| Title of Process/ Know-how/ Product/Design/Equipment

Optical liquid switch (OLS)

IPR Status & Details:

IN 201611018308

Application/Uses/Problem being addressed

Optical liquid switch is useful for detection of either absence or presence of water (clear or turbid) or detect water level.

Applications include:

  • Over-flow detection in tanks/reservoirs/pans/ dams
  • Low-level or high-level monitoring with warning/control in tanks, salt farms 
  • Empty pipe/blockage detection in water/ drainage pipelines
  • Water level warning on vehicles
  • Alarm in events of water flow over bridge/road or under-pass for traffic management and safety
  • Water-level monitoring and alarm in open canal/stream/open drainage for vicinal population safety
  • Warning of high tides in coastal areas
  • Telecom outdoor stations, electrical substation, tunnels, basements for rainwater ingress alarm
  • Domestic appliances based on water application

    • Salient Technical Features including Competing Features/ Impact

    Optical liquid switch is suited for use in any process directory employing water service. The change in state from presence to absence of water or vice-a-versa, triggers inbuilt relay (250Vac/220Vdc @ 2A) which can be used for switching applications and/or for annunciating audio or visual alarm, or signaling process controllers. Features include:

  • Low cost
  • Low power demand
  • Compact design
  • No calibration/adjustment required
  • Pipe end-connection
  • Water proof
  • Easy installation
  • Suitable for various applications

    • TRL Level & Scale of Development:- TRL 6 TRL Reference

    Manufacturing fully tested, validated and qualified / System complete and qualified (test and demonstration))

    Business scope & opportunity (in terms of scale, cost, market etc.)

    Owing to growing awareness for water conservation, OLS market is huge and it is cost effective for deployment.

    Environmental Considerations

    NA

    Status of Licensing:

    Ready for licensing

    Status of Commercialization:

    Not applicable

    Major Raw Materials Needed

    Active/Passive electronic components, plastic for molding

    Major Plant Equipment and Machinery Required

    Molding outsourced ₹10 per pc.

    Techno-Economics

    Costing estimated for 1000 nos. per year

  • Total investment cost of plant/machinery- ₹5,00,000
  • Raw material cost per year - ₹2,50,000
  • Total cost of production per year - ₹5,00,000
  • Sale price per unit - ₹600
  • Gross profit from sale of item/unit per year - ₹60
  • Net profit per year - ₹60,000
  • Benefit cost ratio (BCR) - > 10%
  • Return on investment (ROI) - >12%
  • Payback period - ~8 years

    • Technology Package

    Know-how related to product design, assembly, testing and validation

    | Technology Photographs

    OLS-Tech