DRDO To Set Up 500 Medical Oxygen Plants Based On Technology Developed For LCA Tejas

In a bid to boost India's fight against the the Covid-19 pandemic, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) will set up 500 medical oxygen generation plants in the country within three months.

The plants will be set up under the Prime Minister's Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations (PM-CARES) fund, the Defence Minister's office said on Wednesday (28 April).

"The DRDO is going to set up 500 Medical Oxygen Plants within 3 months under PM CARES Fund," the Defence Minister's Office said in a tweet.

"The Medical Oxygen Plant technology developed by DRDO for On‐Board Oxygen Generation for LCA, Tejas will now help in fighting the current crisis of Oxygen for the COVID-19 patients," it added.

The oxygen plant is designed for a capacity of 1,000 litres per minute (LPM), according to a Defence Ministry release.

The system can cater to 190 patients at a flow rate of 5 litre per minute (LPM) and charge 195 cylinders per day.

Transfer of Technology has been done to Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Bengaluru and Trident Pneumatics, Coimbatore, who will be producing 380 plants for installation across various hospitals in the country, the ministry said.

As many as 120 plants of 500 LPM capacity will be produced by industries working with Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, belonging to CSIR, it added.

The DRDO has initiated fabrication of 380 numbers of Medical Oxygen Plants with release of Supply Orders for 332 numbers on Tata Advanced Systems Limited, Bengaluru and 48 numbers on Trident Pneumatics, Coimbatore with a target of producing 125 plants per month under PM CARES Fund. With this it is expected that 500 Medical Oxygen Plants will be installed within three months, the ministry said.

It should be noted that the DRDO had developed a medical oxygen plant as a spin-off technology of the 'On board oxygen generation system' (OBOGS) of the LCA Tejas.

The technology, which has been developed by DRDO's Defence Electromedical and Bio-Engineering Laboratory (DEBEL), breaks down molecular components of the atmospheric air to provide continuous oxygen to the pilot within the aircraft for long duration and in high altitude flights.

Once set up, the technology would help in continuous supply of oxygen to critical Covid patients, refilling of oxygen cylinders and eradicating logistical problems related to cylinder transportation from one point to another, thereby reducing the increasing burden on the demand for oxygen in Covid hospitals.