Publications

Thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems are a promising long-term storage solution for space heating applications due to their high energy density and low energy losses. Although identified as promising thermochemical materials, inorganic salt hydrates suffer from issues related to cycling stability, agglomeration, and deliquescence during charging and discharging. Using composites can help address these challenges by improving the material's structural stability and performance over multiple cycles. This study investigates a composite mixture of strontium bromide hexahydrate (SrBr2·6H2O) and silica gel (SiO2) in an open TCES system, experimentally and numerically. A two-dimensional numerical model for the SrBr2·6H2O/SiO2 composite mixture is developed and validated against in-house experimental data for charging and discharging processes. The effect of varying SiO2 abundance (0 %, 25 %, 50 %, 75 %, and 100 %) in the composite mixture on the charging and discharging performance of the system is studied. The study identified the 50 % SiO2 composite mixture as the optimal configuration, balancing structural stability provided by SiO2 and energy storage capacity rendered by SrBr2·6H2O. The pure SiO2 exhibits the highest energy supplied (360.29 kJ) and temperature rise, whereas the pure SrBr2·6H2O delivers the highest discharging efficiency (∼94.9 %). These findings provide valuable insights into optimised material composition for stable and sustainable energy storage. A multi-cycle simulation considering the 50 % SiO2 composite mixture prima facie demonstrates the operational stability of the open TCES over multiple cycles, warranting further experimental exploration under realistic conditions.

The misuse of citation-based rankings is a significant issue in India. Universities promote their academics featured amidst the top 2%, presenting it as institutional superiority

In this intensely personal chapter of the commemorative volume on the late Raja Ramanna, I reflect on the remarkable individual that Dr Ramanna was and as I saw him during our years together in NIAS, from 1996 till his passing in 2004.  I particularly celebrate his multifaceted personality, especially his relationships with the young faculty of the institute, his deep love for all living beings, and his inimitable sense of humour through which he saw the world.