By Dominick Rodrigues
Mumbai : The Indian Institute of Technology, Ropar has developed a prototype of a moveable electric cremation system – claimed to be the first of its kind technology — involving +smokeless cremation+ despite using wood. It uses half of the wood otherwise required for the cremation and still is eco-friendly because of the technology that uses combustion air system.
This system is based on wick-stove technology in which the wick — when lighted — glows yellow. This is converted into smokeless blue flame with the help of combustion air system installed over the wicks.
IIT Professor Dr Harpreet Singh, Dean, Industrial Consultancy and Sponsored Research and Industry Interaction (ICSR&II) — who has developed the system — said that the cremation system (or incinerator) heats up at 1044 degree Celsius to ensure complete sterilization.
The cart-shaped incinerator, which has wheels and can be transported anywhere without much effort, is equipped with combustion air for primary and secondary hot air system. “The disposal of the body is completed within 12 hrs including cooling time — as against 48 hours required in the normal wood-based cremation”, Prof. Harpreet added.
Besides use of less wood also reducing the carbon footprint by half, it requires less cooling time in the absence of refractory heat storage, he said, adding that the cart has stainless steel insulation on both sides for no heat loss and less wood consumption, besides also a tray beneath for easy removal of ashes.
He said that he has adopted tech-traditional model for cremation as it also uses wood – in keeping with beliefs and traditions of cremating on wood pyre.
“Keeping in view the present pandemic situation – The adoption of this system may provide respectable cremation to the near and dear ones of those who cannot afford the financial burden of arranging wood”, Harjinder Singh Cheema, MD, Cheema Boilers Ltd. – the maker of this prototype –said, adding that since this is portable, it can be taken to any place with the permission of the concerned authorities and will also help people to avoid space crunch in crematoriums like in the present context.
