Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety

Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety
Established 1992
Director Dr Chitra Rajagopal
Address Brig.S.K. Mazumdar Marg,
Lucknow Road, Timarpur,
Delhi - 110 054
Location Delhi, India
Operating agency
 DRDO
Website CFEES Home Page

The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Timarpur, Delhi, its main function is the development of technologies and products in the area of explosive, fire and environmental safety. CFEES is organised under the Armaments Directorate of DRDO. The present director of CFEES is Dr Chitra Rajagopal.[1]

History

The Centre for Explosive and Environment Safety (CEES) was established in 1992 by merging three DRDO establishments; DRDO Computer Centre, Delhi, The Directorate of Explosives Safety, DRDO HQ, and the Fire Adviser’s Office, DRDO HQ.[2] In 2000 another DRDO lab, “Defence Institute of Fire Research (DIFR)” was merged with CEES. In order to emphasise the importance of fire science, the Government renamed CEES as CFEES in 2003.

Areas of Work

CFEES works in the area of Explosive safety, Fire protection and environmental safety.[3] In addition to developing technologies to protect against these threats, it also trains personnel in these areas, and enforces safety standards in the use of hazardous materials- toxic, explosive and flammable. CFEES also designs and develops sensors to detect these threats.

Explosive Safety - CFEES helps in the Siting of explosive processing and storage dumps and the design, testing and evaluation of safe explosive storage houses. Additionally, it trains armed forces personnel and DRDO scientists in the safe use of explosives and ordnance, and enforces compliance of safety rules. Simulation and risk modeling is also carried out, in order to aid in Disaster Management.

Environment Safety - CFEES develops treatment and disposal techniques for hazardous Heavy Metal Wastes, as well as Photodegradable Polyethylene for use as packaging material at high altitudes, which prevents the pollution in mountainous areas where the Indian Army operates, such as Kargil and Siachen.

CFEES also plays an active role in formulating the phase-out strategy for halon and other ozone layer threatening gases. The National Halon Management Programme, funded under bilateral programme, is implemented by CFEES, supported by Ozone Cell, India.[4] Halons are one of the six categories of chemicals that are covered under the phase-out programme of the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol, to which India is a signatory, has called upon the parties to phase out the CFCs, halons and other man-made ozone-depleting chemicals.[5] In this regard, the lab is researching into alternative chemicals for fire suppression and other uses.

Fire Safety - CFEES is involved in the development of automatic fire and explosion detection and suppression systems for armoured vehicles, and water mist based fire protection Systems for various applications. It also develops lightweight fire protection clothing. A smoke test tunnel for creating fire signatures under various conditions has been installed.

Specialised Training for armed forces personnel in fire protection, safety, prevention and firefighting is also conducted by CFEES. The lab has also developed a software package for virtual firefighting and fire training simulation.

Projects and Products

Many of the technologies and processes developed by CFEES[6] have more extensive uses in civilian sector. As a result, many of these products have been licensed to Private companies for manufacture, with export potential being considered.[7]

Fire Protection

Fire Detection and Suppression Systems for AFVs

CFEES has successfully designed and operationalized Integrated Fire Detection and Suppression Systems for Armoured vehicles like the Arjun MBT, T-72 "Ajeya" and Abhay ICV.[8] The system is based on infra-red detectors for the detection of fire/explosion in the crew compartment, and is capable of suppressing fuel-fire explosions resulting from an enemy hit or due to any malfunction of the engine, transmission or electrical short circuit. The system is capable of detection and suppression of fires in the crew compartment within 200 milliseconds and in the engine compartment within 15s.

Water Mist based Fire Protection

Water Mist based Fire Protection Systems have been developed. This includes new nozzles for the generation of water mist, working at low pressure of 12 bars and above to facilitate the proper atomisation of water droplets under high pressure. This systems is used for the following applications:

  • IR signature suppression of plume emitted by exhaust of Naval ships
  • Air cargo bay
  • Electronic cabinet fires
  • Fuel –air explosion suppressions

Intelligent Fire Sensor

CFEES has developed an Intelligent Fire Sensor with software based on a fire signature database that allows its fire detection system to accurately identify true fire situations in a few seconds while rejecting false alarms.[5] The sensor is a highly sensitive detection system coupled with powerful intelligent analysis, which allows fire detection even in dusty environment. The use of laser diode source and multiple reflection increases the sensitivity of smoke detection.

The sensors sense the temperature and smoke, making the fire detector sensitive to both slow-smouldering and fast-burning fires. The system can be installed on board the ships, offshore machinery rooms, aircraft cargo compartments, industries, chemical plants, warehouses, etc. Production of this sensor is being carried out by Southern Electronics Pvt. Ltd., a Bangalore based private manufacturer.[9]

Fire extinguishing chemicals

A vapour-based fire extinguisher, developed jointly by CFEES and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, uses hepta-fluropropane as a replacement to halon-1301, which has been banned by the Montreal Protocol.[10]

A monoammoniumphosphate (MAP)-based multi-purpose, dry chemical ABC powder for extinguishing fires has also been developed.[5] This is environment-friendly as it does not release toxic gases or residue.[10] Production of the same is being carried out by K.V. Fire Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai,[9] which plans to introduce it into the civilian market.[10]

Environment protection

References

  1. ↑ http://drdo.gov.in/drdo/labs/CFEES/English/index.jsp?pg=Director.jsp
  2. ↑ CFEES Historical Background Archived December 16, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ↑ CFEES Areas of Work Archived August 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ↑ Techmonitor.net report Sep-Oct 2006.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Subramanian, T.S. (29 March 2007). "Spin-offs from defence research". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
  6. ↑ Products and Technologies developed by CFEES Archived August 10, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  7. ↑ Subramanian, T.S. (29 March 2007). "Spin-offs from defence research". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-11-06.
    A.K. Kapoor, Director, CFEES, said "We want to popularise these products. They have more applications in the civilian sector than in the defence sector. We would like them to be produced for civilian benefits,".
    Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO, said "These products have not only national but international market,".
  8. ↑ "Integrated Fire Suppression System for MBT Arjun". DRDO Technology Focus. 6 (3). June 1998. Retrieved 6 November 2007. |article= ignored (help)
  9. 1 2 3 "CFEES Transfers Technologies To Industry Partners" (PDF). DRDO Newsletter. 26 (9): 1–2. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 Techmonitor.net report Sep-Oct 2006. Report sourced from The Hindu

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