Top News of Last Week with ANA

Azad News Agency (ANA) published a number of scientific and technological news during the past week whose top ones are as follows:

Iran Starts Production from Sepehr-Jufeir Oilfield

Iran began production from seven wells at Sepehr-Jofeir oilfield in Khuzestan Province, Southwestern Iran, a senior MP said.

Qassem Sa’edi, a member of the Iranian parliament's energy commission, announced the start of oil production from Sepehr-Jofeir oilfield in Khuzestan province, and said, "In the middle of October, 21,000 barrels of oil produced from this field will be delivered to the West Karun processing unit."

He added that the Sepehr-Jofeir oilfield with an area of 352 square kilometers is located in the Eastern parts of Azadegan oilfield in Western Karun and is considered the deepest and most pressurized oil layer in Iran.

Noting that the deepest oil wells in Iran with a depth of more than 4,000 meters are located in this oil field, Sa’edi said, “If 21 wells are put into operation, it will be possible to produce 110,000 barrels of oil per day from this field.”

Iran Introduces 12th Version of Int'l Nanotechnology Standard

The 12th version of international standards in the field of Nanotechnology, which has been prepared under the supervision of the Iran Nanotechnology Innovation Council (INIC) entitled "Nanotechnology – Super hydrophobic Coatings and Surfaces: Characteristics and Performance Evaluation" has been introduced as ISO/TS 10689:2023.

Surfaces that are difficult to get wet with water are considered to be super-hydrophobic surface. They repel water droplets and do not get wet in contact with water. Various methods have been used to produce super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings.

Due to their properties, super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings have many applications in various industries such as automobile, construction, healthcare, optics, and electronics. The market for super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings for 2020 was about $1.8 billion.

Super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings are usually subjected to different working and environmental conditions. Unfortunately, despite the large market, there has not been standards for evaluating the durability of super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings.

ISO/TS 10689:2023 standard aims to determine the performance evaluation methods of super-hydrophobic surfaces and coatings in different working and environmental and weather conditions. The evaluation criteria are the comparison of the advance angle, retreat angle, and contact angle lag of the samples before and after exposure to the aforementioned working and environmental conditions. Moreover, this document facilitates communication between interested parties.

Iranian Specialists Design Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Cars

Iranian researchers succeeded in designing lithium-ion batteries which are one of the most common energy storage tools in electric cars.

“In a bid to help the country gain self-sufficiency in the field of lithium-ion battery cells that can be used in electric vehicles, we succeeded in designing and manufacturing the first battery cell in the country,” Ahmad Soleimani, a commercialization expert of Iran Space Research Center, told ANA.

“These batteries are designed with a capacity of 15 ampere-hour, an energy density of 168 watts per kilogram and a weight of 320 grams,” he added.

Soleimani described the ability to charge and discharge quickly, long life, high efficiency, low weight and low self-discharge as operational features of the lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

Knowledge-Based Firm in Iran Indigenizes 24-Hour Smart Vehicle Traffic Control System

A knowledge-based company in Iran succeeded in designing and making a smart car traffic control system that works 24 hours a day, obviating the need for security guards.

“One of the products of our company is the smart car traffic system,” Keyvan Doustkam, a faculty member of Islamic Azad University’s Arak branch and the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA on the sidelines of Asr-e Omid event in Karaj.

"‘Dezhpol’ car license plate reader system or car traffic control system is installed in front of the parking lot doors and records the passage of cars. During the traffic of cars, the door is opened and closed intelligently for vehicles that have a license, and there is no need for security guards,” he added.

Noting that the system works automatically and 24 hours a day, Doustkam said that it can also be applied in municipalities, intersections, etc.

“The system can also be used to register and record statistics, and if a car passes a red light, this system will take an image and a fine will be recorded,” he stated.

Iranian Scientists Use AI in Designing Smart Balance Boards

A technological company in Iran succeeded in producing a smart balance board by using artificial intelligence (AI) technology.

“We have presented a smart balance board in this exhibition which works by using artificial intelligence,” Pouya Foudeh, the managing director of the technological company stationed at the Innovation Center of the Islamic Azad University’s Karaj branch, told ANA on the sidelines of Asr-e Omid event and exhibition in Karaj.

“The smart balance board that we have designed works in a way that when a person steps on the device, he/she can see their balance status directly on the monitor. The person can also play some kind of simple games and control the screen with his/her feet which allows him/her to devote more time to the move,” he added.

Foudeh noted that based on the feedback that the device receives from the person, artificial intelligence can warn him/her before the person's balance is disturbed and correct the move.

Iran Exports over 10 Million Dollars Worth of Goods to West Asian States

Iran has exported $10 billion worth of goods to the West Asian countries in the first six months of the current Iranian year (started on March 21), showing a 6% increase compared to the same period last year, an official said.

Director-General of the West Asia Department of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Farzad Piltan said that the country’s exports to the West Asian countries, including Iraq, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, reached $10.346 billion in the mentioned six months to account for 45 percent of the country's total exports.

He added that during the same period, Iran exported 30.387 million tons of goods to the countries of this region, which was 6.37 million tons or 25 percent more than the figure for the same period last year.

Piltan said that Iraq with $4.5 billion, the UAE with $3.0 billion, and Turkey with $2.4 billion were the top export destinations for Iranian commodities among the West Asian countries during the mentioned period.

He stated that Iran's imports from West Asian countries during the first half of the current Iranian year was about $13 billion, which accounts for 43 percent of the country's total imports during the period.

Iranian Specialists Produce Powder Insulation Resistant to Different Weather Conditions, UV Rays

Powder waterproof insulation is a product of one of the knowledge-based companies in Iran which is resistance to any types of weather conditions and UV rays.

This product is a powdery resin that is mixed with water and applied with a brush or plastic scraper or any other device on the surface and after a few hours, it will dry and form an impermeable layer.

The product is durable, highly resistant, convenient and easy to use, cost-effective and economical, resistance to high water pressure, allowing steam to pass and allowing the surface to breathe, resistant to UV rays and different weather conditions, and resistant to wear.

The high speed of work, the ability to work on all surfaces, high flexibility while covering seams, high adhesion to the surface and maintaining this adhesion against constant water blows are among the advantages of using the product.

Iran-Made Knowledge-Based Drug Treats Leishmaniasis

A knowledge-based company in Iran has succeeded in production of a herbal cream with a therapeutic effect on the wounds caused by cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) disease.

“One of the products in which herbal immunomodulators are used is Leish G1 cream with a therapeutic effect on cutaneous leishmaniasis which is now being used in medical centers, hospitals, health and skin clinics,” said Fariba Nemati, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

“Leish G1 is a high-tech product which has been made as a result of research and studies by researchers and scientists of the company for more than 20 years, and it has completed the laboratory and clinical phases, and during this period, its formulation has been optimized,” she added.

Nemati explained that the effectiveness of the natural product Leish G1 on small wounds is 100% and in large wounds it acts similar to the standard foreign medicine.

“This product, which is effective in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis from various aspects, enjoys unique features; since one of the main problems of leishmaniasis disease is the scar left after treatment, the Leish G1 product has this unique feature that in addition to treating the disease, it can also repair the scar in small and medium-sized wounds,” she noted.

Iranian Experts Design, Develop System to Collect Drilling Data

Iranian specialists at a knowledge-based company designed and developed a smart comprehensive system for collecting drilling information, providing the ground for the development of oil industry.

“Designing and development of the system to collect the drilling information is now pursued by our knowledge-based company to meet the domestic need for imports,” said Rashid Ma’mouri, the managing director of the knowledge-based company.

"Despite problems, fortunately, we were able to build 10 machines in accordance with international standards and delivered them to National Iranian Drilling Company," he added.

“During this period, we also indigenized a number of production logging tools (PLT),” Ma’mouri said.

Elaborating on the drilling mud mapping units and oil well production information-receiving systems, he said, “These systems provide the experts with the information needed for drilling, and they can help experts to make the right decision and carry out the drilling and repair operations of oil and gas wells.”

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant Produces 61 Billion kWh of Electricity in Past 10 Years

An Iranian nuclear official says that with the production of 61 billion kilowatt hours of electricity at the Bushehr nuclear power plant during the past 10 years, the release of 60 million tons of gas pollutants into the air has been prevented.

Hossein Derakhshandeh, the deputy head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) made the comments at celebration ceremony of the 10th year anniversary of launch of Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant.

He praised the hard-working personnel of Iran's nuclear industry and Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and said, “The production of 61 billion kilowatt hours of nuclear electricity over the past 10 years at Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant prevented the release of 60 million tons of pollutant gas into the enviornemnt.”

“Bushehr nuclear power plant has played an important and influential role in the production of sustainable clean electricity, and now the electricity production at this power plant has exceeded 61 billion kilowatt hours, which has played an essential role in the country's electricity supply,” he added.

“During the 10 years of operation of Bushehr nuclear power plant, the consumption of millions of tons of fossil fuels and the production of 60 million tons of pollutants have been prevented by generating electricity from nuclear energy,” the deputy head of AEOI went on to say.

“It is hoped that we will witness the launch of the second and third units of Bushehr nuclear power plant in due time, because these nuclear power generation units play an essential role in providing clean energy and stable electricity and preventing production of fossil fuel and pollutants,” Derakhshandeh further said.

Iranian Knowledge-Based Firm Presents Low-Cost Fire Extinguishing System

Iranian knowledge-based company designed and developed a fire monitoring and extinguishing system at one-fifth of the price of the foreign models.

“We participated in this national event with a product called fire alarm monitoring system which enables remote fire management,” Davoud Akbari Bengar, a faculty member and head of the incubator center of Islamic Azad University's Savad Kouh branch and the managing director of the knowledge-based company, told ANA on the sidelines of Asr-e Omid event and exhibition in Karaj.

“The foreign model of this fire extinguishing product already existed in the country but due to sanctions it was no longer imported and it had a very high price,” he added.

"Now we are developing the product and its outstanding feature is that it has a reasonable price compared to foreign products," Akbari Bengar said.

Iran, Japan Aim to Expand Cooperation in Digital Transformation, Smart Gov’t

High-ranking Iranian and Japanese officials in a meeting in Tokyo discussed ways to further develop mutual cooperation in areas of digital transformation and smart government.

The meeting was held between Iranian Deputy ICT Minister Mohammad Khansari and Japanese Digital Transformation Minister Taro Kono in Tokyo.

During the meeting, Khansari said that Iran's fundamental policy is to strengthen relations based on mutual respect with the East Asian countries, including Japan.

He referred to the meeting of Iran's President Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi with Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and the emphasis of both sides on the expansion of bilateral relations between the two countries, saying over the years, relations between Iran and Japan have deepened in various economic, commercial, technological, and cultural areas.

Khansari underlined that opportunities for cooperation and exchanging experiences in various fields, specially digital transformation, smart government, research, and educational activities are growing.

Knowledge-Based Company Locally Manufactures Plastic Water Bottles Production Line

An Iranian knowledge-based company has acquired the full know-how and technology of production line of plastic water-bottles at much lower costs as compared to the German equivalents.

KARSAN PAYA APADANA CO is an Iranian company that manufactures air molds and plastic injection molds as well as machinery in various fields such as food, health, industrial and pharmaceutical industries. Besides, one of the specialized areas of this company is the production line of mineral water bottles and drinking water bottles. The production line includes parts such as the production of single-used bottles, shrink packaging machine, arranging machines, labeling machines, PET blow machines and liquid filling machines.

“Our company is the first company that manufactures the automatic bottling machine in Iran, and we reverse-engineered this machine from a European machine and rebuilt it according to Iran's climate,” Mahmoud Mardani Kamali, CEO of the company said.

Regarding the washing machines in the plastic bottle production line, he said, “We have defined two types of machines, ‘triblock’ and ‘manublok’ for washing bottles, the manublock machine for washing the cooking oil line at high speed and the triblock machine for washing. It is used in juice and water production lines.”

Iran-Made System Facilitates Monitoring Agricultural Lands Based on IoT

A knowledge-based company in Iran has succeeded in designing a system based on the Internet of Things (IoT) which can be used to monitor and control the agricultural lands.

“We participated in this national event with a product based on the Internet of Things with application in monitoring and controlling the agricultural lands and cargo products,” Mehdi Etemadi, a member of the electrical and electronics faculty of Islamic Azad University’s Rasht branch, told ANA on the sidelines of Asr-e Omid event and exhibition in Karaj.

“The hardware of the system was produced by the specialists at the university and it continuously takes samples and sends to the database the information related to the soil, plant growth and environmental parameters like radiation, temperature, carbon dioxide, oxygen, soil and root moisture, longitudinal and transverse growth, etc.,” he added.

Etemadi explained that the information will be used for different purposes, including monitoring, product quality review, or in terms of statistical issues and volume assessment.