Models and software on display at the tech fest Modex and Scientica 2006-07, at BIT, Sindri. Picture by Gautam Dey

Dhanbad, Dec. 10: Budding chemical engineers from Birla Institute of Technology (BIT) Sindri, are carving a niche for themselves already.

On the concluding day of the two-day tech fest “Modex-Scientica” held in association with The Telegraph, a duo impressed the judges as they suggested a rectification to the popular Fisher-Tropsch process at the model exhibition event.

“The process was developed in Germany in 1932 which helps transform large amounts of water gas into gasoline, in places where petroleum reserves are scarce,” said Tushar Dutta, a third year student of chemical engineering.

His team mate Vishal Kumar further explained: “There was a defect in the process after it was put to use in a plant and we have suggested a rectification, which is both effective and viable.”

The team is brimming with confidence and has been advised to send the “rectification” to the scientists at the Central Fuel Research Institute (CFRI), the Dhanbad-based laboratory of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

“We are sure that it would prove to be beneficial to the CFRI and also to other countries using the current version of the process,” said Vishal, as he and his teammate demonstrated the entire system at the model exhibit “Modex” today.

Instead of using carbon monoxide as a catalyst, explained Tushar, vanadium pentoxide has been used, which helps the plant to run successfully.

Though the logic went on a tangent for a few, it definitely called for judges’ attention.

Ujwal Kumar, a faculty in the mechanical engineering department of BIT Sindri, also one of the judges at the event, gave the model seven out of 10 marks.

“I have seen over 40 models so far but this one has created an impact,” Kumar said.

Twenty teachers and professors of various departments were deputed as judges for Modex, which had over 150 models on display in the civil engineering building of the institute.

It was for the first time that local schools in Sindri took part in the event. “We wanted to give maximum exposure and opportunity to school students,” said Rakesh Kumar Singh, chairman of the Model Club, the event organising group.

In the event Scientica, the 19th all India quiz contest held at the Deshpande auditorium of BIT Sindri yesterday, the hosts emerged as winners while the first runners up were the team from IIT, Pawai and Sastra College,Chennai with BIT Mesra in the third spot.

Apart from BIT Sindri, six outstation teams took part in the various events — NIT, Patna, BIT, Mesra, IIT, Pawai (Mumbai), Sastra College, Chennai, NIT, Warangal (Andhra Pradesh) and NIT, Jamshedpur.