Publications

 It is necessary to consider alternate fuels for ICE-based vehicles to achieve decarbonization in India’s road transport sector. This study discusses the ICE-based alternate fuel options (natural gas, auto-gas and hydrogen) in the light of 28 identified parameters under the 4A framework of energy security, encompassing technical availability, resource availability, infrastructure accessibility, price affordability, social acceptability and environmental acceptability.

dictate the efficacy of low-to-medium temperature hot water applications. This study uses a three-dimensional
numerical model to investigate the thermal characteristics of three storage configurations for simultaneous
charging and discharging. The same tank volume and height, as well as the same coil tube dimensions, are
considered for three different configurations - cylindrical tank with a helical discharging coil, as well as circular
truncated cone-shaped and paraboloidal tanks with conical discharging coils. The discharging flow rate is varied
for a deeper understanding of the realistic interplay between energy demand and supply. Results obtained for the
cylindrical tank are found to have good agreement with the observations from the in-house experiments. The
energy stored, discharging coil outlet temperature, and the extent of thermal stratification decrease with
increasing coil flow rate, whilst discharging efficiency and primary thermocline thickness increase. The paraboloidal
tank equipped with a conical discharging coil exhibited the highest cumulative energy stored (8821 kJ)
just before the commencement of dynamic dual operation, owing to the minimal thermal losses attributable to
the lowest surface-area-to-volume ratio. Thermocline thickness is found to expand with time for all the cases, and
the highest thermocline thickness expansion rate of 0.208 mm/s is found for the cylindrical tank indicating a
higher degree of energy degradation. The peak values for the cumulative energy discharged (9788 kJ), and
average discharging efficiency (0.36) occurred for the paraboloidal tank with the conical discharging coil
configuration. Based on the detailed analyses, the paraboloidal storage tank configuration is found to exhibit
better system reliability and energy management, leading to more efficient heat dispatch controllability due to
the enhanced energy harnessing features.

Air pollution is serious and most talked about issue in India as impacts are fast realized in a shorter time, unlike climate change. North India including the Indian capital experience extreme levels of pollution during winters due to extreme weather compounded by biomass burning episodes. On the other hand, Western India often witnesses pollution extremes during summer due to intercontinental dust flows whereas the peninsular and east India relatively remain better, but the frequency of weather extremes is increasing, and climate change is impacting the delicate balance. It is resulting in deteriorating health and food security. The problem is well recognized, but information and actions are fragmented warranting an integrated approach to build a resource framework for air quality in a mission mode. Network of specialists working on various aspects of air pollution and knowledge sharing for optimal and broad-scale results that benefit all. To address this gap, the National Institute of Advanced Study (NIAS, IISc Campus, Bengaluru) organized the brainstorming workshop for stakeholders along with the office of Principal Scientific Advisor to Govt. of India to help develop pathways for dialogue and knowledge sharing for air pollution information, alerts, capacity building, effective mitigation, and policy at the national level. The current strategic document is an outcome of this effort. This NARFI aims to build an integrated framework in air quality for a sustainable future by bringing together researchers, practitioners, and experts from diverse sectors and disciplines – air quality monitoring, health, and social inclusion, livelihoods, knowledge management, and communication, as well as those dealing with open burning, transport sectors, etc. Also, regional pollution issues like stubble burning, smog, and fog –to share their knowledge and experience on air pollution. The framework will support the public-industry partnership in air quality management that has the potential to influence decision-makers.

The chapter talks about how people ‘read’ wild elephants’ lives affectively to engage with both elephant and human lives.