Bio-engineering and Bio-medical Technologies: Role in the Protection of the Protectors

Every country is engaging its armed forces in different terrain and climatic conditions to protectsovereignty and manage internal conflict. During peace / wartime conflicts, the soldiers are subjected toextremeenvironmental conditions.  These extreme, hostile, non-habitable conditions exert a toll on the soldiers’ performance and also pose threat to theirlife. Airmen are prone to be exposed to low pressures, high altitude, and hypoxic conditions. Similarly,a Mariner is exposed to high pressuresand hydro environment. Land soldiers are deployed in various terrain having myriadenvironmental conditions such ashigh temperature in deserts, subzero cold conditions in the high mountains andvarying range of difficulties encountered in forested hilly terrain.In addition to these adverse conditions, soldiers also need to counter theconflicts from neighboring / enemy countries.  It is paramount that, these soldiers are protected from all these adverse extreme environmental conditions.

Experiences in the development of magnesium cell technology at Central Electrochemical Research Institute, Karaikudi

Research activities on the preparation of magnesium metal by molten salt electrolytic process were initiated in CECRI as early as in 1958. CECRI started its experiments on a bench scale level and further developed into pilot plant scale and finally to the scale of semicommercial unit. Various types of electrolytic cells were developed at CECRI which include externally heated cells with different design modifications, modular cells, bipolar/multipolar cells and new modified monopolar ceUs. The primary aim of each development was aimed at high current efficiencies energy efficiencies and space time yields. Various types of raw materials like magnesite, sea bitterns, and byproduct MgCl2 from ZrrTi plants etc. were utilised during the investigations. These studies were carried out with financial grants from Govt. of Tamil Nadu, CSIR, DRDO and Nuclear Fuel Complex. The paper illustrates the design and operational features of different electrolytic cells with consequent gradual decrease in specific energy consumption for magnesium production and increased space time yields with improvement in cell design and operational parameters