• Absorption and desorption characteristics of different alkali metals and alloys for the production of metal hydrides by varying the hydrogen pressure and absorption temperature (absorption and desorption Iso terms).
• Hydrogen storage and dispensing characteristics of metal hydrides using metal hydride water system.
• Process optimization for encapsulating metal hydrides with thin plastics films.
• Storage and Dispensing of Hydrogen using metal hydride –water system.

Wind power generators can be augmented with micro thrusters. A theoretical study has been carried out for the concept’s technical feasibility. A private entrepreneur has shown interest in adopting this technique in their wind mill. However it is necessary to obtain partial funding from R & D funding agencies. An Indian patent has been filed for this technology. The mathematical modeling of a new technique for the hybridization of Horizontal and Vertical blade design using spiral wind mill has been proposed to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

• Solar water heating system
• Features
• Temperatures up to 80 °C
• 500 Litres per day
• 5 Nos. of flat plate collectors
• Applications include bathing and kitchen 
• Preheating water 

A novel gravity based passive solar tracking mechanis; suitable to a linear solar concentrating collector has been conceptualized, developed, simulated, analyzed and tested experimentally. An attempt has been made to minimize the tracking load and error by controlling the dripping rate or filling rate of liquid in the gravity system. The identified key influencing design parameters in the proposed mechanism are sprocket wheel radius, spring stiffness and tracking radius. Large sprocket wheel, low stiff spring and small tracking radius minimizes the tracking loads.

A pilot scale Kalina power plant has been developed at the research centre with SERB funding. The work is focused on experimental study through the examination of the effect of the separator temperature which influences the source inlet temperature at a fixed degree of superheat and terminal temperature difference, strong solution concentration, turbine concentration and solar direct beam radiation on performance of the system to maximize the yield of power and efficiency.

The aforementioned desalination and cooling plant has been extended to a trigeneration plant by adding a power generation element. The tri-generation plant has high energy conversion efficiency with triple benefits from a single source. The sequence in the operations is air compression, heating of air with solar concentrating collector, expansion, heat recovery, first stage humidification and dehumidification and air conditioning.

Hot and arid areas need more portable water and air conditioning. Similarly, solar thermal intensity is greater at these locations, especially during the summer. Hence the proposed plant is powered by a solar source to match the demand and supply. Solar thermal energy can be used for thermal desalination and air conditioning. Humidification-dehumidification (HDH) desalination is a simple and cost effective solution to convert the saline water into desalinated water.

In 2015, A 500 kW roof top based Solar PV module has been successfully installed by Tata power system pvt.ltd in VIT University. The two academic buildings and rooftops of three men’s hostel buildings were used to install the unit. The system produces approximately 2200 units per day. Observation suggests that the capital investment for Solar PV will be taken back within 4-5 years of time.