Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Saturday 4 November 2017

GOOD INTENTIONS : POOR PLANNING ?


Solar  Chula  ?  Some  Unanswered  Questions

==============================

Today’s news-papers carry following big advertisement from ONGC :


Design , Innovate & Create

Solar Chula to fuel every Indian Kitchen – An initiative for Startup India
In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision to promote solar energy, all entrepreneurs, scientists and researchers are invited to come up with innovative ideas to design and develop “ Solar Chula


TIME FRAME

Interested applicants may please register on or before 1st December 2017 at the below mentioned web site ( For details log on to : https://startup.ongc.co.in )


SUCCESSFUL INNOVATORS

On successful demonstration and testing of performance of a few units , about 1000 units may be initially procured for demonstration in different regions

Financial support may be provided for fabrication of 1000 units


CASH AWARDS for TOP 3 DESIGNS

1st >  Rs 10 lakh ………….  2nd >  Rs  5  lakh ……………. 3rd >  Rs  3  lakh




UN-ANSWERED  QUESTIONS  :



·         On the web site mentioned above , there was no “ Registration Form “ !
·          
·         Nowhere on the web site , there are any SPECIFICATIONS , against which ONGC will carry out those “ Performance Tests “ to decide “ Successful Demonstration

Eg :

For Google Lunar X-PRIZE ( of $ 30 million ) , its web site lays down clear / unambiguous / precise “ Specifications “ as follows :

    


SUCCESSFULLY PLACE A SPACECRAFT ON THE MOON’S SURFACE

# TRAVEL 500 METERS

#  TRANSMIT HIGH-DEFINITION VIDEO AND IMAGES BACK TO EARTH


 

In total absence of any SPECIFICATIONS , will this ( ONGC ) expensive / time – effort consuming exercise boil down to , “ It is MY word against YOURs “ ?


 

In India , solar chulhas have been tried extensively for over 30 years ( - and finally given up ) , due to a total lack of understanding of the needs of an Indian housewife !

 

          Solar chulhas of old consisted of nothing more than a metal box ( mostly

          aluminium ) inside which , lady of the house placed raw food ingredients in some

          utensils , and then left the box on the terrace to absorb the sun light

         Occasional designs had concave metal tops for concentrating sun light

 

         Entire process of cooking ( a small meal ) took 3 HOURS – even  if the lady kept

         rotating the box frequently as the sun climbed in the sky. Just sit on the terrace  !

        

        And for that evening meal , there was no sun after 6 pm !

 

        Even 30 years ago , housewife did not have 3 HOURS to cook a meal !

       Today’s working housewife has no more than 30 MINUTES for that job – even in

       rural areas !

 

       That means , she needs a high-level CONCENTRATED burst of energy for cooking

       That is why , she prefers GAS / ELECTRIC stove. Even a kerosene stove will do !

       Hence , the SPECIFICATIONS  for Solar Chulhas would need to be :

 

      #  Chulha should be capable of cooking a meal for 4 persons ( will need to sharply

         define “ MEAL “ ) , in 30 minutes , solely drawing its power from a SOLAR POWER

         STORAGE device , which collects / stores solar power , from solar panels mounted

         on the terrace / roof top . Solar Storage Device should have adequate storage

         capacity for cooking 2 meals before needing re-charge and should be capable of

         being re-charged from standard 210 V / 5 Amp domestic electric outlet

 

     #  Chulha should be of XYZ dimensions , for easy accommodation inside a kitchen

 

     #  Chulha should not cost more than Rs 10,000 / - to manufacture ( which would be

         excluding the cost of SOLAR POWER STORAGE device )

 

     #  ONGC will not have any IPR ( Intellectual Property Right ) for the winning designs

        , which will vest in the INNOVATOR . However , the innovator would be required to

        license any party / person for the manufacture , without any licence fee / royalty

 

I am sure , ONGC can come up with some better / precise specifications – and SOON !

Those who have any doubts as to the URGENT NEED for a Solar Chulha , please read :

 

SAVING THE CURRENT GENERATION  [  10  Dec  2015  ]




04  Nov  2017

 

 


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