Battery lab in PU with CSR of Rs 1 Cr from Oceaneering

Chandigarh, February 10, 2024: Battery Test Lab was inaugurated today in Panjab University by Professor Sanjeev Puri, Director of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET). This lab is being established through CSR grant of Rs 1 Crore from Oceaneering International Services Limited (OISL).

OISL has already released first instalment of Rs 50 Lacs to PU and in near future second instalment of Rs 50 Lacs will be released. Utilizing first instalment from OISL, equipments like Environment Chamber, CRO, Function generator, LCR meter etc have been purchased and high end battery cycler (power supply cum load) is being procured. DST sponsored Technology Enabling Centre (TEC) of Panjab University has played pivotal role in realizing this CSR grant from OISL to Panjab University.

Professor C R Suri, Chairman of Management Committee of DST-TEC articulated that this lab will be very useful for Automobile-sector of our region as these days almost every automobile manufacturer is developing E-vehicles that are powered by batteries. Professor Manu Sharma, Coordinator of DST-TEC apprised the gathering that this lab has explosion-proof environment chamber wherein battery of even unknown chemistry can be safely tested. The environment chamber present in this lab can create an environment anywhere between -40 degrees Celsius and 190 degrees celsius and between 5% RH and 95% RH. In due course of time, this lab will have state-of-the-art battery cycler for charging as well as discharging of battery. In this lab, electrical/electronic items like PCB, switches, controllers etc can be tested in different environmental conditions. Professor Manu Sharma, Dr Puneet Kaur and Dr Aditi Gupta from UIET are working for establishment of this lab and will be responsible for running this lab in future.     

On this occasion, Benjamin Laura, Senior Vice President of Oceaneering International Services Limited, Nikunj Kumar Patel, Vice President Engineering and Technology of Oceaneering International Services Limited and Dileep Kumar, head Oceaneering Development Centre at Chandigarh were also present. Entire team from OISL interacted with Professor Renu Vig, Vice-Chancellor, Panjab University, Chandigarh in Golden Jubilee Hall of the University, over a cup of tea. Professor Renu Vig expressed her happiness over establishment of this much-needed lab and assured OISL all help from University for collaborative R&D projects in future. Experts from OISL briefed that OISL is interested in R&D related to Battery system design and testing, PCB designing & testing, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning (ML) applications, Electrical robotic actuators etc. Professor Manu Sharma, Professor Naveen Aggarwal and Dr Gaurav Sapra from UIET presented R&D initiatives of UIET before team from OISL. Team from OISL was happy with the visit to Panjab University and expressed willingness to collaborate with Panjab University in R&D projects. Pertinent to mention here that UIET had successfully worked in the past on an Industrial Consultancy Project with Oceaneering in the year 2016-2017 and developed Armour Wire Tester (AWT) for Oceaneering.