Coronavirus: CMERI develops disinfectant walkways

Kolkata, Apr 13 () The CSIR-Central MechanicalEngineering Research Institute (CMERI) in Durgapur hasdeveloped 'disinfection walkways' aimed at preventingcommunity transmission of COVID-19 at one spot.

The walkways use air compressor/high velocity airpumps to ensure optimum mist formation while disinfecting, aCMERI spokesman said on Monday.

These walkways can be installed in critical locationssuch as isolation/quarantine facilities, mass transit systementry points, medical centres and any other location with aconsiderable amount of footfall, he said.

Embedded sensors of the walkways are activated oncepeople step in and the operational time of the system can bevaried within a range of 20 seconds to 40 seconds, thespokesman said.

One such walkway has been installed on the CMERIcampus in Durgapur, he said.

The CMERI is a laboratory of the Council of Scientificand Industrial Research (CSIR).

"The disinfection walkway can be considered to be oneof the most comprehensive disinfectant delivery systemsavailable. The walkway ensures maximum target coverage withminimum shadow area occupied by an individual," thespokesman said.

The institute has come up with two variant prototypesof the walkway.

One variant deploys "six bar pressure air compressor"to ensure optimum mist formation and the initial cost isrelatively higher, but the operating cost is much less, owingto optimum usage of disinfectant in this system.

The second variant deploys 1 horse power pressurisedmotor high velocity pump to ensure optimum mist formation. Theinitial cost of this variant is relatively lower, he said.

"The exact cost of installing either of the variantsis being assessed," the spokesman said. SUSMM MM