1. Completed Project:

1.1 Gold extraction set-up

Gold is a precious metal which is found in the earth. The demand of gold is high in the world and it is the base of the economy of the country. The availability of gold particles in the valleys of Uttarakhand was already verified by the Geological Survey of India. For the same, four places were independently selected by the Design Innovation Center, NIT Uttarakhand at Pauri Garhwal district, Uttarakhand, as follows:

• Ufalda – Alaknanda river (Tehsil Srinagar)
• Vyaschatti – Ganga river (Tehsil Pauri)
• Sonanadi Range – Sonanadi (Tehsil Kotdwara)
• KotariSaneh Range – Kholu river (Tehsil Kotdwara)

For the extraction of gold particles from river bank sand, a gold evacuation unit was designed and fabricated at Design Innovation Center, NIT Uttarakhand. With the permission from Additional District Magistrate (ADM), Pauri Garhwal; Chief Wild Life Conservator, Uttarakhand; and Divisional forest officer (DFO), Lansdown forest division, Kotdwar, a DIC NIT Uttarakhand team members, namely, Dr. Pawan Kumar Rakesh, Mr. Rinku, Mr. Pawan Rana, and Mr. Malkeet Singh, visited at the above mentioned locations from February to April, 2021.

1.1.2 Testing Location

The sand particles from the river banks were collected manually in the different locations. The process of separating gold particles from sand mainly consists of four steps: screening, removing slime from sand, separation, and dewatering. In the preliminary testing, it was found that the some of the gold particles and iron ore are available in the sand. In the first stage, the gold particles are extracted from the sand manually. In the second stage, Iron ore are extracted from the collected samples of sand. Then the fabricated gold evacuation unit was tested and trailed in the bank of Alaknanda Rivers. Using this equipment, the metal particles can be separated automatically from any kind of soil or sand particles. The equipment can be fixed at an angle according to nature of soil or sand, then spray water on the soil with controlled flow. The selection of angle and flow of water is based on the density of the metal concerned. With the help of the internal mechanism of the machine; the availability of the metal in the soil can be extracted. Afterwards metal can be obtained from the samples through a chemical process. Total quantity of gold particles and iron ore collected from the sand samples are described in table. It was found that the highest quantity of gold particles is available in the Saneh Range (Kotri Range) among these rivers. It can be stated that less amount of gold particles are found in the Vyaschatti, Ganga River.

1.1.3 Total quantity of gold particles at different location

1.1.4 Calculations:

The gold extraction unit developed by the Design Innovation Center, National Institute of Technology Uttarakhand may be used to extract the gold and iron particles from banks of river sand. It was found that the gold and iron ore particles are available in different river banks of the Uttarakhand. The highest quantities of gold particles are available in the Saneh Range (Kotri Range), Pauri Garhwal, Uttarakhand. This designed equipment will be very easy to operate and extract the gold particles from the river sand. It may enhance the prosperity of the Uttarakhand state and the nation, and also to provide employment to local people without exploiting the environment. It is also proposed that the availability of gold particles may likely to increase or decrease depending on the fluctuating of river flow after the rainy season.

2. Undergraduate Projects

The undergraduate students have developed different innovative projects under the course Product Realization (MEP 102)

3. Product Developed during COVID 19

3.1 Development of low-cost Full-body Self-sanitization Equipment

t is well known that COVID 19 virus is highly infectious and could be transferred through various ways. Merely hand sanitization is not enough to stop the rapid spread of this virous. Therefore, the objective of this project was to develop a mechanical system that would completely sanitize the body. Developed equipment would be beneficial to sanitize the whole body in one minute. This equipment can be used for students & staff in the school/Institute or public gathering such as Hospital, Market, and Shopping mall, etc. The proposed equipment will comprise two modes (a) natural sanitizers spray, (b) fumes of an organic compound. The natural sanitizer will be used to spray on the body. The fumes of an organic compound will be very beneficial to improve the function of lungs and relieves the throat congestion.

3.2 Fabrication of hands-free soap and water dispenser

In compliance with the world health organization guidelines on hand hygiene for the prevention of COVID 19, DIC NIT Uttarakhand has taken an initiative and installed a hands- free soap and water dispenser in the entrance of the Institute of both ITI and Polytechnic campus. The main motive for fabrication of such setup was its importance to combat COVID 19 as the hand hygiene is the primary measure proven to be effective in prevention of COVID 19. It is completely operated by right foot for dispensing the soap and water and is fabricated on the principle of ergonomics. The design of the setup is completely optimized. All the employees attending the Institute are directed to wash their hands before entering and leaving the Institute.

3.3 Design and development of low cost face shield

Dr. Hitesh Sharma, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, developed ultra- low cost face shield as a tool for prevention and spread of corona virus. The effective cost of the product was Rs. 6 only under scale of economics, considering mass production. The face shield was provided to security staff of the institute and local police of Uttarakhand.