Huned Contractor profiles Pune-based LeanWay Energy that has developed a unique waste air cogeneration system

While the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer 'Swades' may not have had much influence on what Pune-based Shrirang Chandekar, founder-director of LeanWay Energy Private Limited, has done, the fact that non-conventional energy is the need of the present and the future is something that has shown him the way ahead. A mechanical engineer from the University of Pune, Shrirang took off to the US to do his post-graduation in industrial engineering from Ohio and then started working with General Motors Corporation. But at the back of his mind was this burning desire to set up something in India. He returned, driven by his passion for 'green energy'.

After setting up a consulting firm in 2005, Shrirang worked on various experimental models for power generation and has now developed a waste air cogeneration system - WAC, the patent for which is pending. "This technology relates to a vertically mounted wind cage installed in front of the air flow or the air exhaust in such a way that it develops enough torque to rotate the wind cage which causes the permanent magnet (PM) generator to rotate and create electrical energy. More particularly, the vertical axis wind cage is positioned to generate electrical energy in an efficient and cost-effective manner based on the horizontal air flow which is exhaust fan and blower-driven," he explains. The company has already implemented a few systems successfully in Maharashtra.

Recently a system was installed in Burckhardt Compression, one of the world's largest manufacturers of reciprocating compressors, near Pune. The company is utilising the power generated for lighting needs. "Photovoltaic is a popular technology, because there is assurance of power generation each day. In case of wind, specifically in India, due to low wind speeds, small-scale power generation is not assured. An air exhausting system is necessary as a part of the process as well as per the law. Therefore, wherever the blowers are working, we can generate power using an air cage, which lets the high velocity air pass through the blades. This ensures the end customer assured power generation through wind energy," Shrirang explains.

LWE is the first company in India to tap the treasure of wasted and exhausted air. It designs its own wind turbines to suit the needs, which make it possible to manufacture site-specific wind turbines. "Therefore, based on the wind speeds, we design the size of the wind turbine and implement as a system. Similarly, based on the wind speeds, air volumes and distance, we have to manufacture site-specific solutions to get maximum power generation," he adds. The implementation of the WAC system can be on an extremely large scale as industries, hotels, hospitals, shopping malls, etc have air exhaust systems, which are a potential source for power generation.

According to Shrirang, the implementation of these systems can be done on a vast range of exhaust blower capacities. Power savings/generation can be as much as 1,500 kWhr per year to 15,00,000 kWhr per year depending on the capacity of the blower and the velocity that is generated. This system claims to help in the reduction of carbon emissions to a large extent. With the ultimate aim of implementing decentralised power generation for small towns, villages and hamlets, Shrirang is trying to implement different innovative solutions, which can be implemented on a large scale. The air cage has also been tested on highways where the turbulences can be utilised to rotate the wind turbine and generate power for local use.

LWE also manufactures small wind turbines ranging from 1 kW-3 kW as also wind-solar hybrid systems, the advantage of which is that they generate power even if one source is temporarily not available. Elaborating on what makes his systems unique, Shrirang says, "We have developed a rugged design that is easy to assemble and is designed for minimal maintenance. Also, the direct drive generator reduces the number of moving parts and the power regulation is through active blade pitching that is very safe. The system provides high energy output even in low winds." A 1 kW system generates 3 to 5 units or 3,000-5,000 watt hours per day. It will light 50 LED lights of 6 watts for 10 hours or 5 tubelights of 60 watts for 10 hours or 10 tubelights of 60 watts for 5 hours and so on. Elaborating on the requirements for the installation of wind-solar hybrid systems, Shrirang says a height of 10 metres (3-4 storey building) would help generate enough torque to move the wind turbine blades, which in turn will generate power. "For a small wind turbine with our standard tower, 9 sq metres area is sufficient. For high-rise buildings, a smaller tower is used which requires much less area," he says.

Technicalities apart, what Shrirang emphasizes the most is the 'swadeshi' tag. "It means zero import duty (i.e., 22 per cent savings), and reduced transportation, insurance, material handling and packaging cost passed on to the end user," he points out.

(LeanWay Energy, Pune. Mobile: 098812-48812. Email: shrirang@ leanwayenergy.com)