Summer season is standing next door. Fortunately, April has not been very hot this year controlling demand of desert coolers in hot and dry states like Rajasthan.
We approximately consume atleast 150-300 lt of water through evaporation in desert coolers. Recently (over past 2-3 years now) a new development has hit the market: two-stage evaporative coolers. This technology involves first stage as sensible cooling and the second stage of eveporative cooling, offering a reduction in water consumption as well as control on humidity which is a drawback of normal coolers.
I am yet to see domestic scale device of this type, though commercial scale devices are in the market. Also trying to make one here in MNIT through students to see its merits and limitations in small scale application. I strongly feel that this version of air coolers would change the HVAC industry and would be a threat to AC market.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Last week I was attending a workshop organized by Rajasthan pollution Control Board and GIZ (new name of GTZ, Germany), on climate change.
Results presented by some leading researchers on climate change indicated that in Rajasthan, and in many other parts of India, temperature would rise by about 1.5 to 2 degrees, and there would be an increase in rainfall. What is more important is that this more rainfall is likely to be confined in smaller period of time. Which indicates that use of rainwater harvesting system is going to play an important role if we don't want to let this precious rain water go into the drain. 'don't let rain go into the drain', should be objective and slogan.
Results presented by some leading researchers on climate change indicated that in Rajasthan, and in many other parts of India, temperature would rise by about 1.5 to 2 degrees, and there would be an increase in rainfall. What is more important is that this more rainfall is likely to be confined in smaller period of time. Which indicates that use of rainwater harvesting system is going to play an important role if we don't want to let this precious rain water go into the drain. 'don't let rain go into the drain', should be objective and slogan.
Monday, February 14, 2011
It has been felt for past some time that there is really dirth of people in India having sufficient skills for designing solar thermal power plants. Those who have the skill set, keep it close to their chest due to the fear of loosing business opportunity if they share the knowledge with others.
On the other hand, government has already announced plans to accelerate the installation in solar thermal power sector. I suspect that with acute shortage of trained manpower, we would be hiring foreign consultants for designing our plant, who may not be well conversant with the local issues that sometimes significantly govern the design decisions.
This is not just going to result into less ROI as compared to the enviaaged one, more importantly, my fear is that this would spread a wrong message that solar energy is not economically harnessable through thermal power route.
In my opinion, educational institutions like NITs, IITs, should come forward and take part in capacity building in this area. If there are no or very few trainers, MNRE should get the trainers trained in leading labs worldwide, and then plunge into massive training spree.
Have fun till the sun lasts,
Jyotirmay Mathur
On the other hand, government has already announced plans to accelerate the installation in solar thermal power sector. I suspect that with acute shortage of trained manpower, we would be hiring foreign consultants for designing our plant, who may not be well conversant with the local issues that sometimes significantly govern the design decisions.
This is not just going to result into less ROI as compared to the enviaaged one, more importantly, my fear is that this would spread a wrong message that solar energy is not economically harnessable through thermal power route.
In my opinion, educational institutions like NITs, IITs, should come forward and take part in capacity building in this area. If there are no or very few trainers, MNRE should get the trainers trained in leading labs worldwide, and then plunge into massive training spree.
Have fun till the sun lasts,
Jyotirmay Mathur
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