IIT-M to host world’s largest combustion research centre

Hyderabad: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras (IIT-M), is going to host the world’s largest combustion research centre. It will address the twin challenges of alternative Energy and environmental protection afflicting a modern emerging economy such as India by focussing on effective utilisation of combustion as a means of thermo-chemical energy conversion.

The National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD), scheduled to be inaugurated on October 13, is supported by Science and Engineering Research Board, Dept. of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India. A similar centre has also been established at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore (IISc). With over 30 faculty members from six departments of IIT-M working on this project, this is the largest grouping of academic combustion researchers globally. In addition, the infrastructure facilities are also the largest for any combustion research centre in an academic setting globally. The NCCRD has been established at a total cost of Rs 90 crore. It will develop state-of-the-art capabilities in combustion research involving experts in the country.

Speaking about importance of NCCRD, Prof Satyanarayanan Chakravarthy, Professor In-charge, NCCRD, IIT Madras said, “The emphasis at NCCRD is to work on the industry-relevant problems of the future in close collaboration with organisations in application sectors of automotive, Aerospace, thermal power, process industry and fire protection.”

The research interests are in 3 major application sectors: Automotive, Thermal Power, and Aerospace Propulsion, besides fire research and microgravity combustion to minor extent. The goals of the NCCRD are:
(i) Providing state-of-the-art facilities for Research,
(ii) Creating knowledge network among other institutional combustion researchers,
(iii) Manpower development at the master’s and PhD levels,
(iv) Industry collaboration,
(v) Continuing education for young industry professionals and academics, and
(vi) Addressing grand challenge topics of practical importance

Speaking about his experience working with NCCRD, Sundar Krishnaswami, Consulting Engineer, GE Aviation, said, “GE Aviation Technology team has been working with NCCRD on a couple of projects. This partnership helps us tap into their state-of-the-art experimental facilities, optical diagnostic equipment, and talent pool of the Institution. The collaboration has helped us gain valuable insights that further advance GE’s technology and thought leadership in low emission combustion technology for gas turbines.”