LERC BULLETIN

2018

LPG EQUIPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, BANGALORE

www.lerc.co.in

080 – 25613145 / 25612257

31st December 2018 || Volume 3

LERC BULLETIN

2018

November 2018

Volume 3 LPG EQUIPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE, BANGALORE

www.lerc.co.in

080 – 25613145 / 25612257

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E

1. Getting Started

2. Writing Great

Newsletter Articles

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a Tight Space

4. Inserting Your Own

Art

5. The Elements of a

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attention, place an

interesting sentence or

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“To catch the

reader’s attention,

place an

interesting

sentence or quote

from the story

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“To catch the reader’s

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LPG EQUIPMENT RESEARCH CENTRE ,

BANGALORE www.lerc.co.in

080 – 25613145 / 25612257

LERC BULLETIN

2018 Page 1

LERC was entrusted by BIS (MED 16) for testing of Aluminum Cylinder for use with LPG. These Aluminium Cylinders were manufactured by M/s Hindalco. LERC conducted various tests on the Aluminium Cylinder as per ISO Standards. A working group comprising of members from IOCL R&D, Faridabad, IOCL BG Cryogenics, Nashik, LERC and M/s Hindalco was formed by NITI AAYOG for Aluminium Cylinders for LPG Transportation. The 1st working group committee meeting was conducted at LERC under the convenor ship of Director R&D, IOCL to discuss the path to be taken for the project. Since then LERC has worked closely with M/s Hindalco and IOCL BG Crogenics on the development of Aluminium Cylinders and has tested prototypes of 47.5 kgs Cylinders and 5 kg Cylinders.

1st Working Committee Meeting for Aluminium Cylinders for LPG

Transportation held at LERC

Page 2 LERC BULLETIN

2018

LERC organized a 1-day workshop on “Tamper Evident

Seal” at LERC Bangalore with an objective to share

knowledge & bring efficiency in the Tamper Evident

seal business with special emphasis on Quality control

/enhancement measures.

The Workshop enabled interaction between LERC &

Tamper Evident Seal manufacturers and discussions

were held on technical issues pertaining

to improvement of quality standards in the

manufacturing process.

Workshop on Tamper Evident Seal Conducted at LERC

The workshop was attended by Tamper Evident Seal Manufacturers from all across the country and members from

the Oil Marketing Companies. Eminent Rubber Expert, DR K Rajakumar , Director-IRMRA Mumbai was also invited

and he gave a lecture on Joint Inspection and Vendor Rating of the Manufacturing Units. A Technical Session on

Selection & Role of PVC Resin and additives in manufacturing RPVC Compounds was also taken by Dr. N

Nandakumar, Polymer Technologist. He also explained the Problems & Solutions in the Processing of Rigid PVC

Compound and Shrink Film for LPG Cylinder Tamper Evident Seal (TES). Dr. A Krishna, LERC gave a detailed

presentation on the specifications of the new Tamper Evident Seal and analysis of test results, which gave an insight

on the product quality and the Quality Control Measures to be exercised by the manufactures.

Workshop on O-Ring used in SC Valves in LPG Cylinders

LERC conducted a 1-day training for O-Ring

Manufacturers at LERC Bangalore with the

primary objective to discuss about the readiness

of O-Ring manufacturers for manufacture of O-

Rings with FKM based material.

The workshop was attended by O-Ring

manufacturers, representatives of FKM

manufacturing companies like M/s 3M and GFL and

members from the Oil Marketing Companies.

During the workshop, LERC gave a presentation on

the performance and the advantages of FKM based

O-Rings for SC Valves. A detailed presentation on

the FKM material characteristics and properties

was also given by M/s 3M and M/s GFL.

The workshop enabled interaction between LERC,

FKM manufacturers & O-Ring manufacturers

and discussions on technical issues with special

emphasis on FKM raw material, facilities & Quality

control measures

Page 3 LERC BULLETIN

2018

INDIAN OIL LPG DISTRIBUTOR MEET AT LERC BANGLORE FOR FAMILIARIZATION ON THE USAGE OF DETECT-HANDHELD LEAK TESTERS

A meet of LPG Distributors under Indian Oil

Karnataka State Office was held at LERC

Bangalore. The objective of the meet was the

familiarization of Detect-the Portable Handheld

Leak Testers and its usage in field. The Detect is

used for pre-delivery check to detect Valve Leak

and O-Ring Leak from SC Valve.

A presentation on the features of the Leak

Testers was given to the LPG Distributors after

which a demonstration on the usage of the

product was also given. A hands-on training and

experience was given to the LPG Distributors and

their Delivery Boys on the usage of this device at

the LPG Customers premises.

LERC BULLETIN

2018

Page 4 LERC BULLETIN

2018

Training to Oil Marketing Company Officers of LPG Bottling Plant

IOCL OFFICERS TRAINING ON 8TH & 9TH MARCH 2018 BPCL OFFICERS TRAINING ON 12TH & 13TH MARCH 2018

HPCL OFFICERS TRAINING ON 16TH & 17TH APRIL 2018

LERC conducted a 2-day training on Testing of LPG

Equipments viz. LPG Cylinders, Self Closing Valves,

Domestic Pressure Regulators (DPR), Tamper

Evident Seal (TES), O-Rings to the nominated LPG

Plant / Maintenance Officers from all three Oil

Marketing Companies viz. IOCL, BPCL & HPCL.

The purpose of this training was to familiarize the

LPG Plant / Maintenance officer to get them

accustomed with the Inspection Procedure and LPG

Equipment Testing Procedure so that they can

inspect the LPG Equipment Manufacturer premises

in future as needed. The training was given to a

batch of around 20 Officers each from IOCL, BPCL &

HPCL on 8-9th Mar 2018, 12-13th Mar 2018 and 16-

17th April 2018 respectively.

The module of the training comprised of classroom

training on the test procedures as per the test

methods stipulated in the various Indian Standards

for testing of LPG Equipment along with a lab

demonstration in which each and every test was

explained and demonstrated to them which was

followed by a field visit at LPG Cylinder

Manufacturer based in Bangalore. The workshop

started with a presentation on OVERVIEW of LERC

given by CEO, LERC followed by a detailed

presentation on the Failure Analysis of LPG

equipment and Probable causes. The Inspection

procedures related to the failure parameters was

also explained. This was followed by a detailed

presentation on the testing procedures of LPG

Cylinders, Valves and DPR’s. A presentation on the

O-Ring and the Tamper Evident Seal was also

given.

26th Governing Body Meeting & 32ND

Executive Committee Meeting held at LERC on 19th September, 2018

The performance of LERC during the financial year

2017-18 and the current status of the testing of LPG

Equipments and projects was appraised to the

members present. The members reviewed the status

of testing of LPG equipments and the progress of

projects undertaken at LERC and appreciated the

overall performance of LERC.

The 26th Governing Body Meeting and the 32nd

Executive Committee Meeting of LERC was conducted

on 19.09.2018 at LERC, Bangalore.

The Meeting was chaired by Shri S. Jeyakrishnan (Dir-

Mktg, HPCL), Chairman of Governing Body and the

meeting was attended by Shri Alok Tripathi (ED-

PCRA), Shri Sunil Mathur (ED-LPG, IOCL) Shri I

Srinivasa Rao (ED-LPG, BPCL), Shri Rakesh Misri (ED-

LPG, HPCL), Dr. R K Malhotra (Dir, Petrofed), Shri

Shankar Saran (CGM, LPG-Strategy, IOCL), Shri K

Shailendra (CGM IOCL KASO), Shri Pradeep Nair (LPG

Head, BPCL) and other eminent members of BIS,

PCRA, DSIR and Oil Industry.

Page 5 LERC BULLETIN

2018

2017 2018 2017 2018

Mechanical Lab – Cylinder, Valve, DPR & LPG Stove Polymer Lab – Hose, O-Ring, RPVC Seal & Safety Cap

Testing of LPG Equipments at LERC

Testing of LPG Equipments i.e Cylinder Valve and DPR is carried out in Mechanical Lab, LPG Stoves is tested in

Combustion Lab and Suraksha Hose, Safety Cap, RPVC Seal, O-Ring & Rubber Components are tested in the

Polymer Lab.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Cylinder DPR SC Valve LPG stove

465 453 419

274

1160

967 1030

267

No

s. o

f Sa

mp

les

Re

ceiv

ed

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

RPVC Safety Cap LPG Hose O-Ring

3025

1030

292

2440

6375

2430

392

4620

No

s. o

f Sa

mp

les

Re

ceiv

ed

Page 6 LERC BULLETIN

2018

PORTABLE COOKTOP – Approved by BIS

LERC has designed & developed a Reliable Cooktop with DPR and SURAKSHA LPG

Hose as per the requirements of the OMCs. The product is fully compliant to IS

4246:2002 (Domestic Gas Stoves for use with Liquefied Petroleum Gases).

The product has been designed with the required safety

features, robustness and aesthetic look. The Cooktop is

provided with long legs so that Cooktop can be placed next to

the LPG Cylinder for It has a precise control of the flow of LPG

in ON & SIM Position.

The product is intended to be used for portable cooking. The target users for this

product are BPL families, single room accommodations etc. IS certified

components of the existing LPG Stove like Gas Taps, Burners, Mixing Tube, Pan

Support and Spill Tray are used so as to make this product Safe to use.

Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati and M/s Agnisumukh Energy Solution Pvt Ltd – For Study of

Domestic LPG Stoves using Ceramic Burner and its Heat Transfer Details

Jadavpur University – For Development of Domestic LPG Stoves with enhanced Thermal Efficiency

Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai incubated Company M/s Digas – For Development of System for

monitoring of the LPG Content in the LPG Cylinder on real time basis and displaying the same on a digital

indicator.

M/s Honeywell International (India Pvt Ltd) – For development of System for LPG Leak Detection in

Domestic Installation and Closure of DPR

M/s Akuva Technologies – For Design and Development of Modified Safety Cap Design for ease of removal at

LPG Domestic Installation and LPG Bottling Plants.

Collaborations Done by LERC for Developmental Work:

DeTect1& 2 – Handheld Leak Testers for Pre Delivery Checks

Patented by LERC

LERC has developed simple, sensitive & reliable leak testers to be used by the

delivery boys for conducting pre-delivery checks while delivering cylinders at

the customer premises. The product is designed by LERC and being

manufactured and marketed by M/s FESTO India Pvt Ltd, under the brand name

of DETECT by LERC-FESTO. The Valve Leak Tester (DeTECT -1) is intended to

check the spindle leak of the valve on the LPG Cylinder and the O-Ring Leak

Tester (DeTECT -2) is intended to check the leakage through the O-Ring inside

the valve on the LPG Cylinder. The product is being sold to the LPG Distributors.

The numbers sold till Dec 2018 is 37035 (IOCL: 13093, BPCL:11325, HPCL:12563)

The Pneumatic Calibration Equipment for periodic calibration and testing of the

Handheld Leak Testers has been designed and developed by LERC along with

M/s FESTO.

CNC Multi-Sensor Video Measuring

Machine (3D machine) with Vision

(Optics), Point Laser and Tactile

Probing:

For accurate automatic measurement

of the rubber and plastic

components.

Digital Tensile Testing Machine

with long travel extensometer:

For accurate evaluation of tensile

properties of Rubber components

as per ASTM D and Films as per

ASTM D

Page 7 LERC BULLETIN

2018

Infrastructure Development up at LERC

Hydrostatic Test Facility for DPR Test Facility for checking Mechanical

Strength of Connections for DPR Cycle Test Facility for DPR

Hydraulic Power Press for

Blanking of Tensile Samples

from LPG Cylinder for

Acceptance Tests

Rockwell / Brinell

Hardness Test:er:

For checking the

harness of metals

Page 8 LERC BULLETIN

2018

NABL Accreditation for Mechanical Parameters and Chemical Parameters

for testing of LPG Equipments as per the provisions of ISO/IEC 17025:2005

renewed for LERC after a detailed technical assessment carried out in April

2018. Certificate Number TC-7315 issued on 24.05.18 with a validity till

23.05.2020.

LERC obtained BIS Recognition for testing of SC Valves as per IS 87837, DPR as per IS 9798,

LPG Stoves as per IS 4246, LPG Hose as per IS 9573 and LPG Cylinders as per IS 3196 Part 1

& Part 3.

LERC is registered with Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) under

Ministry of Science and Technology, for availing Custom Duty and Excise Duty Exemption for

Research & Development related activities. The Registration is valid till 31st March 2019.

NEW PATENT APPLIED BY LERC Moving a step ahead in the Research & Development carried out , LERC has filed a new patent for:

• SYSTEM FOR COMBUSTIBLE GAS LEAKAGE DETECTION Application Number E-2/1532/2018/CHE

which relates to a sensor for detection of Combustible Gases, specifically LPG, in the event of any

leakage with provision of an audio visual alarm and auto-closure of the Domestic Pressure Regulator. • NOVEL DESIGN SPILL TRAY & PAN SUPPORT FOR LPG STOVE FOR ENHANCED THERMAL EFFICIENCY

Application Number 201841049368 of existing LPG Stove.

With an aim to increase the manufacturing capacity of SURAKSHA Hose to meet the current demand,

LERC has granted manufacturing license to two new LPG Suraksha Hose Vendors i.e. M/s MVS Industries,

Sonepat and M/s Vaishnoo Rubber Pvt Ltd, Moradabad for manufacturing and marketing of SURAKSHA

Hose.

To ensure sustenance of quality of SURAKSHA Hose considering Customer Safety LERC has commenced

Inspection and Vendor Rating of SURAKSHA Hose manufacturing units. Presently, out of 19

manufacturing units Vendor Rating for 17 units and surprise Inspection of 11 units has been carried out.

ENLISTMENT OF NEW VENDORS AND COMMENCEMENT OF VENDOR RATING OF MANUFACTURER PREMISES

E-TENDER & LERC PORTAL IMPLEMENTAION E-Tendering System implemented at LERC. LERC Portal commissioned for creation of Online Test

Requisition from LPG Bottling Plants and Area Offices and receiving of online Test Reports. Officers

from LPG Plants and Area Offices can register in LERC Portal for sending of samples to LERC for

testing by visiting www.lerc.co.in and clicking onto LERC Portal under “LERC Links”.

INDEPENDENCE DAY AT LERC

Page 9 LERC BULLETIN

2018

OTHER EVENTS CELEBRATED AT LERC

INDIAN OIL DAY 01.09.2018

Volume 3

December 2018 LERC BULLETIN

2018

LPG Equipment Research Centre Bangalore-560016, INDIA

Ph – (080) 2561 3145 / 2257 / 4035 E-Mail – support@lerc.co.in || Website: www.lerc.co.in

A Joint Undertaking of IndianOil Corporation Ltd., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. & Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

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