Research

1. Thermal Energy Storage for Buildings 

Buildings consume a significant part of total energy in our economy (~30-40%), and a large fraction of it is used for thermal end-uses. This project will enhance the energy efficiency of commercial by developing and demonstrating thermal energy storage (TES) technologies for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) and refrigeration applications. TES will benefit commercial buildings by improving the integration of renewable energy sources through peak load shaving and enhancing the resiliency of the buildings in the event of blackouts and brownouts. In this project, we will develop detailed models of different TES system configurations. We will also demonstrate these technologies through lab-scale experiments and pilot installations. We will develop intelligent controls to optimize the deployment of energy storage assets. 

Rapid urbanization in India and many parts of the world will lead to a drastic increase in the demand for energy to provide comfortable residential and commercial spaces to the masses. Building energy consumption leads to ~20% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. We need to sustainably meet this energy demand to prevent further damage to the environment while ensuring better access to clean energy and comfortable living conditions for the masses. In this project, we will develop a framework for optimized thermal energy solutions for affordable housing by coupling TES models with a contextualized dynamic community building energy simulation model. Multi-objective optimization will establish the system parameters for thermal comfort, energy demand reduction, and cost. 

2. Energy-efficient Dehumidification

Membrane separation processes provide energy-efficient pathways for several engineering processes, including water purification and desalination, heating ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) systems (gas/vapor separation during dehumidification), and fuel cells (ion transport). Several decades of research in membrane materials and fabrication techniques have resulted in membranes with desired permeance and selectivity for different applications. As the membrane properties are optimized, it no longer remains the most significant resistance to species transport. However, the convection of species near the surface of the membrane remains a dominant transport resistance. In this project, we propose to improve flux rates in membrane processes by addressing this interfacial mass transfer resistance. We will develop detailed models of fluid flow and heat and mass transfer phenomena involved in membrane-based dehumidification systems to quantify different transport resistances. We will also fabricate a laboratory experiment to assess the performance of different design features. HVAC systems, water purification and desalination, and fuel cells are some application areas for potential solutions coming out of this project.