COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH PROJECTS WITH CTARA, IIT BOMBAY
Objective: Study to examine agriculture electricity consumption in Maharashtra
To resolve the agricultural electricity usage issues in Maharashtra, Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Area (CTARA) IIT Bombay undertook a project. For this project, IIT Bombay made collaboration with different colleges from different regions of Maharashtra. From Amravati region only Mauli group of institution’s college of Engineering and Technology, Shegaon was selected for the project. The project was on “Study to examine agriculture electricity consumption in Maharashtra” and it was conducted by MGI-COET, Shegaon from 27/02/16 to 22/04/16 in collaboration with CTARA, IIT Bombay. The faculty members and students of Electrical Engineering Department of MGI-COET, Shegaon participated in the project work. This project was completed in two phases, covering several districts in Amravati region through Detail level survey and High level survey, about the crop pattern, water pumping timings, electric motor (drive) etc. by involving the farmers. The report was submitted to CTARA, IIT Bombay
Our students and faculty members of Electrical Engineering Department participated in Field visit of solar pumps in Buldhana and Akola, conducted by Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Area (CTARA), IIT Bombay, between December 16th to January 17th. The objective of Field visit was to carry out field level investigations of solar pump installations in two districts of the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra. Government of Maharashtra has launched a scheme for disseminating 10,000 solar pumps in the state. Of these 8,000 pumps are to be installed in drought affected villages of Maharashtra. Data was obtained from MSEDCL office on the number of installations made till date to identify areas for field visit. Of these Buldhana and Akola were selected for the 1st extended visit. Surveys at various locations in the 2 districts were carried out in collaboration with Mauli College of Engineering, Shegaon. Technical data in terms of solar insolation, current, voltage and water discharge along with socio-economic profile was captured. Along the course of the visit various issues were thrown in light in terms of receptivity of this scheme among farmers. Water issue, cash constraint and safety remain the three most important challenges which hold farmers from accepting the scheme completely.
Students and faculty members of Electrical Engineering Department participated in a project conducted by Centre for Technology Alternatives for Rural Area (CTARA) IIT Bombay to test capacitor installation with regard to farmer behaviour and performance of capacitors in field conditions. An agricultural feeder in a nearby village was selected for capacitor installation. Total 65 capacitors have been installed since September 2017 on water pumps and voltage, current, power and power factor is recorded before and after capacitor installation. A detail survey about the crop pattern, water pumping timings, electric motor (drive) etc. was conducted by involving the farmers. The measurement of voltage, current, power and power factor will again be done after 7 months with farmer’s survey. The results from this project will be useful to determine the practicality and usefulness and factors involved in the potentials for models for power factor maintenance on agricultural feeder. In the current situation farmers do not install capacitors since they do not benefit from it directly but these results in under performance of the feeder. The objective of project is to determine on field performance and lifetime of capacitors and to understand farmer attitude towards energy efficiency intervention measures such as capacitor installation.