HINDUSTAN ZINC AWARDED FOR SOLAR INNOVATION & EXCELLENCE

Hindustan Zinc received Solar Innovation & Excellence Award at the 2nd Annual Conference-Expo-Awards - Roadmap for Innovations in Solar Energy 2017 (RISE 2017) for 12 MW Debari Solar Project.

The award was presented by Mr. Ashwin kumar Khatri, Director General of Mission Energy Foundation in a glittering function held in Delhi on 21^st July 2017. On behalf of Hindustan Zinc, Mr. Vishnu Khandelwal, Team Lead - Renewable & CDM and Mr. R L Sharma, Electrical Head - Zinc Smelter Debari received the award.

INNOVATORS OF ZINC - AUTOMATION IN REACTORS ELIMINATED RISK AND ELIMINATED MAN-MACHINE INTERACTION

Residual Treatment Plant (RTP) is a part of Leaching and Purification area in smelters. It is also called Jarosite Precipitation (JP) area.

There are total of 5 Reactors having a capacity of 300 cubic meters each at Zinc Smelter Debari. These reactors are equipped with agitators and steam coil for heating process solution to 100 degree centigrade.

The challenge was that if the agitator of any reactor fails, the steam would continue to flow through control valve to the reactor. As there would be no mixing of solution due to failure of agitator, solution near steam coils would heat rapidly and could lead to explosion of the reactor. The control valve would only be closed manually and that involved great amount of risk as well as process inefficiency.

A team consisting Mr. Vijay Kumar Rana (AM - Process), Mr. Sanjay Kumar (AM - Instrumentation), Mr. Debasis Sahoo (Engineer - Process) and Mr. Sandip Kanani (AM - Mechanical) felt the need for a change in this whole process and automation with steam auto valve cut-off seemed to be the solution.

Once this modification was done, it is ensured that if agitator of any reactor trips, the amperage of the reactor will drop down to no load level and the valve will close automatically preventing the steam entrance into the reactor.

This automation resulted in elimination of major hazard and also eliminated man machine interaction in reactors. It also resulted in power saving and increasing productivity.

HON'BLE HOME MINISTER HONOURS DEBARI RESCUE TEAM ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

Zinc Smelter Debari Rescue team has been felicitated by Hon’ble Home Minister - Shri Gulab Chand Kataria and District Collector - Mr. Rohit Gupta on the eve of Independence Day i.e., 15^th August, 2016 at Gandhi Ground, Udaipur.

Hon’ble Home Minister appreciated the efforts of Rescue Team led by Mr. Mahesh Todkar - Unit Head, ZSD in arresting ammonia leakage at Ice Factory, Sunderwas Udaipur on 28th April, 2016 that had the potential to become a major disaster.

Team Members felicitated during the event were Mr. D.C. Yadav - SBU Head, Cell house, Mr. Balchand Patidar – Head Safety and Capt. Kuldeep Kumar – Head Security.

A major disaster was reported when ammonia gas leaked out of an ice factory at Sunderwas, Udaipur, a thickly populated area, which also has a petrol filling station nearby. Immediately Hindustan Zinc rescue safety team was alerted and it reached the site along-with Head-Safety, Head-Security and officials from process and administration with all rescue appliances, fire tender etc..  While on travel the matter was understood from the District Collector, Factory Inspector and Factory owner and the probable threats were assessed.

The leaking valves were shut-off immediately and isolated from the system to arrest and stop the gas leakage. Hindustan Zinc had also arranged for emergency back-up team from the Rajpura Dariba Complex (RDC) who also joined the Debari rescue team.  

The local administration, including the District Collector, Factory Inspector and other officials thanked Hindustan Zinc for this operation which had potential to become a major disaster.

As a responsible corporate Hindustan Zinc stood by its commitment to help the society.