Irani’s innovation

An improved system for solar concentrators has been installed at Doongerwadi by the Poona Parsee Panchayat (PPP), replacing the earlier glass mirrors that required frequent cleaning and were susceptible to breakage, reveals an email received by Parsiana from community activist Mabrin Nanavatti. The former system was not merely cumbersome but risky as well since the concentrators had to be taken down in order to replace the glass mirrors broken by strong winds.
Having closely monitored the disadvantages of the existing system, PPP trustee Sharukh Irani, an engineer by profession and former employee of Thermax innovated a better and more economical system for the solar panels, mentions Nanavatti. Through Thermax, he sourced highly polished aluminum panels at a very affordable rate and installed them on a trial basis on the solar concentrator at the Patel Tower of Silence which is looked after by the PPP. The performance of these panels proved excellent and the efficiency of the concentrators improved a hundredfold, Nanavatti states. Being made of aluminum, the panels are not only unbreakable but maintenance costs are also considerably lower.

When Parsiana spoke over the telephone to the 66-year-old Irani, now retired from Thermax but still active as a consultant engineer, he said work on the new system was undertaken at Doongerwadi in February-March of this year. "The glass mirrors would fly off and break when the wind was strong. Removing them and refitting new ones was a tough job. Mirrors come in large sizes and need to be cut to fit the panels. If the edges are not sealed properly, water seeps in. This darkens the surface and makes them ineffective,” he explained. Since Thermax makes solar panels using aluminum imported from Germany, he approached the company and obtained these for the PPP at a special rate. "The aluminum panels don’t fly off when the winds are rough, and more importantly, they remain shining. Nor do they need to be taken down for cleaning as they can be washed from ground level using a pressure pump,” he mentioned. This is safer for the staff and Irani claims that there have been "zero problems” since installation. "They are effective and dry up consigned bodies in three to four days. Also, there is no smell,” he informed Parsiana.
Along with his team of dedicated pallbearers and employees of the PPP Irani later installed similar panels at the Anjuman dakhma as well. The task was completed without any trouble with the cooperation and efforts of Cyrus Bacha, Nozer Daji, Nozer Bharucha (manager of the Anjuman dakhma), Aspi Irani (manager of the Patel dakhma) and the five dedicated nassessalars — Khushroo Irani, Tabriz Randelia, Behroz Irani, Firdosh Cooper and Nozer Irani.
Additionally, Sharukh shared the information that former PPP trustee and businessman Dinshaw Anklesaria has pledged Rs 40 lakhs for building a bigger bungli near the Patel dakhma. The Anjuman dakhma already has a large bungli built by the Kayani family and named after them. However, when the adjoining old structure which was being used as a store room collapsed, another former trustee, Mancher Irani donated Rs 20 lakhs for its complete renovation. It was inaugurated recently. Mancher, who owns Yazdan Hotel on Dastur Meher Road and is a chartered accountant by profession has also given a further sum of Rs 20 lakhs to the PPP for building a proper road from the Doongerwadi gate up to the Kayani bungli at the Anjuman dakhma, Sharukh told Parsiana.
Sharukh has expressed willingness to advise and help other anjumans and punchayets who face similar problems with glass mirrors in the solar concentrators by assisting them in installing aluminum panels. He may be contacted at the office of the PPP: Poona Parsee Panchayat, 3, Kapadia Building, Dastur Meher Road, Camp, Poona 411001; Tel: 020-26130134.