Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the things you can think up if only you try!"
- Theodor Geisel

V.J.T.I has always beilieved in the strength of a healthy relationship with the Industry! I^3 which basically means Industry Institute Interaction takes this one step higher.

I^3 basically is getting Industry Defined Problems (IDP's) and opening them for student scrutiny.The student communtiy comes up with innovative solutions and presents them to Industry Professionals.

Thus this initiative helps the Industry and gives a Golden opportunity for students to prove their mettle in tackling problems.

Apart from Cash Prizes and Goodies,there are Internships to be won.

Problem 1:

Can transmission lines be made to be put underground? If so, propose a
system and an approximate wattage amount (in MW) for which underground
transmission lines can be set up(say for a village).

Problem 2:

Present a proposal for a low cost wind turbine covering all aspects of
formation and implementation.

Problem 3:

Propose a plan for setting up small hydroelectric plants in parallel
working on a small stream going through a village instead of a big
power plant working as one. Cover all aspects and show comparative
study including all advantages or disadvantages this may pose.

Problem no. 1 - Damage to the J hooks, nuts and washers.

The warehouses, stores, workshops, the conveyor gantries i.e. the
structures carrying the conveyor belts etc. are mostly covered with
asbestos sheets or Galvanised iron sheets or Fibre reinforced plastic sheets as a
protection from rain water. These sheets are avilable in different sizes
and thicknesses. The sheets are tied to the structural steel members with the
help of J hooks, nuts and washers. This is the most commonly used
arrangement in our country. Other arrangements like enclosed RCC
structures are very expensive and are used only for specific applications.

Cracks or gaps in the covering sheets result in seepage of rain water
which damages the costly products handled by the conveyors or the
equipments stored in the buildings. In many instancesthe covering sheets fly off
after breaking the nuts and J bolts due to very strong wind force. This not only
causes damage to the product but can also cause serious injuries to the
working personnel in the surrounding areas.

What would you suggest as a cost effective solution for ensuring that the
conveyer belts are completely protected from rainwater?

Problem no. 2 - Damage to the conveyor rollers.

Conveyor belts are used to transport all types of products like
granules, powders, lumps etc. from one location to another location. The
conveyor belts are mostly rubber belts having width from 300 mm to 1200 mm
or more in some cases. The belts could be as short as 10 mtrs. or as long
as few kilometres in length. The belts are mounted on a structural steel
frame.
The drive is through gearbox and motor arrangement and the belts use
carrying rollers, return rollers, self aligning rollers and guide rollers
for smooth running. There could be thousands of rollers in operation for a
longer belt.

The rollers are made up of mild steel with rubber lining on the top.
Any damage to the rubber lining can form sharp edges in the mild steel
roller body due to continuous friction as the belt is continuously moving
at about 0.5 to 0.6 mtrs. per second speed. Any deposit on the rollers can
make the belt off centred. In either of the cases the frictional losses could
be very high and even a new belt can get badly damaged. Even one bad roller
is enough to damage the entire length.

How will you ensure that the conveyor belt does not get damaged due to
roller deposits?