Centre for Rural & Cryogenic Technologies

(Funded by Dept. of Science & Technology and Biotechnology & Dept. of Higher Education Govt. of West Bengal) FT&BE Building, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032(India)

About

Cryogenics , the science of producing ultra-low temperature (below -150 0C (123K), is interdisciplinary in nature and it covers production, maintenance, measurement, control and utilization of low temperature for scientific investigation of phenomena, techniques and concepts.
This sophisticated techniques has pervaded almost all branches of science and technology and it has reached application level of high impact in fertilizer, steel, petrochemicals, material science, gas purification, environmental science, agricultural chemistry, food science, biology, chemicals and pharmaceutical science besides such sectors as defense , atomic energy and space science etc India lags far behind China and other advanced countries in cryogenic technology but for all round socio economic development of the country and national security promotion of cryogenic activities in all areas is a must.
The successful venture of Indian Space Research Organization on indigenous development of Cryogenic Rocket Engine for PSLV programme requiring liquid hydrogen & liquid oxygen and the experimentation conducted on Big Bang Theory requiring large amount of liquid helium by CERN at Geneva has made this term acquainted to common of people in India.Though apparently Cryogenics is a high technology but it is now showing tremendous potential towards eco friendly cold storage as well as in rural technology area.

Background-The Centre (formerly Advanced Centre of Cryogenic Research) has the distinction as it was established with grant from Govt. of West Bengal way back to 1979, the very year in which the Institute of Cryogenics at University of Southampton, UK was born. As per the recommendation of DST-Govt. of W.B., it is renamed as Centre for Rural & Cryogenic Technologies in 2005 to incorporate rural technology also. It is having a land measuring 1 acre at Sector-V, block-BP, Salt Lake, Kolkata-91 where a small laboratory is also in operation. It is being also planned for extension of its activities at Salt Lake.
The centre is unique of its kind and first time in India. This is evidenced by the quantity and quality of research publications, the number of postgraduate students trained/doctoral programme offered in this highly specialized area of national importance; and, above all, by the interest taken by industries in the work of the group. The centre is carrying out R&D and academic activities in Cryobiology, Cryo technology, Cryoinstrumentation as well as in Rural technology.

UNESCOin its status report on cryogenics -1996, entitled strategies for developing India s National capabilities in cryogenic science has identified cryogenics as one of the most important area of science and technology requiring major researches and further academic exploration to keep space with the global advancement in the area. It is envisaged that centre will soon emerge as a CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE befitting to its long heritage.

Academic Staff:There are several Research Scholars both in Science and Engineering disciplines, many associated faculty from various Departments , Professors (Emeritus) very senior honorary faculty, competent Technical/Engg. personnel as well supporting administrative staff.

Development of Equipments – The centre has developed many equipments and Cryo-instruments viz. Cryothermometers, LN2 Food Freezer for fish freezing, Cryo pump for transferring cryogenic fluid, Cryosurgical probe, Thermo cryostat, PSA Gas Separation Unit, Activation Carbonization Furnace , bio kerosene lantern etc.

R&D Projects completed – Several projects sponsored by DST, Government of India, AICTE, Government of India, CSIR, Government of India, DBT, ICMR, Government of India, ICAR, Government of India ,DST Government of West Bengal, WBSFP&HDC Ltd. Government of West Bengal, SANDEE, Nepal, WBPCB, Government of West Bengal have been completed.

Head Of The Department :

Prof. (Dr.) S. C. Sarkar

Phone Number: 91-33-2414 6735 / 2414 6747 / 2414 6965 / 24146179

Email: swapansarkar1959@yahoo.in || director.crct@gmail.com || admn.crct@gmail.com

Facilities Available

• Ph.D. Programme: The center is offering Ph.D. Degree under faculty of interdisciplinary studies, law & management (FISLM). International Project- UK-India Project under GCRF (Global Challenges Research Fund) The network brings renowned researchers from multiple disciplines and world class institutions - coming together to conduct impactful research . This project has significant relevance in food supply chain as well as in vaccine storage in pandemic situation. The project is Transforming food cold supply chain in India through space technology(PROJECT TRANSSITION ) - Swapan C Sarkar from Centre is acting as Project Collaborator in which RAL-Oxford, Sheffield University, IIT-Madras, NIT Goa etc. are participating.• Training Course /Refreshers Course:- The Centre also organized many training courses/workshop/refreshers courses on cryogenics and rural technology for students and teachers. Ph.D Completed - A couple of Ph.D.(Engineering),Ph.D.(Science) are completed from the centre. Publication- A good number of research article have been published in national and international reputed journal. Books / journal authored-Text books, proceedings are authored from the centre as well as many article of international journal have been reviewed.• International Travel/Laboratory Visit & Chairing of Session abroad: i) Prof. (Dr.) S.C. Sarkar visited Energy laboratory, Massachusetts institute of Technology, USA in 1996 ii) Prof.(Dr.) S.C.Sarkar Chaired the session on Liquefaction and Separation of Gases at the prestigious 24th International Congress of Refrigeration-2015 at Yakohama, Japan during 16-22 August,2015 organized by International Institute of Refrigeration-France (Only Inter Govt. Organization in Refrigeration) iii) Prof. (Dr.) S.C. Sarkar also visited Oxford University U.K. and Cryogenic Energy Storage Laboratory of Birmingham University U.K. during September 2018.• Important Invited Talk: Academic staff delivered several invited talk in different prestigious organization at national level. Dr. Swapan Chandra Sarkar delivered the prestigious 1st Acharya Prafulla Chandra Roy Memorial Lecture on 13 November, 2016 at 1st Regional Science & Technology Congress - 2016, Presidency Division organized by Department Science & Technology Govt. of West Bengal at National Institute of Technical Teachers Training & Research (NITTIR), Kolkata. International workshop on June 2018: Swapan C Sarkar delivered a talk at the workshop On sustainable Agri-food cold supply chain in India- Optimizing cold supply chain through the use of Cryogenics- organized by Science & Technology Facility Council (STFC). University of Sheffield, UK and University of Hull UK (17th June to 19th June 2018)- at New-Delhi• Special Program: CRYO - 2016 (National Workshop on Cryogenics in Space Exploration & Superconductivity) The institute conducted a National Workshop on Cryogenics in Space Exploration & Superconductivity on 28th March 2016 under the banner CRYO - 2016. The honourable Additional Chief SecretaryGovt.of West Bengal Smt. ReenaVenkatraman IAS inaugurated the National Workshop on Cryogenics at KP Basu Memorial Hall Jadavpur University. The workshop was attended by a galaxy of scientists /faculty members from reputed institutes, like Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Dept of Atomic Energy, Indian School of Mines, Dept of Space Rocketry, BITS, Mesra, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Kolkata Jadavpur University apart from other Engineering Colleges in West Bengal, Large cross section of students, Research Scholars, and young scientists also participated in deliberation. The programs was highly appreciated by all who attended the workshop. It was covered by media with due acknowledgement of Dept. of Higher Education , Govt. of West Bengal for their sponsorship. CRYO - 2018 The institute conducted a National Workshop on Current trends in Cryogenics on March 13, 2018 under the banner CRYO - 2018. It is our pleasure that the honourable dignitary Dr. T. John Tharakan. Group Head, Advanced Propulsion Research Group, Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, Indian Space Research Organization participated in deliberation and delivered talk on Cryogenic Rocket Engine. CRYO - 2019 The institute Organized a National Workshop on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a Cryogenic Fuel ( March 29, 2019) under the banner CRYO – 2019 CRYO - 2020 The national work-shop confined on topics in Cryogenic Rocket propulsion using Liquid Hydrogen as eco-friendly cryogenic fuel, Material science, Fishiculture as well as Agriculture. WORLD REFIGERATION DAY June 2020: The Centre observed the WORLD REFIGERATION DAY (26th June 2020 ) at its Jdavpur University Campus through some interaction meeting and a few Lectures on Cryogenics in relevance to Rural Technology Swapan .C Sarkar attended the webinar on invitation from IIR-France. the webinar on Cryogenic Energy Storage for Renewable Refrigeration and Power Supply organized by CRYO HUB on behalf of International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) -France(only Inter Governmental organization in Europe) to mark the World Refrigeration Day (26th June 2020) Special expert lecture organized: Topic of Lecture: Status of accreditation of testing and calibration laboratories. Speaker: Prof (Dr.) N.D.DAS, Former Adviser Dept. of Science & Technology (Ministry of Science & Technology), Govt of India, New Delhi on 31st March, 2017 Venue: New Seminar Room, Department of Chemical Engg., Jadavpur University Organized by: Centre For Rural and Cryogenic Technologies, Jadavpur University and sponsored by: Department of Higher Education, Govt. of W.B. The Centre is always working towards the making common people aware about the huge benefits of the cryogenics science & technolgy

Achievements

• Cryotechnolgy div. Development of a System for preservation of Post Harvest Spoilage of Sesame Seeds by Cryo gas enrichment method and design of Ware house at Moloypur, Armbag Alternative Refrigeration cycle for CFCs replacement -Cryotechnolgy div. Acivated carbon from coconut shell for gas separation ,purification and for pollution control Production of Liquid fuel from Jatropha Seeds, Physical Characterization and Study of its Viabilityas an Eco Friendly Fossil Fuel Substitute for Rural Sector,- Cryotechnolgy Div. Indigenous Development of Liquid Nitrogen Plant of 7 litres /hr. Capacity for Various Cryogenic Application. This Development is of national importance towards indigenous cryogenic hardware development for import substitution.- Cryotechnolgy Div Development of Soft Drink from Betel Leaf, Colour Dye from Flower, Cream, from Aloevera under Waste to Wealth Scheme.• Cryotechnolgy Div. Anti-sticking factors from caprine epididymis plasma; biochemical identity, role in sperm function and tumor biology with special reference to metastasis-CSIR Biochemical characteristics and physical significance of a novel forward motility stimulating protein and its potential application.-DBT Improvement of Human Semen Quality Utilizing Two Novel Innovations: Sperm Vertical Velocity and Motility Promoting Proteins.- New Project

NBA Accreditation:UG-CSE,ETCE (6yrs) & UG-IT,IEE,PE (3yrs)