KANHANGAD: The time is not far off when ice particles will be as valuable as petroleum, at least for companies that manufacture cars and bikes.

Dr. P Govindan, Associate Professor, Govt. College of Engineering, Kannur, has discovered that ice can be used as an alternative to petroleum products in complex vehicle manufacturing that combines many large and small components.

According to Dr. Govindan, ice particles can be broken down into smaller molecules and used as a substitute for petroleum products. Another attraction is the simplicity and ease of technology in the manufacture of machine parts.

The water is made into small ice particles using a device made in China. Dr. Govindan said the system has been tested in research in Mumbai and advanced studies in Illinois, Michigan and Georgia in the United States.

His 14 discoveries, including this, have been published in international scientific journals. The eco-friendly technologies developed as part of the doctorate have garnered a lot of international attention.

# Vehicle production

Vehicle components are not just made of steel and aluminum alloys. Mixtures of petroleum products such as petrol, diesel, mineral oils and kerosene are added in certain proportions. Petroleum is added to lighten and strengthen the vehicle components. This is why very small holes, cuts and holes can be made even at millimeters.

#Production costs will be reduced

When using the variant of ice particles, the cost is drastically reduced. For example, if ice particles are used instead of petroleum products worth Rs 5 lakh, the cost will be Rs 10,000. Vehicle prices will also go down.

# Qualifications

B.Tech Rank and Gold Medal from Kannur University. Gold Medal for MTech from Chennai IIT. Doctorate from IIT Mumbai. Post-doctoral degree with the world-renowned Marie Curie Fellowship from the Danish Technical University.