A Swiss organisation is offering a new type of technology for isothermal hydrodynamic compressor providing clean compressed gases for various applications. The design is such that air and gases of all kinds can be compressed without heating up, avoiding contamination with vapourised lubricating oil or with particles resulting from wear of mechanical parts in sliding contact, and all with reduced energy consumption.

The first major feature of the design is that there are no moving mechanical parts such as pistons and connecting rods, thus avoiding wear, noise and the need for lubricants which inevitably find their way into the compressed gas. The second major feature is that the liquid piston not only compresses the gas but also cools it at the same time.

The new technology also features dynamic optimisation of the operating conditions of the hydraulic pump so that it operates at maximum efficiency even while delivering a varyingpressure.

Areas of application: Food industry, pharmaceutical industry, electronic industry, biotechnology, hospital, waste water treatment, soil decontamination, oxygenation of lakes and watercourses, preventing the water surfaces of harbours, channels and lakes from freezing. The technology is particularly suitable for use in refrigeration equipment and in environment-friendly heat pumps, working with natural refrigerants.

Advantages: Cleaner production-the compressed gas is not contaminated by vapourised oils or greases, nor by foreign odours, nor by wear particles. The condensate can be recycled or wholly rejected to waste. The compressor can be used in refrigeration and heat pump applications; reduced energy consumption--reduced operating costs (routine servicing, replacement parts); low initial cost; environment-friendly.

Stage of development: Patents applied for. An experimental version is available for demonstrating the operation of the isothermal hydrodynamic compressor and its reliability.Transfer forms: Licensing; technology transfer under licence; consultancy. Target countries: Asia.

Manufacturing of ecologically clean timber-polymer products and timber plastics:

A Russian company is offering technology for utilisation of timber processing and polyolefin wastes for manufacturing ecologically clean timber-polymer products and timber plastics for furniture and construction industry. This new technology ensures manufacturing of eco-friendly slabs due to elimination of hazardous resins from the production process. The slabs are relatively cheap as only by-products are used as raw materials - wastes of timber processing (saw mill dust, furniture factory scraps, etc.) and wastes of polyolefin recycling industry (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.). Therefore the problem of waste recycling is simultaneously solved. The resulting products have better quality than natural timber. This new technology can be introduced at existing timber factories.

Areas of application: Constructionindustry, furniture industry. Advantages: Cleaner production - hazardous resins are eliminated from the production process. The timber plastic is manufactured by using natural binder of wooden origin; Ecologically clean product;

Waste utilisation - in the proposed technology, the production process is based on the interaction of wastes of timber processing and of polyolefins recycling; The products are competitive compared with chipboards and panelboards; Energy efficient technology. Stage of development: Prototype; feasibility study. Transfer forms: Joint venture.

For enquiries: Dr Vadim Y. Kotelnikov, Consultant, Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology, Adjoining Technology Complex, P.O. Box 4575, Off New Mehrauli Road, New Delhi - 110 016. Phone: 6856276, 6966509, 6966521, 6966619, 6966629; Fax: 91-11-6856274; E-mail: gen@apctt.ernet.in.-- Compiled by G K Pillai