Dr Kalyan Sen superannuated as Director ( Addl Secy, GOI grade) of Central Fuel Research Institute-cum-Central Mining Research Institute, Dhanbad under Council of Scientific Industrial Research, GOI, Delhi in April 2005. As an active Scientist for more than three decades, he excelled in developing methodologies and techniques for beneficiation of difficult-to-wash coals. He developed the strategy for maximizing the overall yield of composite washeries at the desired ash level by the application of mathematical models (equalization of characteristic ash at the points of cut) and led a team to apply the model in the Coal Washing Pilot Plant (20 tph, Jig and H.M. Bath ) at CFRI. Thereafter, the plant was further modernized to incorporate almost all modern equipment like Rotary Breaker, several comparative crushers and grinders, H.M. Cyclones, flotation, oleo-flotation, foam flotation, oil agglomeration, Spiral and water treatment sections comprising Thickeners, water-only cyclones, filters and Centrifuges, etc. The plant has more than 50 transducers for on-line monitoring and optimization of complex washing circuits, based on the principle mentioned above.
As a Director for more than 6 years he beefed up the research activities on Coal and Char Petrology, Gasification, Liquefaction, Combustion, Carbonization (including Bee-hive Coke ovens), Bio Diesel, Integrated Rain Water Harvesting and Mosquito Control, etc.
He was honoured with the National Award by NRDC in 2003 for inventing A Device ( Mini Flotation) for Recovery of Finest Cleans from accumulated Slurry in Coal Beneficiation Plant and Process Thereof. Many such mini flotation plants, of total capacity more than 100 tph, are in active service in Jharia Coking Coalfields.
With the Additional charge as Director of CMRI, he streamlined the management of the Institute and helped the committee on Consolidation of Core Competencies of CMRI and CFRI. Subsequently, both the units have been merged to form Central Institute for Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR) to match the growing need for revving up the production and beneficiation of coal, as a single window Concept to Commissioning approach.
Before joining CSIR, he had served Bharat Coking Coal Ltd and Central Mine Planning and Design Institute, Dhanbad for 4 years (till 1978). As an expert of Coal Preparation he worked with the Polish Team of Experts for Modernization of Jharia Coalfield, and also designed Sudamdih, Moonidih, Barora, Mohuda, etc. washeries. He was also the leader of BCCL team for execution of 2tph Oil Agglomeration Pilot Plant at Lodna Colliery and successfully developed the process most suitable for beneficiation and recovery of ultra-fine coal from effluents of large washeries and augmentation of coking fraction from middlings and inferior coals.
Dr Sen is an alumnus of Bengal Engineering College, Shibpur (1967, Mining Engineering) and has been engaged as Prof. Emeritus in the Mining Engineering Dept since June, 2005.
He had been in Poland for more than 4 years with GOI Scholarship for Cultural Exchange and completed Post Graduation course in Mineral Engineering and Doctoral studies in Coal Preparation in the Academy of Mining and Metallurgy, Krakow in 1974.
He also worked as the Asst Manager in Pure Samla Coal Co, Burdwan, West Bengal after passing the Mine Managership Competency Examination in 1969.
Dr Sen was the Chairman of Bureau of Indian Standard (Coal and Coke) for more than 6 years and helped in rationalizing Standards to the international level. He also attended the International Standard Organization meeting in Australia, 2003 and helped to popularize the Indian strategy for optimum beneficiation of global coals for maximum yield without sacrificing the efficiency of steel making or thermal power generation.
He has co-authored the monograph “Coal Preparation” published from CFRI in 1994, edited several books including international magazines and text books on Coal Mining and Utilization. He chaired several sessions in International Coal Preparation Congresses (Poland, 1994 and South Africa, 2002) and National Seminars in India. He has traveled through most of the Euro countries and all other continents of the world.
At present Dr Sen has been in the Board of Directors of the Central Coalfields Ltd, Ranchi, under Coal India Ltd for guiding the coal company in accordance with the Mini Ratna Status.