CSIR-CMERI unveils the Outdoor Air Purifier at its residential campus

CSIR-Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Durgapur  today unveiled the  CSIR-CMERI developed Outdoor Air Purifier at its residential campus in Durgapur (West Bengal). Prof.(Dr.) Harish Hirani, Director , CSIR-CMERI said that Air Pollution due to industries and automobile is the major cause of concern these days. Particularly during the pandemic  COVID period, it was especially noticeable on account of  more getting an environment  free from pollution as well as microorganisms, bacteria and viruses etc.  Prof. Hirani briefly explaining about the technology of the product, said that Indoor Air Cleaner and purifiers are  available in the market but it is an outdoor one which has the radial range of 5 meters. With its help air pollution can be reduced by 50% depending on the environment and pollution level.  A customized adjustable timer can be set for the most pollution period say 8 AM to 6 PM. The machine is very cost effective and has a low maintenance cost. We can clean it with the vacuum cleaner. These air purifiers have been installed on the street light poles focusing the narrow lanes of the campus and the machine also runs on solar power. Considering the comprehensive features, used components and the materials, the existing cost of a unit comes to 25 thousand rupees which may go up to 30 thousand rupees inclusive of taxes. This cost can be well reduced when steel sheet body is replaced by plastic and UV lamp is removed or customized as per requirement.

Shri Pradip Kumar Das, Joint Director, Br. MSME-DI, Durgapur, Govt. of India on this occasion appreciated the role of CSIR-CMERI and its continuous R&D innovations towards self sustenance, import substitution and for the Atmanirbhar Bharat. He described the product as a very innovative one and requested the MSMEs to come forward for mutual benefits with the technological developments and innovation of the Institute. Shri Das pleaded that in this virtual global environment the availability of MSMEs on Government e Marketplace (GeM) is very low which needs to be improved for providing skill and employment opportunities  to the youths of this region also.

Shri  Arup Kumar Dey,  Officer In-Charge, Durgapur Regional Office, West Bengal  State  Pollution Control Board, Govt. of  West Bengal told that  the CSIR-CMERI developed Outdoor Air Purifier is innovative and cost effective.  He said that in sustainable  development, such innovative products would play a very significant role in the developing society like ours. Shri Dey also talked about the Smokeless Chulha developed by the Institute and said that it would also be a crucial product in bringing down the level of pollution in our country particularly in the rural populace.

During his interaction with the media Prof. Hirani elaborated the development of the Air Purifier and said that the product is first of its kind in the state of West Bengal on several parameters. On the question of the cost he said that it can well be reduced on production at mass scale and further customization as per requirement. He also said that the product was already developed few months back and was under experimentation.