About Solar RTC (Regional Test Centre-cum-Technological Back-up Unit for Solar Thermal Devices)
The Test Centre has been established at NIT Silchar. The project was sanctioned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), vide letter no. 7/2/2012-13/ST, dated 26th March, 2013. The Centre is:
- Supported by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
- Carrying out testing of solar thermal devices as per details given below:
- Flat plate collector as per IS 12933 (Part 1-5): 2003,
- Box type solar cooker as per IS 13429 (Part 1-3) : 2000,
- Evacuated tube collector based hot water system as per MNRE draft Standard MED 04(1050)C.
- Providing technical back-up to the industries in maintaining quality standards in manufacturing of solar thermal devices by extending testing facility for various components and materials and evaluating processes used in fabrication of solar thermal devices.
Photo Gallery of Solar RTC
Testing Fee Structure
| Sl. No. |
Name of Gadget |
Sample Received From |
Testing Fee (in Rs) |
| 1. |
Flat Plate Collector (FPC) based hot water system |
Manufacturer |
Capacity |
Amount |
| Upto 100 LPD |
15,000/- |
| 100 to 200 LPD |
18,000/- |
| 200 to 500 LPD |
20,000/- |
| 2. |
Evacuated Tube Collector (ETC) based hot water system |
Manufacturer |
Capacity |
Amount |
| Upto 100 LPD |
20,000/- |
| 100 to 200 LPD |
23,000/- |
| 200 to 500 LPD |
25,000/- |
| 3. |
Flat plate collector |
Manufacturer |
20,000/- |
| BIS |
16,000/- |
| 4. |
Box type Solar Cooker |
Manufacturer |
8,000/- |
| BIS |
5,000/- |
Events
The following events have been conducted under the aegis of Regional Test Center-
- "Skill Development Program on Solar Systems", 29-30 Jan 2015 at NIT Silchar, funded by the Institute. Audiences were local nearby village entrepreneurs. Both theoretical and field training was imparted. Speakers were: Prof. N.V. Deshpande, Director, Dr. A. Biswas, Dr. R.G. Nair.
- One-day Workshop on "Awareness and Technical Discussion on Solar Thermal Systems" was organized on 29th Nov 2015. Audiences were faculty, students, staffs, fabricators, and Entrepreneurs. Speakers were: Prof. N.V. Deshpande, Director, Prof. M.G. Takwale, emeritus Prof. of Pune University, Dr. A. Biswas, Mr. J. Saikia, Neutech Solar Systems, Bengaluru, Mr. D. Adhikari, HUGE energy solutions, Guwahati.
- One-day Workshop on "Manufacturing Solar Water Heating System and Solar Photovoltaic System" was organized on 5th May 2016. Audiences were faculty, pass-out engineering and post graduate students, staffs, fabricators, and Entrepreneurs. Speakers were: Dr. A. Biswas, Mr. J. Saikia, Neutech Solar Systems, Bengaluru, Mr. D. Adhikari, HUGE Energy Solutions, Guwahati, Mr. Venkatesh G. Hegde, Neutech Solar Systems, Bengaluru.
Research and Development (R & D)
- Students working in the RTC have developed new absorber shapes of the FPC of less than 100 LPD capacity by the following manner:
- Single continuous rectangular absorber duct of size 1.96m x 0.96m x 0.01 m replacing copper riser tubes having a direct heat transfer between top absorber sheet and the fluid.
- Four parallel rectangular absorber duct of size 1m x 0.85m x 0.012m replacing copper riser tubes having a direct heat transfer between top absorber sheet and the fluid as shown below-
- Students indigenously developed a storage collector for 100 LPD water heater by the following manner-
- Riser tubes have been replaced with a wavy continuous duct for more heat absorption. It is shown below-
Facilities
Regional Test Center (RTC) at NIT Silchar carries out testing of solar thermal gadgets as per details given below:
- Flat plate collector as per IS 12933 (Part 1) : 2003
- Box type solar cooker as per IS 13429 (Part 1) : 2000
- Evacuated tube collector based hot water system as per MNRE draft Standard MED 04(1050)C
RTC at NIT Silchar also provides technical back-up to the industries in maintaining quality standards in manufacturing of solar thermal devices by extending testing facility for various components and materials and evaluating processes used in fabrication of solar thermal devices.
Services offered:
- Consultancy: Design, development, commissioning and monitoring the performance of renewable devices and systems, organizing seminars, workshops, and business meets, etc.
- Testing: Performance testing of renewable devices and systems for the purpose of certification and product improvement.
- Training: For users, technicians, students, teachers and researchers, fabricators, financiers and policy makers.
Equipments & Instruments available:
- Pyranometer
- Air Temperature Sensor
- Relative Humidity Sensor
- Fluid Temperature Sensors
- Digital Weighing Balance
- Electromagnetic flow meter
- Rotameter
- Data Logger
- Three cup Anemometer for wind speed
- Temp. Oven
- Digimatic Micrometer
- Digimatic Caliper
- Digital Multimeter
- Measuring Tape
- Pressure Gauge
- Digital Thermometer
- Stop watch (digital)
- K-Type thermocouple.
