was first initiated way back in 1998, when DRDO approached Mecon for two radically different solutions ~ one, to bring down the abnormal high temperature inside the battle tanks and two, to significantly increase the body temperature of soldiers patrolling in sub-zero chilling conditions.

Dr Chatterjee said: “Our main challenge was to make both the units as small and light as possible, due to the acute space constraints inside battle tanks and keeping in mind, the carrying capacity of an individual. For the cooling units, the first laboratory demonstration started in 2000 and the first trial was conducted in June, 2005 in the Combat Vehicle Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE), at Avadi, Chennai.”

The entire project was carried on jointly by the Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi, CVRDE and Defence Biomedical Engineering and Electronics Laboratory (DEBEL), Bangalore.

Dr Chatterjee added: “After the laboratory trials, the final field trial of the solid state cooling unit was carried out in the Mahajan Field Firing Range along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, where DRDO top brass were present.

It was found that by using the unit fitted in the turret basket of MBT Arjun, and by using the special head cover, vest and trousers, the body temperature of the gunner went down to 32 degrees in stark contrast with the turret temperature, exceeding 50 degrees centigrade. It was a huge success on our part. Presently, DRDO is working on the space factor inside the turret basket to fit the units for the crew.”

The laboratory testing has been completed for the heating gloves and socks have been completed, which will be used to enhance the performance of soldiers in extremely cold areas and for the prevention and amelioration from cold injuries.

The deputy general manager of the R&D division of Mecon said: “The prototype has been delivered and accepted by DIPAS. We are waiting for the date of the final field trial at the Siachen post. The gloves and socks powered by extremely light metal hydride batteries increase body temperature to the normal level and keep it static there for around 45 minutes, which is the approximate time of patrolling.”

The cost of the units is yet to be calculated and will be done once the units are accepted in full by the ministry of defence.