Project Ideas

1. Air-Conditioned Cabins for Trucks

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mandated that all new trucks manufactured after 1 October 2025 must have air-conditioned cabins.

Potential initiatives:

• Air conditioning using Thermo-compressor (Ejector)
• Air conditioning using Thermo-electric generators (TEG)

2. Enhanced Refrigerant Lift Using Ejectors

For high ambient conditions, the condensed refrigerant has sufficient energy to provide some ‘lift’ by using an ejector.

3. Moisture Removal in Cooling Coils

Cooling coils lose moisture removal efficiency at part load conditions due to continuous supply fan operation. The project aims to experimentally prove that interlaced coils can resolve this issue.

4. Replacing VRF with Small VFD-Driven Chilled Water Plants

VRF systems contain large refrigerant volumes, which pose leakage risks. A proposed solution is small 5-10 TR chillers with VFD-driven compressors and circulator systems to improve efficiency.

5. Plenum Design and Duct Pressure Drop

6. Insulation Thickness for Heat Loss Prevention

Optimizing insulation thickness for preventing heat loss/gain while balancing cost and condensation prevention.

7. Ionization-Based Air Purifiers

Evaluating microbial contamination efficiency and health impacts of ionization-based air purifiers.

8. Ventilation Effectiveness

Factors such as supply and return terminal location, room geometry, temperature, and heat sources impact air distribution and contaminant removal.

9. Heat Island Effect

With air conditioning being essential in urban areas, research is needed on strategies to mitigate heat island effects at individual and policy levels.

10. Industrial Evaporative Cooler Duct Design

Investigating duct design considering pressure drop, heat gain, and condensation for industrial evaporative coolers under different conditions compared to traditional air conditioning.