Oxygen shortage? Problem solved! IIT Bombay comes up with innovative solution

Mumbai, Apr 30: IIT Bombay has come up with an ingenious solution to address the shortage of medical oxygen for the treatment of COVID-19 patients in the country. The pilot project which has been tested successfully relies on a simple technological hack of converting PSA (Pressure Swing Adsorption) Nitrogen Unit to PSA Oxygen Unit.

 

 

 

Initial tests done at IIT Bombay have shown promising results. Oxygen production could be achieved at 3.5 atm pressure, with a purity level of 93% - 96 %. This gaseous oxygen can be utilized for COVID-related needs across existing hospitals and upcoming COVID-19 specific facilities by providing a continuous supply of oxygen.

 

 

According to Prof Milind Atrey, Dean (R&D), IIT Bombay, who led the project, the conversion of nitrogen unit into an oxygen unit has been done by fine-tuning the existing Nitrogen Plant setup and changing the molecular sieves from Carbon to Zeolite. He said, "Such nitrogen plants, which take air from the atmosphere as raw material, are available in various industrial plants across India. Therefore, each of them could potentially be converted into an oxygen generator, thus helping us tide over the current public health emergency."

 

 

 

 

The pilot project is a collaborative effort between IIT Bombay, Tata Consulting Engineers and Spantech Engineers, Mumbai, who deal with PSA Nitrogen and Oxygen plant production. Amit Sharma, Managing Director, Tata Consulting Engineers said, “We are delighted to partner with IIT Bombay and Spantech Engineers, and contribute towards an innovative solution for emergency oxygen generation using existing infrastructure towards helping the country tide over the current crisis. Such partnerships between industry and academia can accelerate our vision towards the Atma-Nirbhar Bharat.”